Dc bus-based electrical power router utilizing multiple configurable bidirectional ac/dc converters

Abstract

An electrical power distribution system includes a number of alternating current (AC) power output ports to transmit electrical power at a first fixed AC voltage level to a corresponding number of AC power loads. An AC bus coupled to the AC power output ports, and to couple to an AC power grid, transmits electrical power at a second fixed AC voltage level. A DC bus transmits electrical power at a first fixed DC voltage level. A number of AC power input/output (I/O) adapters are coupled to the AC bus and the DC bus, each including a bidirectional AC-to-DC (AC/DC) converter to receive and convert the electrical power transmitted on the AC bus at the second fixed AC voltage level to the electrical power at the first fixed DC voltage level for transmission to the DC bus, and to receive and convert the electrical power transmitted on the DC bus at the first fixed DC voltage level to the electrical power at the second fixed AC voltage level for transmission to the AC bus. The system further includes logic coupled to the AC power I/O adapters, the AC power output ports, and the AC bus, to control an amount of the electrical power transmitted from the AC power grid to the DC bus and from the DC bus to the AC bus for transmission to the AC power grid and/or one or more of the AC power output ports.