POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM WITH A DC TO DC BOOST CONVERTER

• US 20140268931A1
• Filed: 03/02/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Combined Energies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Combined Energies, LLC
• Inventors: Vogel, John Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 9,413,271 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/40
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/285 Single converters with a plurality of output stages connected in parallel parallel operation of a plurality of converters in dc distribution networks H02J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/3376 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/539 with automatic control of output wave form or frequency H02M7/5375 - H02M7/5387 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

Abstract

A voltage booster allowing for increased utilization of low voltage, high current, unregulated DC power (“LVDC source”), such as, but not limited to, fuel cells, batteries, solar cells, wind turbines, and hydro-turbines. LVDC generation systems employing a variable low voltage DC-DC converter of the present disclosure may be used without a power inverter in applications requiring high voltage DC inputs and can also allow for the employment of common, low cost, reliable, low voltage energy storage chemistries (operating in the 12-48 VDC range) while continuing to employ the use of traditional inverters designed for high voltage power supplies. An embodiment of the DC boost converter includes a plurality of interleaved, isolated, full-bridge DC-DC converters arranged in a Delta-Wye configuration and a multi-leg bridge.

Claims

1. A DC to DC boost converter (DDBC) for converting power received from a variable, low voltage DC source, the DDBC comprising:

a plurality of interleaved, isolated, full-bridge DC-DC converters arranged in a Delta-Wye configuration and a multi-leg bridge.

2. A DDBC according to claim 1, wherein the DDBC has a boost ratio of greater than about 5:

1.

3. A DDBC according to claim 1, wherein the DDBC converter is bi-directional.

4. A DDBC according to claim 1, wherein the DDBC conversion efficiency of increases as the DC input voltage decreases.

5. A DDBC according to claim 1, wherein the DDBC further includes an input current filter and a plurality of DC-AC converters, wherein said plurality of DC-AC converters are electronically coupled to said input current filter.

6. A DDBC according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of DC-AC converters are configured to receive a discontinuous input current.

7. A DDBC according to claim 6, wherein the DDBC further includes a plurality of transformers, wherein each of said plurality of transformers is electronically coupled to a corresponding respective one of said plurality of DC-AC converters.

8. A DDBC according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of transformers has a turns ratio greater than 1:

5.

9. A DDBC according to claim 7, wherein the DDBC is electronically coupled to an electrical grid and said plurality of transformers are designed and configured to provide isolation from the electrical grid.

10. A DDBC according to claim 7, wherein the DDBC further includes a plurality of synchronous buck converters electrically coupled to a corresponding respective one of said plurality of transformers.

11. A DDBC according to claim 10, wherein the combined output of said plurality of synchronous buck converters is a continuous output current and a voltage ratio of less than one.

12. A power conversion system having a power rating, the power conversion system comprising:

a low voltage power source having an initial output voltage;

a DC-DC boost converter (DDBC) coupled to said power source; and

an inverter coupled to said DC-DC boost converter, wherein said DDBC is designed and configured to provide a continuous output current, a voltage ratio less than one, and to receive a discontinuous input current.

13. A power conversion system according to claim 12, wherein said DDBC extends the useful life of said low voltage power source.

14. A power conversion system according to claim 13, wherein said DDBC provides said continuous output current to said inverter when said low voltage power source has a reduced output voltage, said reduce output voltage being as much as about 80% of said initial output voltage.

15. A power conversion system according to claim 12, wherein said DDBC is a plurality of interleaved, isolated, full-bridge DC-DC converters arranged in a Delta-Wye configuration that is followed by multi-leg bridge.

16. A power conversion system according to claim 12, wherein said DDBC improves power conversion of power from said low voltage power source as the voltage of said low voltage power source decreases.

17. A power conversion system according to claim 12, further including a control system, said control system designed and configured to de-rate the power conversion system to a lower power rating.

18. A power conversion system according to claim 17, wherein said control system includes a control loop and a feedback loop, wherein said control loop monitors said continuous current output and said discontinuous input current and determines a power draw command based upon said continuous current output and said discontinuous input current, and wherein said feedback loop regulates said DDBC continuous current output.

19. A power conversion system according to claim 12, wherein said low voltage power source is a fuel cell.

20. A power conversion system according to claim 12, wherein said low voltage power source is a battery.