Power-line communication coupling
View Patent ↗In some embodiments, a system includes a power system coupled to a power bus, and a power line communication (PLC) gateway coupled in series with the power bus. In other embodiments, a system includes first and second power circuits coupled in series with a power bus, and first and second power-line communication circuits coupled in series with the power bus. In additional embodiments, a system includes a power converter coupled to a power bus and having one or more switching frequencies, and a power-line communication circuit coupled to the power bus and having one or more communication frequencies, where at least one of the switching frequencies is substantially greater than at least one of the communication frequencies.
1. A power converter for converting a direct current (DC) input from a DC source to an alternating current (AC) output supplied to an AC power bus, the power converter comprising:
a power converter subsystem comprising a power inverter to (i) receive the DC input from a DC power source and (ii) convert the DC input to a corresponding AC output;
a power line communication circuit for communication by the power converter over the AC power bus based on at least one communication frequency different from a frequency of the AC output supplied to the AC power bus; and
a transformer for galvanic isolation comprising (i) a primary winding electrically coupled to the power converter subsystem and (ii) a secondary winding electrically coupled to the power line communication circuit.
2. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the primary winding includes a first input electrically coupled to the power converter subsystem and a second input electrically coupled to another power converter.
3. The power converter of claim 2 , wherein the power converter is to communicate over the AC power bus based on a communication frequency different from communication frequency at which the another power converter is to communicate over the AC power bus.
4. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the secondary winding includes a first input and a second input electrically coupled to the power line communication circuit; and
wherein the power converter is wired in series with another power converter by the AC power bus; and
wherein the power line communication circuit is adapted to communicate with the another power converter over the AC power bus.
5. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the power converter subsystem is electrically coupled to the AC power bus.
6. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the power converter subsystem is communicatively coupled to the power line communication circuit by a digital interface.
7. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the power line communication circuit is embodied as a low-voltage power line integrated circuit chip.
8. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the frequency of the AC output is equal to a frequency of an electrical power grid wired to the power converter in series.
9. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the power converter subsystem is wired in series with a plurality of other power converter subsystems of other power converters by the primary winding of the transformer.
10. A power converter having power line communication, the power converter comprising:
a maximum power point tracking circuit to control a power supplied by a direct current (DC) power source, wherein the maximum power point tracking circuit is electrically coupled to a first terminal and a second terminal of a DC power bus;
a power line communication circuit for communication over an alternative current (AC) power bus based on at least one communication frequency different from a frequency of an AC output supplied to the AC power bus, wherein the power line communication circuitry is electrically coupled to the maximum power point tracking circuit; and
a transformer having a primary winding electrically coupled to the DC power bus and a secondary winding electrically coupled to the power line communication circuit.
11. The power converter of claim 10 , further comprising an output capacitor electrically coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal of the DC power bus.
12. The power converter of claim 11 , further comprising an isolation capacitor to block a flow of DC current into the primary winding of the transformer;
wherein the primary winding of the transformer includes a first output and a second output;
wherein the first output of the secondary winding is electrically coupled to the first terminal of the DC power bus; and
wherein the isolation capacitor is electrically coupled to the second output of the primary winding and the second terminal of the DC power bus.
13. The power converter of claim 12 , wherein a capacitance of the output capacitor is ten times a capacitance of the isolation capacitor.
14. The power converter of claim 10 , wherein the power line communication circuitry is electrically coupled to the maximum power point tracking circuit by an electrical connection different from the DC power bus.
15. The power converter of claim 10 , wherein the power converter is wired in series with a plurality of other power converters by the primary winding of the transformer.
16. A power system for supplying power to a power bus, the power system comprising:
a first and a second output;
a plurality of power subsystems wired in series between the first output and the second output, wherein each power subsystem of the plurality of subsystems comprises:
a power converter to (i) receive a power input from a power source and (ii) convert the power input to a corresponding power output;
a power line communication module for communication over the power bus based on at least one communication frequency different from a frequency for communication over the power bus by other subsystems of the plurality of subsystems; and
a transformer for galvanic isolation, wherein each of the plurality of power subsystems is wired in series between the first output and the second output by a primary winding of the corresponding transformer.
17. The power system of claim 16 , wherein the power bus is embodied as a direct current (DC) power bus; and
wherein the power converter is to (i) receive a DC input from a DC power source and (ii) convert the DC input to a corresponding DC output.
18. The power system of claim 16 , wherein the power source is embodied as a bi-directional power source.
19. The power system of claim 16 , wherein the power bus is embodied as an alternating current (AC) power bus.
20. The power system of claim 19 , wherein the power line communication module is for communication over the AC power bus based on at least one communication frequency different from a frequency of an AC output supplied to the AC power bus.