Photovoltaic direct current distribution system having a fault detection and location-based active protection system
US10965123B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 22, 2020 |
| Grant date | Mar 30, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 22, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P80/20
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A detection and location-based active protection method for flexible DC distribution systems with multi-terminal distributed photovoltaic sources is disclosed. The disclosed protection method actively utilizes the coordinated control between local protection and the converters in the DC distribution system. The converter can then be modified to become an injection source with characteristic signal, providing a known fault signal to build a clear protection boundary. The disclosed protection method can distinguish the correct faulted area by calculating the harmonic impedance of the characteristic signals. Compared with existing DC protection techniques, this disclosed method does not require additional injection equipment and modification of the DC distribution system configuration, nor does it need high data sampling frequency. The disclosed technique is also unaffected by measuring noise and cable-distributed capacitance. The disclosed protection method is therefore feasible for industry application in a large and complex DC network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.