U.S. patent application number 13/297477 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-29 for uninterruptible power supply systems and methods using isolated interface for variably available power source.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eaton Corporation. Invention is credited to Bobby L. Compton, Robert William Johnson, JR., Yu Liu, Robert C. Sebald, Pasi S. Taimela.
Application Number | 20120074786 13/297477 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47326363 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120074786 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson, JR.; Robert William ;
et al. |
March 29, 2012 |
UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING ISOLATED
INTERFACE FOR VARIABLY AVAILABLE POWER SOURCE
Abstract
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes a first
port configured to be coupled to an AC power source and a second
port configured to be coupled to a load. The system also includes a
UPS circuit including a first converter circuit coupled to the
first port, a second converter circuit coupled to the second port
and a DC bus coupling the first converter circuit to the second
converter circuit and configured to be coupled to an auxiliary
power source and a third converter circuit coupled to the second
port and configured to receive power from a variably available
power source. A control circuit is configured to cooperatively
control the UPS circuit and the third converter circuit.
Inventors: |
Johnson, JR.; Robert William;
(Raleigh, NC) ; Liu; Yu; (Miwaukee, WI) ;
Compton; Bobby L.; (Raleigh, NC) ; Taimela; Pasi
S.; (Wake Forest, NC) ; Sebald; Robert C.;
(Raleigh, NC) |
Assignee: |
Eaton Corporation
|
Family ID: |
47326363 |
Appl. No.: |
13/297477 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12779522 |
May 13, 2010 |
|
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13297477 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
307/66 ;
307/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 3/381 20130101;
H02J 7/007 20130101; H02J 3/382 20130101; H02J 3/386 20130101; Y02E
10/56 20130101; H02J 2300/28 20200101; H02J 2300/40 20200101; Y02B
10/70 20130101; Y02P 80/10 20151101; H02J 2300/20 20200101; H02J
2300/24 20200101; H02J 9/062 20130101; Y02E 10/76 20130101; H02J
3/383 20130101; H02J 9/061 20130101; Y02P 80/20 20151101 |
Class at
Publication: |
307/66 ;
307/64 |
International
Class: |
H02J 9/00 20060101
H02J009/00 |
Claims
1. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, comprising: a
first port configured to be coupled to an AC power source; a second
port configured to be coupled to a load; a UPS circuit comprising a
first converter circuit coupled to the first port, a second
converter circuit coupled to the second port and a DC bus coupling
the first converter circuit to the second converter circuit and
configured to be coupled to an auxiliary power source; a third
converter circuit coupled to the second port and configured to
receive power from a variably available power source; and a control
circuit operatively associated with the UPS circuit and the third
converter circuit and configured to cooperatively control the UPS
circuit and the third converter circuit to selectively transfer
power to the load from the AC power source and the variably
available power source and from the variably available power source
to the AC power source.
2. The UPS system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus of the UPS circuit
comprises a first DC bus coupled to an auxiliary power source,
wherein the system comprises a second DC bus coupled to the third
converter circuit and wherein the first DC bus and the second DC
buses are not connected in common to the auxiliary power
source.
3. The UPS system of claim 1, wherein the UPS circuit and the third
converter are implemented in respective first and second power
conversion modules, each of the first and second power conversion
modules including a pair of converter units coupled by a DC
bus.
4. The UPS system of claim 3, wherein the DC bus of the second
power conversion module is configured to be coupled to the variably
available power source.
5. The UPS system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is
configured to selectively transfer power from the variably
available power source to the AC power source via the UPS
circuit.
6. The UPS system of claim 1, wherein the DC bus comprises a first
DC bus, wherein the UPS system further comprises a second DC bus
configured to be coupled to the variably available power source and
a fourth converter circuit coupled to the first port and to the
third converter circuit by the second DC bus and wherein the
control circuit is operatively associated with the fourth converter
circuit and configured to selectively transfer power from the
variably available power source to the AC power source via the
fourth converter circuit.
7. The UPS system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary power source
comprises a battery.
8. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, comprising: a
first port configured to be coupled to an AC power source; a second
port configured to be coupled to a load; a plurality of power
conversion modules, each comprising a first converter unit, a
second converter unit and a DC bus coupling the first converter
unit to the second converter unit, wherein the second converter
units of the power conversion modules are coupled in common to the
second port, wherein a first converter unit of a first one of the
power conversion modules is coupled to the first port, wherein the
DC bus of the first one of the power conversion modules is coupled
to an auxiliary power source and wherein the DC bus of a second one
of the power conversion modules is coupled to a variably available
power source; and a control circuit operatively associated with the
plurality of power conversion modules and configured to cause the
power conversion modules to selectively transfer power to the load
from the AC power source and the variably available power source
and from the variably available power source to the AC power
source.
9. The UPS system of claim 8, wherein each of the power conversion
modules comprises a DC bus interface unit, and wherein the DC bus
interface unit of the second one of the power conversion modules is
configured to couple the DC bus of the second one of the power
conversion modules to the variably available power source.
10. The UPS system of claim 8, wherein the second converter units
of the power conversion modules are configured to operate as
inverters and wherein the first converter unit of the first power
conversion module is configured to operate as a rectifier.
11. The UPS system of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is
configured to cause transfer of power from the variably available
power source to the auxiliary power source and/or the AC power
source via the second converter unit of the first one of the power
conversion modules.
12. The UPS system of claim 8, wherein the first converter unit of
the second one of the power conversion modules is coupled to the
first port and wherein the control circuit is configured to cause
transfer of power from the variably available power source to the
AC power source via the first converter unit of the second one of
the power conversion modules.
13. The UPS system of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second
converter units of the power conversion modules is configurable to
provide an active half-bridge circuit.
14. The UPS system of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary power source
comprises a battery.
15. A method comprising: populating a UPS system with a plurality
of power conversion modules, each comprising a first converter
unit, a second converter unit and a DC bus coupling the first
converter unit to the second converter unit; coupling the second
converter units of the power conversion modules in common to the
second port; coupling a first converter unit of a first one of the
power conversion modules to an AC power source; coupling the DC bus
of a second one of the power conversion modules to a variably
available power source; and selectively transferring power to the
load from the AC power source and the variably available power
source and from the variably available power source to the AC power
source.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the power conversion
modules comprises a DC bus interface unit, and wherein coupling the
DC bus of a second one of the power conversion modules to a
variably available power source comprises coupling the DC bus of
the second power conversion module to the variably available power
source via the DC bus interface unit of the second power conversion
module.
17. The method of claim 15, comprising operating the second
converter units of the power conversion modules as inverters and
operating the first converter unit of the first power conversion
module as a rectifier.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein selectively transferring power
to the load from the AC power source and the variably available
power source and from the variably available power source to the AC
power source comprises transferring power from the variably
available power source to the auxiliary power source and/or the AC
power source via the second converter unit of the first one of the
power conversion modules.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: coupling the first
converter unit of the second one of the power conversion modules to
the first port; and transferring power from the variably available
power source to the AC power source via the first converter unit of
the second one of the power conversion modules.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the auxiliary power source
comprises a battery.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/779,522 (Attorney Docket No.
9060-284) entitled UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND METHODS
USING ISOLATED INTERFACE FOR VARIABLY AVAILABLE POWER SOURCE, filed
May 13, 2010.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE SUBJECT MATTER
[0002] The inventive subject matter relates to power supply systems
and methods and, more particularly, to uninterruptible power supply
(UPS) systems and methods.
[0003] Data centers, industrial facilities, medical facilities and
the like often have AC power distribution systems that are
protected by UPS systems. UPS systems may be used in such
applications to provide backup power to maintain operation in event
of failure of the primary utility supply. UPS systems commonly have
an "on-line" configuration including a rectifier and inverter
coupled by a DC link that is also coupled to an auxiliary source,
such as a battery, flywheel converter or other energy storage
device. In some UPS applications, a renewable source, such as a
photovoltaic source, may be coupled to the DC link of an on-line
UPS to provide supplemental power, as described, for example, in
U.S. Pat. No. 7,411,308 to Parmley and an article entitled
"Photovoltaic UPS" by Jayasimha et al., IEEE TENCON 2003 Conference
on Convergent Technologies for Asia-Pacific Region, vol. 4, pp.
1419-1423 (2003).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE SUBJECT MATTER
[0004] Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide
uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. A UPS system according
to some embodiments includes a first port configured to be coupled
to an AC power source and a second port configured to be coupled to
a load. The system also includes a UPS circuit including a first
converter circuit coupled to the first port, a second converter
circuit coupled to the second port and a DC bus coupling the first
converter circuit to the second converter circuit and configured to
be coupled to an auxiliary power source and a third converter
circuit coupled to the second port and configured to receive power
from a variably available power source. The system further includes
a control circuit operatively associated with the UPS circuit and
the third converter circuit and configured to cooperatively control
the UPS circuit and the third converter circuit to selectively
transfer power to the load from the AC power source and the
variably available power source and from the variably available
power source to the AC power source.
[0005] In further embodiments, the UPS circuit and the third
converter may be implemented in respective first and second power
conversion modules, each of the first and second power conversion
modules including a pair of converter units coupled by a DC bus.
The DC bus of the second power conversion module may be configured
to be coupled to the variably available power source. The control
circuit may be configured to selectively transfer power from the
variably available power source to the AC power source via the UPS
circuit.
[0006] In some embodiments, the DC bus includes a first DC bus and
the UPS system may further include a second DC bus configured to be
coupled to the variably available power source and a fourth
converter circuit coupled to the first port and to the third
converter circuit by the second DC bus. The control circuit may be
operatively associated with the fourth converter circuit and
configured to selectively transfer power from the variably
available power source to the AC power source via the fourth
converter circuit.
[0007] In further embodiments, a UPS system includes a first port
configured to be coupled to an AC power source and a second port
configured to be coupled to a load. The system also includes a
plurality of power conversion modules, each including a first
converter unit, a second converter unit and a DC bus coupling the
first converter unit to the second converter unit. The second
converter units of the power conversion modules are coupled in
common to the second port. A first converter unit of a first one of
the power conversion modules is coupled to the first port. The DC
bus of the first one of the power conversion modules is coupled to
an auxiliary power source, and the DC bus of a second one of the
power conversion modules is coupled to a variably available power
source. The system further includes a control circuit operatively
associated with the plurality of power conversion modules and
configured to cause the power conversion modules to selectively
transfer power to the load from the AC power source and the
variably available power source and from the variably available
power source to the AC power source.
[0008] In some embodiments, each of the power conversion modules
may include a DC bus interface unit. The DC bus interface unit of
the second one of the power conversion modules may be configured to
couple the DC bus of the second one of the power conversion modules
to the variably available power source. The second converter units
of the power conversion modules may be configured to operate as
inverters and the first converter unit of the first power
conversion module may be configured to operate as a rectifier. The
control circuit may be configured to cause transfer of power from
the variably available power source to the auxiliary power source
and/or the AC power source via the second converter unit of the
first one of the power conversion modules. In some embodiments, the
first converter unit of the second one of the power conversion
modules may be coupled to the first port and the control circuit
may be configured to cause transfer of power from the variably
available power source to the AC power source via the first
converter unit of the second one of the power conversion
modules.
[0009] In some method embodiments, a UPS system is populated with a
plurality of power conversion modules, each including a first
converter unit, a second converter unit and a DC bus coupling the
first converter unit to the second converter unit. The second
converter units of the power conversion modules are coupled in
common to the second port. A first converter unit of a first one of
the power conversion modules is coupled to an AC power source. The
DC bus of a second one of the power conversion modules is coupled
to a variably available power source. Power is selectively
transferred to the load from the AC power source and the variably
available power source and from the variably available power source
to the AC power source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a UPS system
according to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter.
