Method for operating an inverter, and inverter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12512749-B2
Application number	US-202318459640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2023
Priority date	Mar 3, 2021
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

The application describes operating an inverter having an AC connection, a DC connection and an inverter bridge therebetween. The operation includes operating the inverter in a first mode in which, at the AC connection, an AC grid is supplied with electrical power via the inverter, and the voltage of the AC grid is controlled via a regulation of the inverter. If an increase in a current at the AC connection exceeds a current limit value: changing to a second mode and operating the inverter, wherein a regulation is adapted such that, via a virtual impedance, it limits the current at the AC connection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating an inverter having an AC connection, a DC connection and an inverter bridge arranged between the AC connection and the DC connection, comprising:
operating the inverter in a first operating mode in which an AC grid is supplied with electrical power at the AC connection via the inverter, and a voltage of the AC grid is controlled via a regulation of the inverter, if an increase in a current at the AC connection is detected that exceeds a predefined current limit value: changing to a second operating mode and operating the inverter in the second operating mode, wherein in the second operating mode, the regulation is adapted such that it limits the current at the AC connection by means of a virtual impedance, in the second operating mode: if an increase in the voltage at the AC connection is detected that exceeds a predefined threshold value: changing to the first operating mode and operating the inverter in the first operating mode, in the first operating mode: if an increase in the current at the AC connection is detected that exceeds the predefined current limit value during a time period that exceeds a predefined first time period: changing to the second operating mode and operating the inverter in the second operating mode, and increasing the predefined threshold value.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the changing to the first operating mode upon a detection of the voltage at the AC connection exceeding the predefined threshold value is performed again after changing to the second operating mode upon the detection of the current at the AC connection exceeding the predefined current limit value.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined threshold value is selected from a number of predefined discrete values and, at a start of the method, assumes an initial value and, in the first operating mode is raised to a next higher of the discrete values.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the initial value lies between 80% and 100% of a nominal voltage of the inverter.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein a distance between at least two adjacent discrete values is between 3% and 7% of a nominal voltage of the inverter.

6 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein a distance between any two adjacent discrete values is different.

7 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein a distance between any two adjacent discrete values becomes larger when the discrete values become larger.

8 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein a distance between any two adjacent discrete values becomes smaller when the values become larger.

9 . The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
if the inverter is operated in the first operating mode over another time period that exceeds a predefined second time period, lowering the threshold value to the initial value.

10 . The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
if the inverter is operated in the second operating mode over another time period that exceeds a predefined third time period, lowering the threshold value.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inverter is operated in the second operating mode at least for another time period that corresponds to a predefined fourth time period.

12 . An inverter having an AC connection, a DC connection, and an inverter bridge arranged between the AC connection and the DC connection, wherein the inverter is configured to operate in a first operating mode in which an AC grid is supplied with electrical power at the AC connection via the inverter, and a voltage of the AC grid is controlled via a regulation of the inverter, wherein a control circuit of the inverter is configured to carry out the regulation of the inverter, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
in the first operating mode: detect an increase in a current at the AC connection above a predefined current limit value and, in response thereto, change to a second operating mode, wherein in the second operating mode, the regulation limits the current at the AC connection via a virtual impedance, in the second operating mode: detect an increase in the voltage at the AC connection above a predefined threshold value and, in response thereto, change to the first operating mode,
in the first operating mode: detect an increase in the current at the AC connection above the predefined current limit value during a time period that exceeds a predefined first time period and, in response thereto, change to the second operating mode and to increase the threshold value.

13 . The inverter according to claim 12 , wherein a number of predefined discrete values that the threshold value can assume are stored in a memory circuit of the inverter, wherein the threshold value when being increased is in each case raised to a next higher one of the discrete values.

14 . The inverter according to claim 12 , wherein the regulation is configured to lower the threshold value if the inverter is operated in the second operating mode over another time period that exceeds a predefined third time period.

Assignees

• Sma Solar Technology Ag

Inventors

• Scheurich Simon
• Unru Alexander

Classifications

• H02J3/001

  Arrangements for handling faults or abnormalities, e.g. emergencies or contingencies · CPC title

• H02M7/797

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title

• H02J3/38 Primary

  Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel · CPC title

• H02M1/325 Primary

  with means for allowing continuous operation despite a fault, i.e. fault tolerant converters · CPC title

• H02M7/48

  using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode · CPC title