Power generation system and associated method

Abstract

A method is presented. The method includes detecting a determined operating condition of a first power converter that is one of a plurality of first power converters in a power generating unit, and the power generating unit is one of a plurality of power generating units. The method further includes responding to detection of the determined operating condition by: controlling, via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters, a load current flowing through a power bus coupled to the plurality of power generating units, and altering one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus, wherein the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units are coupled to the power bus.

1 . A method comprising:
 detecting a determined operating condition of a first power converter that is one of a plurality of first power converters in a power generating unit, and the power generating unit is one of a plurality of power generating units;   responding to detection of the determined operating condition by:
 controlling, via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters, a load current flowing through a power bus coupled to the plurality of power generating units; and 
 altering one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus, wherein the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units are coupled to the power bus. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising electrically uncoupling the first power converter having the determined operating condition from the power bus. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the load current comprises modulating the load current flowing through the power bus via the at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein modulating the load current comprises varying an amplitude of the load current. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein modulating the load current comprises supplying a modulating signal to the power bus via the at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising filtering the controlled load current to determine a spectral component corresponding to the modulating signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein altering the one or more droop characteristics comprises increasing an active power capability of the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein altering the one or more droop characteristics comprises increasing a reactive power capability of the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising supplying an about equal amount of active power to the power bus by two or more power converters other than the first power converter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising supplying unequal amount of active power to the power bus by two or more power converters other than the first power converter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising altering one or more droop characteristics of the at least one remaining first power converter based at least in part on a total number of available power converters in the plurality of power generating units and on a total rated capacity of a power generation system. 
     
     
         12 . A power generation system, comprising:
 a first power generating unit electrically coupled to a load via a power bus, the first power generating unit comprising:
 a plurality of first power converters; and 
 at least one first controller operatively coupled to the plurality of first power converters, wherein the at least one first controller is configured to
 detect a determined operating condition corresponding to at least one first power converter of the plurality of first power converters; and 
 control, if the determined operating condition is detected, a load current flowing through the power bus via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters; and 
 
   a second power generating unit electrically coupled to the power bus, the second power generating unit comprising:
 a plurality of second power converters; and 
 at least one second controller operatively coupled the plurality of second power converters, wherein the at least one second controller is configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the plurality of second power converters based on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus. 
   
     
     
         13 . The power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first power generating unit and the second power generating unit comprises a vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of first power converters are coupled in parallel with each other, and the plurality of second power converters are coupled in parallel with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the determined operating condition comprises a complete failure, a partial failure, a malfunction condition, an overheating condition, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of first power converters and the plurality of first power converters comprise a plurality of inverters. 
     
     
         17 . The power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one remaining first power converter is configured to modulate the load current flowing through the power bus to generate the controlled load current. 
     
     
         18 . The power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one second controller is further configured to filter the controlled load current.