Method for use of static inverters in variable energy generation environments

• US 9,450,414 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Original Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Inventors: Avrutsky, Mordechay, Kikinis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/964,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20160094038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/42 Circuits or arrangements for compensating for or adjusting power factor in converters or inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/42 Conversion of dc power input into ac power output without possibility of reversal
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

Abstract

A method to collect energy from generation systems such as, for example, wind farms or solar farms with widely distributed energy-generation equipment. In some cases, static inverters are used to feed the energy directly into the power grid. In some other cases, back-to-back static inverters are used create a high-voltage DC transmission line to collect power from multiple generation sites into one feed-in site.

Claims

1. A method of generating energy comprising:

producing direct current (DC) voltage via one or more variable energy collecting units;

maintaining a desired level of the DC voltage on a bus via a first controller in communication with the units;

delivering the desired level via the bus to a static converter;

converting via the static converter the desired level to an alternating current;

outputting the alternating current to a pulse width modulation inverter wherein the pulse width modulation inverter converts the alternating current to a modified alternating current;

controlling a current flow of the alternating current between the static converter and the pulse width modulation inverter via the first or the second controller.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the pulse width modulation inverter outputting the modified alternating current to a feeding point.