Interleaved parallel inverters with integrated filter inductor and interphase transformer

Abstract

A power electronics system, comprising a first inverter configured to receive DC power from a power source and a second inverter configured to receive DC power from the power source is provided. The system includes a first output inductor connected in series to an output of the first inverter, a second output inductor connected in series to an output of the second inverter, a coupling inductor configured to receive current from the first output inductor and the second output inductor, and an AC power output.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) and claims the benefit of priority under PCT Article 8, as applicable, of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 422,838 titled COMPACT AC FILTER MODULE FOR INTERLEAVED POWER CONVERTER filed on Nov. 16, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.BACKGROUNDField of Invention[0002]Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to utility scale power inverters.Discussion of Related Art[0003]A power inverter, or inverter, is an electronic device or circuitry that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC). Inverters may be used in a number of different contexts, with different DC power sources (such as lead acid batteries, photovoltaic solar panels, wind turbines, etc), and may be designed to satisfy different power demands of a system.[0004]Utility scale solar inverters, in particular, convert variable DC out...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a way to smooth out the rough power waveform of inverters used in large scale systems, which would normally require large and expensive AC filters. In this invention, multiple inverters are connected in parallel, which makes efficient use of magnetic inductor material, reducing costs. This configuration also significantly reduces the size and cost of the overall AC filter and provides a filtered AC output quality suitable for the grid.

Problems solved by technology

Also, the higher frequency noise reduces the size of the inverter AC output filters that are needed.

Particularly for large scale inverter systems, AC filters required to smooth out the unacceptably rough AC power waveform of the inverters would conventionally be large and costly in order to handle the level of power and power quality required.

Images