METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR BALANCING POWER DISTRIBUTION IN DC TO DC POWER CONVERSION

• US 20090289502A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Petra Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Petra Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Al-Atrash, Hussam, Batarseh, Issa, Rustom, Khalid
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/44
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence

Abstract

A method for balancing power distribution in a direct current to direct current (DC to DC) power-conversion system is provided. The power-conversion system includes a plurality of channels that are connected to a load. The channels are also connected to corresponding power sources. The method, at a first channel, includes obtaining a first power, which is the maximum power of the power source connected to the first channel. Further, the method includes computing a reference power based on the power output of the channels. Furthermore, the method includes outputting the reference power when the first power is greater than or equal to the reference power, and outputting the first power when the first power is less than the reference power.

Claims

1. A method of balancing power-distribution in a direct current to direct current (DC to DC) power-conversion system, the power-conversion system comprising a plurality of channels connected to a load, the plurality of channels connected to a corresponding plurality of power sources, the method comprising:

determining a first current based on a load current required at the load and a plurality of currents provided by the plurality of channels to the load, wherein the plurality of currents correspond to power outputs provided by the plurality of channels to the load;

outputting a first power when the first current is at least equal to a first threshold, wherein the first power is a maximum power of a first power source of the plurality of power sources, and wherein the first power source is connected to a first channel of the plurality of channels;

outputting a second power when the first current is less than the first threshold, wherein the second power is calculated based on the first current;

computing a reference power based on at least one power output of a plurality of power outputs, wherein the plurality of power outputs correspond to the plurality of channels;

outputting the first power when the reference power is at least equal to the first power; and

outputting the reference power when the reference power is less than the first power.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising broadcasting a value of the reference power over a communication path when the first channel outputs the reference power, wherein the communication path enables communication between the plurality of channels.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of computing the reference power is performed iteratively.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising broadcasting a value of the first power over a communication path when the first channel outputs the first power and the reference power is less than the first power, wherein the communication path enables communication between the plurality of channels.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of computing the reference power comprises:

receiving at least one value of power corresponding to the at least one power output, wherein the at least one value of power is received through a broadcast over a communication path; and

calculating the reference power on the basis of an average of the at least one value of power, wherein the communication path enables communication between the plurality of channels.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of computing the reference power comprises:

receiving at least one value of power corresponding to the at least one power output, wherein the at least one value of power is received through a broadcast over a communication path; and

calculating the reference power on the basis of a weighted average power of the at least one value of power, wherein the communication path enables communication between the plurality of channels.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of computing the reference power comprises:

receiving at least one value of power corresponding to the at least one power output, wherein the at least one value of power is received through a broadcast over a communication path; and

calculating the reference power on the basis of an arithmetic operation on the at least one value of power, wherein the communication path enables communication between the plurality of channels.

8. A method of balancing power-distribution in a direct current to direct current (DC to DC) power-conversion system, the power-conversion system comprising a plurality of channels connected to a load, the plurality of channels connected to a corresponding plurality of power sources, the method comprising:

obtaining a first power, the first power being a maximum power of a first power source, wherein the first power source is connected to a first channel of the plurality of channels;

computing a reference power based on at least one power output of a plurality of power outputs, wherein the plurality of power outputs correspond to the plurality of channels;

outputting the first power when the reference power is at least equal to the first power; and

outputting the reference power when the reference power is less than the first power.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising broadcasting a value of the reference power over a communication path when the first channel outputs the reference power, and wherein the communication path enables communication between the plurality of channels.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of computing the reference power is performed iteratively.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising broadcasting a value of the first power over a communication path when the first channel outputs the first power and the reference power is less than the first power.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of computing the reference power comprises:

receiving at least one value of power corresponding to the at least one power output, wherein the at least one value of power is received through a broadcast over a communication path; and

calculating the reference power on the basis of an average of the at least one value of power, wherein the communication path enables communication between the plurality of channels.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of computing the reference power comprises:

receiving at least one value of power corresponding to the at least one power output, wherein the at least one value of power is received through a broadcast over a communication path; and

calculating the reference power on the basis of a weighted average power of the at least one value of power, wherein the communication path enables communication between the plurality of channels.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of computing the reference power comprises:

receiving at least one value of power corresponding to the at least one power output, wherein the at least one value of power is received through a broadcast over a communication path; and

calculating the reference power on the basis of an arithmetic operation on the at least one value of power, wherein the communication enables communication between the plurality of channels.

15. A power-conversion system for direct current to direct current (DC to DC) power conversion, the power-conversion system comprising:

a plurality of channels, the plurality of channels capable of supplying power to a load, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels comprises;

a power source, the power source providing an input power to the channel;

one or more DC to DC converters, each DC to DC converter of the one or more DC to DC converters being connected to the power source, wherein the each DC to DC converter is configured to convert the input power to an output power based on a reference power;

a mode controller, the mode controller being connected to the one or more DC to DC converters, wherein the mode controller is configured to compute the reference power based on a plurality of power outputs corresponding to the plurality of channels; and

a communication path, the communication path enabling communication between the plurality of channels.

16. The power-conversion system according to claim 15, wherein the mode controller comprises a calculation module, the calculation module being capable of computing the reference power.

17. The power-conversion system according to claim 15, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels comprises a broadcasting module, the broadcasting module being capable of broadcasting a value over the communication path, wherein the value is based on at least one of the input power and reference power.

18. The power-conversion system according to claim 15, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels comprises a data collection module, the data collection module being capable of receiving at least one value broadcast over the communication path, wherein each of the at least one value correspond to a power output of the plurality of power outputs.

19. The power-conversion system according to claim 15, wherein the mode controller is further configured to control the output power of the one or more DC to DC converters.

20. The power-conversion system according to claim 15, wherein the each DC to DC converter is a current-mode-controlled DC to DC converter.

21. The power-conversion system according to claim 15, wherein the power conversion system is a solar power conversion system.