[0011] FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic diagram illustrating operations
of the UPS system of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a modular UPS
system according to some embodiments of the inventive subject
matter.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating configurations of
various power conversion modules for a modular UPS system according
to some embodiments of the inventive subject matter.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a modular UPS
system according to further embodiments of the inventive subject
matter.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating operations of a
UPS system according to some embodiments of the inventive subject
matter.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a UPS system
according to further embodiments of the inventive subject
matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Specific exemplary embodiments of the inventive subject
matter now will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings. This inventive subject matter may, however, be embodied
in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to
the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and
will fully convey the scope of the inventive subject matter to
those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to
like elements. It will be understood that when an element is
referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element,
it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or
intervening elements may be present. As used herein the term
"and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the
associated listed items.
[0018] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of
the inventive subject matter. As used herein, the singular forms
"a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as
well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further
understood that the terms "includes," "comprises," "including"
and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the
presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of
one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components, and/or groups thereof.
[0019] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and
scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this
inventive subject matter belongs. It will be further understood
that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries,
should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with
their meaning in the context of the specification and the relevant
art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal
sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0020] As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the
inventive subject matter may be embodied as systems, methods and
computer program products. Some embodiments of the inventive
subject matter may include hardware and/or combinations of hardware
and software. Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter
include circuitry configured to provide functions described herein.
It will be appreciated that such circuitry may include analog
circuits, digital circuits, and combinations of analog and digital
circuits.
[0021] Embodiments of the inventive subject matter are described
below with reference to block diagrams and/or operational
illustrations of systems and methods according to various
embodiments of the inventive subject matter. It will be understood
that each block of the block diagrams and/or operational
illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams
and/or operational illustrations, can be implemented by analog
and/or digital hardware, and/or computer program instructions.
These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor
of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, ASIC,
and/or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the
instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer
and/or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means
for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagrams
and/or operational illustrations. In some implementations, the
functions/acts noted in the figures may occur out of the order
noted in the block diagrams and/or operational illustrations. For
example, two operations shown as occurring in succession may, in
fact, be executed substantially concurrently or the operations may
sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the
functionality/acts involved.
[0022] Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter relate to
interfacing of variably available power sources with UPSs. As
referred to herein, "variably available power sources" include
power sources, such as solar, wind, tidal and similar renewable
energy sources, having an availability (e.g., presence and
capacity) that fluctuates with environmental conditions (e.g.,
availability of wind, sun or tidal change) and that are not, as a
general rule, available on demand. Such power sources may also be
referred to as "variable", "intermittent" or "non-dispatchable"
and, for purposes of the present application, such sources shall be
referred to as "variably available power sources."
[0023] Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter arise from
a realization that the DC link bus can be a critical point in the
UPS architecture. Failure of a variably available power source,
such as a photovoltaic array, coupled to the DC link can
potentially impact the output of the UPS and/or reduce system
robustness and reliability. Some embodiments of the inventive
subject matter may address such issues by using a variably
available power source interface circuit comprising a converter
having an output coupled to the AC output and an input configured
to receive power from a variably available power source. In some
UPS system embodiments, for example, generic power conversion
modules may be configured to include one or more modules configured
to provide online-UPS functions, output-paralleled with one or more
modules configured to provide a variably available power source
interface for the UPS system. In this manner, isolation between the
variably available power source and DC bus of the UPS module(s) may
be provided. In addition, modules may be selectively configured for
use as UPS modules or variably available power source interfaces
depending on the relative capacities and requirements of the
system. In further embodiments, power may be transferred from the
variably available power source to an auxiliary power source
coupled to a UPS and/or to an AC power source (e.g., a utility
source) that provides power to a UPS.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a UPS system 100 according to some
embodiments of the inventive subject matter. The UPS system 100
includes a UPS circuit 110 including a first converter circuit,
e.g., a rectifier 112, and a second converter circuit, e.g., an
inverter 114, coupled by a DC link 115. An auxiliary power source
40, e.g., one or more batteries, may be coupled to the DC link 115.
