Method and apparatus for controlling a hybrid power system
AssigneeZBB Energy Corporation
InventorsSteven Seeker, Kevin Dennis, Mike Hughes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a simplified method of controlling power among the various sources and loads in a power system. Power generating sources are each connected to a common DC bus through a converter designed to optimize power flow to the DC bus. A DC storage device is connected to the common DC bus through a power regulator designed to maintain a constant voltage on the DC bus. Further, an inverter may be provided to convert the DC voltage to an AC voltage for a customer load or for connection to the utility grid. Each power conversion device is independently controlled to provide a modular and simplified power control system.
Claims16
A power controller for a hybrid power system comprising:
- a common DC bus;
- at least one energy converter having an input electrically coupled to an electrical energy generating device and an output electrically coupled to the common DC bus, each energy converter further comprising:
- an input configured to receive a voltage signal corresponding to an amplitude of a DC voltage present on the DC bus, and
- a control unit configured to convert energy independently of the other converters and to disable power flow from the electrical energy generating device when the amplitude of the DC voltage exceeds a predetermined maximum value;
- at least one DC energy storage device;
- an energy regulator having a first terminal electrically coupled to the DC energy storage device and a second terminal electrically coupled to the DC bus,
- wherein the energy regulator further comprises:
- an input configured to receive a voltage signal corresponding to the amplitude of the DC voltage present on the DC bus, and
- a control unit configured to convert energy independently of the converters and to maintain the amplitude of the DC voltage at a substantially constant value.
A power controller for a hybrid power system comprising:
- a common DC bus;
- at least one energy converter electrically coupled between an electrical energy generating device and the common DC bus wherein the energy converter further comprises:
- a first voltage signal indicating a DC voltage level present on the DC bus, and
- a first control unit executing independently of other control units to regulate power flow from the energy generating device to the DC bus while the DC voltage level is below a predetermined maximum value and to disable power flow from the energy generating device when the DC voltage level is above a predetermined maximum value;
- at least one DC energy storage device;
- and
- at least one energy regulator electrically coupled between each DC energy storage device and the common DC bus wherein each energy regulator further comprises:
- a second voltage signal indicating the DC voltage level present on the DC bus, and
- a second control unit executing independently of other control units to maintain the DC voltage level at a substantially constant value.
A method of regulating power flow between a plurality of components connected by a common DC bus in a hybrid power system comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one energy converter, each energy converter having a first DC voltage signal and a first control unit configured to couple an electrical energy generating source to the DC bus independently of the other energy converters;
- monitoring a DC voltage present on the DC bus with the first DC voltage signal;
- converting electrical energy generated by each generating source to a DC voltage and a DC current suitable for connection to the DC bus with the corresponding energy converter when the monitored DC voltage is less than a predetermined maximum value;
- providing an energy regulator having a second DC voltage signal and a second control unit configured to couple a DC electrical energy storage device to the DC bus;
- monitoring the DC voltage present on the DC bus with the second voltage signal;
- and
- regulating the DC voltage to a substantially constant value with the second control unit independently of the operation of the energy converters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.