Power supply and method having series-arranged units
A method and apparatus for a power distribution system, includes providing, from a power source having a set of dischargeable power storage devices connected by way of selectable connections, a power supply to a voltage output, and switchably connecting the voltage output to a set of power outputs having different electrical characteristics.
1. A power supply for a set of power outputs having a first electrical characteristic and a second electrical characteristic, comprising:
a set of power storage units arranged in series, each power storage unit having a respective direct current (DC) dischargeable power storage device, a first selectable connection configured to enable a voltage output of the respective power storage device, and a second selectable connection configured to enable bypassing the voltage output of the respective power storage device;
a controller module communicatively connected with the set of first selectable connections and the set of second selectable connections and configured to selectively enable at least a subset of the first selectable connections or a subset of the second selectable connections, wherein the selective enabling enables the providing of the first electrical characteristic or the second electrical characteristic by way of the set of power storage units; and
a common voltage output for the set of power storage units configured to be switchably connected with the set of power outputs, wherein the common voltage output provides at least one of the first electrical characteristic or the second electrical characteristic to the set of power outputs.
2. The power supply of claim 1 wherein at least one of the set of power outputs is an alternating current (AC) power output.
3. The power supply of claim 2 wherein the controller module is configured to selectively enable at least a subset of the first selectable connections or a subset of the second selectable connections, and wherein the selectively enabling emulates an AC waveform at the power output.
4. The power supply of claim 2 , wherein the set of power storage units includes a first set of power storage units arranged in series and connected with the voltage output, the first set of power storage units having a positive voltage DC dischargeable power storage device, and a second set of power storage units arranged in series and connected with the voltage output, the second set of power storage units having a negative voltage DC dischargeable power storage device.
5. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the set of power outputs includes at least one DC power output and at least one AC power output.
6. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the set of power outputs includes at least a first DC power output and a second DC power output, wherein the electrical characteristics of the first DC power output is different from the electrical characteristics of the second DC power output.
7. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the set of power outputs includes at least a first AC power output and a second AC power output, wherein the electrical characteristics of the first AC power output is different from the electrical characteristics of the second AC power output.
8. The power supply of claim 1 wherein at least one of the set of power outputs is an AC power output, and the electrical characteristics of the AC power output are variable by way of selectively enabling at least a subset of the first selectable connections or a subset of the second selectable connections.
9. The power supply of claim 1 , further comprising a third selectable connection, communicatively connected with the controller module, and operable to switchably connect the voltage output with a selected one of the set of power outputs.
10. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the set of power outlets include a set of power buses.
11. The power supply of claim 1 , further comprising a second power output configured to supply a second voltage output from a subset of the power storage units.
12. The power supply of claim 11 wherein the voltage output and the second voltage output can simultaneously supply power from the set of power storage units.
13. The power supply of claim 1 wherein each power storage unit further includes a power sensor configured to sense a dischargeable power output of the respective power storage device.
14. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the voltage output enables no break power transfer between power buses connectable at the set of power outputs.
15. The power supply of claim 1 wherein the set of power storage units includes at least one of a battery, a battery bank, a battery cell, a super capacitor, a fuel cell, a hydrogen cell, a solar cell, or a wind turbine.
16. The power supply of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electrical characteristic or the second electrical characteristic comprises one of a direct current (DC) voltage, an alternating current (AC) voltage, a current output range, a frequency output range, or a phase.
17. The power supply of claim 16 , wherein the first electrical characteristic comprises a first AC voltage having a first phase, and the second electrical characteristic comprises a second AC voltage having a second phase different from the first phase.
18. A method of supplying power to a set of switchably connectable power outputs having a first electrical characteristic and a second electrical characteristic, the method comprising:
selectively enabling, by a controller module, one of a voltage output connection or a bypass connection for each of a set of dischargeable direct current (DC) power storage units arranged in series such that the selective enabling enables the providing of the first electrical characteristic or the second electrical characteristic by way of the set of power storage units to the set of power outputs; and
providing a summated output of the set of power storage units by way of a common voltage output of the set of power storage units to the set of switchably connectable power outputs, wherein the common voltage output provides at least one of the first electrical characteristic or the second electrical characteristic.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising sensing, by a power sensor, a dischargeable power value for at least a subset of the set of dischargeable DC power storage units.
20. A power supply for a set of power outputs having a first electrical characteristic and a second electrical characteristic, comprising:
a set of power storage units arranged in series, each power storage unit having a respective direct current (DC) dischargeable power storage device, a first selectable connection configured to enable a voltage output of the respective power storage device, and a second selectable connection configured to enable bypassing the voltage output of the respective power storage device;
a controller module communicatively connected with the set of power storage units and configured to selectively enable at least a subset of the first selectable connections or a subset of the second selectable connections thereby forming at least one of an alternating current (AC) voltage waveform or a direct current (DC) voltage waveform by way of the set of power storage units; and
a common voltage output for the set of power storage units configured to be switchably connected with the set of power outputs, wherein the common voltage output provides the at least one of the AC voltage waveform or the DC voltage waveform.