Patent ID: 7633770

Claim:
A collection and transmission system comprising: a system direct current (DC) link configured for carrying power from a source to an electrical grid; and alternating current (AC) to DC power converter modules coupled in series to the system DC link on a source side of the system DC link, each power converter module configured for being coupled to one or more sources on the source side, wherein each power converter module is configured to short circuit the terminals of the power converter module and de-couple the power converter module from the DC link in an event of fault upon receipt of a respective command signal; wherein at least some of the converter modules comprise a rectifier and a half bridge coupled between to the system DC link and the rectifier, wherein at least one half bridge comprises two diode switch pairs, and is configured for transmitting input power from the rectifier when both of the switches of the diode switch pairs are closed, and further comprising a controller configured for closing one of the switches in the event of fault.