1. A power converter comprising:
a plurality of electrical phases, said power converter coupled to a plurality of output conductors, each electrical phase of said plurality of electrical phases coupled to a respective output conductor, said each electrical phase comprising:
a plurality of phase legs comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching devices, each phase leg positioned proximate each other in an interlacing configuration with respect to another phase leg that corresponds to a different electrical phase of said plurality of electrical phases, said interlacing configuration comprises a plurality of parallel branches of said plurality of phase legs comprising at least two outer branches and at least one inner branch, said inner branch and said outer branches at least partially cancel an internal magnetic flux induced proximate said inner branch, thereby substantially balancing an electric current flow through said inner branch and said outer branches; and,
a plurality of alternating current (AC) conductors, at least one AC conductor of said plurality of AC conductors coupled to a respective phase leg of said plurality of phase legs and the respective output conductor, said plurality of AC conductors extend from said plurality of phase legs to the plurality of output conductors in a parallel configuration.
2. The power converter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interlacing configuration further comprises a subset of said plurality of phase legs comprising at least one first phase leg at least partially defining a first electrical phase and at least one second phase leg at least partially defining a second electrical phase, wherein said first phase leg and said second phase leg are positioned adjacent each other.
3. The power converter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of phase legs comprise:
a first subset of said plurality of phase legs positioned in a first arrangement; and,
a second subset of said plurality of phase legs positioned in a second arrangement, wherein said first arrangement and said second arrangement at least partially define said interlacing configuration.
4. The power converter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of phase legs at least partially define at least one group assembly comprising at least two of:
at least one of said plurality of phase legs at least partially defining a first electrical phase of a three-phase electrical system;
at least one of said plurality of phase legs at least partially defining a second electrical phase of the three-phase electrical system; and,
at least one of said plurality of phase legs at least partially defining a third electrical phase of the three-phase electrical system.
5. The power converter in accordance with claim 4, wherein said group assembly comprises a plurality of group assemblies configured in a parallel configuration.
6. The power converter in accordance with claim 5, wherein said group assembly defines a plurality of parallel branches, wherein each of said parallel branches comprises a portion of said plurality of phase legs, wherein no two of said plurality of phase legs in any of said parallel branches at least partially defines a same electrical phase of said plurality of electrical phases.
7. The power converter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of phase legs form at least one group assembly, wherein:
a first plurality of said plurality of phase legs at least partially defining a first electrical phase of a three-phase electrical system; and,
a second plurality of said plurality of phase legs at least partially defining a second electrical phase of the three-phase electrical system.
8. The power converter in accordance with claim 7, wherein said group assembly comprises a plurality of group assemblies configured in a parallel configuration.
9. The power converter in accordance with claim 7, wherein said group assembly defines a plurality of parallel branches, wherein each of said parallel branches comprises at least a portion of said plurality of phase legs, wherein two of said plurality of phase legs in any of said parallel branches at least partially defines a same electrical phase of said plurality of electrical phases.
10. The power converter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of phase legs form at least one group assembly comprising a plurality of parallel branches comprising:
a first outer branch comprising one of said plurality of phase legs at least partially defining a first electrical phase of a three-phase electrical system;
a second outer branch comprising one of said plurality of phase legs at least partially defining a second electrical phase of the three-phase electrical system; and,
at least one inner branch comprising at least one of said plurality of phase legs at least partially defining a third electrical phase of the three-phase electrical system.
11. The power converter in accordance with claim 10, wherein said branches are interlaced such that no two adjacent phase legs at least partially define a same electrical phase of the three-phase electrical system.
12. A method of operating a power converter that includes a plurality of electrical phases including a plurality of phase legs coupled in a parallel configuration and positioned proximate each other in an interlacing configuration, said method comprising:
coupling the power converter to a plurality of output conductors through a plurality of alternating current (AC) conductors, at least one respective AC conductor of the plurality of AC conductors coupled to a respective phase leg of the plurality of phase legs, the plurality of AC conductors extending from the plurality of phase legs to the plurality of output conductors in a parallel configuration, wherein each of the plurality of phase legs are positioned proximate each other in an interlacing configuration with respect to another phase leg that corresponds to a different electrical phase of the plurality of electrical phase;
placing at least a portion of the plurality of phase legs in a conducting mode of operation and inducing an electric current flow through each of the conducting phase legs; and,
canceling at least a portion of current imbalances between the plurality of conducting phase legs comprising at least partially cancelling a magnetic flux induced proximate at least some of the conducting phase legs comprising transmitting electric current to the plurality of output conductors through a plurality of parallel branches of the plurality of phase legs, wherein the plurality of parallel branches includes at least two outer branches and at least one inner branch, wherein the inner branch and the outer branches at least partially cancel an internal magnetic flux induced proximate the inner branch, thereby substantially balancing the electric current flow through the inner branch and the outer branches.
13. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least partially cancelling an internal magnetic flux induced proximate at least some of the conducting semiconductor switching devices further comprises transmitting electric current to the plurality of output conductors through a predetermined subset of the conducting phase legs, wherein the subset includes at least one first phase leg conducting through a first electrical phase and at least one second phase leg conducting to a second electrical phase, wherein the first conducting phase leg and the second conducting phase leg are positioned adjacent to each other.
14. An electric power system comprising:
at least one direct current (DC) conductor;
a plurality of alternating current (AC) conductors;
a plurality of output conductors coupled to said plurality of AC conductors; and,
a power converter coupled to each of said DC conductor and said plurality of AC conductors, wherein said power converter comprises a plurality of electrical phases comprising a plurality of phase legs, said plurality of phase legs comprising a plurality of semiconductor switching devices, said plurality of phase legs positioned proximate each other in an interlacing configuration with respect to another phase leg that corresponds to a different electrical phase of said plurality of electrical phases, said interlacing configuration comprises a plurality of parallel branches of said plurality of phase legs comprising at least two outer branches and at least one inner branch, said inner branch and said outer branches at least partially cancel an internal magnetic flux induced proximate said inner branch, thereby substantially balancing an electric current flow through said inner branch and said outer branches, at least one AC conductor of said plurality of AC conductors coupled to a respective phase leg of said plurality of phase legs and a respective output conductor of said plurality of output conductors, said plurality of AC conductors extend from said plurality of phase legs to said plurality of output conductors in a parallel configuration.
15. The electric power system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said interlacing configuration further comprises a subset of said plurality of phase legs comprising at least one first phase leg at least partially defining a first electrical phase and at least one second phase leg at least partially defining a second electrical phase, wherein said first phase leg and said second phase leg are positioned adjacent each other.
16. The electric power system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said plurality of phase legs comprise:
a first subset of said plurality of phase legs positioned in a first arrangement; and,
a second subset of said plurality of phase legs positioned in a second arrangement, wherein said first arrangement and said second arrangement at least partially define said interlacing configuration.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A slate-style solar roof comprising:
a roof deck;
a plurality of generally planar solar panels arranged in courses on the roof deck with a lower edge portion of each solar panel in a first course overlapping an upper edge portion of at least one solar panel of a next lower second course, the solar panels of the second course being staggered with respect to the solar panels of the first course;
the upper edge portions of at least some of the solar panels including top corners;
each solar panel having a top surface facing away from the roof and a bottom surface facing the roof;
a plurality of solar cells on each solar panel arranged for exposure to sunlight on the top surface of the panel and consequent production of electrical energy, the solar cells being electrically interconnected to aggregate electrical energy produced by the solar cells;
a junction box on the bottom surface of each solar panel located within the lower edge portion thereof;
electrical connections for directing the aggregated electrical energy produced by the solar cells to the junction box; and
a cutout formed within at least one of the top corners of the upper edge portion of each solar panel with the cutout extending through the panel, the cutout being sized and located such that the cutouts of a lower second course of solar panels are covered by the lower edge portions of solar panels in an upper first course of solar panels with the junction boxes of the first course of solar panels residing within the cutout of a solar panel in the second course of solar panels to lower the profile of the plurality of solar panels on the roof.
2. A slate-style solar roof as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solar panels of the second course are staggered approximately half of a width of the solar panels with respect to the solar panels of the first course.
3. A slate-style solar roof as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solar panels are supported on hangers that are secured to elongated battens extending along the roof and wherein each of the elongated battens is spaced a distance from the upper edge of a course of shingles below the batten to define a chase therebetween.
4. A slate-style solar roof as claimed in claim 3 wherein each junction box has a positive outlet on one side of the junction box and a negative outlet on an opposite side of the junction box, the positive and negative outlets being located so that they align substantially with the chase.
5. A slate-style solar roof as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a positive connecting wire projecting from the positive outlet of each junction box and a negative connecting wire projecting from the negative outlet of each junction box and connectors on ends of the wires connecting each junction box electrically to the junction box of an adjacent solar panel.
6. A slate-style solar roof as claimed in claim 5 wherein the connectors are disposed within the chase.
7. A slate-style solar roof as claimed in claim 6 wherein the wires are disposed beneath the solar panels.
8. A solar panel comprising:
a generally rectangular body having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface, an upper edge portion and an opposed lower edge portion;
solar cells located for exposure to sunlight falling on the upper surface of the solar panel for consequent production of electrical energy;
a junction box on the lower surface of the rectangular body of the solar panel within the lower edge portion thereof; and
a cutout within the upper edge portion of the rectangular body and extending completely through the body;
the cutout sized and positioned to be covered by the lower edge portion of a solar panel of a next higher course of like solar panels and to receive the junction box of a like solar panel of the next higher course arranged with its lower edge portion overlapping the upper edge portion of the solar panel.
9. The solar panel of claim 8 wherein the cutout is located in an upper corner of the generally rectangular body and sized to receive the junction box of a like solar panel that is staggered with respect to the solar panel by approximately half of a width of the rectangular body.