Empower Micro Systems Inc.

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.

Other

Sungrow USA Inc.

Mika Nuotio

Milan Ilic

Jon Bonanno

Dragan Maksimovic

David James Stewart

Sorin Andrei Spanoche

Systems and methods are disclosed with multiple direct current (DC) voltage source inverters to supply power to an alternating current (AC) power system. The system includes a plurality of full bridge inverter stages, each having a primary node and a secondary node, each of said full bridge inverter stages having positive and negative node, each of said full bridge inverter stages having a voltage supporting device electrically connected in a parallel relationship between said positive node and said negative node and a direct current (DC) source connected between the positive and negative nodes; at least one stacked inverter phase, each stacked inverter phase having a plurality of said full bridge inverter stages, each of said full bridge inverter stages in each stacked inverter phase interconnected in a series relationship with said secondary node of one of said full bridge inverter stages connected to said primary node of another full bridge inverter, said series interconnection defining a first full bridge inverter stage and a last full bridge inverter stage, each phase having an input node at said primary node of said first full bridge inverter stage and an output node at said secondary node of said last full bridge inverter stage; a local controller coupled to each full bridge inverter stage providing the control signals to each full bridge inverter stage to output an approximate nearly sinusoidal voltage waveform; and a system controller which communicating with each local controller; the system controller generating system control signals for configuration, synchronization, activation, deactivation and operating mode selection of said local controller.

Distributed voltage source inverters

A multiple dc sources bi-directional energy converter includes a plurality of direct current (DC) power sources; one alternating current (AC) power source; at least one stacked alternating current (AC) phase, each stacked alternating current (AC) phase having at least two or more full bridge converters, each respectively coupled to one of the direct current power sources, each full bridge converter having an inductor electrically coupled thereto; and a local controller coupled to each full bridge converter controlling the firing sequence of the switching devices in said full bridge converter to generate an approximately nearly sinusoidal voltage waveform when operated as a voltage source inverter in one direction or generate an approximately nearly constant direct current (DC) output when operated as a full-wave active rectifier in the opposite direction.

Bi-directional energy converter with multiple DC sources

In some aspects, an electric vehicle power system may comprise two or more electrically connected power modules connected to a system communication bus. Each power module may comprise a rechargeable battery electrically connected to a DC bus, an inverter circuit electrically connected to the DC bus, and at least one of a single-phase rectifier circuit electrically connected to the DC bus or a multi-phase rectifier circuit electrically connected to the DC bus. A local controller configured to send control signals may be connected to the rechargeable battery, the inverter circuit, and the at least one of the single-phase rectifier circuit or the multi-phase rectifier circuit. The single-phase rectifier circuit may be configured to convert a single-phase AC power signal into the DC voltage of the DC bus. The multi-phase rectifier circuit may be configured to convert a multi-phase AC power signal into the DC voltage of the DC bus.

Modular extra low voltage electric vehicle power system

A stacked voltage source inverter having separate DC sources is described herein. This inverter is applicable to low or medium voltage, low to medium power applications such as photovoltaic utility interface systems, battery storage application such as peak shaving with renewables, motor drive applications and for electric vehicle drive systems. The stacked inverter consists of at least one phase wherein each phase has a plurality of low voltage full bridge inverters equipped with an independent DC source. This inverter develops a near sinusoidal approximation voltage waveform with fast switching and small low pass AC output filter. A system controller controls operating parameters for each inverter. The inverter may have either single-phase or multi-phase embodiments connected in either wye or delta configurations.

Stacked voltage source inverter with separate DC sources

The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide single phase inverters that may be cooperatively controlled to provide one, two, or three phase unipolar electricity. In an embodiment, a solar panel may be connected to a DC to DC converter and a unipolar power converter. In an embodiment, the unipolar power converter output may be a single phase signal approximating a desired voltage waveform and frequency, offset from the ground electrical potential such that the voltage output signal may be always positive, thus 'unipolar'. In an embodiment, the unipolar power output of each string of solar panels may be connected to a dedicated, predetermined phase of a load, such as a three phase grid system. In an embodiment, the DC output of a DC to DC converter may be connected in parallel with other DC to DC converters and other unipolar converters.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Mika Nuotio