# US 8,786,139 B2 · Architecture for power plant comprising clusters of power-generation devices

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- Number: US 8,786,139 B2
- Document ID: US8786139B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/782,932
- Filed: 2010-05-19
- Published: 2010-11-25
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-19
- Assignees: MaxOut Renewables, Inc.
- Applicants: Eric Bryant Cummings
- Inventors: Eric Bryant Cummings
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786139B2

## CPC

- H10F 77/955: {for photovoltaic devices}
- H02J 1/102: being switching converters (H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence)
- H02J 3/00: Circuit arrangements for AC mains or AC distribution networks
- H02M 1/0043: {Converters switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved (non-isolated DC/DC converters H02M3/1586)}
- H02M 7/493: the static converters being arranged for operation in parallel
- H02J 1/106: {for load balancing, symmetrisation, or sharing}
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Various techniques are employed alone or in combination, to reduce the levelized cost of energy imposed by a power plant system. Solar energy concentrators in the form of inflated reflectors, focus light onto photovoltaic receivers. Multiple concentrators are grouped into a series-connected cluster that shares control circuitry and support structure. Individual concentrators are maintained at their maximum power point via balance controllers that control the flow of current that shunts this series connection. DC current from clusters is transmitted moderate distances to a centralized inverter. The inductance of transmission lines is maximized using an air-spaced twisted pair, enhancing the performance of boost-type three phase inverters. Cluster outputs are separate from individual inverters in massively interleaved arrays co-located at a central location. Step-up transformers convert inverter voltages to grid voltages, and small transformers provide isolation and voltage step-up only on receiver-to-receiver imbalance currents, typically <20% of the total current.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for balancing power output comprising:
an array of balancers coupled with a cluster of power-generating elements that are coupled in series via a conductor through which a common current flows, the array of balancers having an output coupled in parallel,
wherein each balancer of the array of balancers includes:
a first switch configured to draw current from one of the power-generating elements;
a second switch configured to draw current from the output; or
a plurality of switches configured to draw current from one of the power-generating elements and draw current from the output,
wherein each power-generating element in the cluster of power generating elements operates independently at a maximum power to supply a total current different from the common current.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the array of balancers comprises:
a first balancer comprising first, second, third, and fourth terminals, and
a second balancer comprising first, second, third, and fourth terminals, and wherein,
the first terminal and second terminal of the first and second balancers are in respective electronic communication with a first and a second terminal of a first and a second power-generating element,
the third terminals of the first and second balancers are in electronic communication with an output terminal, and
the fourth terminals of the first and second balancers are in electronic communication with a current return terminal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an isolation step-up transformer configured to step up a voltage of at least one power generating element to a voltage of the cluster of power generating elements.

### Claim 4

An apparatus for balancing power output comprising:
an array of balancers coupled with a cluster of power-generating elements that are coupled in series via a conductor through which a common current flows, the array of balancers each being coupled to a separated isolated winding of a single transformer,
wherein each balancer of the array of balancers includes a plurality of switches configured to bidirectionally pass current between balancers, and
wherein each power-generating element of the cluster of power generating elements operates independently at a maximum power to supply a total current different from the common current.