Solar Photovoltaic Power Conditioning Units
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Accused Products
Abstract
We describe a photovoltaic power conditioning unit comprising: both dc and ac power inputs; a dc link; at least one dc-to-dc converter coupled between dc input and dc link; and a dc-to-ac converter coupled between dc link and ac output. The dc-to-dc converter comprises: a transformer having input and output windings; an input dc-to-ac converter coupled between dc input and input winding; and an ac-to-dc converter coupled between output winding the dc link. The output winding has a winding tap between the first and second portions. The ac-to-dc converter comprises: first and second rectifiers, each connected to a respective first and second portion of the output winding, to the dc link and winding tap; and a series inductor connected to the winding tap. Rectifiers are connected to the winding tap of the output winding via the series inductor wherein the series inductor is shared between the first and second rectifiers.
120 Citations
22 Claims
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1-13. -13. (canceled)
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14. A photovoltaic power conditioning unit for delivering power from a dc power source to an ac mains power supply output, the photovoltaic power conditioning unit comprising:
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a dc power input to receive dc power from a photovoltaic power source; an ac power output for delivering ac power to said ac mains power supply; a dc link coupled between said dc power input and said ac power output; a dc-to-ac converter coupled between said dc link and said ac power output; first and second dc-to-dc power converters, each coupled between said dc power input and said dc link and each having a series inductor in a connection between a said dc-to-dc power converter and said dc link; and a dc conversion stage controller, coupled to sense an input or output power of said power conditioning unit and to control said first and second dc-to-dc converters; and wherein said dc conversion stage controller is configured to control, responsive to said sensed power, whether one or both of said dc-to-dc converters operates to feed dc power from said dc input to said dc link. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a power conditioning unit, the method comprising:
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converting dc power from a dc power source to dc power for a dc link of said power conditioning unit using a pair of dc-to-dc power converters by converting said dc power to ac, providing said ac to a transformer and converting ac from said transformer to dc for said dc link; converting dc power from said dc link to ac output power; coupling dc outputs of said dc-to-dc power converters via one or more inductors to force load current sharing between said dc-to-dc power converters; sensing a power level into or out of said power conditioning unit; and inhibiting operation of a said dc-to-dc power converter responsive to said sensed power level to reduce losses in a core of said transformer of said dc-to-dc power converter below a threshold power level, and above said threshold power level reducing losses due to resistive heating in a said dc-to-dc power converter by enabling operation of both said dc-to-dc power converters. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification