IP Library Granted Patent US 11,228,182
Granted Patent B2
US 11,228,182 · App. 16/439,430 · Granted Jan 18, 2022

Converter disabling photovoltaic electrical energy power system

Inventors: Robert Porter (Fort Collins, CO); Anatoli Ledenev (Fort Collins, CO)
Assignee: Ampt, LLC
H02J3/385H02J3/00H02J3/38H02J13/00H02J13/0003H02M1/0077Y02E10/56Y02E40/70Y02P80/20Y04S10/123Y10S136/293
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,228,182
App. No.
16/439,430
Granted
Jan 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Renewable electrical energy is provided with aspects and circuitry that can harvest maximum power from an alternative electrical energy source ( 1 ) such as a string of solar panels ( 11 ) for a power grid ( 10 ). Aspects include: i) controlling electrical power creation from photovoltaic DC-AC inverter ( 5 ), ii) operating photovoltaic DC-AC inverter ( 5 ) at maximal efficiency even when MPP would not be, iii) protecting DC-AC inverter ( 5 ) so input can vary over a range of insolation and temperature, and iv) providing dynamically reactive capability to react and assure operation, to permit differing components, to achieve code compliant dynamically reactive photovoltaic power control circuitry ( 41 ). With previously explained converters, inverter control circuitry ( 38 ) or photovoltaic power converter functionality control circuitry ( 8 ) configured as inverter sweet spot converter control circuitry ( 46 ) can achieve extraordinary efficiencies with substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic capability at 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses.

Claims (111)

1. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load,

wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive mode of conversion switching control so that as one condition changes,

nearly instantly a desired different conversion control mode can be appropriately caused, and

wherein said dynamically reactive converter switching control is a dynamically reactive building code compliant converter mode of conversion switching control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that switches a mode of conversion for building code compliance.

2. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 1 wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to dynamically stay within code.

3. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 2 wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to dynamically stay within code comprises a nearly instantaneous coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

4. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 3 wherein said nearly instantaneous coordinated converter functionality circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a no communication delay coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

5. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 4 wherein said no communication delay coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter nearly instantaneously when one condition changes for said photovoltaic electrical energy power system.

6. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 1 wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in response to variations in an operational power producing condition for said photovoltaic electrical energy power system.

7. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 6 wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in response to variations in an operational power producing condition for said photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprises

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in response to variations in an operational power producing condition for said photovoltaic electrical energy power system selected from a group consisting of:

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in response to variations in a voltage of said photovoltaic electrical energy power system, and

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in response to variations in a current of said photovoltaic electrical energy power system.

8. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power conversion system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to said DC photovoltaic output and having a photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve dynamically reactive mode of conversion switching control so that as one condition changes,

nearly instantly a desired different conversion control mode can be appropriately caused, and wherein said dynamically reactive converter switching control is a dynamically reactive building code compliant converter mode of conversion switching control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that switches a mode of conversion for building code compliance.

9. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load, wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter to achieve slaved voltage level control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

such that an operation of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter is established for said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter as subservient to a converter voltage level control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

10. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load,

wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter to achieve slaved current level control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

such that an operation of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter is established for said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter as subservient to a converter current level control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

11. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load,

wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter to achieve slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

wherein said slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises maximum power point slaved to a current level control,

such that a converter maximum power point operation of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter is established for said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter as subservient to a converter current level control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

12. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load,

wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter to achieve slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

wherein said slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises maximum power point slaved to a voltage level control,

such that a converter maximum power point operation of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter is established for said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter as subservient to a converter voltage level control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

13. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load,

wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter to achieve slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

wherein said slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a converter operational power producing condition slaved to a current level control,

such that a converter operational power producing condition of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter is established for said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter as subservient to a converter current level control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

14. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load,

wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter to achieve slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

wherein said slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a converter operational power producing condition slaved to a voltage level control,

such that a converter operational power producing condition of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter is established for said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter as subservient to a converter voltage level control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

15. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load,

wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter to achieve slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

wherein said slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises maximum power point slaved to building code compliance control,

such that a converter maximum power point operation of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter is established for said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter as subservient to said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter building code compliance control.

16. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system comprising:

at least one alternative electrical energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to responsive to an overcurrent condition and having a photovoltaic DC converter output;

a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching in a manner that does not negate an ability to convert but retains the ability to yet again convert and does not prevent resumption of converter switching to again convert when appropriate, and

to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter that deactivates said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter from converting DC photovoltaic input to DC photovoltaic output upon said overcurrent condition;

a load responsive to said photovoltaic DC converter output; and

a photovoltaic power output of said photovoltaic load,

wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter to achieve slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

wherein said slaved control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises converter output power slaved to a disable condition control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter,

such that providing said converter output power of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter is established for said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter as subservient to operation of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter disable condition control.

17. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 8 wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to dynamically stay within code.

18. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 8 wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a nearly instantaneous coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

19. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 18 wherein said nearly instantaneous coordinated converter functionality control circuitry comprises a no communication delay coordinated converter functionality control circuitry.

20. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 18 wherein said nearly instantaneous coordinated converter functionality control circuitry reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

21. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 20 wherein said nearly instantaneous coordinated converter functionality control circuitry comprises a no communication delay coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve said photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

22. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 18 wherein said nearly instantaneous coordinated converter functionality control circuitry comprises a no communication delay coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve photovoltaic disable mode converter functionality control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter nearly instantaneously when one condition changes for said photovoltaic electrical energy power system.

23. A coordinated photovoltaic electrical energy power system as described in claim 8 wherein said coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises a coordinated converter functionality control circuitry that reactively alters converter switching to achieve dynamically reactive code compliant control of said at least one photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in response to variations in an operational power producing condition for said photovoltaic electrical energy power system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2019
From: PORTER, ROBERT M.; LEDENEV, ANATOLI
To: AMPT, LLC
Reel/Frame 049479/0460 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 15793704 · Oct 25, 2017
Continuation 15094803 · Apr 8, 2016
Continuation 13346532 · Jan 9, 2012
Continuation 12682882
Continuation PCTUS2008057105 · Mar 14, 2008
Provisional Application 60980157 · Oct 15, 2007
Provisional Application 60986979 · Nov 9, 2007
Provisional Application 60982053 · Oct 23, 2007
Related Publication 20190296555A1 · Sep 26, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,538,608 US 12,727,283