# US 12,003,104 B2 · Energy supply system having a coupling device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,104 B2 - Document ID: US12003104B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/584,982 - Filed: 2022-01-26 - Published: 2022-05-12 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-06 - Assignees: SMA Solar Technology AG - Applicants: SMA Solar Technology AG - Inventors: Claus Allert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003104B2 ## CPC - H02J 3/0073: by providing alternative feeding paths when the main path fails - H02J 3/32: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means - H02J 3/388: Arrangements for the handling of islanding, e.g. for disconnection or for avoiding the disconnection of power - H02J 9/062: {for AC powered loads} - Y02B 10/70: Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A local power supply system having a grid transfer point for the connection of an energy supply grid has a first transmission line for transmitting electrical energy from the grid transfer point to a first terminal for connecting an arrangement of consumers, and a second transmission line for transmitting electrical energy between the grid transfer point and a second terminal for connecting an arrangement of energy stores. A first disconnector is arranged in the first transition line between the grid transfer point and the first terminal, and a second disconnector is arranged in the second transmission line between the grid transfer point and the second terminal. A coupling device, which electrically connects the first terminal and the second terminal, has a first switch and a second switch connected in series thereto, wherein a coupling element is arranged between the two switches connected in series, which coupling element has a grounding apparatus, a phase connection apparatus, a neutral conductor connection apparatus, a connection to a diesel generator and/or an apparatus for generating a neutral conductor potential. The disclosure also relates to a method for operating such a system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A local energy supply system with a grid transfer point for connecting to an energy supply grid, comprising: a first transmission line configured to transmit electrical energy from the grid transfer point to a first terminal that is configured to connect to an arrangement of consumers, wherein a first disconnector is located in the first transmission line between the grid transfer point and the first terminal, a second transmission line configured to transmit electrical energy between the grid transfer point and a second terminal that is configured to connect to an arrangement of energy stores, wherein a second disconnector is located in the second transmission line between the grid transfer point and the second terminal, a coupling device electrically connecting the first terminal and the second terminal, wherein: the coupling device comprises a first switch and a second switch connected together in series, and a coupling element arranged between the series-connected first and second switches, wherein the coupling element comprises at least one element from the following group: a grounding apparatus, a phase connecting apparatus configured to connect multiple phase conductors of the first transmission line to a single phase conductor of the second transmission line, a connecting apparatus to a diesel generator, and an apparatus configured to generate a neutral conductor potential, a central control unit configured to: close the first disconnector and the second disconnector in a normal operating mode, and open the first switch and the second switch of the coupling device in the normal operating mode, and open the first disconnector and the second disconnector in a backup operating mode, and close the first switch and the second switch of the coupling device in the backup operating mode, thereby activating the coupling element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement of energy stores forms a constituent part of the local energy supply system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement of energy stores comprises energy generators from renewable energy sources. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first switch is connected between the first terminal and the coupling element, and the second switch is connected between the second terminal and the coupling element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first transmission line comprises a first number of phase conductors and a neutral conductor, and the first switch comprises a corresponding first number of switch contacts as well as a switch contact for a neutral conductor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first transmission line comprises a first number of phase conductors and a neutral conductor, and the first switch comprises a corresponding first number of switch contacts and a neutral conductor is not switched by the first switch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second transmission line comprises a second number of phase conductors and a neutral conductor, and the second switch comprises a corresponding second number of switch contacts as well as a switch contact for a neutral conductor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling element comprises a grounding apparatus configured to establish a connection between a neutral conductor and ground. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second transmission line comprises a second number of phase conductors and a neutral conductor, and the second switch comprises a corresponding second number of switch contacts as well as a switch contact for a neutral conductor, and wherein the first number is larger than the second number and the coupling element comprises a phase connecting apparatus that connects multiple phase conductors of the first transmission line to a phase conductor of the second transmission line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first transmission line is configured for a single-phase three-conductor grid, and the coupling element comprises an autotransformer configured to generate a neutral conductor potential. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first disconnector, the second disconnector, the first switch and the second switch each comprise auxiliary contacts, and wherein an electromechanical interlock is constructed by the auxiliary contacts such that required safety functions related to a changeover into a backup operating mode are ensured even upon failure of the central control unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The local energy supply system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the coupling element comprises a terminal for a generator. ### Claim 13 A method for operating a local energy supply system, comprising a first transmission line configured to transmit electrical energy from a grid transfer point to a first terminal that is configured to connect to an arrangement of consumers, wherein a first disconnector is located in the first transmission line between the grid transfer point and the first terminal, a second transmission line configured to transmit electrical energy between the grid transfer point and a second terminal that is configured to connect to an arrangement of energy stores, wherein a second disconnector is located in the second transmission line between the grid transfer point and the second terminal, a central control unit, and a coupling device electrically connected to the first terminal and to the second terminal, wherein the coupling device comprises a first switch and a second switch connected together in series, and a coupling element connected between the series-connected first and second switches, wherein the coupling element comprises at least one element from the following group: a grounding apparatus, a phase connecting apparatus configured to connect multiple phase conductors of the first transmission line to a single phase conductor of the second transmission line, a connecting apparatus to a diesel generator, and an apparatus configured to generate a neutral conductor potential, and wherein the method, comprises: closing the first disconnector and the second disconnector by the central control unit in a normal operating mode, and opening the first and second switches of the coupling device by the central control unit in the normal operating mode, opening the first disconnector and the second disconnector by the central control unit in a backup operating mode, and closing the first and second switches of the coupling device by the central control unit in the backup operating mode, thereby activating the coupling element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method for operating the local energy supply system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and the second disconnectors and the two series-connected switches are switched simultaneously. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method for operating a local energy supply system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: measuring grid parameters of an energy supply grid at the grid transfer point, and transmitting the measured grid parameters to the central control unit, and controlling an opening and closing of the first and second disconnectors as well as of the first and second switches of the coupling device using the central control unit based on the measured grid parameters.