Modular scalable power conversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10855203-B2
Application number	US-201916402222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2019
Priority date	Mar 2, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A cascaded architecture composed of interconnected blocks that are each designed to process constant power and eliminate bulk energy storage are provided. Further, local controls within each block natively achieve both block- and system-level aims, making the system modular and scalable. Further methods of providing power conversion using such interconnected clocks are also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular dc-ac converter module comprising:
at least one dc port fed by a dc source;
three ac inverters, wherein each ac inverter of the three ac inverters receives a dc input from the at least one dc port and generates three single-phase ac outputs at different phases with respect to each other;
at least three ac ports, wherein each ac port of the at least three ac ports is coupled to a different corresponding one of the three ac inverters, respectively;
a converter, wherein the converter isolates the at least one dc port from the at least three ac ports;
a timing reference unit, wherein the timing reference unit communicates a timing signal, responsive to one of the three single-phase ac outputs, to each of the three inverters; and
a local controller coupled with at least the timing reference unit, the dc port, and the three ac inverters and configured to provide output control.

2. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein the dc port is coupled to a full bridge power converter.

3. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 2 wherein the full bridge power converter comprises a quadruple active bridge (QAB).

4. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein each ac port of the at least three ac ports is each coupled to a full bridge converter.

5. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 3 wherein the QAB the dc port and THE three ac ports from each other.

6. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein the local controller is adapted to perform at least one of dc-link voltage regulation, maximum power point tracking and droop control to provide ac-side voltage and power balancing.

7. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein the dc port is coupled to a half bridge power converter.

8. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein each ac port of the at least three ac ports are each coupled to a half bridge converter.

9. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein the at least one dc port is coupled in series with at least a second dc port of a second modular dc-ac converter.

10. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein the three single-phase ac outputs are coupled in series with an ac output node of a second modular dc-ac converter.

11. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein the at least one dc port is coupled in parallel with a second dc port of a second modular dc-ac converter.

12. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 9 wherein the three single-phase ac outputs are coupled in series with an ac output node of the second modular dc-ac converter.

13. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 9 wherein three single-phase ac outputs of the second modular dc-ac converter are coupled to a second ac load.

14. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 11 wherein the three single-phase ac outputs of the second modular dc-ac converter are coupled in series with an ac output node of the second modular dc-ac converter.

15. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein the dc port is coupled to at least a photovoltaic source.

16. The modular dc-ac converter of claim 1 wherein the ac port is coupled to at least an ac grid.

17. A system comprising a plurality of modular dc-ac converters wherein each of the plurality of modular dc-ac converters comprises:
at least one dc port fed by a dc source;
three ac inverters, wherein each ac inverter of the three ac inverters receives a dc input from the at least one dc port and generates three single-phase ac outputs at different phases with respect to each other;
at least three ac ports, wherein each ac port of the at least three ac ports is coupled to a different corresponding one of the three ac inverters, respectively;
a converter, wherein the converter isolates the at least one dc port from the at least three ac ports;
a timing reference unit, wherein the timing reference unit communicates a timing signal, responsive to one of the three single-phase ac outputs, to each of the three inverters; and
a local controller coupled with at least the timing reference unit, the dc port,
and the three ac inverters and configured to provide output control.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one dc port of a first modular dc-ac converter of the plurality of modular dc-ac converters is coupled in series with at least one dc port of at least a second modular dc-ac converter.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one dc port of the first modular dc-ac converter of the plurality of modular dc-ac converters is coupled in parallel with at least one dc port of at least the second modular dc-ac converter.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the three single-phase ac outputs of the first modular dc-ac converter of the plurality of modular dc-ac converters is coupled in series with an ac output node of at least the second modular dc-ac converter.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado Regents
• Alliance Sustainable Energy

Inventors

• Maksimovic Dragan
• Achanta Prasanta
• Johnson Brian B
• Rodriguez Miguel
• Gevorgian Vahan

Classifications

• H02M7/217

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title

• H02M1/0077

  Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series · CPC title

• H02M1/007

  Plural converter units in cascade (push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826) · CPC title

• H02M3/33561

  having more than one ouput with independent control · CPC title

• H02M7/49 Primary

  Combination of the output voltage waveforms of a plurality of converters · CPC title