The input of the rectifier 112 is coupled to an AC input 101 of the
UPS system, and the output of the inverter 114 is coupled to an AC
output 102 of the UPS system 100. The UPS circuit 110 is configured
to provide uninterruptible power to a load 20 coupled to the AC
output 102 from an AC power source 10 (e.g., a utility source
and/or local generator) coupled to the AC input 101 and from the
auxiliary power source 40, which may provide power in the event of
a failure of the AC source 10. The UPS system 100 may also include
a bypass circuit 140 (e.g., a static switch), which may be used to
bypass the UPS circuit 110 to provide power directly from the AC
power source 10 to the load 20, which may support maintenance and
high-efficiency modes of operation. It will be appreciated that the
UPS system 100 may be a single-phase or multiphase (e.g.,
three-phase) system.
[0025] The UPS system 100 further comprises a third converter
circuit 120, coupled between the AC output 102 and a variably
available power source 30, such as a solar or wind power source. A
control circuit 130 is operatively associated with the UPS circuit
110 and the converter circuit 120 (and, optionally, the bypass
circuit 140) and is configured to cooperatively control the UPS
circuit 110 and the converter circuit 120 to selectively transfer
power to the load 20 from the AC power source 10 and the variably
available power source 30.
[0026] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the AC power
source 10 is producing power in manner meeting predetermined
criteria, power may be provided to the load 20 from the AC power
source 10 through the rectifier 112 and inverter 114 (and/or via
the bypass circuit 140), while power is concurrently transferred to
the load 20 from the variably available power source 30 via the
converter 120. As shown in FIG. 3, upon failure of the AC power
source 10, the control circuit 130 may operate the inverter 114 of
the UPS circuit 110 and the converter 120 such that power is
concurrently delivered to the load 20 from the variably available
power source 30 and the auxiliary power source 40.
[0027] It will be appreciated that the above-described components
of the UPS system 100 may be integrated in one assembly or may
implemented using multiple interoperating assemblies with
connecting power and control links.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a modular UPS system 400 with a variably
available power source interface capability according to further
embodiments of the inventive subject matter. The UPS system 400
includes an AC input 401 configured to be coupled to an AC power
source 10 and an AC output 402 configured to be coupled to a load
20. The UPS system 400 further includes first and second power
conversion modules 403, 404 having a common architecture, including
a first converter unit 410 and a second converter unit 420 coupled
by a DC bus 415, a DC bus interface unit 430 and a module control
circuit 440 configured to control the first converter unit 410, the
second converter unit 420 and/or the DC bus interface unit 430. A
system control circuit 406 controls interoperation of the first and
second power conversion modules 403, 404 and a bypass circuit
405.
[0029] The first power conversion module 403 is configured to
provide a UPS function. In particular, the first module 403 is
configured to operate the first converter unit 410 as a rectifier
to produce a DC voltage on the DC bus 415 from the AC power source
10. In some embodiments, the first converter units 410 may comprise
passive rectifiers while, in other embodiments, the first converter
units 410 may be active circuits that may be used to implement a
rectifier function, but that are selectively reconfigurable to
provide other conversion operations, such as DC/DC conversion, by,
for example, changing the manner in which the active circuits are
controlled. The first module 403 is further configured to operate
the second converter unit 420 as an inverter to produce an AC
voltage at the AC output 402. The DC bus interface unit 430 of the
first module 403 provides an interface to one or more batteries 40,
which may be used to provide auxiliary power in the event of a
failure of the AC power source 10.
[0030] The second power conversion module 404 is configured
differently to provide an interface to a variably available power
source 30 (e.g., wind, solar, tidal, etc.). The second converter
unit 420 of the second module 404 is operated as an inverter. The
first converter unit 410, however, is inactive. The variably
available power source 30 is coupled to the DC bus 415 using the DC
bus interface unit 430. Depending on the nature of the variably
available power source 30, the DC bus interface unit 430 may simply
connect the variably available power source 30 to the DC bus 415
without a voltage conversion, or the DC bus interface unit 430 may
provide, for example, a DC/DC or AC/DC conversion function.
