Description
Redundant and distributed power systems often invoke the need to parallel power stages for a variety of reasons, among them enhanced reliability, enabling the use of standardized designs with varying loads, distributing heat sources, and for improved maintainability. However, paralleling usually requires load sharing to equalize stresses, and while many techniques have been used, there are many compromises between complexity and performance. This topic attempts to simplify the selection process by describing and comparing the more popular approaches and, through analysis and example, provide guidelines for the designer. Load share techniques from simple droop methods to closed loop current control ? including many variations of each ? are included in this material together with the design information to simplify their application.

Course Modules
1. Paralleling Power - Choosing and Applying the Best Technique for Load Sharing (ATECH2-6)