Portal for harvesting energy from distributed electrical power sources
First Claim
1. A modular energy harvesting portal comprising:
- a first preconditioner including a first DC output and a first power input connectable to a first source, the first preconditioner configured to convert a first type of power provided from the first source to a first DC level, and output the converted power at the first DC level;
a second preconditioner including a second DC output and a second power input connectable to a second source, the second preconditioner configured to convert a second type of power provided from the second source to the first DC level, and output the converted power at the first DC level;
a first inverter including a first DC input and a first AC output, the first inverter converting DC power received at the first DC input to AC power and outputting AC power at the first AC output;
a second inverter including a second DC input and a second AC output, the second inverter converting DC power received at the second DC input to AC power and outputting AC power at the second AC output;
a controller configured to communicate with the first inverter, second inverter, first preconditioner, and second preconditioner;
a backplane includingfirst and second preconditioner slots for receiving the first preconditioner and the second preconditioner,first and second inverter slots for receiving the first inverter and the second inverter,a DC bus connecting the first DC output, second DC output, first DC input, and second DC input, andan AC output bus connecting the first AC output and second AC output, wherein the controller selectively couples the AC output bus to an AC grid; and
a sink circuit coupled to the DC link bus and operable to selectively dissipate power resident on the DC link bus, wherein the sink circuit is activated to dissipate power resident on the DC link bus in response to removal from the backplane of at least one selected from the group of the first preconditioner, the second preconditioner, the first inverter, and the second inverter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular portal system and method for harvesting energy from distributed power sources. The distributed power sources include renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, which are coupled to a backplane. The backplane receives modular preconditioner modules and inverter modules, which are inserted into module slots. The preconditioner modules receive power from the distributed power sources via backplane connections and output conditioned DC power to a DC bus on the backplane. The inverters are coupled to the DC bus, receive the DC power, and convert the DC power to AC power. The backplane also includes a controller for selectively coupling the energy harvesting system to a power grid. The AC power generated by the inverter is selectively applied to the power grid and to local loads.
172 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A modular energy harvesting portal comprising:
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a first preconditioner including a first DC output and a first power input connectable to a first source, the first preconditioner configured to convert a first type of power provided from the first source to a first DC level, and output the converted power at the first DC level; a second preconditioner including a second DC output and a second power input connectable to a second source, the second preconditioner configured to convert a second type of power provided from the second source to the first DC level, and output the converted power at the first DC level; a first inverter including a first DC input and a first AC output, the first inverter converting DC power received at the first DC input to AC power and outputting AC power at the first AC output; a second inverter including a second DC input and a second AC output, the second inverter converting DC power received at the second DC input to AC power and outputting AC power at the second AC output; a controller configured to communicate with the first inverter, second inverter, first preconditioner, and second preconditioner; a backplane including first and second preconditioner slots for receiving the first preconditioner and the second preconditioner, first and second inverter slots for receiving the first inverter and the second inverter, a DC bus connecting the first DC output, second DC output, first DC input, and second DC input, and an AC output bus connecting the first AC output and second AC output, wherein the controller selectively couples the AC output bus to an AC grid; and a sink circuit coupled to the DC link bus and operable to selectively dissipate power resident on the DC link bus, wherein the sink circuit is activated to dissipate power resident on the DC link bus in response to removal from the backplane of at least one selected from the group of the first preconditioner, the second preconditioner, the first inverter, and the second inverter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification