Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100008119 | SOLAR POWER GENERATION STABILIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A power generation system including a photovoltaic (PV) module to generate DC power is provided. The system includes a combination of a DC to DC converter and a DC to AC converter coupled to the DC to DC converter for supplying power from the PV module to a power grid. The system further includes a bidirectional converter and an energy storage device coupled to the bidirectional converter. The system also includes a control system to generate commands for controlling a state of charge of the energy storage device. The control system comprises a deadband limiter to detect a deviation of the frequency signal outside of a respective signal range, a power shaper to provide a transient power generation adjustment signal in response to the signal being outside of the respective signal range and a limit controller for preventing the adjustment signal from causing the energy storage device to operate outside of at least one operating constraint. | 01-14-2010 |
20100061024 | MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL SWITCH PROTECTION IN SERIES PARALLEL TOPOLOGY - An electrical switching device is presented. The electrical switching device includes multiple switch sets coupled in series. Each of the switch sets includes multiple switches coupled in parallel. A control circuit is coupled to the multiple switch sets and configured to control opening and closing of the switches. One or more intermediate diodes are coupled between the control circuit and each point between a respective pair of switch sets. | 03-11-2010 |
20100141041 | DC-TO-AC POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system, in one embodiment, includes a photovoltaic power converter. The photovoltaic power converter includes one or more photovoltaic arrays configured convert solar energy into a DC signal and two or more N-level converters coupled to a common DC bus (N being an integer greater than 2). | 06-10-2010 |
20100237227 | OPTICALLY GATED MEMS SWITCH - An optically powered MEMS gate driver includes a photovoltaic converter configured to receive a light signal from a light source and output a DC supply voltage for a MEMS gate driver in response thereto. The MEMS gate driver further includes a DC to DC converter electrically coupled to the photovoltaic converter and configured to output a line level DC voltage in response to the DC supply voltage. An electrical circuit, also included as a portion of the MEMS gate driver is electrically coupled to both the photovoltaic converter and the DC to DC converter is configured to receive the supply voltage and the line level voltage and to output a line level drive signal in response thereto. The optically powered MEMS gate driver is self-contained within a common EMI enclosure thus providing isolation between the gate driver and command signal electronics. | 09-23-2010 |
20100302819 | SOLAR INVERTER AND CONTROL METHOD - A power generation system including a photovoltaic (PV) module to generate direct current (DC) power is provided. The system includes a controller to determine a maximum power point for the power generation system and a boost converter for receiving control signals from the controller to boost the power from the PV module to a threshold voltage required to inject sinusoidal currents into the grid. A DC to alternating current (AC) multilevel inverter is provided in the system to supply the power from the PV module to a power grid. The system also includes a bypass circuit to bypass the boost converter when an input voltage of the DC to AC multilevel inverter is higher than or equal to the threshold voltage. | 12-02-2010 |
20110137481 | SYSTEM AND METEHOD FOR PROVIDING POWER GRID ENERGY FROM A BATTERY - A system for providing energy and other ancillary services to a power grid including a renewable energy source. One or more power converters are integrated with the renewable energy source. A battery-based energy storage system is also integrated with the renewable energy source. A control system including an algorithmic software operates to control at least one power converter together with the battery-based energy storage system to supply stored battery energy to the grid when the cost of extracting the stored battery energy supplied to the grid via the battery-based energy storage system is less than the market price paid for the stored energy supplied by the battery-based energy storage system. | 06-09-2011 |
20110140546 | SWITCH STRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED CIRCUIT - An apparatus, such as a switch module, is provided. The apparatus can include an electromechanical switch structure configured to move between an open configuration and a fully-closed configuration (associated with a minimum characteristic resistance) over a characteristic time. A commutation circuit can be connected in parallel with the electromechanical switch structure, and can include a balanced diode bridge configured to suppress arc formation between contacts of the electromechanical switch structure and a pulse circuit including a pulse capacitor configured to form a pulse signal (in connection with a switching event of the electromechanical switch structure) for causing flow of a pulse current through the balanced diode bridge. The electromechanical switch structure and the balanced diode bridge can be disposed such that a total inductance associated with the commutation circuit is less than or equal to a product of the characteristic time and the minimum characteristic resistance. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144817 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION - A method of controlling a wind turbine farm includes programming at least one algorithm within at least one processor. The wind turbine farm has at least one wind turbine that includes a generator. The at least one algorithm is representative of a relationship between at least one electric power grid tolerance range and an electric power generation rating. The method also includes determining the electric power grid tolerance range. The method further includes generating at least one wind turbine farm tolerance adjustment signal representative of a wind turbine farm tolerance range. The method also includes changing the wind turbine farm tolerance range. | 06-16-2011 |
