Method for use of static inverters in variable energy generation environments

• US 10,454,275 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• 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:
  US15/866,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20180131191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• 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 system and 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 a first direct current via one or more variable energy collecting units;

delivering the first direct current to a first inverter via a bus, wherein a first inverter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio;

converting the first direct current to an alternating current via the first inverter;

delivering the alternating current to a second converter, wherein the second converter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio; and

converting by the second converter the alternating current to a second direct current having a voltage configured for transmission to a master inverter, wherein the master inverter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a controller interfaces among a grid measurement, the master inverter, and the one or more variable collecting units.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering a waveform of the alternating current.

4. A method, comprising:

connecting a pair of converters between a first direct current bus and a second direct current bus, the second direct current bus having a voltage higher than the first direct current bus, the pair of converters having a first converter and a second converter, wherein the first converter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio and the second converter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio;

converting, by the first converter, a power input from the first direct current bus into an alternating current; and

converting, by the second converter, the alternating current generated by the first converter into a power output into the second direct current bus.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

connecting the second direct current bus to a third converter coupled to a power grid, wherein the third converter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

converting, by the third converter coupled to the power grid, an output of the second direct current bus into the alternating current on the power grid.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

powering the second direct current bus by outputs from a plurality of pairs of converters, including the pair of the first and second converters, wherein each converter in the plurality of pairs of converters has a respective predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

powering the first direct current bus by a plurality of variable energy collecting units.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of variable energy collecting units includes at least a solar panel or a windmill.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

connecting a controller to the pair of converters and to a point in the power grid.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining a grid measurement at the point in the power grid.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling, by the controller, a voltage on the first direct current bus using the pair of converters.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

powering, by a third converter coupled between the point in the power grid and the second direct bus, the power grid using an output of the second direct current bus, wherein the third converter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

connecting the controller to the third converter to control the voltage on the first direct current bus.

15. A method, comprising:

connecting a first inverter and a second converter between a local variable power generation system and a transmission line having a direct current voltage higher than an output voltage of the local variable power generation system, wherein the first inverter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio and the second converter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio;

converting, by the first inverter, the output of the local variable power generation system into an alternating current; and

powering, by the second converter, the transmission line using the alternating current generated by the first inverter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmission line connects to a point in a power grid;

and the method further comprises;

powering, by a third inverter, the power grid at the point using power from the transmission line, wherein the third inverter has a predetermined, fixed voltage conversion ratio.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

connecting a controller to;

a measurement at the point of the power grid;

the first inverter and the second converter; and

the third inverter.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

controlling, by the controller the output voltage of the local variable power generation system.