Electrical cogeneration system and method
An electrical cogeneration system and AC coupling method for efficiently distributing power from multiple AC sources. The system includes a main AC source, an AC generator, a solar panel, and an automatic transfer switch. The main AC source and the AC generator are connected to the transfer switch. The system also includes a DC/AC inverter, which is in communication with the solar panel. The transfer switch and the inverter are both connected to a common AC load panel where the power provided by the solar panel, the AC generator, and the main AC source is used to satisfy a common electrical load. The system further includes a system control device that is in communication with the inverter and the transfer switch and is capable of selectively determining power input to the AC load panel. An AC coupling method for distributing power from multiple AC sources is also provided.
1. An electrical cogeneration system for maximizing efficient electricity distribution by synchronously AC paralleling multiple power sources, said system comprising a main AC power source, a synchronous AC generator, a renewable power source, an automatic transfer switch, said main AC power source and said synchronous AC generator connected to said automatic transfer switch, an inverter, said renewable power source in communication with said inverter, a load panel, said automatic transfer switch and said inverter synchronously AC paralleling to said load panel, a system control device, said system control device in communication with said inverter and said automatic transfer switch, said system control device configured to match AC power produced by said synchronous AC generator and said renewable power source to power produced by said main AC power source, whereby said system control device selectively determines AC power input to said load panel and manages AC power produced by said renewable power source and said synchronous AC generator to prevent reverse power flow to said synchronous AC generator when available AC power exceeds demand at said load panel.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a generator controller, a load controller, said generator controller attached to said synchronous AC generator and in communication with said system control device, said load controller connected to said synchronous AC generator, said load controller in communication with said system control device and with said automatic transfer switch.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said renewable power source comprises a solar panel.
4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a DC disconnect, an AC disconnect, said DC disconnect connected to said solar panel and said inverter, said AC disconnect connected to said inverter and said load panel.
5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a solar controller, said solar controller connected to said solar panel and said DC disconnect, said solar controller in communication with said system control device.
6. A method for efficiently distributing power by synchronously AC paralleling multiple power sources, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing an electrical distribution system comprising a main AC power source, a synchronous AC generator, a renewable power source, an automatic transfer switch, said main AC power source and said synchronous AC generator connected to said automatic transfer switch, a DC/AC inverter, said renewable power source in communication with said inverter, a common load panel, said automatic transfer switch and said inverter synchronously AC paralleling said common load panel, a system control device, said system control device in communication with said inverter, said automatic transfer switch and said synchronous AC generator;
b) measuring an electrical load by said system control device at said common load panel,
c) selecting a source of AC power to satisfy the AC electrical load; and
d) managing AC power produced by said renewable power source and said synchronous AC generator with said system control device to prevent reverse power flow to said synchronous AC generator when available AC power exceeds demand at said load panel.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of determining the availability of electricity from the main AC power source via the system control device.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of selecting a source of AC power further comprises returning electricity in excess of the electrical load requirement from said renewable power source to the main AC power source.
9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of reducing the amount of electricity produced by the synchronous AC generator by the amount of electricity provided by the renewable power source.
10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of matching AC power produced by the synchronous AC generator and the renewable power source to power produced by the main AC power source.
11. A synchronous AC paralleling method for efficiently distributing power from multiple AC power sources, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a distribution system comprising a main AC power source, a synchronous AC generator, a solar panel, a solar controller, said solar panel linked to said solar controller, a DC disconnect, said solar controller connected to said DC disconnect, an AC disconnect, an automatic transfer switch, a generator controller, a load controller, said generator controller and said load controller connected to said synchronous AC generator, said main AC power source and said load controller connected to said automatic transfer switch, an inverter, said inverter in communication with said AC disconnect, a load panel, said automatic transfer switch and said inverter synchronously AC paralleling said load panel, a system control device, said system control device in communication with said inverter, said automatic transfer switch, said solar controller, said generator controller, and said load controller;
b) measuring an electrical load by said system control device at said load panel;
c) selecting an AC power source to satisfy the electrical load; and
d) managing AC power produced by said renewable power source with said system control device to prevent reverse power flow to said synchronous AC generator when available AC power exceeds demand at said load panel.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of determining, via the system control device, the availability of electricity from the main AC power source.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of selecting an AC power source further comprises returning electricity in excess of the electrical load requirement provided by the solar panel to the main AC power source.
14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of changing the source of AC power from the main AC power source to the synchronous AC generator via the automatic transfer switch.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of changing the source of AC power further comprises the step of starting the synchronous AC generator.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the system control device delays a predetermined time to determine the availability of electricity from the main AC power source.
17. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of reducing the amount of electricity produced by the synchronous AC generator by the amount of electricity provided by the solar panel.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of switching the AC power source to the main AC power source via the automatic transfer switch should the electrical load requirement not be met.
19. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of matching AC power produced by the synchronous AC generator and the renewable power source to power produced by the main AC power source.