Selective grounding of grid parallel inverter systems
AssigneeBloom Energy Corporation
InventorsPrasad PMSVVSV, Carl COTTULI, Beau BAKER
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating a power generator having a first electrical output electrically connected to a utility grid and a second electrical output electrically connected to a load includes detecting if the first electrical output of the power generator is electrically disconnected from the utility grid, and electrically connecting at least a neutral line of the first electrical output to ground in response to detecting that the first output is electrically disconnected from the utility grid.
Claims16
A method of operating a power generator having a first electrical output electrically connected to a utility grid and a second electrical output electrically connected to a load, comprising:
- detecting if the first electrical output of the power generator is electrically disconnected from the utility grid;
- and
- in response to detecting that the first electrical output is electrically disconnected from the utility grid, electrically disconnecting at least a neutral line of the first electrical output of the power generator from a ground of the utility grid and electrically connecting at least the neutral line of the first electrical output of the power generator to a local ground of the power generator.
A power generation system, comprising:
- a power generator having a first electrical output configured to be electrically connected to a utility grid transformer and a second electrical output configured to be electrically connected to a load;
- at least one first switch located at least on a neutral line of the power generator and configured to disconnect the neutral line from the utility grid transformer;
- a detector configured to detect if the first electrical output of the power generator is electrically disconnected from the utility grid;
- a ground line electrically connecting the power generator to a local ground of the power generator;
- and
- at least one ground line switch located on the ground line and configured to electrically disconnect the neutral line of the power generator from a ground of a utility grid and to electrically connect the neutral line of the power generator to the local ground of the power generator via the ground line in response to detecting that the first electrical output is electrically disconnected from the utility grid when the at least one first switch disconnects the neutral line from the utility grid transformer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.