Apparatus and method for employing a DC source with an uninterruptible power supply

• US 20080067872A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Moth, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 7,652,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/23
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies

Abstract

At least one aspect is directed to an uninterruptible power supply including an I/O and an output in electrical communication with the I/O. The UPS also includes electronic circuitry which is adapted to, in a first mode of operation, receive power from the I/O and convert the AC power to DC power. The electronic circuitry is also adapted to, in a second mode of operation, receive DC power and to provide AC power to the I/O. The electronic circuit is further adapted to, in the first mode of operation, convert the DC power to AC power and to provide the AC power at the output.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

an I/O;

an output in electrical communication with the I/O; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the I/O and the output,

wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to, in a first mode of operation, receive AC power from the I/O and convert the AC power to DC power, and in a second mode of operation, receive DC power and provide AC power to the I/O, and

wherein the electronic circuitry is further adapted to, in the first mode of operation, convert the DC power to AC power and provide the AC power at the output.

2. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is further adapted to receive power from an external AC power source in the first mode of operation.

3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is further adapted to receive DC power from a backup power source in the second mode of operation.

4. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is further adapted to receive DC power from an extended-runtime DC source.

5. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises:

a first circuit adapted to receive DC power from a DC power source and provide AC power to the I/O in the second mode of operation; and

a second circuit adapted to receive DC power from the DC power source and provide AC power to the output in the second mode of operation.

6. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 5, wherein an output of the first circuit is adapted to be coupled to both an input of the second circuit and the DC power source.

7. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 5, wherein an output of the first circuit is adapted to be coupled to a battery, an input of the second circuit, and the DC power source.

8. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a circuit with an input adapted to be coupled to a battery and a DC power source.

9. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises:

a first input adapted to be coupled to a battery; and

a second input adapted to be coupled to the I/O.

10. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein, in the second mode of operation, the electronic circuitry is configured to supply power to a first load from the I/O and supply power to a second load from the output.

11. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 10, wherein, in the first mode of operation, an external AC power source is configured to supply power to both the first load and the I/O.

12. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is further adapted to draw a current from the AC power source that is substantially in phase with a voltage of the AC power source.

13. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a circuit that is configured to operate as a boost converter in the first mode of operation, and wherein at least a portion of the circuit is configured to operate as a buck converter in the second mode of operation.

14. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a rectifier, and wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to bypass the rectifier during the second mode of operation.

15. A method of supplying power to two or more electrical loads, the method comprising acts of:

supplying, in a first mode of operation, power from a power source to an input of an uninterruptible power supply;

supplying power from the power source to a first load in the first mode of operation;

supplying power to a second load from an output of the uninterruptible power supply in the first mode of operation; and

supplying, in a second mode of operation, power to the first load from the input of the uninterruptible power supply.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising acts of:

supplying power to the second load from the output of the uninterruptible power supply in the second mode of operation; and

supplying power to both the first load and the second load from a common source of power in the second mode of operation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the common source of power is an extended-runtime DC source.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the common source of power is at least one of a DC generator, a fuel cell, and a photovoltaic power source.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein power from a DC generator is supplied to the first load and the second load when the power source is not available.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises a first module in electrical communication with the input of the uninterruptible power supply, a second module in electrical communication with the output of the uninterruptible power supply, and a DC bus in electrical communication with the first module and the second module, and wherein the method further comprises an act of providing power from the DC generator to the DC bus.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising an act of determining whether the common source of power has a capacity to supply power to the first load and the second load.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising an act of entering the second mode of operation when it is determined that the common power source has the capacity to supply power to the first load and the second load.

23. A UPS system for supplying power to two or more electrical loads, the system comprising:

an I/O adapted to connect to a first power source and a first load;

an input adapted to connect to a second power source;

an output adapted to connect to a second load; and

means for receiving power from the first power source via the I/O during a first mode of operation, and supplying power from the second power source to the first load via the I/O during a second mode of operation,

wherein the system is adapted to supply power from the output to the second load during both the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.

24. The UPS system of claim 23, wherein the I/O is adapted for connection to an AC power source, and wherein the input is adapted for connection to a DC power source.

25. The UPS system of claim 24, wherein the input is further adapted for connection to an extended-runtime DC power source.

26. The UPS system of claim 24, wherein the DC power source is a DC generator.

27. The UPS system of claim 23, wherein the means for receiving power includes means for drawing a current from the first power source that is substantially in phase with a voltage of the first power source.

28. The UPS system of claim 27 wherein during the first mode of operation the means for receiving power operates as a boost converter, and wherein during the second mode of operation the means for receiving power operates as a buck converter.

29. The UPS system of claim 28, further comprising a rectifier wherein the rectifier is bypassed during the second operation.

30. The UPS system of claim 23, further comprising a second input wherein a battery is in electrical communication with the second input.

31. The UPS system of claim 30, further comprising:

means for converting DC power to AC power which is supplied to the output,

wherein the DC power which is converted includes DC power supplied from at least one of the battery, the second power source, and the means for receiving power.