Dynamically optimized power converter
View Patent ↗A device and method for dynamically optimizing a power converter is disclosed. The dynamically optimized power converter unit includes a processor that maximizes efficiency of a power converter supplying energy to a load.
1. A method of dynamically optimizing a power converter including a plurality of converter modules connected in parallel between a power source and a load, comprising the steps of:
(a) initially activating each of said converter modules to supply power to said load;
(b) measuring an output power of said power converter;
(c) calculating an initial efficiency of said power converter when the measured output power is steady;
(d) identifying which of the converter modules should remain activated based on the measured output power, and deactivating any non-identified converter modules;
(e) calculating a present efficiency of said power converter after deactivating the non-identified converter modules;
(f) comparing the present efficiency with the initial efficiency, and activating the deactivated converter modules if the current efficiency is less than the initial efficiency; and
(g) periodically repeating steps (a) through (f).
2. A method of dynamically optimizing a power converter including a plurality of converter modules connected in parallel between a power source and a load, comprising the steps of:
(a) initially activating each of said converter modules, and setting a switching frequency of each converter module to an initial value;
(b) measuring an output power of said power converter;
(c) calculating an initial efficiency of said power converter when the measured output power is steady;
(d) identifying which of the converter modules should remain activated based on the measured output power, and deactivating any non-identified converter modules;
(e) calculating a present efficiency of said power converter after deactivating the non-identified converter modules;
(f) comparing the present efficiency with the initial efficiency, and activating the deactivated converter modules if the current efficiency is less than the initial efficiency;
(g) reducing the switching frequency of each converter module by a prescribed amount;
(h) re-calculating the efficiency of said power converter to determine whether the efficiency increased due to the switching frequency reduction of step (g);
(i) repeating steps (g) and (h) until it is determined that the efficiency has not increased; and
(j) periodically repeating steps (b) through (i).
3. A method of dynamically optimizing a power converter including a plurality of converter modules connected in parallel between a power source and a load, comprising the steps of:
(a) initially activating each of said converter modules, and setting a switching frequency of each converter module to an initial value;
(b) measuring an output power of said power converter;
(c) calculating an initial efficiency of said power converter when the measured output power is steady;
(d) identifying which of the converter modules should remain activated based on the measured output power, and deactivating any non-identified converter modules;
(e) calculating a present efficiency of said power converter after deactivating the non-identified converter modules;
(f) comparing the present efficiency with the initial efficiency, and activating the deactivated converter modules if the current efficiency is less than the initial efficiency;
(g) reducing the switching frequency of each converter module by a prescribed amount;
(h) re-calculating the efficiency of said power converter to determine whether the efficiency increased due to the switching frequency reduction of step (g);
(i) repeating steps (g) and (h) until it is determined that the efficiency has not increased;
(j) iteratively adjusting a duty cycle of each activated converter module to equalize measured temperatures of the activated converter modules; and
(k) periodically repeating steps (b) through (j).