US 12,362,572 B2Granted

Systems and methods for photovoltaic production curtailment and autonomous load breaking

AssigneeUnirac, Inc.

InventorsBrian Kuhn, Sandeep Narla

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Abstract

The present disclosure provides curtailing photovoltaic (PV) power output and autonomous load breaking in a backup mode of an electrical system. The electrical system includes a PV system, an energy storage system having a storage converter, and an energy control system. The energy control system is electrically coupled to the PV system, the energy storage system, and a plurality of backup loads. The electrical system includes an autonomous load breaker electrically coupled to a first backup load. When the energy control system switches from an on-grid mode to the backup mode, the storage converter adjusts the frequency of the power supplied to the backup side of the energy control system to a setpoint frequency that curtails PV power output, and the autonomous load breaker electrically disconnects the first backup load from the energy control system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electrical system, comprising:

an energy control system electrically coupled to a plurality of backup loads including a first backup load;
a photovoltaic (PV) power generation system electrically coupled to the energy control system, the PV power generation system configured to generate and supply power;
an energy storage system electrically coupled to the energy control system, the energy storage system configured to store power supplied by the PV power generation system and discharge stored power to the energy control system;
and
an autonomous smart load breaker electrically coupled to the first backup load,
wherein the energy control system is configured to operate in an on-grid mode electrically connecting the PV power generation system to a utility grid and a backup mode electrically disconnecting the PV power generation system and the plurality of backup loads from the utility grid,
wherein the autonomous smart load breaker is configured to:
detect changes in a frequency of power supplied to the energy control system, wherein the frequency is adjusted by the energy storage system during discharge of the stored power to the first backup load;
connect the first backup load with the energy control system when the frequency is in a first frequency range to increase PV power output;
and
disconnect the first backup load from the energy control system when the frequency is in a second frequency range to curtail PV power output.

8 more elements

A computer-implemented method comprising under control of an energy control system configured to execute specific steps:

operating in an on-grid mode electrically connecting a PV power generation system to a utility grid;
and
operating in a backup mode electrically disconnecting the PV power generation system and a plurality of backup loads from the utility grid;
under control of a microcontroller associated with an autonomous smart load breaker, the microcontroller configured to execute specific steps:
detecting changes in a frequency of power supplied to an energy control system, wherein the frequency is adjusted by an energy storage system during discharge of stored power to a first backup load of the plurality of backup loads;
connecting the first backup load with the energy control system when the frequency is in a first frequency range to increase photovoltaic (PV) power output;
and
disconnecting the first backup load from the energy control system when the frequency is in a second frequency range to curtail PV power output.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/668,797Filed 20 May 2024 · division
Priority: 1 Feb 2021
Published: US 2024/0305108 A112 Sep 2024
Granted: 15 Jul 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H02J 3/381
Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised…
H02J 9/062
With automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems: for AC powered loads
H02J 3/14
Arrangements for adjusting voltage in AC networks by changing a characteristic of the network load: by switching loads on to, or off from, the…
H02J 3/32
Arrangements for balancing of the load in networks by storage of energy: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means

Family

Application63/144,256Us provisional application · filed 1 Feb 2021
Application17/587,482Parent of this division · filed 28 Jan 2022
US 2024/0305108 A1Pre-grant publication · published 12 Sep 2024
US 12,021,388 B2Parent of this division
US 2022/0247184 A1Published application
US 12,362,572 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.