US 9,853,567 B2Granted

DC source-to-AC grid tie-in power enhancement using multilevel/multiphase inverter topology and resonant matrix tank converter

AssigneeRhombus Energy Solutions, Inc.

InventorFrederick Flett

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A high efficiency multi-mode/multi-phase power conversion device has DC-boost receiving input power from a plurality of DC (e.g., solar) sources, power inverters and an AC grid supply. Power conversion switches are arranged in a stacked configuration with controllable inner and outer switches conveying: in an non-inverting switched mode, an AC voltage from power from the AC grid supply; in an inverting outer switched mode, an AC voltage from power from the AC grid supply; and in an inverting outer and inner switched mode, an inverted voltage from power from the DC-boost circuit. At least one input switch and output to the AC grid supply is coupled to an output of the power inverters and a resonant circuit is coupled to the input switch. A rectifier and/or high voltage AC output tap is coupled to the resonant circuit and a controller is coupled to the power conversion switches and the input switch.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multi-phase, power conversion device, comprising:

a plurality of multi-level inverter phases, each inverter phase comprising:
a DC-boost circuit configured to receive input power from a DC generating source;
a power inverter coupled to an output of the DC-boost circuit and to an AC grid supply, having a plurality of power conversion switches arranged in a stacked configuration having controllable inner and outer switches;
at least one output voltage from the power inverter, conveying:
in an non-inverting switched mode, an AC voltage from power from the AC grid supply;
in an inverting outer switched mode, an AC voltage from power from the AC grid supply;
and
in an inverting outer and inner switched mode, an AC inverted voltage from DC power boosted by the DC-boost circuit;
at least one of an input switch and output to the AC grid supply, coupled to the at least one output voltage from the power inverter;
a resonant circuit coupled to at least one input switch of each power inverter and configured for power amplification according to a resonant frequency operation of the input switches;
at least one of a rectifier and high voltage AC output tap coupled to an output of the resonant circuit;
and
a controller coupled to the power conversion switches of the plurality of inverter phases and to the input switches.

10 more elements

A method for power conversion, comprising:

forming a multi-level/multi-phase system by joining a plurality of inverters phases, each inverter phase comprised by:
configuring a DC-boost circuit to receive input power from a DC generating source;
coupling a power inverter to an output of the DC-boost circuit and to an AC grid supply, the power inverter having a plurality of power conversion switches arranged in a stacked configuration having controllable inner and outer switches;
conveying at least one output voltage from the power inverter, when:
in an non-inverting switched mode, conveying an AC voltage from power from the AC grid supply;
in an inverting outer switched mode, conveying an AC voltage from power from the AC grid supply;
and
in an inverting outer and inner switched mode, conveying an AC inverted voltage from DC power boosted by the DC-boost circuit;
coupling at least one of a input switch and output switch to the AC grid supply to the at least one output voltage from the power inverters;
coupling a resonant circuit to each power inverter's input switch, the resonant circuit being configured for power amplification according to a resonant frequency operation of the input switch and input power;
coupling at least one of a rectifier and high voltage AC output tap to an output of the resonant circuit;
coupling a controller to the power conversion switches of the inverter phases and to the input switches;
and
operating the controller to provide a PWM signal to at least one of the power conversion switches and input switches, according to a selected switched mode, to output a converted input power.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/844,885Filed 3 Sep 2015 · continuation in part
Priority: 29 Jul 2013
Published: US 2015/0028794 A131 Dec 2015
Granted: 26 Dec 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification21 codes

H02J 3/46
Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised…
H02J 3/381
Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised…
H02M 3/01
Conversion of DC power input into DC power output: resonant DC/DC converters
H02M 3/156
Using semiconductor devices only: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators

Family

Application13/953,726Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Jul 2013
US 2015/0381074 A1Pre-grant publication · published 31 Dec 2015
US 9,148,071 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2015/0028794 A1Published application
US 9,853,567 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.