RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A modular adjustable power factor renewable energy inverter system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of inverter modules each having a dc power input and an ac power output;
a common grid power feed coupled to each said inverter module ac power output; and
a system controller having a communications link to each said inverter module to receive power data from the inverter module and to send control data to the inverter;
wherein each said inverter module further comprises;
a series combination of a capacitor and a controllable switching device connected in parallel across said ac power output;
a communication interface for communicating with said system controller;
a power measurement system coupled to said communication interface to measure one or more parameters relating to a net level of ac power provided by said inverter module to said common grid power feed, and to provide power data, defining said net level of ac power provided, to said communications interface for transmission to said system controller; and
a power factor controller, coupled to said communications interface to receive control data from said system controller, and coupled to said controllable switching device to control said switching device in response to said control data to switch said capacitor into/out of parallel connection across said ac power output of said inverter module; and
wherein said system controller is configured to;
receive said power data from each said inverter module;
sum the net level of ac power from each said inverter module to determine a total net level of ac power provided by said plurality of inverter modules to said common grid power feed;
determine a number of said capacitors to switch into/out of parallel connection across their respective said ac power outputs responsive to said total net level of ac power; and
send control data to said inverter modules to switch said determined number of capacitors into/out of said parallel connections.
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Accused Products
Abstract
We describe a modular adjustable power factor renewable energy inverter system. The system comprises a plurality of inverter modules having a switched capacitor across its ac power output, a power measurement system coupled to a communication interface, and a power factor controller to control switching of the capacitor. A system controller receives power data from each inverter module, sums the net level of ac power from each inverter, determines a number of said capacitors to switch based on the sum, and sends control data to an appropriate number of the inverter modules to switch the determined number of capacitors into/out of said parallel connection across their respective ac power outputs.
116 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A modular adjustable power factor renewable energy inverter system, the system comprising:
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a plurality of inverter modules each having a dc power input and an ac power output; a common grid power feed coupled to each said inverter module ac power output; and a system controller having a communications link to each said inverter module to receive power data from the inverter module and to send control data to the inverter; wherein each said inverter module further comprises; a series combination of a capacitor and a controllable switching device connected in parallel across said ac power output; a communication interface for communicating with said system controller; a power measurement system coupled to said communication interface to measure one or more parameters relating to a net level of ac power provided by said inverter module to said common grid power feed, and to provide power data, defining said net level of ac power provided, to said communications interface for transmission to said system controller; and a power factor controller, coupled to said communications interface to receive control data from said system controller, and coupled to said controllable switching device to control said switching device in response to said control data to switch said capacitor into/out of parallel connection across said ac power output of said inverter module; and wherein said system controller is configured to; receive said power data from each said inverter module; sum the net level of ac power from each said inverter module to determine a total net level of ac power provided by said plurality of inverter modules to said common grid power feed; determine a number of said capacitors to switch into/out of parallel connection across their respective said ac power outputs responsive to said total net level of ac power; and send control data to said inverter modules to switch said determined number of capacitors into/out of said parallel connections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling power factor in a renewable energy inverter system, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of inverter modules each having a dc power input and an ac power output; coupling the ac power output of each said inverter module to a common grid power feed; providing each said inverter module with at least one reactive element switchable to be connected to a said ac power output; and controlling a dissipation power factor of said inverter system by; monitoring the ac power provided to said common grid power feed by each said inverter module to determine a total ac power provided to said common grid feed by said plurality of inverter modules; determining a number of said inverter modules to control, dependent on a proportion of a maximum power output of said inverter system represented by said total ac power provided to said common grid feed; and controlling said determined number of inverter modules to switch said reactive element into the respective said ac power output to control the displacement power factor of said inverter system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A modular adjustable power factor renewable energy inverter system, the system comprising:
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a plurality of inverter modules each having a dc power input and an ac power output, each further comprising at least one reactive element switchable to be connected to a said ac power output; a common grid power feed coupled to each said inverter module ac power output; and a power factor controller for controlling a dissipation power factor of said inverter system, wherein said power factor controller is configured to; monitor the ac power provided to said common grid power feed by each said solar inverter module to determine a total ac power provided to said common grid feed by said plurality of inverter modules; determine a number of said inverter modules to control, dependent on a proportion of a maximum power output of said inverter system represented by said total ac power provided to said common grid feed; and control said determined number of inverter modules to switch said reactive element into the respective said ac power output to control the displacement power factor of said inverter system.
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Specification