Systems, apparatus, and methods of a solar energy grid integrated system with energy storage appliance

• US 9,600,045 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunverge Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sunverge Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: Sanders, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US14/226,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20140336834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 700/291
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]

Abstract

An enclosure for integrating distributed energy sources, provides a compact enclosure that fits within a utility workspace and enclosures that can be mechanically coupled together, placed in parallel or in a series.

Claims

1. A solar integrated system enclosure, comprising:

an upper section housing one or more inverters;

a center section comprising one or more electromechanical isolation breakers, a charge controller, and a computer-implemented local data processing gateway device that includes one or more software modules for implementing method steps to monitor, control, and store energy from one or more alternate energy sources and to implement one or more processes for providing consumer energy management;

a lower section housing one or more storage modules;

a frame comprising a width, a depth, and a height to form a single, vertical rectangular cross section box of varying widths;

one or more corrosion resistant outer panels comprising a width, a depth, and a height to form a rectangular cross section box of varying widths, said one or more panels coupled to said frame to form a single vertical freestanding outdoor utility grade enclosure, said enclosure being open on a front side and coupled to a hinged door;

an internal upper section, center section and lower section backpan for mounting one or more solar integrated system components;

a compact footprint equal to a depth not to exceed a utility workspace;

a sloped top panel wherein a rear edge height is greater than a front edge height;

a door jamb coupled to a top portion and one or more sides of an open front side of said frame;

a hinged front door including a three point rod and latch system to engage a gasketed internal rectangular circumference and a handle latch on an external side of the front door, said hinged front door coupled to said door jamb;

one or more hot swappable energy storage modules coupled to a shunt switch for physically isolating the energy storage modules and further coupled to an isolation switches panel assembly via at least one unique safety connector mechanism and an electrical bus connecting terminals of the energy storage modules to a main bus which connects to the charge controller and said one or more inverters through a unitized system; and

one or more horizontal perforations on a back panel and located a minimum distance between exhaust ports on said one or more inverters, a converter and said charge controller.

2. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 1 wherein said utility workspace is no greater than 18 inches in depth.

3. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 2 wherein one or more solar integrated system enclosures are in series.

4. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 2 wherein one or more solar integrated system enclosures are in parallel.

5. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 1 wherein said utility workspace is no greater than 18 inches in depth and 24 inches in width.

6. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 5, further comprising multiple solar integrated system enclosures mechanically coupled together.

7. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 6 wherein the solar integrated system enclosure produces between about 6 kW and 1 MW.

8. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 1 wherein the enclosure is a rainproof NEMA 3R enclosure.

9. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more door hinges coupled to said hinged door wherein said one or more door hinges are encased by a front portion and side portion of said hinged door such that said one or more door hinges are not visible when looking at said front portion or side portion, wherein said one or more door hinges being encased by said front portion and side portion prevents unwanted tampering;

an isolation breaker panel coupled to the center section of the solar integrated system enclosure, said isolation breaker panel further having isolation circuitry coupled thereto, whereby placement of said isolation circuitry on said isolation breaker panel provides vertical airflow channels that provide additional exothermic cooling of components coupled to said center section; and

one or more ambidextrous conductor termination points located on said one or more corrosion resistant outer panels that form the width of said rectangular cross section box, wherein said one or more ambidextrous conductor termination points are formed via watertight escutcheon plates coupled to said one or more corrosion resistant outer panels, said watertight escutcheon plates containing electrical conduit access holes to facilitate connection of the alternate energy sources and a utility power grid.

10. The solar integrated system enclosure of claim 1, further comprising:

a rain gutter with a curved radius that extends around a perimeter of said open front side of said enclosure, wherein the rain gutter comprises a top and bottom rain gutter and first and second side rain gutters;

wherein the top and bottom rain gutter extend outward a first distance from said frame, said first distance being a curved radius portion sloping away from a vertical line that dissects an interior cavity of the enclosure and being equal to one third of the total distance with the one third of the total distance encompassing a portion of the total distance farthest from said frame and wherein said door jamb extends a second distance outward from said frame with said second distance being a planar portion equal to two-thirds of a total distance extending outward from said frame and the two-thirds of the total distance encompassing a portion of the total distance closest to said frame;

wherein the first and second side rain gutters extend outward a third distance from said frame, said third distance being a curved radius portion sloping away from a horizontal line that dissects an interior cavity of the enclosure and being equal to one third of the total distance with the one third of the total distance encompassing a portion of the total distance farthest from said frame;

one or more gaskets coupled to an inner circumference of said hinged door;

wherein when said hinged door is closed the one or more gaskets abut with said rain gutter to form an interface, wherein the interface comprises the one or more gaskets being compressed on an end portion closest to an end portion of the rain gutter such that the one or more gaskets form a seal by form fitting around said end portion, wherein the interface between the one or more gaskets and said end portion prevent liquids and dust from entering said enclosure; and

wherein placement of the one or more gaskets minimizes a contact surface area between the one or more gaskets and said rain gutter.