20110210608 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A SINGLE STAGE POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM - A power conversion system includes a photovoltaic source to generate direct current (DC) power; a direct current (DC) to an alternating current (AC) single stage inverter to convert the direct current (DC) power from the photovoltaic source to alternating current (AC) power for delivery to a power grid, and a load balancing unit coupled to the single stage inverter. The power conversion system also includes a controller configured to determine a maximum power point for the power conversion system, regulate an output voltage of the single stage inverter, compute a power balance difference between a power demand from the power grid and an output power of the single stage inverter obtainable at the maximum power point and control in real-time the load balancing unit based on the power balance difference. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210613 | POWER GENERATION FREQUENCY CONTROL - A solar power generation system includes a control system and a DC to AC converter coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) module and for supplying power to a power network. The control system includes a power point tracker to extract either maximum power available from the PV module or less than maximum power available from the PV module, a frequency monitor to obtain a network frequency from the power network, an internal reference frame element to provide an internal reference frequency of the solar power generation system, a frequency comparator to compare the network frequency and the internal reference frequency, and a command signal generator to use the frequency comparison to determine whether a transient increase or decrease in commanded output power is warranted and to provide a command signal. | 09-01-2011 |
20120065803 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING A POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM - A power conversion system is described. The power conversion system includes a first power converter coupled to an electrical grid at a first point of interconnection (POI), a first processing device coupled to the first power converter and configured to control operation of the first power converter, and a first power measurement device coupled to the first processing device and configured to collect data associated with power output of the first power converter. The power conversion system also includes a first global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the first processing device and configured to receive location information corresponding to a location of the first power converter and temporal information corresponding to a time at the location. | 03-15-2012 |
20120133209 | INTEGRATION OF RENEWABLE POWER GENERATING TECHNOLOGIES WITH INTEGRATED VOLT/VAR CONTROL SYSTEMS - A distribution management system (DMS) includes an integrated volt/var controller (IVVC) that is configured to control operation of at least one corresponding renewable energy source or energy storage device power converter in response to IVVC commands generated via algorithmic optimization software integrated within the IVVC. At least one renewable energy source or energy storage device is controlled to operate alone or in coordination with one or more discrete step size reactive power (VAR) compensation devices to generate continuously varying reactive power required by a corresponding power distribution system. | 05-31-2012 |
20120314467 | POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Embodiments of the invention relate to a power system for converting direct current (“DC”) power on a DC bus into alternating current (“AC”) power with a regulated voltage output and for feeding the AC power to an electrical system which may include a power utility or an electric grid, for example. A power conversion control system is used for controlling the power conversion and for maintaining the DC bus voltage (“DC voltage”) at a certain level. | 12-13-2012 |
20130093193 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM INCLUDING PREDICTIVE CONTROL APPARATUS TO REDUCE INFLUENCES OF WEATHER-VARYING FACTORS - A power generation system ( | 04-18-2013 |
20130093250 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM IN A CURTAILED MODE - A power management system comprising a processor is provided. The power management system obtains maximum operating capacities of the power converters over time while in the curtailed mode and uses at least some of the maximum operating capacities for determining and commanding an adjusted operating capacity of at least one of the power converters to maintain a substantially constant level of output power. | 04-18-2013 |
20130131884 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING POTENTIAL POWER OF INVERTERS DURING CURTAILMENT MODE - A power inverter system includes a plurality of power inverters such as solar inverters receiving power from at least one energy source. Each power inverter includes algorithmic maximum peak power tracking (MPPT) software or integrated MPPT firmware to calculate its own potential real power. A controller is in electrical communication with selected power inverters that are operating in curtailed modes of operation and commands each selected power inverter to shift its power production duties and to perform MPPT sweeps. Each selected power inverter then calculates its own potential real power capability in response to corresponding MPPT sweep data. The potential real power capability information is received by the controller that transmits the information to a power utility allowing the power utility to more efficiently utilize real and reactive power available by the plurality of power inverters | 05-23-2013 |
20130134785 | SINGLE STAGE POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM - A solar power generation system includes photovoltaic modules electrically coupled to each other for generating DC power having a voltage at least as large as a minimum threshold voltage but no greater than a maximum threshold voltage. The system also includes a DC-AC power converter including a plurality of semiconductor switches for converting the DC power to AC power for transmission to a power grid. The minimum threshold voltage is based at least in part on grid voltage requirements, and the maximum threshold voltage is based on a voltage rating of the power converter. | 05-30-2013 |
