Patent ID: 7615892

Claim:
A power conversion apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of power conversion modules, said plurality of power conversion modules being controllable to function independently of each other to supply a plurality of systems, wherein the power conversion modules are able to independently provide power to different systems in the plurality of systems, function in an inter-relational mode in which at least one power conversion module from said plurality of power conversion modules drives a system and, upon a failure of said at least one power conversion module, at least another power conversion module from said plurality of power conversion modules will drive said system, and function in a scalable mode in which at least two power conversion modules of said plurality of power conversion modules are connected to provide an additive out put, wherein an output current of the power conversion modules is controlled to provide said additive output, wherein at least two power conversion modules are each designed for separately supplying a lower power independently to those of the plurality of systems operable at said lower power and supply a higher power together in said scalable mode to those of the plurality of systems operable at said higher power; and a plurality of contactors, the contactors controlling whether one of the plurality of systems is powered by one or by more than one of the plurality of power conversion modules.