Hierarchical Power Conversion for Diverse Parallel Power Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing diversity of power nodes in systems, such as batteries and solar cells, due to degradation and varying technologies, poses challenges in efficiently matching power output to target requirements, leading to inefficiencies and potential system failures, especially when operational conditions are unknown or variable.
Innovation Solution
A power processing system utilizing a diversity model to estimate and correct for power node conditions, employing a hierarchical configuration of power converters, including a dense set for initial adjustments and a sparse set for further refinement, allowing for efficient and robust power conversion without detailed characterization of individual nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If full power processing systems are used to handle diverse power nodes, then power output matching is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power processing system into multiple converter stages (first converter stage, second converter stage, third converter stage) that process power from different power nodes separately. Each stage handles specific power nodes with similar characteristics, avoiding the need for a single complex converter to handle all diverse power nodes, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial power processing by having different converter stages process only subsets of the total power nodes. The first converter stage processes a first set of power nodes, the second converter stage processes a second set, and the third converter stage processes a third set. This partial processing approach reduces the complexity of each individual converter while collectively handling all power nodes.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual power nodes are fully characterized, then accurate power conversion is achieved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments power nodes into different groups based on their characteristics without requiring full characterization of each individual node. Power nodes are divided into sets that are processed by different converter stages, allowing the system to handle diversity through grouping rather than individual analysis, thus reducing measurement difficulty while maintaining conversion accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simplified model or representation of power node characteristics to guide the segmentation and converter assignment. Instead of measuring and characterizing every detail of each power node, the system uses representative parameters to create a simplified copy or model that suffices for proper system configuration and operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If diverse power technologies are integrated, then system versatility improves, but power output uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments diverse power nodes into distinct groups processed by separate converter stages. Each converter stage is configured to handle specific types of power nodes with similar characteristics, transforming their diverse outputs into uniform intermediate outputs that can be combined. This segmentation allows technology diversity to be preserved in the input while achieving uniformity in the processed output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different conversion strategies to different groups of power nodes based on their specific characteristics. Each converter stage has tailored conversion parameters and control strategies suited to the power nodes it processes, allowing local optimization for each group while contributing to overall system uniformity.
Data Source
AI summary
A power conversion device may perform power processing for multiple power nodes coupled in parallel. The power conversion device includes interconnects that couple power nodes to power converters. The power converters include a dense tier of power converters sized to correct, using multiple corrective components, from varied power flow levels to interim power flows for parallel coupling of the multiple power nodes. The power converters also include a sparse tier. The sparse tier performs power processing to convert from the interim power flows generated by the dense tier to a uniform target flow.