Solar powered system with grid backup
AssigneeeBay Inc.
InventorsRhonda Dibachi, Farzad Dibachi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a solar power subsystem that receives power from one or more solar power arrays. A storage control subsystem is coupled to the solar power subsystem to charge a battery from the power received by the solar power subsystem. A grid power control subsystem having an AC to DC converter receives power from a power grid and provides DC voltage to the storage control subsystem. A balance of system control system controls the amount of power received from the power grid as a function of a load, battery charge and received power by the solar power subsystem. The solar array and battery may be sized to provide sufficient power under normal operating conditions, with power being drawn from the grid during abnormal operation conditions.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- receiving power from a solar array;
- using the received power from the solar array to charge a battery;
- applying power from the battery to power a load;
- drawing power from a power grid as a function of the power drawn from the battery to power the load and the power received from the solar array without providing power back to the grid;
- monitoring a battery drain rate;
- determining expected power to be received from the solar array;
- determining if the battery has sufficient power to power the load prior to the solar array providing power to sufficiently power the load and recharge the battery;
- and
- drawing power from the grid if sufficient power from the solar array is not expected.
A method comprising:
- determining total power requirements for multiple loads for operation during normal operating conditions;
- determining sizes for a solar array and a battery to provide sufficient power to the loads during normal operating conditions;
- and
- selecting a controller to control providing power to the loads and charging battery such that power is drawn from a grid connection during operation outside normal operating conditions.
A system comprising:
- a solar power subsystem that receives power from one or more solar power arrays;
- a storage control subsystem coupled to the solar power subsystem to charge a battery from the power received by the solar power subsystem;
- a grid power control subsystem having a AC to DC converter to receive power from a power grid and provide DC voltage to the storage control subsystem;
- and
- a balance of system control system to control the amount of power received from the power grid as a function of a load, battery charge and received power by the solar power subsystem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.