Power combiner systems and methods
Power combiner systems and methods for combining power from a number of power sources, which can differ in output power level, to at least one output. A controller monitors energy storage elements and controls a switch network to dynamically charge and discharge the energy storage elements while matching a desired output level. The controller can dynamically direct the switch network to alter inputs and outputs, thereby changing the frequency and order in which energy storage elements are connected.
1. A system for combining electrical power from a plurality of power sources, the system comprising:
a plurality of capacitors arranged in a plurality of sets, each of the plurality of sets corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of power sources;
a plurality of voltage sensors coupled respectively to each of the plurality of capacitors;
a plurality of output switches corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of capacitors;
a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of voltage sensors and the plurality of output switches, and configured to:
determine a respective state for each selected capacitor of the plurality of capacitors;
determine a maximum power point for each respective power source corresponding to each selected capacitor of the plurality of capacitors;
determine at least one output capacitor from the plurality of capacitors, the at least one output capacitor having a respective state furthest from a respective maximum power point for a respective power source; and
direct at least one of the plurality of output switches to couple the at least one output capacitor to at least one output.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of input switches corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of capacitors, each of the plurality of input switches coupling a respective energy storage capacitor to a respective power source, wherein the controller is further configured to decouple the at least one output capacitor from its respective power source.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to direct at least one of the output switches to decouple a previous output capacitor from the output, and to direct at least one of the input switches to recouple the previous output capacitor to its respective power source.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to periodically repeat the determining, the decoupling the at least one output capacitor, the decoupling the previous output capacitor, the recoupling and the coupling to selectively switch between the plurality of capacitors.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein a period of the periodic repeating is determined based on a discharge time of the plurality of capacitors.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a plurality of energy levels corresponding respectively to the plurality of capacitors, wherein the selecting is based on the plurality of energy levels.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to enforce a minimum or maximum output power when selecting the at least one output capacitor.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to enforce a minimum or maximum output voltage when selecting the at least one output capacitor.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a dynamic load, wherein the at least one output capacitor is coupled to the output via a dynamic load.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the dynamic load is a DC-DC converter.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective state is a peak voltage.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective state is a peak charging voltage that corresponds to a highest charging rate for the selected capacitor.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one output comprises a plurality of outputs.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of output switches have a switching frequency of at least 1 kilohertz (kHz).
15. A method of combining electrical power from a plurality of power sources, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of capacitors arranged in a plurality of sets, each of the plurality of sets corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of power sources;
determining a respective state for each selected capacitor of the plurality of capacitors;
determining a maximum power point for each respective power source corresponding to each selected capacitor of the plurality of capacitors;
determining at least one output capacitor from the plurality of capacitors, the at least one output capacitor having a respective state furthest from a respective maximum power point for a respective power source; and
coupling the at least one output capacitor to an electrical network.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein coupling the at least one output capacitor to the electrical network further comprises decoupling the at least one output capacitor from its respective power source.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein coupling the at least one output capacitor to the electrical network comprises decoupling a previous output capacitor from the output and recoupling the previous output capacitor to its respective power source.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising periodically repeating the determining, the decoupling the at least one output capacitor, the decoupling the previous output capacitor, the recoupling and the coupling to selectively switch between the plurality of capacitors.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein a period of the periodic repeating is determined based on a discharge time of the plurality of storage capacitors.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the respective state is a peak voltage.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the respective state is a peak charging voltage that corresponds to a highest charging rate for the selected capacitor.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining further comprises determining a plurality of energy levels corresponding respectively to the plurality of capacitors, wherein the determining is based on the plurality of energy levels.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the determining further comprises enforcing a minimum or maximum output power.
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining further comprises enforcing a minimum or maximum output voltage.
25. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one output capacitor is coupled to the output via a dynamic load.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the dynamic load is a DC-DC converter.
27. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
providing a plurality of output switches corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of capacitors;
wherein coupling the at least one output capacitor to the electrical network comprises directing at least one of the plurality of output switches to couple the at least one output capacitor to the electrical network; and
the plurality of output switches switch at a switching frequency of at least 1 kilohertz (kHz).