Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100138057 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERFACING RENEWABLE POWER SOURCES TO A POWER GRID - Systems and methods for interfacing a renewable power source to a power grid are provided. A weather condition that may affect the power output of the renewable power source is identified. A potential impact of the identified weather condition on the renewable power source is determined. An output of the renewable power source that is supplied to the power grid is adjusted based at least in part on the determination. | 06-03-2010 |
20100138063 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTERFACING RENEWABLE POWER SOURCES TO A POWER GRID - Systems and methods for interfacing renewable power sources to a power grid are provided. In certain systems and methods, at least one weather condition that may affect the power output of a renewable power source is identified. A potential impact of the identified at least one weather condition on the renewable power source is determined. Historical data associated with the impact of at least one prior weather condition on the renewable power source is accessed. An output of the renewable power source that is supplied to the power grid is adjusted based at least in part on the determined potential impact and the historical data. | 06-03-2010 |
20110205773 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO ALLOW FOR HIGH DC SOURCE VOLTAGE WITH LOWER DC LINK VOLTAGE IN A TWO STAGE POWER CONVERTER - A system for supplying AC power from a DC power source, such as a photovoltaic array is disclosed. The system includes a converter and an inverter coupled by a DC link. Control methods and systems are provided to maintain the DC source voltage and the DC link voltage below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source. During steady state conditions, the DC source voltage and the DC link voltage are maintained below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source by controlling the output of the inverter. The DC link voltage is temporarily adjusted to allow for higher DC link transients when the DC power source is first coupled or re-coupled to the system. During conditions when the inverter is decoupled from the system, the converter is controlled to maintain the DC link voltage below the open-circuit voltage of the DC power source. | 08-25-2011 |
20120274139 | SWITCHING COORDINATION OF DISTRIBUTED DC-DC CONVERTERS FOR HIGHLY EFFICIENT PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS - A distributed photovoltaic (PV) power plant includes a plurality of distributed dc-dc converters. The dc-dc converters are configured to switch in coordination with one another such that at least one dc-dc converter transfers power to a common dc-bus based upon the total system power available from one or more corresponding strings of PV modules. Due to the coordinated switching of the dc-dc converters, each dc-dc converter transferring power to the common dc-bus continues to operate within its optimal efficiency range as well as to optimize the maximum power point tracking in order to increase the energy yield of the PV power plant. | 11-01-2012 |
20130030587 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER CURTAILMENT IN A POWER NETWORK - A power curtailment system is electrically coupled to a power converter and configured to control the power converter to adjust output power of the power converter in response to a power curtailment requirement condition. The power curtailment system includes at least one sensor configured to measure at least one environmental factor in an environment of the power converter over time. The power curtailment system further includes a controller configured to adjust a power curve over time based on the at least one environmental factor and, upon the power curtailment requirement condition, control the power converter to provide an adjusted output power based on data from the power curve and the power curtailment requirement condition. | 01-31-2013 |
20130076144 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIMITING PHOTOVOLTAIC STRING VOLTAGE - A system and method are provided for enabling a PV inverter to be connected to a string of series connected PV modules without exposing the inverter to elevated voltage stresses. The input voltage to the inverter is gradually built up by sequentially switching in more series PV modules. This system and method are simple to implement in both centralized and distributed PV power plants and in either case, it significantly increases the utilization of the PV inverter. The input switching elements can be implemented using a wide variety of parts including electro-mechanical switches, semiconductor switches (IGBTs, MOSFETs . . . , etc.) as well as MEMS devices depending on the current level and target cost. A mix of switches can also be used to assist in minimizing impedance of the final switching stage that remains connected during normal operation. | 03-28-2013 |
20130077367 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE IN GRID FAULT EVENT CONTROL - System, power modules, and methods for supplying an output voltage to an electric grid are provided. One example power module includes a switching device configured to supply an output from a power generator to an electric grid, a feedback unit configured to provide a feedback signal indicative of a deviation of a parameter associated with the electric grid, and a controller coupled to the feedback unit and the switching device. The controller is configured to adjust a reactive current of the output in response to at least one grid fault event to ride through the at least one grid fault event, to modify the deviation provided from the feedback unit, to control the switching device based on the modified deviation, and to detect an islanding condition based on the parameter associated with the electric grid. | 03-28-2013 |
20130077372 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A POWER CONVERTER - A power conversion system for providing power to an electrical grid is described. The power conversion system includes a power converter coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) array and configured to control a PV array voltage. The power conversion system also includes a system controller communicatively coupled to the power converter and configured to select from a first reduced power operating point and a second reduced power operating point when a power available from the PV array is greater than a rated output power of the power conversion system. | 03-28-2013 |
20130096856 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE POSSIBLE POWER DETERMINATON IN POWER GENERATING SYSTEMS - A system for determining the output capacity of a power generating system including a sensor that monitors at least one condition of the power generating system and outputs the monitored condition data, and a power capability determination device that dynamically determines a full capacity of the power generating system based upon the outputted environmental data from the electronic controller. | 04-18-2013 |
20130107594 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM | 05-02-2013 |
20130222951 | FAULT PROTECTION CIRCUIT FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEM - A fault protection scheme for a photovoltaic power converter system is provided. According to aspects of the present disclosure, a fault protection circuit is coupled between a power converter and a ground reference. The fault protection circuit includes a fuse and a current sensor coupled in series with the fuse. A controller is configured to receive current readings from the current sensor and compare the current readings to a current threshold. The current threshold is selected to be less than the fuse current rating of the fuse. The controller identifies a fault condition if the current flowing through the ground protection circuit exceeds the current threshold value. A contactor can also be provided to temporarily lift the power converter relative to the ground reference to determine the existence of other fault paths in the system. | 08-29-2013 |
20140005845 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF GRID CONNECTED PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANT WITH MULTIPLE PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE TECHNOLOGIES | 01-02-2014 |