Generator with DC boost and split bus bidirectional DC-to-DC converter for uninterruptible power supply system or for enhanced load pickup
First Claim
1. A system providing AC electrical power to a first load device, the system including:
- a generator, including a generator output;
an inverter circuit, including an inverter input and an inverter output, the inverter input coupled to the generator output, the inverter output adapted to be coupled to the first load device;
an energy storage device;
a first bidirectional DC-to-DC converter circuit, including first and second converter terminals that permit a DC-to-DC voltage conversion therebetween, the first converter terminal coupled to the energy storage device, and the second converter terminal coupled to the inverter input; and
an AC controller circuit, including an AC controller input and an AC controller output, wherein the AC controller input is configured to be coupled to a utility-provided AC power source, and the AC controller output is adapted to be coupled to the first load device for providing power from the utility-provided AC power source to the first load device, and wherein the AC controller output is coupled to the inverter output to provide an operating mode that supplies power from the utility-provided AC power source to the inverter output and through the inverter to the inverter input and through the bidirectional DC-to-DC converter to the energy storage device for charging the energy storage device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A local power generation system generates a substantially DC voltage at an inverter input, which is modulated to generate a resulting output AC power signal to a load. The inverter input voltage may be obtained from an engine generator, providing an AC power signal that is rectified. An energy storage device helps maintain the DC voltage at the inverter input when load power draw increases or during engine startup or acceleration, for example, until the engine accommodates the increased power demand. The system may also be used in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) application, in which the load draws power from a utility-provided AC power source until a fault condition appears. When the fault condition appears, the load switches its power draw from the utility-provided AC power source to the inverter output. The energy storage device is charged through a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter and through an inverter that operates in a rectifier mode to rectify a utility-provided AC electrical power signal.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system providing AC electrical power to a first load device, the system including:
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a generator, including a generator output;
an inverter circuit, including an inverter input and an inverter output, the inverter input coupled to the generator output, the inverter output adapted to be coupled to the first load device;
an energy storage device;
a first bidirectional DC-to-DC converter circuit, including first and second converter terminals that permit a DC-to-DC voltage conversion therebetween, the first converter terminal coupled to the energy storage device, and the second converter terminal coupled to the inverter input; and
an AC controller circuit, including an AC controller input and an AC controller output, wherein the AC controller input is configured to be coupled to a utility-provided AC power source, and the AC controller output is adapted to be coupled to the first load device for providing power from the utility-provided AC power source to the first load device, and wherein the AC controller output is coupled to the inverter output to provide an operating mode that supplies power from the utility-provided AC power source to the inverter output and through the inverter to the inverter input and through the bidirectional DC-to-DC converter to the energy storage device for charging the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A bidirectional DC-to-DC converter including:
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a first converter terminal, including a first positive node, a first neutral node, and a first negative node;
a second converter terminal, including a second positive node, a second neutral node, and a second negative node;
a first inductor, the first inductor including first and second inductor terminals, the first inductor terminal coupled to the first positive node;
a second inductor, the second inductor including third and fourth inductor terminals, the third inductor terminal coupled to the first negative node;
a first switching transistor, coupled between the second inductor terminal and the first neutral node;
a second switching transistor, coupled between the fourth inductor terminal and the second neutral node;
a third switching transistor, coupled between the second inductor terminal and the second positive node; and
a fourth switching transistor, coupled between the fourth inductor terminal and the second negative node. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A system providing AC electrical power to a first load device, the system including:
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an energy storage device;
a first bidirectional DC-to-DC converter circuit, including first and second converter terminals that permit a bidirectional DC-to-DC voltage conversion therebetween, the first converter terminal coupled to the energy storage device; and
an inverter circuit, including an inverter input coupled to the second converter terminal, and including an inverter output adapted to be coupled to the first load device, the inverter circuit configured for providing a switching mode for providing energy from the inverter input to the inverter output, and the switching mode configured for converting a substantially DC signal at the inverter input to an AC signal at the inverter output, the inverter circuit also configured for providing a nonswitching rectifier mode for providing energy from the inverter output to the inverter input, and the nonswitching rectifier mode configured for converting an AC signal at the inverter output to a substantially DC signal at the inverter output. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system providing AC electrical power to a first load device, the system including:
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a utility connection terminal, adapted to be connected to a utility-provided AC power supply;
a generator connection terminal, including a three phase generator output and a floating neutral generator output;
a DC bus, including a positive DC bus node, a negative DC bus node, and a neutral DC bus node, the neutral DC bus node electrically connected in common with the floating neutral generator output;
a rectifier, including a rectifier input coupled to the three phase generator output, the rectifier also including a rectifier output coupled to the positive DC bus node and to the negative DC bus node;
a dual inverter/rectifier circuit, including an inverter input and an inverter output, the inverter input coupled to the positive DC bus node and the negative DC bus node, and the inverter output coupled to the first load device, and the inverter output also coupled to the utility connection terminal;
an energy storage device, including a positive energy storage node, a negative energy storage node, and a neutral energy storage node, the neutral energy storage node electrically connected in common with the floating neutral generator output; and
a first bidirectional DC-to-DC converter circuit, including first and second converter terminals that permit a DC-to-DC voltage conversion therebetween, the first converter terminal coupled to the positive energy storage node, the negative energy storage node, and the floating neutral generator output, the second converter terminal coupled to the positive DC bus node, the negative DC bus node, and the floating neutral generator output. - View Dependent Claims (20, 25, 26)
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21. A method of providing AC power to a first load, the method including:
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charging an energy-storage device from a utility-provided AC power source through a switched-mode inverter that is configured in a mode to prevent switching and provide rectification; and
if the utility-provided AC power source fails to provide adequate power to the first load, then providing power to the first load from the energy-storage device and through the inverter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification