DC power grid and equipment
View Patent ↗Direct current electric grids are provided that allow independent power generation and consumption at the neighborhood level. In an embodiment power is uploaded and downloaded to each node via monitoring of node voltage and setting high vs low priority loads to optimize for maximum power usage. Embodiments allow a new paradigm wherein electrical supply is set by total available installed power generation and wherein all available power is used, via prioritization. New apparatuses and circuits are provided that provide higher efficiency by utilizing solar power generated at low light conditions and by minimizing the number of power alteration steps between power generator and power consuming device.
1. A direct current electric power grid having multiple local connection points each of which locally sense grid voltage at the connection points, wherein a defined target voltage is used at one or more connection points such that when a connection sensed grid voltage is higher than the target voltage the grid condition at the connection point is HIGH and when the connection sensed grid voltage is lower than the target voltage the grid condition at the connection point is LOW;
the grid comprising:
at each of at least two connection points at separate locations: a high priority load and a low priority load; and
at least two solar electric power input connection points;
wherein when the connection point is LOW the connection point provides power from the grid to the high priority load but not the low priority load, and when the connection point is HIGH, the connection point provides power from the grid to both the high priority load and the low priority load, and
wherein one or more nodes contain a current governor that limits current passing through wires from the one or more nodes to adjacent nodes by decreasing a pulsed duty cycle of the power passing through the wires, in response to sensed high current in the wires that approaches or exceeds a threshold current value.
2. The grid of claim 1 , wherein each of the two solar electric power input connection points provides excess power from the respective connection point to the grid.
3. The grid of claim 1 , further comprising a defined maximum voltage and a topping load at one or more connection points that consume more power when the grid voltage at a connection point nears or meets the defined maximum voltage to prevent over-voltage conditions.
4. The grid of claim 3 , wherein the topping load is a low priority load.
5. The grid of claim 1 , comprising one or more microprocessors that manage grid power flow at a connection point by receiving sensed voltage information and controlling at least one load.
6. The grid of claim 5 , wherein the one or more microprocessors controls at least two loads and a power source at a connection point.
7. The grid of claim 1 , further comprising a defined maximum voltage and a non-solar power source at a connection point that turns off or decreases power supply to the grid from the non-solar power source when the grid voltage at the connection point nears or meets the defined maximum voltage to prevent over-voltage conditions.
8. The grid of claim 3 , wherein the topping load is another electrical grid.
9. The grid of claim 1 , wherein if connection sensed grid voltage measured at a node somewhere on the DC power grid drops below the threshold value for that node during power removal by the higher priority user then the power removed by the higher priority user is paused for a delay period, or decreased or both decreased and paused.
10. The grid of claim 9 , wherein the delay period is randomly determined.
11. The grid of claim 9 , wherein the delay period is increased when the frequency of DC power grid drops below the threshold value increases.
12. The grid of claim 1 , wherein one or more nodes contain a current governor that limits current passing through wires from the one or more nodes to adjacent nodes by decreasing a pulsed duty cycle of the power passing through the wires, in response to sensed high current in the wires that approaches or exceeds a threshold current value.
13. A local grid kit for starting or expanding a community based DC electric grid, comprising: a node connection unit that senses local node voltage and responds to the sensed voltage by altering at least one of a connection to a load and a connection to an upload power source, wherein each unit of the grid senses its own local node connection voltage and has its own threshold voltage determination wherein
the node connection unit comprises a smart DC outlet that protects accidental powering an inductive load from direct current over at least two wires,
the smart DC outlet comprising: a power connection plug from the at least two wires for a load; a sensor for detecting induction response of the load and a comparator that senses an inductive load by comparing a differential signal obtained from the two wires that indicates an inductive load; and a shut off that interrupts or prevents initiation of DC power to the load upon sensing an inductive load.
14. A local DC electric grid, comprising:
at least two node connection units that sense local node voltage and respond to the sensed voltage by altering at least one of a connection to a load and a connection to an upload power source,
wherein each node connection unit senses its own local node connection voltage and has its own threshold voltage determination, and
wherein each local node connection has a current governor that limits DC current flowing to an adjacent node with a set maximum current based on the wire size used between the local node and the adjacent node.
15. A local grid kit for starting or expanding a community based DC electric grid as described in claim 14 , comprising a node connection unit.
16. The local grid kit claim 15 , wherein the node connection unit comprises a smart DC outlet that protects accidental powering an inductive load from direct current over at least two wires,
the smart DC outlet comprising: a power connection plug from the at least two wires for a load; a sensor for detecting induction response of the load and a comparator that senses an inductive load by comparing a differential signal obtained from the two wires that indicates an inductive load; and a shut off that interrupts or prevents initiation of DC power to the load upon sensing an inductive load.
17. The local DC electric grid of claim 14 , wherein a node connection unit comprises a smart DC outlet that protects accidental powering an inductive load from direct current over at least two wires,
the smart DC outlet comprising: a power connection plug from the at least two wires for a load; a sensor for detecting induction response of the load and a comparator that senses an inductive load by comparing a differential signal obtained from the two wires that indicates an inductive load; and a shut off that interrupts or prevents initiation of DC power to the load upon sensing an inductive load.
18. A power outlet circuit suitable for the smart DC outlet in the local grid kit described in claim 16 , comprising the sensor for detecting induction response of the load and a comparator that senses an inductive load by comparing a differential signal obtained from the two wires that indicates an inductive load; and the shut off that interrupts or prevents initiation of DC power to the load upon sensing an inductive load.
19. A power outlet circuit suitable for the smart DC outlet in the local DC electric grid described in claim 17 , comprising the sensor for detecting induction response of the load and the comparator that senses an inductive load by comparing a differential signal obtained from the two wires that indicates an inductive load; and the shut off that interrupts or prevents initiation of DC power to the load upon sensing an inductive load.