A load balancing apparatus balances the current supplied on each phase of a multiple phase supply, wherein each supply phase feeds an AC load, as well as an AC-DC converter. The apparatus measures the current supplied from each phase of the supply as well as the power consumed by each of the AC loads. The power consumed by each of the AC-DC converters is adjusted so that the sum of the current drawn by any one of the AC loads, plus the current drawn by the AC-DC converter on the same supply phase, is substantially balanced between the supply phases. Typically, the AC-DC converters supply a common DC bus, such as a battery. In some examples, each AC load includes a DC-AC converter configured to supply power from the common DC battery to one or more of the AC loads.

A method and apparatus for balancing loads on a split-phase islanded system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a device, coupled between a DG and a plurality of loads, comprising: an autotransformer coupled to first and second phase lines and a neutral line of the split-phase islanded system; a plurality of switches to switch between coupling a corresponding load to the first phase line and coupling the corresponding load to the second phase line; and a controller for determining, when a load imbalance is identified, at least one load to be switched from one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines to reduce the load imbalance, and controlling at least one switch to switch the at least one load from the one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines.

A method and apparatus for balancing loads on a split-phase islanded system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a device, coupled between a DG and a plurality of loads, comprising: an autotransformer coupled to first and second phase lines and a neutral line of the split-phase islanded system; a plurality of switches to switch between coupling a corresponding load to the first phase line and coupling the corresponding load to the second phase line; and a controller for determining, when a load imbalance is identified, at least one load to be switched from one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines to reduce the load imbalance, and controlling at least one switch to switch the at least one load from the one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines.

A method for three-phase infeed of electrical power from a DC source into a three-phase AC grid by means of an inverter includes measuring phase-specific grid voltages of the three-phase AC grid, and determining a grid frequency from the measured phase-specific grid voltages. The method also includes generating phase-specific voltage reference values from the phase-specifically measured grid voltages and the determined grid frequency, and generating phase-specific target current values using phase-specific predetermined target current amplitude values, the phase-specific voltage reference values and respective grid voltage amplitudes.

A method for three-phase infeed of electrical power from a DC source into a three-phase AC grid by means of an inverter includes measuring phase-specific grid voltages of the three-phase AC grid, and determining a grid frequency from the measured phase-specific grid voltages. The method also includes generating phase-specific voltage reference values from the phase-specifically measured grid voltages and the determined grid frequency, and generating phase-specific target current values using phase-specific predetermined target current amplitude values, the phase-specific voltage reference values and respective grid voltage amplitudes.

A method and apparatus for balancing loads on a split-phase islanded system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a device, coupled between a DG and a plurality of loads, comprising: an autotransformer coupled to first and second phase lines and a neutral line of the split-phase islanded system; a plurality of switches to switch between coupling a corresponding load to the first phase line and coupling the corresponding load to the second phase line; and a controller for determining, when a load imbalance is identified, at least one load to be switched from one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines to reduce the load imbalance, and controlling at least one switch to switch the at least one load from the one of the first or second phase lines to the other of the first or second phase lines.

A voltage compensation device according to an embodiment includes a controller including first and second coordinate transformation circuits, and first and second arithmetic parts. The first coordinate transformation circuit generates first and second outputs that are mutually-orthogonal by performing a rotating coordinate transformation of the normal-phase components of a three phase AC. The first arithmetic part calculates a system voltage based on a DC component of the first output and generates a first compensation amount corresponding to a compensation voltage set to compensate a shift of the system voltage from a preset target voltage. The second coordinate transformation circuit generates third and fourth outputs that are mutually-orthogonal by performing a rotating coordinate transformation of reverse-phase components of the three-phase AC. The second arithmetic part generates second compensation amount of a reverse-phase component of the system voltage based on DC components of the third and fourth outputs.

A voltage compensation device according to an embodiment includes a controller including first and second coordinate transformation circuits, and first and second arithmetic parts. The first coordinate transformation circuit generates first and second outputs that are mutually-orthogonal by performing a rotating coordinate transformation of the normal-phase components of a three phase AC. The first arithmetic part calculates a system voltage based on a DC component of the first output and generates a first compensation amount corresponding to a compensation voltage set to compensate a shift of the system voltage from a preset target voltage. The second coordinate transformation circuit generates third and fourth outputs that are mutually-orthogonal by performing a rotating coordinate transformation of reverse-phase components of the three-phase AC. The second arithmetic part generates second compensation amount of a reverse-phase component of the system voltage based on DC components of the third and fourth outputs.

A converter for electrical connection to a three-phase electrical grid and a single-phase electrical grid is provided. The converter includes three DAB modules, each for converting a respective alternating current of a three-phase electrical grid. When connected to a single-phase electrical grid, the third DAB module is bi-directional such that it is operable to filter the power output of the first and second DAB modules. The converter further includes a filter capacitor in electrical communication with the third DAB module through a relay, wherein the relay is responsive to a controller to couple the third DAB module to the filter capacitor when the single-phase electrical grid is detected and to couple the third DAB module to a grid rectifier when the three-phase electrical grid is detected.

Disclosed are three-phase system and distributed control method. The three-phase system comprises three-phase circuits, of which each phase circuit including at least one power conversion cell; and at least three phase controllers for controlling each phase circuit, respectively, each phase controller including a communication interface through which the at least three phase controllers are in communications connection with each other; wherein the phase controllers of each phase circuit is configured for regulating bridge arm voltages of the at least one power conversion cell in the phase circuit by receiving signals sent from the phase controllers of other two phase circuits through the communication interface. The three-phase system and the distributed control method of the invention solve problems of balance of three-phase current and stabilization of three-phase DC voltages by coordination among the three phases. Thanks to the invention, the three phases can be independently controlled to improve control flexibility.