POWER CONVERTER SYSTEM THAT OPERATES EFFICIENTLY OVER A RANGE OF LOAD CONDITIONS

• US 20090244944A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cheng, Bruce C.H., Jang, Yungtaek, Jovanovic, Milan M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,179,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/126
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33576 having at least one active switching element at the secondary side of an isolation transformer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A power converter system supplies power to one or more loads. The power converter system comprises at least one power converter operating at a desired efficiency; and a power storage system coupled to the at least one power converter for receiving power supplied from the at least one power converter and storing power therein when the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency.

Claims

1. A power converter system that powers at least one load, comprising:

at least one power converter operating at a desired efficiency; and

a power storage system coupled to the at least one power converter for receiving power supplied from the at least one power converter and storing power therein when the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency.

2. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein any time the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency or an efficiency threshold, the power converter is turned on during a first time interval and turned off during a second time interval;

wherein during the first time interval, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency to supply power to the power storage system; and

wherein during the second time interval when the at least one power converter is turned off, the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load.

3. The power converter system of claim 2, wherein the ratio of the first time interval and the second time interval is controlled to operate the power converter at the desired efficiency.

4. The power converter system of claim 2, wherein the at least one power converter has a first output for supplying power to the power storage system during the first time interval and a second output for supplying power to the at least one load.

5. The power converter system of claim 2, wherein the at least one power converter has a single output for supplying power to the power storage system during the first time interval and supplying power to the at least one load.

6. The power converter system of claim 2, wherein the power storage system has a single port for receiving supply of power from the at least one power converter during the first time interval and supplying power to the at least one load during the second time interval.

7. The power converter system of claim 2, wherein the power storage system has a first port for receiving supply of power from the at least one power converter during the first time interval and a second port for supplying power to the at least one load during the second time interval.

8. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power converter comprises a power stage and an output filter, wherein the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load via the output filter.

9. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power converter supplies power to the power storage system via an output filter.

10. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein the power converter, the power storage system and the load are coupled in series.

11. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein the power converter comprises at least one of isolated, non-isolated, single-stage and multi-stage, ac/dc, dc/dc, dc/ac, and ac/ac power converter.

12. The power converter system of claim 11, wherein the dc/dc power converter comprises at least one of two-switch forward dc/dc power converter, full-bridge dc/dc power converter, half-bridge dc/dc power converter, LLC resonant dc/dc power converter, half-bridge LLC resonant dc/dc power converter, forward dc/dc power converter, and flyback dc/dc power converter.

13. The power converter system of claim 11, wherein the ac/dc power converter comprises three-stage ac/dc converter.

14. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein the power storage system comprises at least one of battery, fuel cell, capacitor, super capacitor, thermal storage, and flywheel.

15. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein the power storage system comprises at least one of isolated, non-isolated, single-stage and multi-stage, ac/dc, dc/dc, dc/ac, and ac/ac power converter.

16. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein the power storage system comprises a temporary energy storage and power conditioning circuit.

17. The power converter system of claim 16, wherein the temporary energy storage and power conditioning circuit comprises at least one of bidirectional buck/boost converter, boost converter and buck converter, and buck discharging converter.

18. The power converter system of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the at least one power converter and the power storage system for controlling the operations of the at least one power converter and the power storage system.

19. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein any time the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency or an efficiency threshold, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency to supply power to the power storage system and the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load simultaneously.

20. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein any time the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency or an efficiency threshold, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency to supply power to the power storage system and the at least one load and the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load simultaneously.

21. The power converter system of claim 1, wherein said power converter system comprises at least one of power conversion system for LED, power conversion system for solar cell, power conversion system for fuel cell, power conversion system for wind energy, power conversion system for vibrating energy, power conversion system for kinetic energy, power conversion system for thermal energy, power plant, power management and conversion system for architecture, power management and conversion system for data center, UPS, power conversion system for vehicle, power conversion system for computer or notebook, power conversion system for communication device or apparatus, power conversion system for consumer electronics product, and power conversion system for household electric appliance.

22. A power converter system that powers at least one load, comprising:

at least one power converter that supplies uninterrupted power to the at least one load anytime the power converter is operating at a desired efficiency; and

a power storage system coupled to the at least one power converter for receiving power supplied from the at least one power converter and storing power therein when the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency.

23. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein the supply of power from the at least one power converter to the at least one load is partially interrupted any time the power converter operates at a lower efficiency than the desired efficiency such that the at least one power converter is turned on during a first time interval and turned off during a second time interval;

wherein during the first time interval, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency to supply power to the power storage system; and

wherein during the second time interval when the at least one power converter is turned off, the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load.

24. The power converter system of claim 23, wherein the at least one power converter has a first output for supplying power to the power storage system during the first time interval and a second output for supplying power to the at least one load.

25. The power converter system of claim 23, wherein the at least one power converter has a single output for supplying power to the power storage system during the first time interval and supplying power to the at least one load.

26. The power converter system of claim 23, wherein the power storage system has a single port for receiving supply of power from the at least one power converter during the first time interval and supplying power to the at least one load during the second time interval.

27. The power converter system of claim 23, wherein the power storage system has a first port for receiving supply of power from the at least one power converter during the first time interval and a second port for supplying power to the at least one load during the second time interval.

28. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein the at least one power converter comprises a power stage and an output filter, wherein the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load via the output filter.

29. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein the at least one power converter supplies power to the power storage system via an output filter.

30. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein the power converter, the power storage system and the load are coupled in series.

31. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein the power converter comprises at least one of isolated, non-isolated, single-stage and multi-stage, ac/dc, dc/dc, dc/ac, and ac/ac power converter.

