High Efficiency Remotely Controllable Solar Energy System

• US 20100308662A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ampt, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ampt, LLC
• Inventors: Schatz, Douglas S., Ledenev, Anatoli, Porter, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,242,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/80
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/26 involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources maximum power point systems in particular G05F1/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0077 Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

A solar energy system (55) has aspects that can allow individualized control and analysis for overall field power control that can be used while harvesting maximum power from a solar energy source (1) and a string of solar panels (11) for a power grid (10). The invention provides control of power at high efficiency with aspects that can exist independently including: 1) power management with switch disconnect control (64), 2) sequenced start of a solar power system, 3) providing a safety output system that can be handled by installers and maintenance and advantageously controlled, 4) providing programmable power functionality controller (86) either on site or remotely from an administrative facility by radio transmission individual solar panel disconnect control (85), 5) a system with pattern analyzer (87) for operational, installation, and maintenance indications, and 6) systems with individual solar panel string power simulator (89) for disparate components.

Claims

1-323. -323. (canceled)

324. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system comprising:

at least one solar energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

a photovoltaic power conversion circuitry responsive to said DC photovoltaic output;

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller to which said photovoltaic power conversion circuitry is responsive, and that is configured to change between power generating operational modes; and

a remote power functionality change controller to which said power generation operational mode functionality change controller is responsive.

325. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 324 wherein said photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller comprises a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller selected from a group consisting of:

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that maintains a maximum power point of operation,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that avoids an undesired parameter,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that achieves a safety attribute,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that facilitates an installation event,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that facilitates a connection event,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters an electrical power generation operation mode of operation,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that electrically transitions between operational power generation modes,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that controls a power generation output,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing power generation voltage outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing power generation current outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing power generation power outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing solar panel power generation outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing solar panel string power generation outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing solar panel power generation voltage outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing solar panel string power generation voltage outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing solar panel power generation current outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing solar panel string power generation current outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing solar panel power generation power outputs,

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode that alters between differing solar panel string power generation power outputs, and

a photovoltaic power generation operational mode functionality change controller configured to change to an operational mode of an individual panel dedicated converter.

326. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 325 wherein said at least one solar energy source comprises a plurality of solar panels, and wherein said remote power functionality change controller comprises a centralized, multi-panel remote power functionality change controller.

327. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 326 wherein said centralized, multi-panel remote power functionality change controller comprises an administrative panel sea facility control.

328. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 324 and further comprising at least one string of electrical series responsive DC-DC converted solar panel outputs.

329. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 328 wherein said at least one string of electrical series responsive DC-DC converted solar panel outputs comprises a plurality of serially connected photovoltaic DC-DC power converters.

330. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 329 wherein said at least one string of electrical series responsive DC-DC converted solar panel outputs further comprises a plurality of individually panel dedicated maximum photovoltaic power point converter functionality controls.

331. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 324 wherein said photovoltaic power functionality change controller comprises a photovoltaic DC-DC power converter operation controller.

332. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 324 wherein said remote power functionality change controller comprises a programmable power functionality controller.

333-334. -334. (canceled)

335. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 332 wherein said programmable power functionality controller comprises a user programmable power functionality controller.

336. (canceled)

337. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 332 wherein said programmable power functionality controller comprises an electrical code programmable power functionality controller.

338. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 332 wherein said programmable power functionality controller comprises an individual solar panel programmable power functionality controller.

339. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 332 wherein said programmable power functionality controller input comprises a solar panel model characteristic power functionality controller.

340. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 324 wherein said photovoltaic power functionality change controller comprises a photovoltaic power functionality change controller selected from a group consisting of:

a solar panel string voltage functionality controller,

a solar panel string current functionality controller,

a solar panel inverter input voltage functionality controller,

a solar panel inverter input current functionality controller,

a solar panel inverter input power functionality controller, and

a solar panel voltage functionality controller.

341. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 324 wherein said photovoltaic power functionality change controller comprises a solar panel power up disconnect control.

342. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 324 wherein said photovoltaic power functionality change controller comprises a photovoltaic DC-DC power converter switch controller.

343. (canceled)

344. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 342 wherein said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter switch controller comprises a converter inoperability switch disconnect controller.

345. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 342 wherein said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter switch controller comprises a field effect transistor timing controller.

346-607. -607. (canceled)

608. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 324 and further comprising:

an interchangeable DC photovoltaic condition of said at least one solar energy source;

a secure command controller in response to said interchangeable DC photovoltaic condition; and

a transition controller of said interchangeable DC photovoltaic condition from a first DC photovoltaic condition to a second DC photovoltaic condition.

609. An alterable power conversion-functionality solar energy system as described in claim 608 wherein said interchangeable DC photovoltaic condition comprises an interchangeable DC photovoltaic safety output condition.