Multi-channel inverter systems including coupled inductors

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of inverter units having inputs connected to a power source; and

a coupled inductor comprising at least three windings and coupled between the plurality of inverter units and an output filter, wherein:

each winding of the at least three windings has a first terminal connected to an output of a corresponding inverter unit;

second terminals of the at least three windings are connected together; and

the output filter comprises a first inductor and a second inductor connected in series between the coupled inductor and an output port of the system, and an output capacitor connected to a common node of the first inductor and the second inductor.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

an inverter unit of the plurality of inverter units comprises a first switch leg and a second switch leg, and wherein:

the first switch leg comprises a first switch and a second switch connected in series; and

the second switch leg comprises two back-to-back connected switches.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the first switch is connected between a first terminal of the power source and the coupled inductor;

the second switch is connected between a second terminal of the power source and the coupled inductor; and

the two back-to-back connected switches are connected between a common node of the first switch and the second switch, and a neutral point.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the coupled inductor comprises a first winding, a second winding and a third winding; and

the a plurality of inverter units comprises a first inverter unit, a second inverter unit and a third inverter unit, and wherein:

the first inverter unit and the first winding are connected in series between the power source and the output filter;

the second inverter unit and the second winding are connected in series between the power source and the output filter; and

the third inverter unit and the third winding are connected in series between the power source and the output filter.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:

the first winding of the coupled inductor is wound around a first leg of a magnetic core;

the second winding of the coupled inductor is wound around a second leg of a magnetic core; and

the third winding of the coupled inductor is wound around a third leg of a magnetic core.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein:

the first winding, the second winding and the third winding of the coupled inductor are wound in a same direction.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein:

the first winding, the second winding and the third winding of the coupled inductor are negatively coupled to each other.

8. A system comprising:

a first inverter connected to a power source;

a second inverter connected to the power source, wherein the second inverter is configured to operate with a first phase shift from the first inverter;

a third inverter connected to the power source, wherein the third inverter is configured to operate with a second phase shift from the second inverter;

a coupled inductor having a first input, a second input and a third input connected to the first inverter, the second inverter and the third inverter respectively; and

an output filter coupled to an output of the coupled inductor.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the coupled inductor comprises:

a magnetic core comprising a first leg, a second leg and a third leg;

a first winding wound around the first leg;

a second winding wound around the second leg; and

a third winding wound around the third leg, and wherein:

outputs of the first winding, the second winding and the third winding of the coupled inductor are connected together; and

the first winding, the second winding and the third winding of the coupled inductor are negatively coupled to each other.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the output filter comprises a first leakage inductance connected in series with the first winding, a second leakage inductance connected in series with the second winding and a third leakage inductance connected in series with the third winding.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

the first phase shift and the second phase shift are configured such that a dominant harmonic of the system is eliminated as a result of adding the first phase shift and the second phase shift into the system.

12. A three-phase inverter system comprising:

a first phase comprising a plurality of first inverters connected together through a first coupled inductor;

a second phase comprising a plurality of second inverters connected together through a second coupled inductor;

a third phase comprising a plurality of third inverters connected together through a third coupled inductor; and

a fourth coupled inductor having a first winding connected to the first coupled inductor, a second winding connected to the second coupled inductor and a third winding connected to the third coupled inductor.

13. The three-phase inverter system of claim 12 , wherein:

the first coupled inductor comprises a plurality of first windings negatively coupled to each other;

input terminals of the plurality of first windings are connected to the plurality of first inverters, respectively; and

output terminals of the plurality of first windings are connected together.

14. The three-phase inverter system of claim 12 , wherein:

the first winding, the second winding and the third winding of the fourth coupled inductor are negatively coupled to each other.

15. The three-phase inverter system of claim 12 , wherein:

the plurality of first inverters is configured to operate with a phase shift from one another.

16. The three-phase inverter system of claim 12 , wherein:

the first winding of the fourth coupled inductor is connected between the first coupled inductor and a first output filter;

the second winding of the fourth coupled inductor is connected between the second coupled inductor and a second output filter; and

the third winding of the fourth coupled inductor is connected between the third coupled inductor and a third output filter.