Paralleled power converters with auto-stagger start-up

A method of operating a power conversion unit, comprising:

• measuring a bus voltage on a shared output bus prior to start-up of a power converter;
• generating a start-up delay for the power converter when a pre-bias value of the bus voltage on the shared output bus is greater than a predefined threshold, wherein the start-up delay is greater than a worst-case ramp time of a setpoint output voltage on the shared output bus;
• and
• controlling the power converter subsequent to the start-up delay to maintain a current sourcing condition during start-up of the power converter.

A power conversion system, comprising:

• a shared output bus;
• a plurality of power conversion units coupled to the shared output bus, each power conversion unit including:
• a power converter having a converter output coupled to the shared output bus,
• a delay generator that generates a start-up delay for the power converter if a pre-bias value of a bus voltage on the shared output bus is greater than a predefined threshold, wherein the start-up delay is greater than a worst-case ramp time of a setpoint output voltage on the shared output bus, and
• a voltage controller that controls the converter output subsequent to the start-up delay and maintains a current sourcing condition of the converter output during start-up of the power converter;
• and
• a load that is coupled to the shared output bus.