Patent · US Active

Methods of starting an inverter system, and inverter systems

US11038438B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

1References

15Claims

0Family size

Assignee

GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED · GB

Inventors

Hendrik Gloes · Berlin, DE
Martin Geske · Berlin, DE
Thomas Brueckner · Munich, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 9, 2019
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 19, 2039

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02E10/56
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An inverter system is described. The inverter system includes a DC power source such as a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) panels, an inverter and a controller. The inverter includes a plurality of semiconductor devices (e.g., controllable semiconductor switches such as IGBTs and anti-parallel connected diodes) arranged in a suitable inverter topology. The inverter includes DC input terminals connected to the PV panels by means of a DC link and at least one AC output terminal. When starting the inverter, the controller is configured to enable a short circuit state of the inverter by controlling the semiconductor switches to create a short circuit between the DC input terminals such that the inverter carries a current substantially equal to the short circuit current of the PV panels. This short circuit current may be used to pre-heat the semiconductor devices of the inverter to reduce failure rates caused by cosmic radiation when the semiconductor devices subsequently experience high blocking voltages during normal operation of the inverter.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.