IP Library Granted Patent US 10,431,989
Granted Patent B2
US 10,431,989 · App. 15/408,219 · Granted Oct 1, 2019

Low voltage, low frequency, multi level power converter

Inventors: Salman Talebi Rafsanjan (St. Petersburg, FL); David Michael Eckerson (St. Petersburg, FL)
Assignee: JABIL INC.
H02J3/385H02J3/387H02J7/0052H02M1/12H02M7/5387
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,431,989
App. No.
15/408,219
Granted
Oct 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A low voltage, low frequency multi-level power converter capable of power conversion is disclosed. The power converter may include a low voltage, low frequency circuit that includes a plurality of phase-shifting inverters in series; a plurality of low voltage source inputs, and a plurality of phase-shifting inverters in series. Each of the plurality of phase-shifting inverters may be configured to receive at least one of the plurality of low voltage source inputs; and generate at least one square wave output. A semi-sine wave output may be derived from the generated at least one square wave output.

Claims (27)

1. A low voltage, low frequency multi-level power converter capable of power conversion, comprising:

a low voltage, low frequency circuit, comprising:

a plurality of low voltage source inputs;

a plurality of phase-shifting inverters in series, each of the plurality of phase-shifting inverters being configured to:

receive at least one of the plurality of low voltage source inputs, and

generate at least one square wave output;

at least one series voltage regulator coupled in series to one or more of the plurality of phase-shifting inverters suitable to secondarily smooth the at least one square wave output; and

a semi-sine wave output derived from the generated at least one secondarily smoothed square wave output.

2. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the low voltage source inputs is a semi-direct current (DC) power source.

3. The power converter of claim 1 , further comprising at least one series voltage regulator in series with at least one of the plurality inverters.

4. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein a level of total harmonic distortion of the power converter is less dependent on a load driven by the power converter.

5. The power converter of claim 3 , further comprising a grid interconnection circuit including an output filter.

6. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of low voltage source inputs further comprises a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules, each of the plurality of PV modules being coupled to a photovoltaic panel.

7. The power converter of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of PV modules comprises at least one of a maximum power point tracking system, a rapid shut down circuit, and an arc fault protection circuit.

8. The power converter of claim 7 , wherein the PV module includes an operational mode with a maximum power point voltage value substantially matching an inverter desired input voltage.

9. The power converter of claim 8 , wherein the PV module stores energy at an inverter dc bus capacitor.

10. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the low voltage source inputs consists of one selected from at least one battery, fuel cells, and solar cells.

11. The power converter of claim 1 , further comprising integration circuitry capable of electrically integrating at least one of the plurality of low voltage source inputs with the plurality of inverters.

12. The power converter of claim 9 , wherein the PV module further comprises a dedicated module-level controller.

13. The power converter of claim 6 , further comprising integration circuitry capable of integrating the plurality of the PV modules.

14. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of the low voltage sources is a residential power source.

15. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of low voltage sources is a commercial power source.

16. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the semi-sine wave output is coupled to a utility grid.

17. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein ones of the plurality of inverters comprise single inductor buck-boost converters.

18. The power converter of claim 17 , wherein the power converter is bi-directional.

19. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein ones of the plurality of inverters comprise a half bridge topology.

20. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein ones of the plurality of inverters comprise an H-bridge topology.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 12, 2019
From: JABIL CIRCUIT INC.
To: JABIL INC.
Reel/Frame 049453/0472 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2017
From: RAFSANJAN, SALMAN TALEBI; ECKERSON, DAVID MICHAEL
To: JABIL CIRCUIT, INC.
Reel/Frame 041834/0155 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62278832 · Jan 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62291333 · Feb 4, 2016
Related Publication 20170229874A1 · Aug 10, 2017