Universal distributed-resource interface

Abstract

An electronic interface couples a combination of generation and storage devices with a power grid and/or a load. The interface comprises a DC bus; a DC storage device coupled to the DC bus; a first DC-to-AC inverter (N1) having a DC port operatively coupled to the DC bus, and an AC port; a second DC-to-AC inverter (N2) having a DC port operatively coupled to the DC bus, and an AC port; a switch (S4) for electrically coupling the AC port of the second DC-to-AC inverter to a first generator or an AC storage device; a first rectifier (D1) for coupling an AC output of the first generator to the DC bus; and a second rectifier (D2) for coupling an AC output of the AC storage device to the DC bus. The electronic interface provides an efficient mechanism for integrating a variety of storage and generation devices to produce high quality power and reliability to a load as well as to facilitate interfacing of the storage and generation devices to the power grid for purposes of energy control, load leveling, and peak shaving.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.