Control of multiple fuel cell power plants at a site to provide a distributed resource in a utility grid
First Claim
1. A fuel cell-powered generating system (8) at a site for inclusion as a distributed generating resource in a distributed generation utility power grid (10), comprising:
- a. multiple fuel cell power plants (181-n) at the site;
b. at least one electrical load (14)located substantially at the site; and
c. a site management system (11) operatively connected to each of the multiple fuel cell power plants (181-n), the at least one load (14), and the utility grid (10) for controlling the multiple fuel cell power plants (181-n) in an integrated manner, in, alternatively;
i. a grid connected mode of operation having the fuel cell power plants (18) connected to the at least one load (14) and to the power grid (10), and ii. a grid independent mode of operation having the fuel cell power plants (18) connected to the at least one load (14) independent of connection to the power grid (10).
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A site management system (11) is provided for a power system (8) at site in a utility distribution grid (10). The power system (8) includes multiple fuel cell power plants (18) and one or more loads (14), for selective connection/disconnection with the grid (10). The site management system (11) operates to control the power plants (18) in an integrated manner, alternatively in a grid connected mode and in a grid independent mode. The utility is able to view and treat the multiple power plants (18) at the site as a single, unified distributed resource on the grid (10). The site management system (11) provides signals representative of the present power capability (Kw Capacity—88) of each of the power plants (18), and a signal (Total Kw Capacity—95) representative of the total present power capability at the site. These power representations are used to appropriately assign power dispatch loadings to the respective fuel cells (18) in the grid connected mode and in the grid independent mode. The site management system (11) also functions in the grid independent mode to monitor present demand of the loads (14) and, if necessary, to shed loads (14) in accordance with a predetermined schedule.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A fuel cell-powered generating system (8) at a site for inclusion as a distributed generating resource in a distributed generation utility power grid (10), comprising:
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a. multiple fuel cell power plants (181-n) at the site;
b. at least one electrical load (14)located substantially at the site; and
c. a site management system (11) operatively connected to each of the multiple fuel cell power plants (181-n), the at least one load (14), and the utility grid (10) for controlling the multiple fuel cell power plants (181-n) in an integrated manner, in, alternatively;
i. a grid connected mode of operation having the fuel cell power plants (18) connected to the at least one load (14) and to the power grid (10), and ii. a grid independent mode of operation having the fuel cell power plants (18) connected to the at least one load (14) independent of connection to the power grid (10). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification