Granted Patent B2

US 8,803,485 · App. 12/732,162 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. A power conversion method for use in a power conversion system for receiving an input electric power and converting the input electric power into an output electric power which is to be output to a load, wherein the power conversion system comprises a plurality of power conversion modules operating in a cooperative manner and a detector controller module; wherein each of power conversion modules has a maximum output power level and has a non-activated state and an activated state where the corresponding power conversion module has a conversion efficiency varying according to a ratio of an output power level that is to be supplied to the load over the maximum output power level; the power conversion method comprising the steps of:

a) characterizing a battery charging voltage and current for each of a plurality of time segments, relative to a battery to be charged;

b) transmitting the output electric power to the battery with a total output power level for each of the plurality of time segments being in accordance with the characterized battery charging voltage and current;

c) enabling the detector and controller module to determine an output setting according to the total output power level, wherein the output setting is determined such that the power conversion modules supply electric power to the load in a cooperative manner that at least one of the power conversion modules is placed in the non-activated state thereof during at least one of the plurality of time segments; and

d) controlling the respective states of the power conversion modules according to the output setting, wherein each power conversion module of the plurality of power conversion modules has a different power rating, and wherein one of the plurality of power conversion modules is placed in the activated state thereof as a result of the one of the plurality of power conversion modules having a lowest temperature among available ones of the plurality of power conversion modules.

2. The power conversion method according to claim 1 , wherein the output setting in step c) is determined such that the power conversion modules are activated in a manner such that the power conversion system has a minimum number of the power conversion modules placed in the activated states thereof and the sum of the maximum output power levels of all the power conversion modules placed in the activated states is higher than the total output power level needed by the load.

3. The power conversion method according to claim 1 , wherein when the load comprises a plurality of load components and when the power conversion modules are placed in step c) to provide sufficient electric power to support the total output power level needed by the load, the step d) further comprises a sub-step d1) of dividing the power conversion modules into a plurality of sections corresponding to the respective load components.

4. The power conversion method according to claim 1 , wherein when the load comprises a temperature sensor and a rechargeable battery provided with a feedback bus for outputting a signal indicative of a temperature measured by the temperature sensor, the step c) further comprises a sub-step c1) of using a corresponding bus corresponding to the feedback bus to receive the temperature signal and transmit the temperature signal to the detector and controller module.

5. The power conversion method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of power conversion modules has a differing rated power.

6. The power conversion method of claim 1 , wherein the each of the plurality of power conversion modules has a same rated power.

7. The power conversion method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of power conversion modules includes a shared bridge rectifier.

8. The power conversion method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of power conversion modules includes a shared electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter.

9. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

characterizing power supply efficiency curves of the plurality of power conversion modules, wherein the combination of activated states and non-activated states is based on the power supply efficiency curves.

10. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an average power required for each of the plurality of time segments, wherein the combination of activated states and non-activated states for each of the plurality of time segments is based on the average power required for each of the plurality of time segments.

11. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining at least one crossover power level of power transfer efficiency curves of differing combinations of activated states and non-activated states of the plurality of power conversion modules; and

applying the at least one crossover power level when switching between the differing combinations of activated states and non-activated states.

12. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

redistributing allocation of the activated states and the non-activated states among the plurality of power conversion modules so as to reduce operating time of at least one of the plurality of power conversion modules.

13. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

extending a time of one of the plurality of time segments in response to a failure of a one of the plurality of power conversion modules.

14. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

distributing power from the plurality of power conversion modules to a plurality of batteries including the battery.

15. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

adding to the power conversion system an extra power supply module having hot plug and unplug capability.

16. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retaining at least one of the power conversion modules in the non-activated state as one of a plurality of backup modules.

17. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

allocating at least one of a plurality of backup power conversion modules to the activated state in a timing cycle.

18. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

supplying electrical power to the power conversion modules from solar energy.

19. The power conversion method of claim 1 , further comprising:

supplying electrical power to the power conversion modules from at least one fuel cell.

Assignments (8)