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US 10,381,838 B2Granted
Power control system with fault detection and data retention for energy generation systems
AssigneeTesla, Inc.
InventorSandeep Narla
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A programmable microcontroller and a non-volatile memory are coupled to monitor and store operating parameters associated with operation of a power control system for a power generation system. The microcontroller is programmed to respond to a fault event (i.e., an anomalous condition that exceeds a threshold value) by storing the operating parameters before, during and after the fault event in the non-volatile memory.
Claims17
A power control system for an energy generation system, the power control system comprising:
- a DC to DC converter configured to convert power generated by an energy generation source;
- a DC to AC inverter configured to convert DC power output by the DC to DC converter to AC power;
- a plurality of sensors coupled to the DC to DC converter and the DC to AC inverter, each sensor being configured to detect and generate operational parameter data associated with the operation of the power control system;
- a first-in-first-out buffer that temporarily stores a moving time window of the operational parameter data generated by each of the plurality of sensors;
- a microcontroller that acquires and analyzes the operational parameter data generated by each sensor to determine whether a fault event has occurred;
- and
- a non-volatile memory coupled to the microcontroller, wherein a predetermined amount of time after the microcontroller detects the fault event based on operational parameter data acquired from at least one of the plurality of first sensors, a predetermined amount of operational parameter data is transferred from the first-in-first-out buffer and stored in the non-volatile memory, the predetermined amount of operational parameter data including operational parameter data generated by at least one of the plurality of sensors before, during and after the fault event.
4 more elements
A power control system for an energy generation system, the power control system comprising:
- a DC to DC converter configured to receive DC power from at least one solar photovoltaic panel;
- a DC to AC inverter configured to receive DC power from the DC to DC converter and convert the DC power to AC power for injection into an AC mains;
- a plurality of sensors coupled to the DC to DC converter and the DC to AC inverter, each sensor being configured to detect and generate operational parameter data associated with operation of the power control system;
- a microcontroller configured to simultaneously compare operational parameter data received from each of the plurality of sensors with an associated one of a plurality of threshold values to determine whether operational parameter data generated by each of the plurality of sensors has exceed the associated threshold value;
- a first-in-first-out buffer that temporarily stores a moving time window of operational parameter data generated by each of the plurality of sensors;
- and
- a non-volatile memory coupled to the first-in-first-out buffer, wherein a predetermined amount of time after the microcontroller detects that operational parameter data generated by a first sensor has exceeded an associated threshold value, the operational parameter data stored in the first-in-first-out buffer is transferred to the non-volatile memory, the operational parameter data including data generated by at least one of the plurality of sensors starting a predetermined amount of time before and ending a predetermined amount of time after the microcontroller detects that operational parameter data generated by the first sensor has exceeded an associated threshold value.
4 more elements
A method of operating a power control system for use in an energy generation system, the method comprising:
- receiving operational parameter data generated by each of a plurality of sensors coupled to a DC to DC converter and to a DC to AC inverter;
- storing the operational parameter data in a first-in-first-out buffer for a predetermined period of time;
- comparing the operational parameter data generated by each sensor to an associated one of a plurality of threshold values;
- creating a fault event when the operational parameter data generated by a first one of the plurality of sensors exceeds its associated threshold value;
- and
- a predetermined amount of time after creating the fault event, storing in a non-volatile memory operational parameter data retrieved from the first-in-first-out buffer.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.