Self-synchronizing devices, systems, and methods
The present disclosure is directed to self-synchronizing devices that can connect and self-synchronizes voltage, frequency and phase of two or more power sources. The disclosed embodiments enable a modular power system to serve as the primary or secondary source of power for applications requiring loads from a few kilowatts (kW) to the scale of megawatts (MW). The modular system is generalized to use either a single or multiple power generation sources at once, with the ability to connect and self-synchronize voltage, frequency, and phase of a variety of different types of power sources. Power control systems designed to function with self-synchronizing technology enable a modular power system to satisfy a wide variety of needs, simplifying the existing method of achieving synchronization and enabling new features of resiliency and expandability. The self-synchronization can be implemented into a wide variety of electronics including but not limited to inverters and generator controllers.
1. A self-synchronizing inverter for converting direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity, comprising:
a DC input for receiving DC electricity from a DC electrical source;
a converter circuit to convert the DC electricity at the DC input to AC electricity at a first AC output;
a synchronization unit comprising a non-linear characteristic; and
a connection to connect the first AC output to a second AC output of at least one additional self-synchronizing inverter in parallel,
wherein the synchronization unit of the self-synchronizing inverter receives a reference sine-wave AC signal from the at least one additional self-synchronizing inverter, and
wherein the synchronization unit synchronizes the first AC output with the second AC output based on the reference sine-wave AC signal to produce a combined synchronized AC power output.
2. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization unit comprises a non-linear circuit to provide the non-linear characteristic.
3. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 2 , wherein the non-linear circuit is capable of chaotic behavior.
4. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 3 , wherein the non-linear circuit operates in a limit-cycle mode.
5. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 4 , wherein the synchronization unit utilizes the limit-cycle mode of the non-linear circuit to synchronize the converter circuit with another self-synchronizing inverter to provide the combined synchronized AC output.
6. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 3 , wherein the non-linear circuit comprises an oscillator.
7. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 2 , wherein the non-linear circuit comprises a Chua circuit.
8. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 7 , wherein multiple Chua circuits sync in chaotic and limit-cycle modes.
9. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 2 , wherein the non-linear circuit comprises:
one or more non-linear elements;
one or more locally active resistors; and
three or more energy-storage elements.
10. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization unit provides bidirectional synchronization between the self-synchronizing inverter and the at least one additional self-synchronizing inverter.
11. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization unit provides unidirectional synchronization between the self-synchronizing inverter and the at least one additional self-synchronizing inverter.
12. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization unit provides load sharing between the self-synchronizing inverter and the at least one additional self-synchronizing inverter.
13. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 1 , wherein the connection is to connect the self-synchronizing inverter to multiple additional self-synchronizing inverters.
14. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 13 , wherein the reference sine-wave AC signal is the output of one of the additional self-synchronizing inverters.
15. A self-synchronizing inverter for converting direct current (DC) electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity, comprising:
a DC input for receiving DC electricity from a DC electrical source;
a converter circuit to convert the DC electricity at the DC input to AC electricity at an AC output;
a synchronization unit comprising a non-linear characteristic; and
an AC connection to connect the AC output of the self-synchronizing inverter to a power grid;
wherein the synchronization unit of the self-synchronizing inverter is to receive a reference sine-wave AC signal from the power grid; and
wherein the synchronization unit synchronizes the AC output with the power grid based on the reference sine-wave AC signal to produce a combined synchronized AC power output to the power grid.
16. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 15 , wherein the synchronization unit comprises a non-linear circuit to provide the non-linear characteristic.
17. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 16 , wherein the non-linear circuit is capable of chaotic behavior.
18. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 17 , wherein the non-linear circuit operates in a limit-cycle mode.
19. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 18 , wherein the synchronization unit utilizes the limit-cycle mode of the non-linear circuit to synchronize the converter circuit with the power grid to provide the combined synchronized AC output.
20. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 17 , wherein the non-linear circuit comprises an oscillator.
21. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 16 , wherein the non-linear circuit comprises a Chua circuit.
22. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 21 , wherein multiple Chua circuits sync in chaotic and limit-cycle modes.
23. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 16 , wherein the non-linear circuit comprises:
one or more non-linear elements;
one or more locally active resistors; and
three or more energy-storage elements.
24. The self-synchronizing inverter of claim 15 , wherein the synchronization unit provides unidirectional synchronization between the self-synchronizing inverter and the power grid.