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates a combination of power conversion modules
510a, 510b, 510c configured to provide a system such as the system
400 of FIG. 4. The modules 501a, 510b, 510c each comprise a first
converter unit 512 and a second converter unit 514 coupled by DC
buses 515, as well as a DC bus interface unit 516 that may be used
for coupling to a battery or other power source (e.g.,
ultracapacitor, fuel cell, compressed air storage unit, flywheel,
etc.). The first converter units 512, the second converter units
514 and the DC bus interface units 516 each include circuitry
wherein active switching units 511 may be installed to realize
half-bridge circuits. The modules 510a, 510b, 510c may also include
inductors, capacitors, current sensors, contactors and fuses.
[0032] The first and second modules 510a, 510b are configured to
operate as paralleled UPSs, with the first converter units 512
configured to operate as rectifiers coupled to an AC input bus 501
and the second converter units 514 configured to operate as
inverters coupled to an AC output bus 502. The DC bus interface
units 516 of the first and second modules 510a, 510b are configured
to provide DC/DC converters coupled to battery buses 503.
[0033] A third module 510c is configured to provide an interface
for connection of a photovoltaic (PV) power source via a PV bus
505. The second converter unit 514 of the third module 510c is
configured to operate as an inverter, output-paralleled with the
first and second modules 510a, 510b at the AC output bus 502. The
first converter unit 512 of the third module is inactive, e.g., it
may be operationally deactivated or active devices and passive
components thereof may be depopulated. As shown, active components
may be depopulated from the DC bus interface unit 516 of the third
module 510c to allow a direct connection of the DC buses 515
thereof to the PV bus 505.
[0034] A bypass circuit including a static switch 520 is also
provided. The static switch 520 is coupled to a bypass bus 504,
which may be connected to the same AC source as the AC input bus
501. The modular configuration illustrated in FIG. 5 provides for
use of common power conversion modules while supporting a degree of
independence (e.g., isolation) of the PV source from the DC buses
515 of the first and second modules 510a, 510b, which are operated
as UPSs.
[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates a modular UPS system 600 according to
further embodiments of the inventive subject matter. The system 600
uses first and second modules 403, 404 as shown in FIG. 4, except
that the module 404 is configured to provide power from a variably
available power source 30 via a first converter unit 410 of the
second module 404, rather than via the DC bus interface unit 430.
Depending on the nature of the variably available power source 30,
the first converter unit 410 of the second module 404 may be
operated as a rectifier or as a DC/DC converter. The bus interface
unit 430 may be used for connection of one or more additional
batteries 40.
[0036] According to further embodiments of the inventive concept,
apparatus along the lines discussed above may also be used to
deliver power from a variably available power source, such as a
solar or wind power generator, to power storage device (e.g., a
battery) of a UPS system and/or to a utility or similar AC source.
For example, FIG. 7 illustrates a UPS system 700 that includes a
UPS circuit 710 including a first converter circuit 712 and a
second converter circuit 714, coupled by a DC link 715. An
auxiliary power source 40, e.g., one or more batteries, may be
coupled to the DC link 715. A first port of the first converter
circuit 712 is coupled to a first port 701 of the UPS system 700,
and a second port of the second converter circuit 714 is coupled to
a second port 702 of the UPS system 700. The UPS circuit 710 is
configured to provide uninterruptible power to a load 20 coupled to
the second port 702 from an AC power source 10 (e.g., a utility
source and/or local generator) coupled to the first port 701 and
from the auxiliary power source 40, which may provide power in the
event of a failure of the AC source 10. The UPS system 700 may also
include a bypass circuit 740 (e.g., a static switch), which may be
used to bypass the UPS circuit 710 to provide power directly from
the AC power source 10 to the load 20, which may support
maintenance and high-efficiency modes of operation. It will be
appreciated that the UPS system 700 may be a single-phase or
multiphase (e.g., three-phase) system.
