초록 ▼

A method for providing an output power to a load is described. The method includes coupling a multi-thread power converter system to an alternating current (AC) generator and to a load and monitoring at least one operating characteristic of the AC generator. The method also includes providing the mu

A method for providing an output power to a load is described. The method includes coupling a multi-thread power converter system to an alternating current (AC) generator and to a load and monitoring at least one operating characteristic of the AC generator. The method also includes providing the multi-thread power converter system with one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern based at least partially on the at least one monitored operating characteristic. The method also includes configuring the multi-thread power converter system to operate in accordance with the first switching pattern and the second switching pattern and to convert an AC input power provided by the generator to an output power for delivery to the load.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for providing an output power to a load, said method comprising: coupling a multi-thread power converter system to an alternating current (AC) generator and to a load;monitoring at least one operating characteristic of the AC generator;providing the multi-thread power converter system wi

1. A method for providing an output power to a load, said method comprising: coupling a multi-thread power converter system to an alternating current (AC) generator and to a load;monitoring at least one operating characteristic of the AC generator;providing the multi-thread power converter system with one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern based at least partially on the monitored operating characteristic;configuring the multi-thread power converter system to operate in accordance with the first switching pattern and the second switching pattern; and,configuring the multi-thread power converter system to convert an AC input power provided by the AC generator to an output power for delivery to the load. 2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein monitoring at least one operating characteristic of the AC generator comprises monitoring at least one of a speed of rotation of the AC generator, a voltage output by the AC generator, and a modulation index, wherein the at least one operating characteristic substantially corresponds to the AC input power. 3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein providing one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern comprises: providing the first switching pattern when monitored operating characteristics indicate the AC input power is below a switchover power level; and,providing the second switching pattern when monitored operating characteristics indicate the AC input power is above the switchover power level. 4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein providing one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern further comprises: determining a first power level that is less than the switchover power level;determining a second power level that is greater than the switchover power level;transitioning from the first switching pattern to the second switching pattern when the AC input power increases past the second power level; and,transitioning from the second switching pattern to the first switching pattern when the AC input power decreases past the first power level. 5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein providing one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern comprises providing one of a fully-interleaved switching pattern, a half-interleaved switching pattern, and a non-interleaved switching pattern. 6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein providing the multi-thread power converter system with the half-interleaved switching pattern comprises providing a first thread and a second thread of the multi-thread power converter system with a first switching phase, and a third thread and a fourth thread of the multi-thread power converter system with a second switching phase, wherein the first switching phase and the second switching phase are one-hundred and eighty degrees out of phase. 7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein providing one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern comprises providing each of a plurality of threads included within the multi-thread power converter system with phase displaced gating signals. 8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising providing the first switching pattern at a first chopping frequency and providing the second switching pattern at a second chopping frequency, wherein the second chopping frequency is lower than the first chopping frequency. 9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein providing a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern comprises: providing the first switching pattern at the first chopping frequency when monitored operating characteristics indicate the AC input power is below the switchover power level; and,providing the second switching pattern at the second chopping frequency when monitored operating characteristics indicate the AC input power is above the switchover power level. 10. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising positioning a common mode inductor within at least one thread of the multi-thread power converter system, the common mode inductor configured to reduce a common mode current within the thread. 11. A method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising maximizing an inductance value of the common mode inductor while maintaining a common mode inductor flux density within a range. 12. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein coupling the multi-thread power converter system to the AC generator and to the load comprises coupling the multi-thread power converter system to a wind turbine generator configured to generate a variable frequency AC input power and coupling the multi-thread power converter system to a substantially fixed frequency load. 13. A power generation system for providing an output power to a load, said power generation system comprising: a generator configured to generate an alternating current (AC) input power;a power converter system coupled to said generator, said power converter system comprising a plurality of converter threads configured to convert the AC input power to an output power and to provide the output power to the load; and,a converter control system coupled to said power converter system, said converter control system configured to provide said power converter system with one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern based at least partially on a monitored operating characteristic of said generator. 14. A power generation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said generator is included within a wind turbine. 15. A power generation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said plurality of converter threads comprise a generator-side inverter, a load-side inverter, and a plurality of inductors. 16. A power generation system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said plurality of inductors comprise at least one of a generator-side inductor and a load-side inductor configured to provide normal mode inductance to said power converter system. 17. A power generation system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said plurality of inductors comprise at least one common mode inductor configured to provide common mode inductance to said power converter system, wherein common mode inductance facilitates a reduction of common mode current within said power converter system. 18. A power generation system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said common mode inductor includes an air gap determined to provide a maximum inductance value while maintaining a flux density of the common mode inductor within a range. 19. A power generation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said monitored operating characteristic includes at least one of a speed of rotation of said generator, a voltage output by said generator, and a modulation index, wherein said monitored operating characteristic substantially corresponds to an AC input power level. 20. A power generation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said first switching pattern and said second switching pattern include at least one of a fully-interleaved switching pattern, a half-interleaved switching pattern, and a non-interleaved switching pattern. 21. A power generation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said converter control system is configured to provide the first switching pattern when said monitored operating characteristic indicates that the AC input power is below a switchover level and to provide the second switching pattern when said monitored operating characteristic indicates that the AC input power is above the switchover level. 22. A power generation system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said first switching pattern comprises a half-interleaved switching pattern and said second switching pattern comprises a fully-interleaved switching pattern. 23. A power generation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said converter control system is configured to provide the first switching pattern at a first chopping frequency and the second switching pattern at a second chopping frequency, wherein the second chopping frequency is lower than the first chopping frequency. 24. A power generation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said converter control system is configured to provide a first converter thread and a second converter thread of said plurality of converter threads with a first switching phase, and a third converter thread and a fourth thread of the plurality of converter threads with a second switching phase, wherein the first switching phase and the second switching phase are one-hundred and eighty degrees out of phase. 25. A method for increasing an efficiency of a multi-thread power converter system, said method comprising: positioning a common mode inductor within at least one thread of a multi-thread power converter system, the common mode inductor including at least one air gap;determining a flux density of the common mode inductor;determining a maximum common mode inductance value for the common mode inductor that maintains the flux density of the common mode inductor within a predetermined range; and,configuring the common mode inductor to provide the determined common mode inductance value. 26. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein determining the common mode inductance value comprises determining the common mode inductance value that maintains the flux density below a saturation level while maximizing the common mode inductance value. 27. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein configuring the common mode inductor to provide the determined common mode inductance value comprises adjusting the at least one air gap to set the common mode inductance value of the common mode inductor. 28. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein adjusting the at least one air gap to set the common mode inductance value comprises at least one of pre-setting a fixed common mode inductor air gap and providing the common mode inductor with an adjustable air gap. 29. A method in accordance with claim 25, further comprising applying a first switching pattern to the multi-thread power converter system when an input power supplied to the multi-thread power converter system is below a first switchover level and applying a second switching pattern to the multi-thread power converter system when the input power supplied to the multi-thread power converter system is above the first switchover level.