IP Library Granted Patent US 12,456,867
Granted Patent B2
US 12,456,867 · App. 17/934,229 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Electrical systems and methods using high capacity local bus supported by energy storage

Inventor: Davin Ojala (Durham, NC)
Assignee: FlexGen Power Systems, LLC
H02J3/381H02J3/32H02J7/0013
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,456,867
App. No.
17/934,229
Granted
Oct 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a first bus configured to be coupled to a grid and a second bus configured to be coupled to a load and/or a source. A first converter is configured to couple the first bus and the second bus and a second converter configured to couple an energy storage device to the second bus. The system further includes a controller configured to control the first and second converters such that the second converter controls a voltage and frequency on the second bus by energy transfer between the energy storage device and the second bus and the first converter transfers energy between the first bus and the second bus.

Claims (38)

1. A system comprising:

a first bus configured to be coupled to a grid;

a second bus configured to be coupled to a load and/or a source;

an energy storage device;

a first converter configured to couple the first bus and the second bus;

a second converter configured to couple the energy storage device to the second bus; and

a controller configured to control the first and second converters such that the second converter controls a voltage and frequency on the second bus by energy transfer between the energy storage device while the second bus and the first converter transfers energy between the first bus and the second bus;

wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second converters to provide the following modes:

a first mode wherein the second converter controls the voltage and frequency of the second bus while the first converter is inactive; and

a second mode wherein the second converter controls the voltage and frequency of the second bus while the first converter supplies power to or extracts power from the second bus.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller causes the second converter to transfer power from the energy storage device to the second bus to support a peak draw of devices connected to the second bus and to transfer power from the second bus to the energy storage device to support a peak output of the devices connected to the second bus.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the devices connected to the second bus comprise at least one device configured to support bidirectional power flows to and from the second bus.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second converter and the energy storage device are sized to support peak power levels and the first converter is sized to support an average power level.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the first and second converters to regulate energy transfer between the first and second buses based on a state of the energy storage device and/or a load or generation on the second bus.

6. A system comprising:

a first bus configured to be coupled to a grid;

a second bus configured to be coupled to a load and/or a source;

an energy storage device;

a first converter configured to couple the first bus and the second bus;

a second converter configured to couple the energy storage device to the second bus;

a bypass switch configured to connect the first bus and the second bus to bypass the first converter; and

a controller configured to control the first and second converters and the bypass switch to provide the following modes:

a first mode wherein the second converter controls a voltage and frequency of the second bus while the first converter is inactive;

a second mode wherein the second converter controls the voltage and frequency of the second bus while the first converter supplies power to or extracts power from the second bus; and

a third mode wherein the first bus is connected directly to the second bus, the first converter is inactive and the second converter operates in a grid following mode.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller causes the second converter to transfer power from the energy storage device to the second bus to support a peak draw of devices connected to the second bus and to transfer power from the second bus to the energy storage device to support a peak output of the devices connected to the second bus.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the devices connected to the second bus comprise at least one device configured to support bidirectional power flows to and from the second bus.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second converter and the energy storage device are sized to support peak power levels and the first converter is sized to support an average power level.

10. A method of operating a system comprising

a first bus configured to be coupled to a grid, a second bus configured to be coupled to a load and/or a source, an energy storage device, a first converter configured to couple the first bus and the second bus, and a second converter configured to couple the energy storage device to the second bus, the method comprising:

controlling the first and second converters such that the second converter controls a voltage and frequency on the second bus by energy transfer between the energy storage device and the second bus while the first converter transfers energy between the first bus and the second bus;

further comprising controlling the first and second converters to provide the following modes:

a first mode wherein the second converter controls a voltage and frequency of the second bus while the first converter is inactive;

a second mode wherein the second converter controls the voltage and frequency of the second bus while the first converter supplies power to or extracts power from the second bus; and

a third mode wherein the first bus is connected directly to the second bus, the first converter is inactive and the second converter operates in a grid following mode.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the second converter transferring power from the energy storage device to the second bus to support a peak draw of devices connected to the second bus and transferring power from the second bus to the energy storage device to support a peak output of the devices connected to the second bus.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second converter and the energy storage device are sized to support peak power levels and the first converter is sized to support an average power level.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the devices connected to the second bus comprise at least one battery tester coupling at least one battery to the second bus and configured to transfer power between the second bus and the at least one battery.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 2, 2025
From: FLEXGEN POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
To: FLEXGEN POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 071162/0500 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 3, 2024
From: FLEXGEN POWER SYSTEMS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 069480/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2022
From: OJALA, DAVIN
To: FLEXGEN POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061386/0801 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63246984 · Sep 22, 2021
Related Publication 20230088380A1 · Mar 23, 2023
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