Parallel connected inverters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a power converter having a direct current (DC) input and an output; and
a controller configured to adjust input current drawn by the power converter at the DC input in response to a change in a measured input voltage at the DC input until power at the DC input reaches an equilibrium according to a previously prescribed function that specifies a range of input currents for the power converter to draw for a corresponding range of input voltages measured at the DC input.
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Abstract
A distributed power system wherein a plurality of power converters are connected in parallel and share the power conversion load according to a prescribed function, but each power converter autonomously determines its share of power conversion. Each power converter operates according to its own power conversion formula/function, such that overall the parallel-connected converters share the power conversion load in a predetermined manner.
420 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a power converter having a direct current (DC) input and an output; and a controller configured to adjust input current drawn by the power converter at the DC input in response to a change in a measured input voltage at the DC input until power at the DC input reaches an equilibrium according to a previously prescribed function that specifies a range of input currents for the power converter to draw for a corresponding range of input voltages measured at the DC input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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a power converter having a direct current (DC) input and an output; and a controller configured to control input current drawn by the power converter at the DC input in response to a change in a measured input voltage at the DC input according to a previously prescribed function that specifies a range of input currents for a corresponding range of input voltages at the DC input, wherein the range of input voltages and the range of input currents are specified according to a plurality of power output levels of a power source connected to the DC input, wherein for each power output level, in response to a reduction in the input current drawn by the power converter, the measured input voltage driven by the power source increases.
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a power converter having a direct current (DC) input and an output; and a controller configured to control input current drawn by the power converter at the DC input in response to a change in a measured input voltage at the DC input according to a previously prescribed function that specifies a range of input currents for a corresponding range of input voltages at the DC input, wherein the range of input voltages and the range of input currents are specified according to a plurality of operating conditions of a solar power source connected to the DC input, wherein the plurality of operating conditions include an increase in the measured voltage at the DC input in response a decrease in the input current drawn by the power converter.
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9. An apparatus comprising:
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a power converter having a direct current (DC) input and an output; a controller configured to control input current drawn by the power converter at the DC input in response to a change in a measured input voltage at the DC input according to a previously prescribed function that specifies a range of input currents for a corresponding range of input voltages at the DC input; a second power converter having a second DC input and a second output, wherein the DC input is connected to the second DC input, and wherein the output is connected to the second output; and a second controller configured to control input current drawn by the second power converter at the second DC input in response to a measured second input voltage at the second DC input according to a second previously prescribed function that specifies a second range of input currents for a corresponding second range of input voltages at the second DC input, wherein the controller and second controller are configured to control, independent of each other, the input current drawn by the power converter and the input current drawn by the second power converter, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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14. A method comprising:
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converting, with a power converter, direct current (DC) power received at a DC input of the power converter to output power at an output of the power converter; and adjusting input current drawn by the power converter at the DC input in response to a change in measured input voltage at the DC input until power at the DC input reaches an equilibrium according to a previously prescribed function that specifies a range of input currents for the power converter to draw for a corresponding range of input voltages measured at the DC input. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 20)
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18. A method comprising:
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converting, with a power converter, direct current (DC) power received at a DC input of the power converter to output power at an output of the power converter; and controlling input current drawn by the power converter at the DC input in response to a change in measured input voltage at the DC input according to a predetermined control function that specifies a range of input currents for a corresponding range of input voltages at the DC input, wherein the range of input voltages and range of input currents are specified according to a plurality of power output levels of a power source connected to the DC input, wherein for each power output level, in response to a reduction in the input current drawn by the power converter, the power source increases the measured input voltage.
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19. A method comprising:
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converting, with a power converter, direct current (DC) power received at a DC input of the power converter to output power at an output of the power converter; controlling input current drawn by the power converter at the DC input in response to a change in measured input voltage at the DC input according to a predetermined control function that specifies a range of input currents for a corresponding range of input voltages at the DC input; converting, with a second power converter, additional direct current power received at a second DC input of the second power converter to additional output power at a second output of the second power converter, wherein the DC input is connected to the second DC input, and wherein the output is connected to the second output; and controlling additional input current drawn by the second power converter at the second DC input in response to a measured second input voltage at the second DC input according to a second previously prescribed function that specifies a second range of input currents for a second range of input voltages at the second DC input, wherein the controlling of the input current drawn by the power converter is independent from the controlling of the additional input current drawn by the second power converter.
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Specification