US 9,871,379 B2 · Smart microgrids and dual-output off-grid power inverters with DC source flexibility

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed relating to smart microgrids supported by dual-output off-grid power inverters with DC source flexibility that can (1) intelligently and selectively pull power from one or multiple DC sources including solar panels, wind generators, and batteries based on certain criteria; (2) invert DC power to AC power; (3) supply the AC power to two off-grid circuits individually to power various types of AC loads that require different AC voltages, power quality, and power levels; (4) supply DC power through one or multiple DC output ports to power DC loads; and (5) charge batteries. Two or multiple dual-output off-grid power inverters can daisy-chain to form a group to support a larger microgrid which is ideal for off-grid AC Level 1 and Level 2 EV charging.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A dual-output off-grid power inverter, comprising:

a) one or multiple DC input ports;
b) an AC output port 1 connected to an off-grid AC circuit 1 and arranged to supply AC power to type 1 AC loads when working in off-grid mode 1;
c) an AC output port 2 connected to an off-grid AC circuit 2 and arranged to supply AC power to type 2 AC loads when working in off-grid mode 2;
and
d) a DC-AC inverter constructed and arranged to receive DC power from the one or multiple DC input ports, invert the DC power to AC power, and supply AC power through said AC output port 1 for type 1 AC loads or AC output port 2 for type 2 AC loads.

2 more elements

A system for providing AC power to an off-grid AC circuit 1 for type 1 loads or an off-grid AC circuit 2 for type 2 AC loads respectively from a plurality of individual DC power sources each having a DC output port, comprising:

a) a plurality of dual-output off-grid power inverters, each having m DC input ports, where m is an integer greater than or equal to two, an AC output port 1, and an AC output port 2;
and
b) the AC output port 2 of each inverter being connected in a daisy chain to the AC output port 1 of the next inverter, except for the AC output port 1 of the first inverter being connected to the off-grid AC circuit 1 for type 1 AC loads, and the AC output port 2 of the last inverter being connected to the off-grid AC circuit 2 for type 2 AC loads.

A method of making a DC to AC power conversion system incrementally scalable, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of DC power sources and a plurality of DC to AC power inverters, each having an AC output port 1, an AC output port 2, and at least one DC input port;
b) connecting at least one of said DC power sources, respectively, to at least one of said DC input ports;
c) providing AC power to type 1 AC loads through AC output port 1 or to type 2 AC loads through AC output port 2;
d) daisy-chaining at least two of said plurality of DC to AC power inverters, said AC output port 2 of each inverter being connected in a daisy chain to the AC output port 1 of the next inverter, except for the AC output port 1 of the first inverter being connected to type 1 AC loads, and the AC output port 2 of the last inverter being connected to type 2 AC loads;
and
e) producing a total AC power that is a summation of the AC power supplied by each said inverter.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Smart microgrids and dual-output off-grid power inverters with DC source flexibility

Life of this patent

Smart microgrids and dual-output off-grid power inverters with DC source flexibility

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24