Methods, systems, and computer readable media for managing the distribution of power from a photovoltaic source in a multiple-floor building

A system for managing the distribution of photovoltaic (PV) power in a multi-floor building, the system comprising:

• a plurality of direct current (DC) distribution buses for distributing a power output from a PV source to a plurality of loads associated with a respective plurality of floors in a multi-floor building;
• a PV controller unit configured to determine power requirements for each of the plurality of loads and to determine whether a PV source located at the multi-floor building is able to supply a power output that meets the power requirements of all of the plurality of loads;
• a PV converter configured to supply the power output entirely from the PV source to the plurality of loads in the event the power output meets or exceeds the power requirements of all of the plurality of loads and to supply the power output from the PV source to one or more of the plurality of loads via one or more of the plurality of DC distribution buses in the event the PV source is determined as being unable to supply the power output that meets the power requirements of all of the plurality of loads in the multi-floor building, wherein the power output is supplied to the one or more of the plurality of loads in an order such that each subsequent load is supplied at least a remaining portion of the power output after the power requirements of previously supplied loads are fully satisfied, wherein the PV converter is configured to provide the power output to each of the DC distribution buses via a direct connection on each of the plurality of floors;
• and
• wherein the plurality of floors is equal to N floors, and the topmost floor of the multi-floor building is the Nth floor, wherein the power output is first supplied to a load associated with the Nth floor, and wherein the power output is distributed to fully supply the loads associated with the Nth floor and M floors below the Nth floor, M being an integer equal to a number of floors with loads capable of being fully supplied by the power output, and a remainder of the power output is used to partially supply a load associated with a floor M+1 floors below the Nth floor.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for controlling a computer to perform steps comprising:

• determining power requirements for each of a plurality of loads associated with a respective plurality of floors in a multi-floor building, wherein each of the plurality of floors includes a direct current (DC) distribution bus;
• determining whether a PV source located at the multi-floor building is able to supply a power output that meets the power requirements of all of the plurality of loads;
• using a PV converter to supply the power output entirely from the PV source to the plurality of loads in the event the power output meets or exceeds the power requirements of all of the plurality of loads;
• in the event the PV source is determined as being unable to supply the power output that meets the power requirements of all of the plurality of loads in the multi-floor building, using the PV converter to supply the power output from the PV source to one or more of the plurality of loads via one or more respective DC distribution buses, wherein the power output is supplied to the one or more of the plurality of loads in an order such that each subsequent load is supplied at least a remaining portion of the power output after the power requirements of a previously supplied load is fully satisfied, wherein the PV converter is configured to provide the power output to each of the DC distribution buses via a direct connection on each of the plurality of floors;
• and
• wherein the plurality of floors is equal to N floors, and the topmost floor of the multi-floor building is the Nth floor, wherein the power output is first supplied to a load associated with the Nth floor, and wherein the power output is distributed to fully supply the loads associated with the Nth floor and M floors below the Nth floor, M being an integer equal to a number of floors with loads capable of being fully supplied by the power output, and a remainder of the power output is used to partially supply a load associated with a floor M+1 floors below the Nth floor.