GRID SYNCHRONISATION
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a grid synchroniser for connecting an AC output of a power converter to the AC grid mains. In one aspect the invention provides a grid synchroniser comprising an inverter controller to control an AC output of the inverter, the controller including a receiver to receive grid data from a grid sensor location remote from said inverter. In another aspect we describe techniques for rapid removal of charge from a control terminal of a power switching device such as a MOSFET, IGBT or Thyristor using a particular driver circuit.
158 Citations
51 Claims
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1-31. -31. (canceled)
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32. A grid synchroniser to synchronise an AC output of an inverter to an AC grid mains, said inverter having a power input and an AC output for connection to said AC grid mains to provide a power supply input into said AC grid mains, the grid synchroniser comprising:
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an inverter controller to control said AC output of said inverter, said controller including a receiver to receive grid data from a grid sensor location remote from said inverter, said grid sensor sensing a grid characteristic of said AC grid mains, wherein said sensed grid characteristic comprises a phase of voltage of said AC grid mains and said received grid data indicates said phase; wherein said grid data comprises data relating to a grid characteristic of said AC grid mains sensed by said grid sensor, and wherein said inverter controller controls AC current output from said AC output responsive to said grid data relating to said grid characteristic to align phase of said AC current to said indicated phase. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of synchronising an AC output of a plurality of inverters to an AC grid mains, each said inverter having a power input and an AC output for connection to said AC grid mains to provide a power supply input into said AC grid mains, the method comprising:
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sensing a characteristic of said AC grid mains using a grid sensor located remote from said inverters, wherein said sensed grid characteristic comprises a phase of voltage of said AC grid mains and said sensing is performed by a sensor coupled to said AC grid mains at a point where AC current from each said AC output of said inverters is injected into said AC grid mains; transmitting grid data relating to said sensed grid characteristic to each said inverter, wherein said transmitted grid data indicates said phase; and controlling said AC current of each said AC output of said inverters responsive to said grid data relating to said sensed grid characteristic to align phase of each said AC current to said indicated phase. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A system, including a grid synchroniser, for micropower generation, the system comprising:
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a plurality of inverters, each said inverter having a power input and an AC output for connection to an AC grid mains to provide a power supply input into said AC grid mains; and a sensor, remote from said inverter, to sense a grid characteristic of said AC grid mains and to transmit data relating to said sensed grid characteristic to said inverter, wherein said sensed grid characteristic comprises a phase of voltage of said AC grid mains and said transmitted grid data indicates said phase, wherein each said inverter includes a receiver to receive said transmitted data, each said inverter being configured to control AC current output from said AC output of said inverter responsive to said data relating to said sensed grid characteristic to align phase of each said AC current to said indicated phase, and said sensor is configured to couple to said AC grid mains at a point where said controlled AC currents output from said AC outputs from said inverters are injected into said AC grid mains. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A power conditioning circuit having a dc input and an ac output for connection to an ac grid mains power supply to provide power into said ac grid mains power supply, said power conditioning circuit including at least one semiconductor switching device and a driver circuit, for switching power derived from said dc input to provide said ac output to said ac grid mains power supply, wherein said driver circuit is connected to switch on and off said semiconductor switching device, said semiconductor switching device having first and second terminals, and a switching control terminal to control switching between said first and second terminals the driver circuit being configured to derive from said ac grid mains power supply a control signal for application to said switching control terminal of said semiconductor switching device to control said switching, said driver circuit comprising:
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an input to receive a voltage derived from said ac grid mains power supply; a reference line for coupling to one of said first and second terminals of said semiconductor switching device; a rectifier having an input coupled to said input and an output; and a resistive element coupled between said output of said rectifier and said reference line; and a drive output for driving said switching control terminal of said semiconductor switching device, said drive output being coupled to a circuit node between said resistive element and said output of said rectifier. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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Specification