Systems and methods for distributed power factor correction and phase balancing

• US 8,954,203 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Original Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Inventors: Arditi, Shmuel, Hadar, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUGHLIN, NATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US12/562,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/20, 700/21, 700/79, 700/286, 700/291, 700/292, 700/295, 700/297, 700/298
• US Class Current: 700/297
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/22 Arrangements for detecting or reporting faults, outages or leaks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/18 Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks for adjustment of voltage H02J3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/30 Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/22 Flexible AC transmission systems [FACTS] or power factor or reactive power compensating or correcting units
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A power management system includes a plurality of monitors, communicatively coupled together over a communications medium. Each respective monitor of the plurality of monitors is configured to capture power factor (PF) data at a corresponding distribution segment for calculation of a PF correction.

Claims

1. A power management system, comprising:

a plurality of monitors, each respective monitor of the plurality of monitors configured to capture power factor (PF) data at a corresponding distribution segment, wherein transformers separate distribution segments of a power distribution system;

at least one solar system coupled to the distribution segment, wherein

the distribution segment is connected to a plurality of loads that draw electric power from the distribution segment, including electric power generated by the solar system,

the solar system includes

a solar panel array,

an inverter couples the solar panel array to the distribution segment, and

a solar system controller configured to control the inverter to provide the electric power generated by the solar panel array in a form correcting a power factor on the distribution segment based on an additive result of the electric power provided by the inverter with respect to power consumed on the distribution segment by the plurality of loads; and

a master grid controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of monitors and

the solar system controller, wherein the master controller

receives the power factor (PF) data input from captured by the plurality of monitors,

analyzes the power factor (PF) data to determine desired power factor corrections, and

sends the desired power factor corrections to the solar system controller in the solar system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system includes a plurality of phases;

and the master grid controller is configured to balance power amounts among between phases.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired power factor corrections include a representation of a desired V/I diagram.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the desired power factor corrections include a representation of a waveform.

5. A power management system, comprising:

a plurality of monitors, each respective monitor of the plurality of monitors configured to capture real time power factor (PF) data at a corresponding distribution segment wherein transformers separate distribution segments of a power distribution system; and

a master grid controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of monitors and configured to receive power factor data of a distribution grid coupled with the power distribution system via a transformer, wherein the distribution segment includes at least one power generator and a plurality of loads consuming electricity drawn from the distribution grid and electricity generated by the power generator;

each

the respective monitor is configured to provide communicate the real time power factor (PF) data to the master grid controller;

the master grid controller is configured to receive the real time power factor (PF) data for calculation of desired power factor corrections and transmit the desired power factor corrections to a controller of the power generator, wherein the controller of the power generator is configured to control power output from the power generator to the distribution segment according to the desired power factor corrections to correct a power factor on the distribution segment based on an additive result of the power output from the power generator with respect to power consumed by the plurality of loads.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the desired power factor corrections include identify a desired phase shift.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the desired power factor corrections include a graph of a desired waveform.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein

the distribution segment includes polyphase electric power having a first phase and a second phase,

power consumed in the distribution segment on the first phase is greater than power consumed in the distribution segment on the second phase to have mismatch in power consumption in the first phase and the second phase, and power output from the power generator on the first phase is controlled to be greater than power output from the power generator on the second phase to compensate for the mismatch and to balance the first phase and the second phase.

9. A method of power management, the method comprising:

analyzing power factor (PF) data of a plurality of distribution segments connected to an electric power grid, wherein transformers separate the distribution segments, wherein a first distribution segment of the plurality of distribution segments includes

a set of transmission lines,

a plurality of loads drawing power from the set of transmission lines, and

at least one power generating system providing power to the set of transmission lines;

calculating a desired power factor (PF) correction for the first distribution segment of the plurality of distribution segments to optimize a power factor in the set of transmission lines of the first distribution segment; and

transmitting the desired power factor (PF) correction to a controller of the power generating system to control output of power from the power generating system to the set of transmission lines to optimize the power factor in the set of transmission lines of the first distribution segment based on an additive result of the output of power with respect to power consumed by the plurality of loads.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

monitoring a plurality of locations at various voltage levels in the plurality of distribution segments to generate the power factor (PF) data.