[0037] The UPS system 700 further comprises a third converter
circuit 720, coupled between the second port 702 and a variably
available power source 30, such as a solar or wind power source. A
control circuit 730 is operatively associated with the UPS circuit
710 and the converter circuit 720 (and, optionally, the bypass
circuit 740) and is configured to cooperatively control the UPS
circuit 710 and the converter circuit 720 to selectively transfer
power to the load 20 from the AC power source 10 and the variably
available power source 30. As further illustrated, the control
circuit 730 may also be configured to control the UPS circuit 710
and the third converter circuit 720 to support power transfer from
the variably available power source 30 to the auxiliary power
source 40 and/or to the AC power source 10. For example, when the
output of the variably available power source 30 exceeds the needs
of the load 20, excess power may be provided to charge the
auxiliary power source 40 and/or to provide power back to the AC
power source 10. Such power transfer may be controlled (e.g.,
prioritized) based on any of a number of factors. For example, such
power transfer may depend on the state (e.g., capacity) of the
auxiliary power source 40, utility rates, and the like. For
example, excess power generated by the variably available power
source 30 may be more advantageously provided to the AC source 10
during peak load times at favorable utility buy-back rates, rather
than using such power to charge a battery or other auxiliary source
at peak demand times. The auxiliary power source 30 may instead be
recharged from the AC power source 10 and/or the variably-available
power source 30 at lower rates during non-peak times. Such power
transfer operations may be dependent (e.g., optimized) on other
factors, such as UPS system availability, current battery capacity,
load level and/or load criticality.
[0038] According to further embodiments, modular UPS arrangements
may be used to similarly support varied power transfers. FIG. 8
illustrates a modular UPS system 800 that includes a first port 801
configured to be coupled to an AC power source 10 and a second port
802 configured to be coupled to a load 20. The UPS system 800
further includes first and second power conversion modules 803, 804
having a common architecture, including a first converter unit 810
and a second converter unit 820 coupled by a DC bus 815, a DC bus
interface unit 830 and a module control circuit 840 configured to
control the first converter unit 810, the second converter unit 820
and/or the DC bus interface unit 830. A system control circuit 806
controls interoperation of the first and second power conversion
modules 803, 804 and a bypass circuit 805.
[0039] The first power conversion module 803 is configured to
provide a UPS function. In particular, the first module 803 is
configured to operate the first converter unit 810 as a rectifier
to produce a DC voltage on the DC bus 815 from the AC power source
10. The first module 803 is further configured to operate the
second converter unit 820 as an inverter to produce an AC voltage
at the second port 802. The DC bus interface unit 830 of the first
module 803 provides an interface to one or more batteries 40, which
may be used to provide auxiliary power in the event of a failure of
the AC power source 10. The second power conversion module 804 is
configured to provide an interface to a variably available power
source 30 (e.g., wind, solar, tidal, etc.), with the variably
available power source 30 coupled to the DC bus 815 using the DC
bus interface unit 830. The second converter unit 820 of the second
power conversion module 804 may be operated as an inverter to
provide power from the variably available power source 30 to the
load 20.
[0040] The second converter unit 820 of the first power conversion
module 803 may also be used as a rectifier to transfer power from
the variably available power source 30 (via the second converter
unit 820 of the second power conversion module) in the event, for
example, that power produced by the variably available power source
30 exceeds the requirements of the load 20. The first power
conversion module 803 may further be used to transfer power to the
AC power source 10 from the variably available power source 30 in a
manner similar to that discussed above with reference to FIG. 7. As
further illustrated, the first converter unit 810 of the second
power conversion module 804 may also be operated as an inverter to
more directly transfer power from the variably available power
source to the AC power source 10. Further embodiments may include
another auxiliary power source (e.g., battery) coupled to the DC
bus 815 of the second power conversion module 804, such that the
second power conversion module 804 may be used to provide
additional UPS capacity in parallel with the first power conversion
module 803 and/or to provide standby redundant UPS capacity to back
up the first power conversion module 803.
[0041] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed
exemplary embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although
specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the
scope of the inventive subject matter being defined by the
following claims.
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