32. The power converter system of claim 31, wherein the dc/dc power converter comprises at least one of two-switch forward dc/dc power converter, full-bridge dc/dc power converter, half-bridge dc/dc power converter, LLC resonant dc/dc power converter, half-bridge LLC resonant dc/dc power converter, forward dc/dc power converter, and flyback dc/dc power converter.

33. The power converter system of claim 31, wherein the ac/dc power converter comprises three-stage ac/dc converter.

34. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein the power storage system comprises at least one of isolated, non-isolated, single-stage and multi-stage, ac/dc, dc/dc, dc/ac, and ac/ac power converter and also comprises at least one of battery, fuel cell, capacitor, super capacitor, thermal storage, and flywheel.

35. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein the power storage system comprises a temporary energy storage and power conditioning circuit.

36. The power converter system of claim 35, wherein the temporary energy storage and power conditioning circuit comprises at least one of bidirectional buck/boost converter, boost converter and buck converter, and buck discharging converter.

37. The power converter system of claim 22, further comprising a controller coupled to the at least one power converter and the power storage system for controlling the operations of the at least one power converter and the power storage system.

38. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein any time the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency to supply power to the power storage system and the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load simultaneously.

39. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein any time the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency to supply power to the power storage system and the at least one load and the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load simultaneously.

40. The power converter system of claim 22, wherein said power converter system comprises at least one of power conversion system for LED, power conversion system for solar cell, power conversion system for fuel cell, power conversion system for wind energy, power conversion system for vibrating energy, power conversion system for kinetic energy, power conversion system for thermal energy, power plant, power management and conversion system for architecture, power management and conversion system for data center, UPS, power conversion system for vehicle, power conversion system for computer or notebook, power conversion system for communication device or apparatus, power conversion system for consumer electronics product, and power conversion system for household electric appliance.

41. A power converter system that supplies power under load conditions ranging from a higher load condition to a lower load condition, comprising:

at least one power converter supplying uninterrupted power at the higher load condition at a desired efficiency; and

a power storage system coupled to the at least one power converter for receiving power supplied from the at least one power converter and storing power therein under the lower load condition.

42. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein at least one power converter supplies interrupted power at the lower load condition, and said interrupted power is supplied by periodically turning on the at least one power converter during a first time interval and turned off the power converter during a second time interval;

wherein the power storage system supplies power under the lower load condition;

wherein during the first time interval, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency for storing power in the power storage system and for supplying power under the lower load condition; and

wherein during the second time interval when the at least one power converter is turned off, the power storage system supplies power under the lower load condition.

43. The power converter system of claim 42, wherein the at least one power converter supplies uninterrupted power at the higher load condition at a desired efficiency and supplies interrupted power at the lower load condition, said interrupted power is supplied by periodically turning on the at least one power converter during the first time interval and turning off the power converter during the second time interval.

44. The power converter system of claim 42, wherein the ratio of the first time interval and the second time interval is controlled to make the power converter operate at its maximum efficiency condition.

45. The power converter system of claim 42, wherein the at least one power converter has a first output for supplying power to the power storage system during the first time interval and a second output for supplying power under the lower load condition.

46. The power converter system of claim 42, wherein the at least one power converter has a single output for supplying power to the power storage system during the first time interval and supplying power under the lower load condition.

47. The power converter system of claim 42, wherein the power storage system has a single port for receiving supply of power from the at least one power converter during the first time interval and supplying power under the lower load condition during the second time interval.

48. The power converter system of claim 42, wherein the power storage system has a first port for receiving supply of power from the at least one power converter during the first time interval and a second port for supplying power to the at least one load during the second time interval.

49. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein the at least one power converter comprises a power stage and an output filter, wherein the power storage system supplies power under the lower load condition via the output filter.

50. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein the at least one power converter supplies power to the power storage system via an output filter.

51. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein the power converter comprises at least one of isolated, non-isolated, single-stage and multi-stage, ac/dc, dc/dc, dc/ac, and ac/ac power converter.

52. The power converter system of claim 51, wherein the dc/dc power converter comprises at least one of two-switch forward dc/dc power converter, full-bridge dc/dc power converter, half-bridge dc/dc power converter, LLC resonant dc/dc power converter, half-bridge LLC resonant dc/dc power converter, forward dc/dc power converter, and flyback dc/dc power converter.

53. The power converter system of claim 51, wherein the ac/dc power converter comprises three-stage ac/dc converter.

54. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein the power storage system comprises at least one of isolated, non-isolated, single-stage and multi-stage, ac/dc, dc/dc, dc/ac, and ac/ac power converter and also comprises at least one of battery, fuel cell, capacitor, super capacitor, thermal storage, and flywheel.

55. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein the power storage system comprises a temporary energy storage and power conditioning circuit.

56. The power converter system of claim 55, wherein the temporary energy storage and power conditioning circuit comprises at least one of bidirectional buck/boost converter, boost converter and buck converter, and buck discharging converter.

57. The power converter system of claim 41, further comprising a controller coupled to the at least one power converter and the power storage system for controlling the operations of the at least one power converter and the power storage system.

58. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein any time the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency to supply power to the power storage system and the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load simultaneously.

59. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein any time the at least one power converter operates at an efficiency that is below the desired efficiency, the power converter operates at the desired efficiency to supply power to the power storage system and the at least one load and the power storage system supplies power to the at least one load simultaneously.

60. The power converter system of claim 41, wherein said power converter system comprises at least one of power conversion system for LED, power conversion system for solar cell, power conversion system for fuel cell, power conversion system for wind energy, power conversion system for vibrating energy, power conversion system for kinetic energy, power conversion system for thermal energy, power plant, power management and conversion system for architecture, power management and conversion system for data center, UPS, power conversion system for vehicle, power conversion system for computer or notebook, power conversion system for communication device or apparatus, power conversion system for consumer electronics product, and power conversion system for household electric appliance.