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System and method for controlling states of a DC and AC bus microgrid

  • US 8,781,640 B1
  • Filed: 07/01/2010
  • Issued: 07/15/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for managing a change in an operating state of a microgrid to manage flow of power between one or more distributable power sources, a utility power grid and one or more loads comprising:

  • a microgrid computer comprising;

    a computer readable storage device storing a first operating state business parameter rule associated with a first operating state of the microgrid and a second operating state business parameter rule associated with a second operating state of the microgrid; and

    a control software module applying the first operating state business parameter rule to data received from a circuit layer of the microgrid to determine a first command and applying the first command to transition the microgrid from the first operating state to a second operating state;

    the control software module further applying the second operating state business parameter rule to data received from the circuit layer to determine a second command and applying the second command to transition the microgrid from the second operating state to a third operating state;

    the circuit layer comprising;

    an AC input bus coupled to an AC output bus and a first converter;

    a DC bus coupled to a second converter;

    the first converter coupled to the DC bus;

    the second converted coupled to the AC output bus;

    at least a first sensor coupled to the DC bus, the at least a first sensor sending data to the control software module, wherein the AC input bus and the DC bus are coupled to one or more distributable power sources and a utility power grid;

    the control software module receiving the at least a first sensor data and generating one of the first or second commands in response thereto when the data meets one of the first or second operating state business parameter rules;

    at least a first controllable element receiving the first command to transition the microgrid from the first operating state to the second operating state, wherein the first operating state of the microgrid is an off state wherein no power is available at the microgrid from the one or more distributable power sources or the utility power grid and the second operating state of the microgrid is a disabled state wherein power is available to the microgrid from the one or more distributable power sources and the utility power grid, but no power is flowing therethrough, the at least a first controllable element powering up the DC bus in response to the first command; and

    at least a second controllable element receiving the second command to transition the microgrid from the second operating state to the third operating state, wherein the third operating state of the microgrid is a bypass state wherein power is available to the microgrid from the one or more distributable power sources but only power from the utility power grid is passing through the microgrid to the one or more loads.

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