Converter, method of installing a power system, and use of a converter
A converter comprises a housing having a mounting structure for mounting the converter to a DIN rail. A converter circuit is disposed within the housing and comprises one or several wide-bandgap semiconductor based active switching element(s). The converter circuit is adapted to perform a total harmonic voltage distortion measurement and to perform a control function based thereon.
1 . A converter, comprising:
a housing having a mounting structure for mounting the converter to a DIN rail; and
a converter circuit disposed within the housing and comprising one or more wide-bandgap semiconductor based active switching element(s), wherein the converter circuit is configured to determine a total harmonic voltage distortion (THvD) from voltage measurements and to generate one or more control signals to control the one or more wide-bandgap semiconductor based active switching element(s), wherein the one or more control signals are generated based on the determined THvD and without using any current measurements, and wherein the converter circuit is configured for current transformer (CT)-free sensor-less operation and lacks any terminal or interface configured to receive a current measurement or total harmonic current distortion (THiD) measurement from a CT via a wired or wireless connection.
2 . The converter of claim 1 , wherein the converter circuit comprises a wireless interface, wherein the wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, or Wi-Fi interface.
3 . The converter of claim 2 , wherein the wireless interface is configured to output data for outputting via a human-machine interface.
4 . The converter of claim 2 , wherein the converter comprises a control circuit configured to control switching of the one or more wide-bandgap semiconductor based active switching element(s) based on the determined THvD and independently of a THiD measurement.
5 . The converter of claim 1 , wherein the converter is a bidirectional converter.
6 . The converter of claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure is configured for mechanical engagement with a DIN rail selected from a group consisting of a top hat rail, a C section rail, and a G section rail.
7 . The converter of claim 6 , wherein the mounting structure is configured for mechanical engagement with both a first DIN rail and a second DIN rail, the first and second DIN rails being different from each other and both the first and the second DIN rail being selected from the group consisting of a top hat rail, a C section rail, and a G section rail.
8 . An active harmonic filter, power factor correction circuit, load balance circuit, or battery energy storage system, comprising:
a DIN rail and
the converter of claim 1 mounted on the DIN rail.
9 . The active harmonic filter, power factor correction circuit, load balance circuit, or battery energy storage system of claim 8 , wherein the converter is installed in a wall-mounted unit.
10 . A power system, comprising:
a bus;
a plurality of loads coupled to the bus; and
a plurality of converters of claim 1 connected to several of the loads.
11 . A power system architecture comprising at least one converter according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following applies:
the converter is capable of being mounted to an existing panel having a DIN rail by mounting the converter to the DIN rail;
installation of the converter can be performed without establishing a wired connection to a current transformer;
the converter is capable of being mounted to an existing low voltage panel without requiring a dedicated heat dissipation mechanism;
the converter is capable of being mounted close to a distortion source, optionally wherein the distortion source is a load that generates harmonic or reactive power; or
the converter is arranged in a de-centralized converter arrangement, to reduce or eliminate harmonics and reactive power flowing and/or to increase power quality.
12 . The converter of claim 1 , wherein the converter is configured to operate in an active harmonic filter, power factor correction circuit, load balance circuit, or battery energy storage system.
13 . The converter of claim 12 , wherein the converter further comprises a wireless interface, wherein the wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, or Wi-Fi interface.
14 . The converter of claim 12 , wherein the converter further comprises a control circuit configured to control switching of the wide-bandgap semiconductor based active switching element(s) based on the determined THvD and independently of a THiD measurement.
15 . The converter of claim 12 , wherein the converter is a bidirectional converter.
16 . The converter of claim 12 , wherein the mounting structure is configured for mechanical engagement with a DIN rail selected from a group consisting of a top hat rail, a C section rail, and a G section rail.
17 . The converter of claim 12 , wherein the mounting structure is configured for mechanical engagement with both a first DIN rail and a second DIN rail, the first and second DIN rails being different from each other and both the first and the second DIN rail being selected from the group consisting of a top hat rail, a C section rail, and a G section rail.
18 . A method of installing an active harmonic filter, power factor correction circuit, load balance circuit, or battery energy storage system, the method comprising:
providing a DIN rail; and
mounting a converter to the DIN rail, wherein the converter comprises a housing comprising a mounting structure, and a converter circuit disposed within the housing and comprising one or more wide-bandgap semiconductor based active switching element(s), wherein the converter circuit is configured to determine a total harmonic voltage distortion (THvD) and to generate one or more control signals to control the one or more wide-bandgap semiconductor based active switching element(s), wherein the one or more control signals are generated based on the determined THvD and without using any current measurements, and wherein the converter circuit is configured for current transformer (CT)-free sensor-less operation and lacks any terminal or interface configured to receive a current measurement or total harmonic current distortion (THiD) measurement from a CT via a wired or wireless connection, wherein mounting the converter to the DIN rail comprises engaging the mounting structure with the DIN rail.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the converter comprises:
at least one integrated circuit configured to receive a time-dependent voltage, to compute the THvD, and to generate the one or more control signals for the one or more wide-bandgap semiconductor based active switching element(s) that depend at least on the computed THvD to perform a control function.