20130148394 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING A POWER CONVERSION DEVICE - A power conversion system configured to provide alternating current (AC) power to a transformer is described. The power conversion system includes a power conversion device that includes a device input and a device output. The power conversion device is configured to receive power from a power source at the device input and the device output is configured for coupling to a transformer input. The power conversion system also includes a sensor coupled at a first point of interconnection between the device output and the transformer input and is configured to measure a voltage level at the first point of interconnection. The power conversion system also includes a system controller communicatively coupled to the power conversion device and the sensor. The system controller is configured to determine an impedance of the power grid based at least partially on the voltage level at the first point of interconnection. | 06-13-2013 |
20130155738 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING REACTIVE POWER IN A POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM - A power conversion system includes a three-phase power converter electrically couplable to a photovoltaic power source for converting DC power to three-phase AC power; sensors for measuring voltage levels of the AC power at each phase; and a controller for generating and transmitting independent reactive power commands for each phase of the three-phase power converter based at least in part on the voltage levels and an existing voltage imbalance. | 06-20-2013 |
20130162047 | Methods and Systems For Controlling An Intra-Plant Voltage Level - A power plant coupled to, and configured to provide power to, an electrical grid, is described. The power plant includes a plurality of power converters electrically coupled to, and configured to receive power from, at least one power source. The power plant also includes a voltage regulation device electrically coupled between the power converters and the electrical grid. The voltage regulation device includes a series transformer and a bi-directional converter configured to regulate a voltage at an output of the power converters. | 06-27-2013 |
20130166090 | POWER CONVERTER AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A power delivery system includes at least one conductor having a first end and a second end and a phasor measurement unit (PMU) coupled to the first end of the conductor. The PMU is configured to obtain phasor data at the first end and generate a phasor signal that includes the phasor data. The power delivery system also includes a power generation system coupled to the second end of the conductor and configured to provide power to the conductor. The power generation system includes a power source, a power converter, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the PMU and is configured to receive the phasor signal and control the power converter based at least partially on the phasor data. | 06-27-2013 |
20130257163 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SOLAR POWER CONVERSION SYSTEMS - A solar power conversion system is provided. The system includes photovoltaic modules for generating direct current (DC) power, The system also includes power converters for converting the DC power to alternating current (AC) power wherein each of the power converters comprises a local controller and at least some of the local controllers are individually operable as a central controller for providing central control signals to the remaining local controllers and exactly one of the local controllers from the at least some local controllers is operable as the central controller at a given point of time. | 10-03-2013 |
20130274946 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING A POWER PLANT - A power plant for providing alternating current (AC) power to an electrical grid is described. The power plant includes a first power converter couplable to the electrical grid at a first point of interconnection for receiving power from a first power source. The power plant also includes a second power converter couplable to the electrical grid at the first point of interconnection for receiving power from a second power source. The power plant also includes at least one sensor for measuring a voltage level at the first point of interconnection and a central controller for coordinating operation of the first power converter and the second power converter to determine an impedance of the electrical grid. | 10-17-2013 |
20140176090 | VOLTAGE REGULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method for regulating a power line voltage includes determining a slow voltage variation by filtering an actual voltage at terminals of the voltage regulation apparatus. A fast active power variation is determined by filtering a measured active power of the DG system; wherein a first frequency of the slow voltage variation is smaller than a second frequency of the fast active power variation. The voltage regulation apparatus settings are controlled based on the slow voltage variation and a reactive power output of the DG system is controlled based on fast active power variation. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180663 | System and Method For Accelerated Assessment of Operational Uncertainties In Electrical Power Distribution Systems - A system for accelerated assessment of operational uncertainties in an electrical power distribution system includes a plurality of utility assets, and a distribution analysis (“DA”) system. DA system includes a preparation module configured to identify a first network model and a reduced network model for the electrical power distribution system. DA system also includes an input module configured to identify a plurality of scenarios, and a reduced-model-analysis module configured to analyze the reduced network model using the plurality of scenarios, generating a first set of results, and to select a subset of scenarios based on the first set of results. DA system further includes a full-model-analysis module configured to analyze the first network model using the subset of scenarios, generating a second set of results. DA system also includes a command module configured to dispatch configuration commands to utility assets based on the second set of results. | 06-26-2014 |