# US 12,603,509 B2 · Microgrid with automatic load sharing control during off-grid standalone operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,603,509 B2 - Document ID: US12603509B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/660,300 - Filed: 2022-04-22 - Published: 2022-11-03 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-29 - Assignees: Bloom Energy Corporation - Applicants: Bloom Energy Corporation - Inventors: Prasad Pmsvvsv; Beau Baker; Vignan Reddy Bommireddy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12603509B2 ## CPC - H02J 1/10: Parallel operation of DC sources - H02J 3/46: Controlling the sharing of generated power between the generators, sources or networks - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - H02J 3/32: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) - G05B 2219/2639: Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low - H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics - H02J 2101/28: Wind energy - H02J 2101/30: Fuel cells - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Various embodiments include methods and systems for managing electric power demand distribution across electric power generators in a microgrid. The system may include electric power generator clusters each having electric power generators, electric power output units each electrically connected to at least one of the electric power generator clusters, an energy storage unit electrically connected to an electric power output unit, and a control device. The control device may be configured to determine whether an energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than an energy availability threshold, calculate a sharing multiplication factor for an electric power generator cluster in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than an energy availability threshold, and calculate a sharing electric power demand for the electric power generator cluster using the sharing multiplication factor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microgrid electrically connectable to a load, comprising: two or more electric power generator clusters, each having at least one electric power generator, including a first electric power generator cluster having at least a first electric power generator; two or more electric power output units, each electrically connected to a respective one of the two or more electric power generator clusters, including a first electric power output unit electrically connected to the first electric power generator cluster; an energy storage unit electrically connected to the first electric power output unit; and a control device configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations comprising: determining whether an energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than an energy availability threshold; calculating a first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than the energy availability threshold; calculating a sharing electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster using the first sharing multiplication factor, wherein the sharing electric power demand is less that a distributed electric power demand; and setting the distributed electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster such that: the first electric power output unit outputs an amount of electric power received from the energy storage unit that is the difference between the distributed electric power demand and the sharing electric power demand in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than an energy availability threshold, and the first electric power output unit outputs an amount of electric power received from the first electric power generator cluster satisfying the distributed electric power demand in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is not less than an energy availability threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microgrid of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations further comprising setting the sharing electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster such that the first electric power output unit outputs an amount of electric power received from the first electric power generator cluster satisfying the sharing electric power demand. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microgrid of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations further comprising: using a redundant electric power generator to continue supplying electric power is response to reduced electrical output from at least one electric power generator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microgrid of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations such that setting the distributed electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster comprises setting the distributed electric power demand to an amount divided equally by a number of the electric power output units. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microgrid of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations such that calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster comprises: determining an amount of the energy availability of the energy storage unit; and calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster using the amount of the energy availability of the energy storage unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The microgrid of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations further comprising determining whether the energy availability of the energy storage unit is equalized, wherein calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than the energy availability threshold further comprises calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is not equalized. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electric power generator microgrid of claim 1, wherein the energy storage unit comprises at least one of an electrical energy storage unit, mechanical energy storage unit, an electromechanical energy storage unit, an electrochemical energy storage unit, or a thermal energy storage unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microgrid of claim 7, wherein: the first electric power generator comprises a fuel cell power generator; each of the at least two output units contains an inverter; the energy storage unit comprises at least one of a battery, capacitor or supercapacitor; and the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations such that determining the energy availability of the energy storage unit comprises determining a state of charge of the at least one of the battery, capacitor or supercapacitor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electric power generator microgrid of claim 1, wherein the first electric power generator comprises at least one of a fuel cell power generator, a combustion generator, a photovoltaic cell, a concentrated solar system, a wind turbine, a geothermal turbine, a hydroelectric turbine, a gas turbine, a nuclear reactor, an alternator, or an induction generator. ### Claim 10 A method of managing electric power demand distribution across electric power generators in a microgrid electrically connected to a load, the method comprising: determining whether an energy availability of an energy storage unit is less than an energy availability threshold, wherein the energy storage unit is electrically connected to a first electric power output unit of a plurality of electric power output units; calculating a first sharing multiplication factor for a first electric power generator cluster of a plurality of electric power generator clusters in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than an energy availability threshold, wherein the first electric power generator cluster includes at least a first electric power generator that is electrically connected to the first electric power output unit; calculating a sharing electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster using the first sharing multiplication factor, wherein the sharing electric power demand is less that a distributed electric power demand; and setting the distributed electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster such that: the first electric power output unit outputs an amount of electric power received from the energy storage unit that is the difference between the distributed electric power demand and the sharing electric power demand in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than an energy availability threshold, and the first electric power output unit outputs an amount of electric power received from the first electric power generator cluster satisfying the distributed electric power demand in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is not less than an energy availability threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising setting the sharing electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster such that the first electric power output unit outputs an amount of electric power received from the first electric power generator cluster satisfying the sharing electric power demand. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: using a redundant electric power generator to continue supplying electric power in response to reduced electrical output from at least one electric power generator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein setting the distributed electric power demand for the first electric power generator comprises setting the distributed electric power demand to an amount divided equally by a number of the electric power output units. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein calculating a first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster comprises: determining an amount of the energy availability of the energy storage unit; and calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster using the amount of the energy availability of the energy storage unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein: the power generators comprise fuel cell power generators; the energy storage unit comprises at least one of a battery, capacitor or supercapacitor; and determining the amount of the energy availability of the energy storage unit comprises determining a state of charge of the at least one of the battery, capacitor or supercapacitor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising determining whether the energy availability of the energy storage unit is equalized, wherein calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than the energy availability threshold further comprises calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is not equalized. ### Claim 17 A microgrid electrically connectable to a load, comprising: two or more electric power generator clusters each having at least one fuel cell electric power generator, including a first electric power generator cluster having at least a first fuel cell power generator; two or more electric power output units, each containing an inverter electrically connected to respective one of the two or more electric power generator clusters, including a first electric power output unit electrically connected to the first electric power generator cluster; a battery electrically connected to the first electric power output unit; and a control device configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations comprising: determining whether an energy availability of the battery is less than an energy availability threshold; calculating a first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster in response to determining that the energy availability of the battery is less than the energy availability threshold; calculating a sharing electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster using the first sharing multiplication factor, wherein the sharing electric power demand is less that a distributed electric power demand; configuring the first electric power output unit to output an amount of electric power received from the first electric power generator cluster satisfying the sharing electric power demand; configuring the first electric power output unit to output an amount of electric power received from the battery that is the difference between the distributed electric power demand and the sharing electric power demand in response to determining that the energy availability of the energy storage unit is less than an energy availability threshold; and configuring the first electric power output unit to output an amount of electric power received from the first electric power generator cluster satisfying the distributed electric power demand in response to determining that the energy availability of the battery is not less than the energy availability threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The microgrid of claim 17, wherein the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations such that configuring the first electric power output unit to output an amount of electric power received from the first electric power generator cluster satisfying the sharing electric power demand comprises setting the sharing electric power demand for the first electric power generator cluster. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The microgrid of claim 17, wherein the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations such that calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster comprises: determining an amount of the energy availability of the energy storage unit; and calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster using the amount of the energy availability of the energy storage unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The microgrid of claim 19, wherein the control device is configured with control device executable code configured to cause the control device to execute operations further comprising determining whether the energy availability of the battery is equalized, wherein calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster in response to determining that the energy availability of the battery is less than the energy availability threshold further comprises calculating the first sharing multiplication factor for the first electric power generator cluster in response to determining the energy availability of the battery is not equalized.