Generator and battery backup with conversion device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11368100-B2
Application number	US-201715649076-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2017
Priority date	Jul 13, 2017
Publication date	Jun 21, 2022
Grant date	Jun 21, 2022

Abstract

An apparatus includes a controlled field alternator or utility source of electrical power, a conversion device, and a controller. The conversion device includes a first power input associated with a first power source, a second power input associated with a second power source, and circuitry configured to perform a first conversion of power from a first format from the first power source to a second format for charging the second power source and perform a second conversion of power from the second format for the second power source to a third format for supplying a load.

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first power input associated with a first power source;
a second power input associated with a second power source;
a third power input associated with a third power source;
a synchronous inverter configured to perform a first conversion of power from a first format from the first power source to a second format for charging the second power source and perform a second conversion of power from the second format for the second power source to a third format for supplying a load, wherein current flows through the synchronous inverter in a first direction for the first conversion of power and current flows through the synchronous inverter in a second direction for the second conversion of power, wherein the synchronous inverter is configured to perform a third conversion of power from a fourth format from the third power source to the second format for charging the second power source, wherein the synchronous inverter is configured to perform a fourth conversion of power from the fourth format from the third power source to the third format for supplying the load,
wherein the synchronous inverter includes a plurality of waveform converters including at least one energy storing element; and
a bypass path configured to bypass the synchronous inverter and provide power from the first power source to the load without performing the first conversion of power, wherein the bypass path is activated in a bypass mode in response to a power signal from the first power source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor input coupled to a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of operation of the first power source, wherein the synchronous inverter is configured to select the first conversion or the second conversion in response to the signal indicative of operation of the first power source.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the signal indicative of the operation is a status signal for a transfer switch or the signal indicative of the operation is a power signal for the load.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory including at least one time threshold, wherein the synchronous inverter is configured to perform a comparison of time elapsed since the signal indicative of operation of the first power source to the at least one time threshold and select the first conversion of power or the second conversion of power in response to the comparison.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the synchronous inverter includes a plurality of internal switches configurable in a first combination to convert power from the first format from the first power source to the second format for charging the second power source and a second combination to convert power from the second format for the second power source to the third format for supplying the load.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first power source is a utility grid, the second power source is an energy storage device, and the third power source is a generator.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the energy storage device is configured to start the generator in addition to supplying the load.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first power source is a utility grid, and the second power source is an energy storage device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a transition for the load from the first power source to the second power source occurs in less than a predetermined time value.

10. An apparatus comprising:
a first power input associated with a first power source;
a second power input associated with a second power source;
a third power input associated with a third power source including a generator; and
a synchronous inverter configured to perform a first conversion of power for supplying a load and a second conversion of power for supplying a load, wherein current flows through the synchronous inverter in a first direction for the first conversion of power and current flows through the synchronous inverter in a second direction for the second conversion of power, wherein the synchronous inverter is configured to perform a comparison of time elapsed since a signal indicative of operation of the first power source to at least one time threshold for the generator and select the first conversion of power or the second conversion of power in response to the comparison,
wherein the synchronous inverter includes a plurality of waveform converters including at least one energy storing element, and
a bypass path configured to bypass the synchronous inverter and provide power from the first power source to the load without performing the first conversion of power, wherein the bypass path is activated in a bypass mode in response to a power signal from the first power source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first conversion of power or the second conversion of power is delayed to reduce wear on the third power source.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising circuitry configured to perform a third conversion of power for charging the second power source.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the bypass path is internal to the synchronous inverter.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the bypass path is internal to the synchronous inverter.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Danforth Iii Robert J
• Larson Adam
• Frampton Isaac S

Classifications

• H02J7/02

  for charging batteries from AC mains by converters · CPC title

• H02M5/4585 Primary

  having a rectifier with controlled elements · CPC title

• H02J9/061 Primary

  for DC powered loads · CPC title

• Y02P80/10

  Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier · CPC title

• H02M7/797

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title