Safety mechanisms, wake up and shutdown methods in distributed power installations
A distributed power system including multiple DC power sources and multiple power modules. The power modules include inputs coupled respectively to the DC power sources and outputs coupled in series to form a serial string. An inverter is coupled to the serial string. The inverter converts power input from the serial string to output power. A signaling mechanism between the inverter and the power module is adapted for controlling operation of the power modules.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a DC-DC converter, wherein said DC-DC converter includes an input configured to couple to a DC power source, and wherein said DC-DC converter includes an output;
an inverter coupled to said output of said DC-DC converter, said inverter configured to convert power received from said output of said DC-DC converter; and
a signaling mechanism circuit between said inverter and said DC-DC converter, wherein said signaling mechanism circuit is adapted for controlling operation of said DC-DC converter, and wherein during operation of the apparatus, said signaling mechanism circuit superimposes a signal on said output of said DC-DC converter.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a receiver integrated with said DC-DC converter, said receiver adapted for receiving said signal on said output of said DC-DC converter from said inverter.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said DC-DC converter is adapted for operation in a safety mode, and during said safety mode, said power received by the inverter from said output of said DC-DC converter is limited.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said DC-DC converter includes a detector, wherein during operation of the apparatus, said detector detects the signal superimposed by said signaling mechanism circuit and, based on said superimposed signal, said operation of said DC-DC converter is varied from said safety mode of operation to a normal mode of operation for converting power of said DC power source received on said input of said DC-DC converter to converted power on said output of said DC-DC converter.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said DC-DC converter is configured to vary operation between a safety mode of operation and a normal mode of operation based on detecting a change in the signal superimposed on said output, wherein the DC-DC converter in the safety mode limits the power received by the inverter from said output of said DC-DC converter.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said DC-DC converter in said safety mode limits the power received by the inverter from said output of said DC-DC converter to less than a predetermined amount.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said DC-DC converter in said safety mode limits the power received by the inverter from said output of said DC-DC converter to less than a predetermined amount.
8. An apparatus comprising:
a DC-DC converter, wherein said DC-DC converter includes an input configured to couple to a DC power source, and wherein said DC-DC converter includes an output;
an inverter coupled to said output of said DC-DC converter, said inverter configured to convert power received from said output of said DC-DC converter; and
a signaling mechanism circuit between said inverter and said DC-DC converter, wherein said signaling mechanism circuit is adapted for controlling operation of said DC-DC converter, and wherein said signaling mechanism circuit includes a switch integrated with said inverter, said switch modulating a signal onto said output of said DC-DC converter.
9. An apparatus comprising:
a DC-DC converter, wherein said DC-DC converter includes an input configured to couple to a DC power source, and wherein said DC-DC converter includes an output;
an inverter coupled to said output of said DC-DC converter, said inverter configured to convert power received from said output of said DC-DC converter and provide said converted power to an electrical grid;
a signaling mechanism circuit between said inverter and said DC-DC converter, wherein said signaling mechanism circuit is adapted for controlling operation of said DC-DC converter; and
a detector in said DC-DC converter adapted for detecting a signal at a frequency of said electrical grid.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said DC-DC converter is configured to vary operation between a safety mode and a normal mode based on a change in the detected signal, wherein the DC-DC converter in the safety mode limits the power received by the inverter from said output of said DC-DC converter.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a DC-DC converter, wherein said DC-DC converter includes an input configured to couple to a DC power source, and wherein said DC-DC converter includes an output;
an inverter coupled to said output of said DC-DC converter, said inverter configured to convert power received from said output of said DC-DC converter and provide said converted power to an electric grid;
a signaling mechanism circuit between said inverter and said DC-DC converter, wherein said signaling mechanism circuit is adapted for controlling operation of said DC-DC converter; and
a detector in said DC-DC converter adapted for detecting on said output of said DC-DC converter a signal from said electrical grid and wherein said signal is detected at a higher frequency up converted from the frequency of said electrical grid.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a DC-DC converter, wherein said DC-DC converter includes an input configured to couple to a DC power source, and wherein said DC-DC converter includes an output;
an inverter coupled to said output of said DC-DC converter, said inverter configured to convert power received from said output of said DC-DC converter and provide said converted power to an electric grid;
a signaling mechanism circuit between said inverter and said DC-DC converter, wherein said signaling mechanism circuit is adapted for controlling operation of said DC-DC converter; and
a detector in said DC-DC converter adapted for detecting a signal at a switching frequency of said inverter.
13. A method comprising:
monitoring a signal superimposed on an output of a DC-DC converter, wherein the signal is superimposed by an inverter coupled to the output of the DC-DC converter; and
varying operation of the DC-DC converter between a safety mode of operation and a normal mode of operation based on a change in the monitored signal, wherein the DC-DC converter in the safety mode limits DC converted power provided from said output of said DC-DC converter to the inverter.
14. The method, according to claim 13 , wherein said DC-DC converter in said safety mode limits the DC converted power to less than a predetermined amount characterized by having less than ten milliamperes of current flow at less than 10 Volts through said output of said DC-DC converter.
15. The method, according to claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
upon detecting said monitored signal, increasing said DC converted power provided to said inverter by operating said DC-DC converter in the normal mode by converting power from a DC power source to said DC converted power on said output of the DC-DC converter.
16. The method, according to claim 15 , further comprising:
upon detecting said monitored signal and prior to said operating of said DC-DC converter in said normal mode of operation, slowly ramping up voltage of said DC converter power on said output of said DC-DC converter.
17. The method, according to claim 13 , wherein said normal mode of operation of said DC-DC converter includes controlling a maximum peak power at an input of the DC-DC converter coupled to said DC power source.
18. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said DC-DC converter in said safety mode limits the power to less than a predetermined amount.