A bus bar for a plurality of capacitor elements having an equal impedance includes a positive electrode bus bar and a negative electrode bus bar. The positive electrode bus bar and the negative electrode bus bar each includes a main bus bar and branch bus bars. The main bus bar is electrically connected to an electric circuit having a switching element. First ends of the branch bus bars are connected to the main bus bar at different positions, and second ends of the branch bus bars are connected to the capacitor elements. The branch bus bars are configured so that an impedance between the first end and the second end reduces as an impedance between a connecting portion of the main bus bar to the electric circuit and a connecting portion of the first end of the branch bus bar to the main bus bar increases.

A power converter includes a control circuit executing feedback control of a first inverter based on a detected value of a first sensor adapted to a first rotating electrical machine. The first sensor detects a current of a first busbar adapted to the first rotating electrical machine. The first busbar connects the first inverter and the first rotating electrical machine. A second busbar adapted to a second rotating electrical machine connects a second inverter and the second rotating electrical machine. The second busbar is arranged to be apart from the first sensor interposed with a converter busbar between the second busbar and the first sensor. A current of the converter flows through the converter busbar.

A power converter includes a control circuit executing feedback control of a first inverter based on a detected value of a first sensor adapted to a first rotating electrical machine. The first sensor detects a current of a first busbar adapted to the first rotating electrical machine. The first busbar connects the first inverter and the first rotating electrical machine. A second busbar adapted to a second rotating electrical machine connects a second inverter and the second rotating electrical machine. The second busbar is arranged to be apart from the first sensor interposed with a converter busbar between the second busbar and the first sensor. A current of the converter flows through the converter busbar.

The invention relates to an inverter (110) comprising: a power module (116.sub.1-3) having at least one semiconductor switch (Q, Q′), and a control device (120) configured to control the power module (116.sub.1-3) and to estimate an internal temperature (T.sub.J) of the at least one semiconductor switch (Q, Q′) by means of a temperature model (122) being a polynomial of order three or more having, as arguments, operating parameters including: a switching frequency (F.sub.SW), a temperature (T.sub.S) of the power module (116.sub.1-3), an AC current (I) outputted by the power module (116.sub.1-3), and the DC voltage (Udc).

The invention relates to an inverter (110) comprising: a power module (116.sub.1-3) having at least one semiconductor switch (Q, Q′), and a control device (120) configured to control the power module (116.sub.1-3) and to estimate an internal temperature (T.sub.J) of the at least one semiconductor switch (Q, Q′) by means of a temperature model (122) being a polynomial of order three or more having, as arguments, operating parameters including: a switching frequency (F.sub.SW), a temperature (T.sub.S) of the power module (116.sub.1-3), an AC current (I) outputted by the power module (116.sub.1-3), and the DC voltage (Udc).

A power converter including a three-input direct current converter capable of performing maximum power point tracking on three power inputs, a step down converter capable of voltage step down of the three power inputs, a bus capacitor and a balance circuit utilizing switches and transformers utilized to balance voltages of the bus capacitor, a three-level inverter capable of creating alternating current voltages for the alternating current grid, an output filter electrically coupled to the three-level inverter, a contactor capable of disconnecting the bus capacitor and the balance circuit from the alternating current grid, and a parameter sensor and a field programmable gate array controller electrically coupled to the power converter, capable of controlling a plurality of power switches based on at least one sensed parameters.

A power converter including a three-input direct current converter capable of performing maximum power point tracking on three power inputs, a step down converter capable of voltage step down of the three power inputs, a bus capacitor and a balance circuit utilizing switches and transformers utilized to balance voltages of the bus capacitor, a three-level inverter capable of creating alternating current voltages for the alternating current grid, an output filter electrically coupled to the three-level inverter, a contactor capable of disconnecting the bus capacitor and the balance circuit from the alternating current grid, and a parameter sensor and a field programmable gate array controller electrically coupled to the power converter, capable of controlling a plurality of power switches based on at least one sensed parameters.

A power system may comprise a plurality of power sources, each connected to a corresponding power regulator. The power regulators may be connected in series or in parallel, and may form a string. Each power regulator may comprise input terminals connected to the corresponding power source, output terminals, and a power converter that may be configured to convert input power from the corresponding power source to output power. The power regulator may further comprise a regulator communications module that may be configured to receive a power regulation indication relating to regulating an operational characteristic of the power regulator. The regulator controller may be configured to instruct the power converter to increase or decrease the regulator operational characteristic based on the power regulation indication, and based on power production characteristics of the power regulator.

A power system may comprise a plurality of power sources, each connected to a corresponding power regulator. The power regulators may be connected in series or in parallel, and may form a string. Each power regulator may comprise input terminals connected to the corresponding power source, output terminals, and a power converter that may be configured to convert input power from the corresponding power source to output power. The power regulator may further comprise a regulator communications module that may be configured to receive a power regulation indication relating to regulating an operational characteristic of the power regulator. The regulator controller may be configured to instruct the power converter to increase or decrease the regulator operational characteristic based on the power regulation indication, and based on power production characteristics of the power regulator.

An example converter for a switched reluctance (SR) generator includes one or more gate driver circuits that are not only used to synchronously control switches, such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) of the converter, but also used to provide priming function during start-up of the generator. Since, an SR generator does not have to ability to self provide magnetic flux, priming current is provided to coils of the SR generator to initiate a magnetic flux. By using the gate drive circuit to provide the priming current, an additional priming circuit is not required. As a result, the converter design is more streamlined, with reduced complexity, cost, and size. When a bus voltage of the converter is below a threshold level, the one or more gate drive circuits can provide the priming current on the bus to initiate the SR generator.