Nonlinear droop controller for voltage regulation and load
This technology improves how multiple power converters share electrical loads on a common DC bus by dynamically adjusting each converter's 'droop resistance' using a continuous nonlinear mathematical function rather than a fixed value. Traditional droop control forces a tradeoff: tight voltage regulation at light loads OR balanced load sharing at heavy loads, but not both. This approach automatically tightens voltage control when demand is low and shifts to better load balancing as demand grows, all without discrete switching or complex communication between converters. It is particularly relevant for DC microgrids, battery storage systems, and renewable energy installations where multiple sources feed a shared bus.
What you could build
A firmware or embedded controller module for DC microgrid inverters and multi-source power systems that enables adaptive load sharing without inter-converter communication; primary buyers would be industrial UPS manufacturers, solar-plus-storage system integrators, and military/naval DC microgrid OEMs.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based defense contractors, naval systems integrators (given proximity to Norfolk and Dahlgren), and data center power infrastructure companies would find this relevant for DC bus power management.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Fang Chen, Rolando Burgos, Dushan Boroyevich
- Granted
- September 8, 2020
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 10770988
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.