Variable inverter based power control
A DC power output system may achieve variable output power by paring a variable inverter with a rectifier. DC power output system may implement DC power adjustment at the output of the rectifier least in part by varying the power supplied from the variable inverter to the rectifier.
1. A system including:
an output port;
a variable inverter;
a rectifier coupled between the output port and the variable inverter, the rectifier configured to convert AC power of the variable inverter to DC power at the output port; and
output-control circuitry configured to:
receive an indication of a change in target DC power output for the output port; and
while the rectifier remains unadjusted responsive to the change, send a power control signal to drive the variable inverter to a target AC power to account for the change in the target DC power output.
2. The system of claim 1 , where the output port is coupled to supply power to one or more electrolyzer stacks.
3. The system of claim 2 , where the output-control circuitry is configured to generate the power control signal to adjust the target DC power output based on a number of the one or more electrolyzer stacks that are in an active state.
4. The system of claim 3 , where the output-control circuitry is configured to generate the power control signal to adjust the target DC power output based on a number of the one or more electrolyzer stacks that are in a standby state.
5. The system of claim 3 , where the output-control circuitry is configured to generate the power control signal to adjust the target DC power output based on a number of the one or more electrolyzer stacks that are in an inactive state.
6. The system of claim 1 , where the output-control circuitry is configured to control multiple inverter-rectifier pairs each output coupled to one or more electrolyzer stacks.
7. The system of claim 1 , where the output-control circuitry is configured to consolidate chemical production by driving a first electrolyzer stack to a peak output before activating a second currently inactive electrolyzer stack to consolidate the chemical production.
8. The system of claim 1 , where the rectifier includes a diode rectifier.
9. The system of claim 1 , where the variable inverter is coupled to an input at a nominal line voltage, where:
the variable inverter is configured to vary an AC voltage in an anomalous operation range with a lower power rating than a nominal operation range of the variable inverter,
where optionally the nominal operation range includes a range for the AC voltage from 88% to 110% of the nominal line voltage and the anomalous operation range includes a range outside of the nominal operation range.
10. The system of claim 1 , where the variable inverter is configured to, in at least a grid operational mode, connect a power generator to a utility power grid.
11. The system of claim 10 , where the power generator includes: a renewable energy source, a solar energy source, and/or a photovoltaic array.
12. The system of claim 10 , where the variable inverter, in a stack operational mode is configured to decouple from the utility power grid and recouple to a local electrolyzer stack.
13. The system of claim 1 , further including:
a transformer between the variable inverter and the rectifier.
14. A method including:
for a system including an uncontrolled rectifier coupled between an output port and a variable inverter:
receiving an indication of a change in target DC power output for the output port; and
while the uncontrolled rectifier remains unadjusted responsive to the change, send a power control signal to drive the variable inverter to a target AC power to account for the change in the target DC power output.
15. The method of claim 14 , further including powering one or more electrolyzer stacks via the output port.
16. The method of claim 14 , where:
the variable inverter is coupled to an input at a nominal line voltage; and
the method further includes varying an AC voltage in an anomalous operation range with a lower power rating than a nominal operation range of the variable inverter, where optionally the nominal operation range includes a range for the AC voltage from 88% to 110% of the nominal line voltage and the anomalous operation range includes a range outside of the nominal operation range.
17. The method of claim 14 , further including:
supplying, in at least a grid operational mode, power from a power generator to a utility power grid via the variable inverter.
18. The method of claim 17 , where the power generator includes: a renewable energy source, a solar energy source, and/or a photovoltaic array.
19. The method of claim 17 , further including, in a stack operational mode:
decoupling the variable inverter from the utility power grid; and
recoupling the variable inverter to a local electrolyzer stack.
20. A system including:
an output port;
a variable inverter;
an uncontrolled rectifier coupled between the output port and the variable inverter, the uncontrolled rectifier configured to convert AC power of the variable inverter to DC power at the output port; and
output-control circuitry configured to:
receive an indication of a change in target DC power output for the output port; and
send a power control signal to drive the variable inverter to a target output power to account for the change in the target DC power output.