# US 11,309,714 B2 · Micro-batteries for energy generation systems

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- Number: US 11,309,714 B2
- Document ID: US11309714B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/341,984
- Filed: 2016-11-02
- Published: 2018-05-03
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-02
- Assignees: Tesla, Inc.
- Applicants: Tesla, Inc.
- Inventors: Sandeep Narla
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309714B2

## CPC

- H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators}
- H02J 3/388: Arrangements for the handling of islanding, e.g. for disconnection or for avoiding the disconnection of power
- H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells
- H02J 2101/25: {involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources}
- H02J 2207/20: Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
- Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
- Y02E 70/30: Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Embodiments disclose an energy generation system including a photovoltaic (PV) array including a plurality of PV modules for generating direct current (DC) power, a plurality of power converter pairs coupled to the plurality of PV modules and configured to convert the generated DC power to alternating current (AC) power, and a plurality of battery packs coupled to the plurality of power converter pairs. Each power converter pair of the plurality of power converter pairs includes a DC-to-DC converter coupled to a DC-to-AC inverter, where the DC-to-DC converter is directly coupled to a respective PV module. Furthermore, each battery pack is directly coupled to a respective DC-to-DC converter and configured to store DC power from the respective PV module and output stored DC power to the respective power converter pair.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An energy generation system, comprising: a photovoltaic (PV) array comprising a plurality of PV modules for generating direct current (DC) power; a plurality of battery packs, each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs being configured to store DC power generated by a respective one of the plurality of PV modules; and a plurality of power converter pairs coupled to the plurality of PV modules and to the plurality of battery packs, the plurality of power converter pairs being configured to convert the generated DC power to alternating current (AC) power, each power converter pair of the plurality of power converter pairs comprises a DC-to-DC converter directly coupled to a DC-to-AC inverter, wherein the DC-to-DC converter is directly coupled to a respective PV module and directly coupled to a respective battery pack, wherein each battery pack of the plurality of battery packs is configured to output stored DC power only to the respective DC-to-DC converter of the respective power converter pair, wherein the plurality of power converter pairs and the plurality of battery packs form a plurality of micro-batteries, each micro-battery comprising a power converter pair of the plurality of power converter pairs and a respective battery pack of the plurality of battery packs and wherein at least one micro-battery of the plurality of micro-batteries is coupled to more than one PV module of the plurality of PV modules.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The energy generation system of claim 1, wherein the DC-to-DC converter of each power converter pair is configured to buck and boost the generated DC power from the respective PV module.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The energy generation system of claim 1, wherein each battery pack is coupled to its respective power converter pair through a power cable that is plugged into a socket of a housing for the respective power converter pair.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The energy generation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-batteries are serially connected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The energy generation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of PV modules and the plurality of micro-batteries are equal in number.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The energy generation system of claim 1, wherein each micro-battery is coupled to less than all PV modules of the plurality of PV modules.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The energy generation system of claim 1, wherein each battery pack includes battery cells and a battery management system (BMS).

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The energy generation system of claim 7, wherein each battery pack further comprises a battery pack DC-to-DC converter configured to buck and boost DC power from the DC-to-DC converter of the respective power converter pair.

### Claim 9

An energy generation system, comprising: a photovoltaic (PV) array comprising a plurality of PV modules for generating direct current (DC) power; and a plurality of micro-batteries coupled to the plurality of PV modules, each micro-battery comprising: a DC-to-DC converter directly coupled to a respective PV module of the plurality of PV modules and configured to receive generated DC power from the respective PV module and convert the generated DC power to a converted DC power having a different voltage level than the generated DC power; a DC-to-AC inverter directly coupled to the DC-to-DC converter and configured to receive the converted DC power and convert the converted DC power to alternating current (AC) power; and a battery pack directly coupled to the DC-to-DC converter, the battery pack configured to store DC power from the respective PV module through the DC-to-DC converter and output stored DC power only to the DC-to-DC converter, wherein the plurality of micro-batteries are coupled to less than all PV modules of the plurality of PV modules.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The energy generation system of claim 9, wherein the DC-to-DC buck-boost converter, the DC-to-AC inverter, and the battery pack are housed within the same enclosure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The energy generation system of claim 9, wherein the DC-to-DC converter of each inverter is configured to buck and boost the generated DC power from the respective PV module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The energy generation system of claim 9, wherein the battery pack comprises battery cells and a battery pack DC-to-DC converter configured to output stored DC power only to the DC-to-DC converter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The energy generation system of claim 9, wherein a first micro-battery of the plurality of micro-batteries is configured to supply power to a first backup load and a second micro-battery of the plurality of micro-batteries is configured to supply power to a second backup load different than the first backup load.

### Claim 14

An energy generation system, comprising: a photovoltaic (PV) array comprising a plurality of PV modules for generating direct current (DC) power; and a plurality of micro-batteries coupled to the plurality of PV modules, each micro-battery comprising: a DC-to-DC converter directly coupled to a respective PV module of the plurality of PV modules and configured to receive generated DC power from the respective PV module and convert the generated DC power to a converted DC power having a different voltage level than the generated DC power; a DC-to-AC inverter directly coupled to the DC-to-DC converter and configured to receive the converted DC power and convert the converted DC power to alternating current (AC) power; and a battery pack directly coupled to the DC-to-DC converter, the battery pack configured to store DC power from the respective PV module through the DC-to-DC converter and output stored DC power only to the DC-to-DC converter, wherein a first micro-battery of the plurality of micro-batteries is configured to supply power to a first backup load and a second micro-battery of the plurality of micro-batteries is configured to supply power to a second backup load different than the first backup load.