Apparatus, system and method for operating and protecting electric vehicle as a power source

A power distribution system comprising:

• a plurality of loads;
• an electric grid structured to provide power to the loads in a grid-connected mode;
• an electric vehicle (EV) coupled to a bidirectional EV charger and a smart inverter structured to convert direct current output from the EV into alternating current, the EV being structured to supply power to the loads during an islanded mode;
• and
• a smart load control system that comprises:
• a plurality of smart circuit breakers (SCBs) including an islanding and grid-connecting device (IGD) coupled to the electric grid, an EV SCB coupled to the bidirectional EV charger, and load SCBs coupled to respective loads, each SCB having a sensor and a controller, the IGD being structured to sense grid voltage and switch ON and OFF the electric grid based at least in part on the grid voltage, the EV smart circuit breaker being structured to sense EV voltage and switch ON and OFF the bidirectional EV charger based at least in part on the EV voltage;
• and
• a building energy system manager communicatively coupled to the plurality of SCBs and the aggregator, the building energy system manager being structured to collect data from each SCB, the data including at least the grid voltage and the EV voltage, select one of the grid-connected mode or the islanded mode based on the grid voltage and the EV voltage, perform a safe transition to the selected mode, and monitor the grid voltage and the EV voltage,
• wherein the smart inverter is an on-board smart inverter, and the smart load control system further comprises:
• a neutral forming auto-transformer (NFT) comprising a soft starter and structured to be coupled to the bidirectional EV charger and form a neutral line in the islanded mode;
• and
• an NFT SCB coupled to the NFT, wherein the soft starter is structured to reduce inrush currents during switching ON and OFF of the NFT by the NFT SCB and allow current from the smart inverter to be within limits of the smart inverter, and
• wherein the IGD is further structured to transmit a synchronization signal to the on-board smart inverter.

A method of providing power to loads in a power distribution system including an electric grid, an aggregator, an electric vehicle (EV) coupled to a bidirectional EV charger having a smart converter structured to convert direct current output of the EV into alternating current, and a plurality of loads, the electric grid structured to supply power to the loads during a grid-connected mode, the EV structured to supply power to the loads during an islanded mode, the method comprising:

• providing a smart load control system that includes (i) a plurality of smart circuit breakers (SCBs) including an islanding and grid-connected device (IGD) coupled to the electric grid, an EV SCB coupled to the bidirectional EV charger, and load SCBs coupled to respective loads, each SCB having a sensor and a controller, the IGD being structured to sense grid voltage and switch ON and OFF the electric grid based at least in part on the grid voltage, the EV smart circuit breaker being structured to sense EV voltage and switch ON and OFF the bidirectional EV charger based at least in part on the EV voltage;
• and (iii) a building energy system manager communicatively coupled to the plurality of SCBs and the aggregator, the building energy system manager being structured to collect data from each SCB, the data including at least the grid voltage and the EV voltage, select one of the grid-connected mode or the islanded mode based on the grid voltage and the EV voltage, and perform a safe transition to the selected mode;
• collecting the data from each SCB;
• selecting one of the grid-connected mode or the islanded mode based on the grid voltage and the EV voltage;
• performing a safe transition to the selected mode;
• and
• monitoring the grid voltage and the EV voltage,
• wherein the selecting one of the grid-connected mode or the islanded mode based on the grid voltage and the EV voltage comprises selecting the grid-connected mode based on a determination that the grid voltage has remained a predetermined voltage for a predefined period, and wherein the performing a safe transition to the selected mode comprises:
• transmitting a first signal to the bidirectional EV charger indicating that the electric grid is available for reconnection;
• opening all of the SCBs;
• closing the EV SCB and transmit a second signal to the bidirectional EV charger informing that the electric grid is ready for reconnection and commanding the EV to stop providing power to the loads;
• opening the EV SCB and verify that the EV voltage has remained zero for the predefined period;
• closing the IGD and reconnect the smart load control system to the electric grid;
• and
• providing power to the loads from the electric grid.