Apparatus for providing high quality power

• US 7,462,954 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Validus DC Systems LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Validus DC Systems LLC (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Kraus, Rudy
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBeradinis; Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US11/593,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/08 requiring starting of a prime-mover

Abstract

There is provided a system that includes (a) a power feed that distributes a high DC voltage in a building, where the high DC voltage is in a range of about 300 to 600 VDC, (b) a converter, coupled to the power feed, that receives the high DC voltage, and scales the high DC voltage to a low DC voltage, and (c) a controller that controls a firing rate of the converter so that the low DC voltage is in a range of about 23 to 48 VDC.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first power feed that distributes a first high DC voltage in a building, wherein said first high DC voltage is in range of about 300 to 600 VDC;

a first converter, coupled to said first power feed, that receives said first high DC voltage, and scales said first high DC voltage to a first low DC voltage;

a first controller that controls a firing rate of said first converter so that said first low DC voltage is in a range of about 23 to 48 VDC;

a second power feed that distributes a second high DC voltage in said building, wherein said second high DC voltage is in a range of about 300 to 600 VDC;

a second converter, coupled to said second power feed, that receives said second high DC voltage, and scales said second high DC voltage to a second low DC voltage;

a second controller that controls a firing rate of said second converter so that said second low DC voltage is in a range of about 23 to 48 VDC;

a bridge that couples said first and second low DC voltages to provide a low DC voltage feed,

wherein said low DC voltage feed provides power at a level that is about equal to a sum of (a) power provided by said first converter and (b) power provided by said second converter; and

first and second sources for said first and second high DC voltages, respectively, each of said first and second high DC voltage sources comprises a rectifier that receives an AC voltage and converts said AC voltage to a high DC voltage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second high DC voltage sources each further comprises a flywheel that stores energy, and that discharges said energy to provide a high DC voltage.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said AC voltage is in a range of about 208 to 480 VAC.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second high DC voltage sources each further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a rectifier, a fuel cell, a battery, an uninterruptible power supply and a generator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second converters provides greater than or equal to about 30 kW of power.