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US 2013/0076134 A1Published application
Power Converter Islanding Detection
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDavid Smith, Maozhong Gong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power converter including a detection apparatus and method for detecting an islanding condition based on measurements of one or more currents and voltages within the power converter provided to a current regulator to generate a signal that is provided in a positive feedback loop and is indicative of an islanding condition.
Claims20
A converter system for a photovoltaic array comprising:
- at least one power source providing direct current (DC) power;
- at least one current sensor for measuring at least one alternating current (AC) current signal;
- at least one voltage sensor for measuring a DC voltage signal and an AC voltage signal;
- an inverter converting the DC power to alternating current (AC) power based on an inverter control signal;
- and,
- an inverter controller providing the inverter control signal, the inverter controller comprising:
- a current regulator outputting at least one component signal based in part on the first DC voltage signal, the at least one AC current signal, and the first AC voltage signal,
- wherein one or more of the at least one component signal is provided in a positive feedback loop and is indicative of an islanding condition, resulting in the inverter control signal controlling the power output of the inverter when an islanding condition exists.
5 more elements
An inverter controller comprising:
- at least one input terminal receiving a direct current (DC) voltage signal, at least one alternating current (AC) current signal, and an AC voltage signal;
- a current regulator outputting at least one component signal based in part on the DC voltage signal, the at least one AC current signal, and the AC voltage signal;
- and,
- wherein one or more of the at least one component signal is provided as feedback to change either or both magnitude and frequency of the AC voltage signal, wherein the change is above a corresponding predetermined threshold when an islanding condition exists.
1 more element
A method of controlling an inverter comprising:
- measuring a direct current (DC) voltage signal, at least one alternating current (AC) current signal, and an AC voltage signal;
- receiving a nominal VAR reference signal and a DC voltage reference signal;
- determining at least one component signal based on the DC voltage signal, the at least one AC current signal, the AC voltage signal, the nominal VAR signal, and the DC voltage reference signal;
- and,
- determining an inverter control signal based at least in part on the component signal,
- wherein the at least one component signal is indicative of an islanding condition.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.