SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ISLANDING DETECTION
First Claim
1. A solar power inverter comprising:
- a direct current (DC) input component configured to receive DC produced by one or more photovoltaic cells;
a power generation component configured to generate alternating current (AC) from the DC produced by one or more photovoltaic cells;
an AC output component configured to output generated AC, wherein the AC output component is electrically coupleable to an electrical power grid;
a data input/output component configured to receive signals indicating electrical power grid synchrophasors, wherein the electrical power grid synchrophasors describe characteristics of AC transmitted by the electrical power grid;
a phasor measurement unit configured to generate inverter synchrophasors, wherein the inverter synchrophasors describe characteristics of AC electrically proximate to the AC output component; and
a controller coupled to the data input/output component and the phasor measurement unit, wherein the controller is programmed toreceive the electrical power grid synchrophasors from the data input/output component;
receive the inverter synchrophasors from the phasor measurement unit;
based upon the electrical power grid synchrophasors, determine a first set of frequency values for the AC transmitted by the electrical power grid;
based upon the inverter synchrophasors, determine a second set of frequency values for the generated AC; and
based upon the first and second sets of frequency values, determine a degree of correlation between the frequency for the AC transmitted by the electrical power grid and the frequency of the generated AC.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar power inverter that detects islanding conditions includes a power generation component that generates alternating current (AC) from direct current produced by photovoltaic cells. The inverter generates AC for a load or an electrical power grid. The inverter also includes a component that generates synchrophasors from characteristics of electrically proximate AC. The inverter further includes a component that receives grid synchrophasors transmitted from a location on the electrical power grid (e.g., a transmission substation). The inverter further includes a controller that uses the inverter synchrophasors and the grid synchrophasors to calculate a degree of correlation between the electrical power grid AC frequency and the frequency of the electrically proximate AC. If the degree of correlation dips below a predefined value or exhibits certain patterns or behaviors that are indicative of a loss of mains (e.g., a loss of main power along the electrical power grid), the controller can cause the power generation component to stop generating AC or cause the inverter to intentionally island by electrically disconnecting from the electrical power grid.
67 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A solar power inverter comprising:
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a direct current (DC) input component configured to receive DC produced by one or more photovoltaic cells; a power generation component configured to generate alternating current (AC) from the DC produced by one or more photovoltaic cells; an AC output component configured to output generated AC, wherein the AC output component is electrically coupleable to an electrical power grid; a data input/output component configured to receive signals indicating electrical power grid synchrophasors, wherein the electrical power grid synchrophasors describe characteristics of AC transmitted by the electrical power grid; a phasor measurement unit configured to generate inverter synchrophasors, wherein the inverter synchrophasors describe characteristics of AC electrically proximate to the AC output component; and a controller coupled to the data input/output component and the phasor measurement unit, wherein the controller is programmed to receive the electrical power grid synchrophasors from the data input/output component; receive the inverter synchrophasors from the phasor measurement unit; based upon the electrical power grid synchrophasors, determine a first set of frequency values for the AC transmitted by the electrical power grid; based upon the inverter synchrophasors, determine a second set of frequency values for the generated AC; and based upon the first and second sets of frequency values, determine a degree of correlation between the frequency for the AC transmitted by the electrical power grid and the frequency of the generated AC. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus that enables islanding detection, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising receiving a first set of frequency values, wherein each of the frequency values in the first set indicates a frequency of alternating current (AC) transmitted by an electrical power grid; receiving a second set of frequency values, wherein each of the frequency values in the second set indicates a frequency of AC electrically proximate to a power generation source electrically connected to the electrical power grid; and calculating a correlation coefficient based on the first and second sets of frequency values. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of calculating a correlation coefficient that is performed by a computing system having a processor and a memory, the method comprising:
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receiving a first set of frequency values, wherein each of the frequency values in the first set indicates a frequency of alternating current (AC) transmitted by an electrical power grid; receiving a second set of frequency values, wherein each of the frequency values in the second set indicates a frequency of AC electrically proximate to a power generation source electrically connected to the electrical power grid; and calculating, by the computing system, a correlation coefficient based on the first and second sets of frequency values. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for islanding detection, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a first set of synchrophasors, each of the first set of synchrophasors describing characteristics of alternating current (AC) transmitted by an electrical power grid; means for generating a second set of synchrophasors, each of the second set of synchrophasors describing characteristics of AC electrically proximate to a power generation source electrically connected to the electrical power grid; and means for calculating, based upon the first and second sets of synchrophasors, a degree of correlation between frequency of the AC transmitted by the electrical power grid and frequency of the AC generated by the power generation source. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification