VOLTAGE CONVERTER CONFIGURATIONS FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM APPLICATIONS

• US 20130063991A1
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Xiao, Yuan, Zargari, Navid R., Cheng, Zhongyuan
• Application Number:
  US13/595,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063991A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/71
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A system includes a low switching frequency power converter configured to be coupled to a solar cell, wherein the low switching frequency power converter is configured to generate alternating current (AC) power based on low voltage direct current (DC) power transmitted from the solar cell and transmit the converted AC power. The system also include a multi-pulse transformer configured to receive the converted AC power and generate transformed power based on the converted AC power, wherein the transformed power comprises power at a voltage level that differs from the a voltage level of the converted AC power.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a low switching frequency power converter configured to be coupled to a solar cell, wherein the low switching frequency power converter is configured to;

generate converted alternating current (AC) power based on low voltage direct current (DC) power transmitted from the solar cell; and

transmit the converted AC power; and

a multi-pulse transformer configured to receive the converted AC power and generate transformed power based on the converted AC power, wherein the transformed power comprises power at a voltage level that differs from a voltage level of the converted AC power.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of low switching frequency power converters each configured to be coupled to a one of a plurality of solar cells and configured to generate respective AC converted power, wherein the respective AC converted power is combined in series with the converted AC power to generate combined converted AC power, wherein the multi-pulse transformer is configured to generate the transformed power based on the combined converted AC power.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformed power comprises power at a voltage of at least several times the value of a voltage of the low voltage DC power transmitted from the solar cell.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the low switching frequency power converter comprises a current source inverter.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the current source inverter comprises a three phase specific control rectifier current source inverter.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the current source inverter comprises a three phase pulse width modulation current source inverter.

7. The system of claim 4, comprising a current generator configured to operate as a current source for the current source inverter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the current generator is configured to utilize the low voltage DC power transmitted from the solar cell as input power for the current generator.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the low switching frequency power converter comprises a voltage source inverter.

10. The system of claim 9, comprising a stabilizer circuit configured to stabilize the low voltage DC power transmitted from the solar cell and transmit the stabilized power low voltage DC power to the voltage source inverter.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the low switching frequency power converter operates at a maximum frequency of approximately 50 Hz to 60 Hz.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformed power comprises power at a voltage up to 35,000 V.

13. A system comprising:

a power converter configured to be coupled to a solar cell, wherein the power converter is configured to generate converted direct current (DC) voltage based on low voltage DC power transmitted from the solar cell; and

a conversion circuit configured to generate AC power based on the converted DC voltage, wherein the converted DC voltage comprises a voltage level that differs from the voltage level of the low voltage DC power.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the conversion circuit is configured to add additional AC power to the AC power.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the conversion circuit comprises a single phase voltage source inverter.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the conversion circuit comprises a three phase voltage source inverter.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the conversion circuit comprises a three phase specific control current source inverter.

18. The system of claim 17, comprising a current generator configured to operate as a current source for the three phase specific control current source inverter.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the current generator is configured to utilize the converted DC voltage transmitted from power converter as an input for the current generator.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the converted DC voltage comprises power at a voltage no greater than 35,000 V.

21. A method comprising:

generating converted alternating current (AC) power in a low switching frequency power converter based on a low voltage direct current (DC) power transmitted from a solar cell;

transmitting the converted AC power from the low switching frequency power converter;

receiving the converted AC power at a multi-pulse transformer; and

generating transformed power in the multi-pulse transformer based on the received converted AC power, wherein the transformed power comprises AC power at a voltage different from a voltage of the low voltage DC power.

22. The method claim 21, comprising operating the low switching frequency power converter at a switching frequency under 2000 Hz.