Patent ID: 8154833
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: F03D,F05B,H02H,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A power unit, comprising: an energy converter; an electrical grid; a transformer configured to transfer electrical energy generated from the energy converter to the electrical grid; at least one fuse located between the electrical grid and the transformer; and a crowbar located between the energy converter and the transformer at a line side of the energy converter that connects to the electrical grid, the crowbar configured to prevent an overvoltage event from damaging electrical components associated with the energy converter and the transformer, wherein the overvoltage event is insufficient to blow the at least one fuse, the crowbar preventing the overvoltage event from damaging the electrical components by diverting current generated from the overvoltage event away from the electrical components and raising the diverted current to a level that causes blowing of the at least one fuse between the electrical grid and the transformer, thereby isolating the energy converter and the transformer from the electrical grid.