Sparq Systems Inc.

Queen's University at Kingston

Other

Honeywell International Inc.

Alireza Bakhshai

Praveen Jain

Sayed Ali Khajehoddin

Masoud Karimi Ghartemani

Majid Pahlevaninezhad

Suzan Eren

Hassan Ali Kojori

Shangzhi Pan

Ali Khajehoddin

Hamid Danesh-Pajooh-Nejad

Hamidreza Karshenas

Javad Ebrahimi Jouzdani

Praveen K Jain

A method for controlling a three phase neutral point clamped (NPC) converter independently controls switching devices of each phase to produce a reconstructed output voltage level of each phase based on a linear combination of three voltage levels of that phase. The method includes setting duty ratios of the switching devices of each phase to provide the reconstructed voltage level of each phase during a switching cycle, wherein the three voltage levels of each phase are 0, and Vdc, where Vdc is the NPC converter input voltage. Controllers for three phase NPC converters produce drive signals for the switching devices according to the methods.

Modulation methods and controllers for neutral point clamped converter

Provided are DC-bus voltage or DC-bus current controller methods and circuits, for a voltage or current source inverter. A mean value calculator provides an output signal comprising the mean value of the DC-bus voltage or current, which is used as a feedback signal in a closed loop of the voltage or current source inverter controller, such that a ripple in the DC-bus voltage or current is substantially prevented from entering the closed-loop. In some embodiments a droop controller, which may be adaptive, is used in the closed loop with reverse proportional gain. The adaptive droop controller may provide a constant or variable DC-bus voltage or current. Embodiments regulate the DC-bus voltage or current to an optimized value such that power losses for load and grid conditions are minimized or reduced, and voltage and current ripple is minimized. Embodiments may be used in voltage and current source inverters connected to the utility power distribution grid, in power generation systems, in distributed generation systems, and renewable energy systems.

DC-bus controller for an inverter

Provided herein is a single phase power system controller and a method for controlling a single phase power system. The single phase power system controller comprises an error signal generator that generates an error signal from an instantaneous power reference signal and a measured instantaneous output power signal corresponding to the power delivered to a power distribution grid; and a modulator that modulates the error signal according to a trigonometric function of the grid voltage phase angle and produces a control signal for an inverter controller. In accordance with the circuits and methods provided herein, real and reactive power delivered to the grid are controlled simultaneously based on instantaneous output power feedback.

Single phase power system controller and method therefor

Provided are methods and circuits for a controller for a control system, comprising first and second control loops that operate substantially independently, wherein the first control loop is an amplitude control loop and the second loop is a phase or frequency control loop. In some embodiments the amplitude control loop operates at an amplitude that is proportional to an amplitude of an input signal at a fundamental system frequency and at a selected harmonic of a fundamental system frequency; and the frequency control loop operates at a fundamental system frequency and at a selected harmonic of the fundamental system frequency. The frequency control loop may adaptable to a fundamental control system frequency or to a selected harmonic of the fundamental control system frequency. The controller may be implemented as a resonant controller and used in various ac systems, and offers high structural robustness in digital implementations.

Digital controller for a power converter

Described herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for a controller for a power circuit that interfaces distributed power generation with a power distribution grid, comprising: a first portion, including a maximum power point tracker, that receives signals corresponding to the distributed power generation voltage and current, and outputs to the power circuit a signal for controlling the voltage of the distributed power generation; a second portion, including a current reference generator, a current controller, and a dc voltage controller, that receives signals corresponding to a dc voltage of the power circuit, the power distribution grid voltage and current, and the inverter current, and outputs signals for controlling the power circuit output voltage; wherein the current reference generator includes nonlinear circuit elements and generates a current reference signal from the dc voltage of the power circuit and the grid voltage and current; such that substantially harmonic-free power is injected into the power distribution grid. The distributed power generation may be, for example, a photovoltaic module or a wind turbine.

Distributed power generation interface

Provided is a maximum power point (MPP) tracker for a PV cell inverter, and a PV cell inverter. The MPP tracker decouples output power oscillations from the input power generation and extracts maximum available power from the PV cell. The PV cell inverter uses the MPP tracker and generates a sinusoidal output current from the MPP tracker output. The sinusoidal output current may be fed to a power distribution grid. The PV cell inverter may use a pulse width modulation technique to cancel harmonics in the sinusoidal output current. The circuits use a minimum number of components and avoid use of large electrolytic capacitors.

Inverter for a distributed power generator

Systems, methods, and devices for use with active/reactive power control in power conditioning systems. To provide quick active/reactive power control by way of a grid-connected inverter, an estimator estimates the P and Q coefficients based on an instantaneous power from the grid-connected inverter. The estimator receives grid current and voltage and estimates of the P and Q coefficients are used with reference P and Q values to determine whether active or reactive power needs to be injected to the grid. The P coefficient is a DC offset of the instantaneous power of the grid and the Q coefficient is the coefficient of a sine component of the instantaneous power.

System and method for active/reactive power compensation

A maximum power point tracking method and system for use with a power generator comprises sampling instantaneous output voltage and current of the power generator at a first instant in time and at a second instant in time to obtain first and second power samples, generating a reference voltage or current signal from a difference of the first and second power samples; comparing the reference voltage or current to the instantaneous power generator voltage or current and generating at least one gating signal; and repeating so as to minimize the difference of the first and second power samples; wherein the gating signal affects magnitude of the output voltage and current of the power generator; wherein the maximum power point is tracked when the difference signal is minimized. The power generator may be at least one photovoltaic cell, wind turbine, or fuel cell.

Maximum power point tracking for a power generator

Provided are methods, circuits, and systems for obtaining power from a power generator such as a photovoltaic cell or a fuel cell. The methods, circuits, and systems comprise converting substantially DC output power from the power generator into a high frequency AC voltage while rejecting or minimizing oscillations in the output power from the power generator; converting the high frequency AC voltage into a high frequency substantially sinusoidal voltage or current; and converting the high frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current into (i) a DC voltage or current, and (ii) a low frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current; wherein the high frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current is isolated from the DC voltage or current or the low frequency substantially sinusoidal AC voltage or current.

Power converter for a power generator

A multi-module bidirectional power converter may comprise a low side common node, a high side common node and at least first and second bidirectional DC/DC converter modules. The modules may comprise first and second low voltage switches, first and second high voltage switches and a transformer. The transformer may comprise a low side winding having first and second legs and a high side winding having first and second legs. The first leg of the low side winding may be connected with the first and second low voltage switches of the module. The second leg of the low side winding may be connected with the low side common node of the multi-module bidirectional power converter. The first leg of the high side winding may be connected with the first and second high voltage switches of the module. The second leg of the high side winding may be connected to the high side common node of the multi-module bidirectional power converter. Such an arrangement may provide operability of the multi-module bidirectional power converter with any one or more of the modules so that efficiency is maintained when electrical loads are high and so that Zero Voltage Switching is maintained when electrical loads are low.

Growing community of inventors

Kingston, Canada

Alireza Bakhshai