Central current share coordinator, method of current sharing and battery plant employing the same
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a central current share coordinator for use with remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers coupled to an output bus. In one embodiment, the central current share coordinator includes a rectifier current resolver configured to determine an existing current share condition for the remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers. Additionally, the central current share coordinator also includes a load share adjuster coupled to the rectifier current resolver and configured to adjust an output current of the remotely controllable rectifiers toward a target current share distribution on the output bus.
1. A central current share coordinator for use with remotely controllable rectifiers and non-remotely controllable rectifiers coupled to a common output bus, comprising:
a rectifier current resolver configured to determine an existing current share condition for said remotely controllable rectifiers and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers, wherein at least a portion of said non-remotely controllable rectifiers indicates an output current; and
a load share adjuster coupled to said rectifier current resolver and configured to adjust an output current of said remotely controllable rectifiers toward a target current share distribution between said remotely controllable and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers on said common output bus, wherein said remotely controllable rectifiers and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers convert alternating current (AC) power from separate AC sources to a direct current (DC) output voltage.
2. The coordinator as recited in claim 1 wherein said target current share distribution provides a pro rata current share based on capacities of said remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers.
3. The coordinator as recited in claim 1 wherein said target current share distribution depends on a load current.
4. The coordinator as recited in claim 1 wherein said remotely controllable rectifiers employ a serial bus structure to provide individual addressability.
5. The coordinator as recited in claim 1 wherein said remotely controllable rectifiers indicate an output current employing one of a reporting basis and a polling basis.
6. The coordinator as recited in claim 1 wherein only one of each type of said remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers is employed.
7. A method of current sharing for use with remotely controllable rectifiers and non-remotely controllable rectifiers coupled to a common output bus, comprising:
providing alternating current (AC) power to said remotely controllable rectifiers and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers from separate AC sources;
converting said AC power by said remotely controllable and non-remotely controllable rectifiers to a direct current (DC) output;
determining an existing current share condition for said remotely controllable rectifiers and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers, wherein at least a portion of said non-remotely controllable rectifiers indicates an output current; and
adjusting an output current of said remotely controllable rectifiers toward a target current share distribution between said remotely controllable and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers on said common output bus.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said target current share distribution provides a pro rata current share based on capacities of said remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers.
9. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said target current share distribution depends on a load current.
10. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said remotely controllable rectifiers employ a serial bus structure to provide individual addressability.
11. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein said remotely controllable rectifiers indicate an output current employing one of a reporting basis and a polling basis.
12. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein only one of each type of said remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers is employed.
13. A battery plant, comprising:
a battery string coupled to a common output bus;
remotely controllable rectifiers and non-remotely controllable rectifiers coupled to said common output bus, wherein at least a portion of said non-remotely controllable rectifiers indicates an output current and wherein said remotely controllable and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers convert alternating current (AC) power from separate AC sources to a direct current (DC) output voltage;
a power system controller coupled to said remotely controllable rectifiers and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers; and
a central current share coordinator coupled to said power system controller, including:
a rectifier current resolver that determines an existing current share condition for said remotely controllable rectifiers and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers, and
a load share adjuster, coupled to said rectifier current resolver, that adjusts an output current of said remotely controllable rectifiers toward a target current share distribution between said remotely controllable and said non-remotely controllable rectifiers on said common output bus.
14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said target current share distribution provides a pro rata current share based on capacities of said remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers.
15. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said target current share distribution depends on a load current.
16. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said remotely controllable rectifiers employ a serial bus structure to provide individual addressability.
17. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said remotely controllable rectifiers indicate an output current employing one of a reporting basis and a polling basis.
18. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein only one of each type of said remotely and non-remotely controllable rectifiers is employed.