Systems and methods of DC power conversion and transmission for solar fields
US11451052B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 3, 2019 |
| Grant date | Sep 20, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P80/20
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods integrate advanced solar tracker, battery, inverter, and software technologies to improve performance, plant output, and costs. The systems may incorporate an advanced vanadium flow battery (VFB) that is DC-voltage (DV)-coupled to photovoltaic (PV) arrays for high, round-trip efficiency. The systems incorporate a DC architecture that optimizes performance for commercial, industrial, agricultural, and utility applications. A distributed direct current (DC) power system includes a centralized, single-stage inverter; PV arrays; maximum power point tracking (MPPT) converters coupled between the PV arrays and the centralized, single-stage inverter; batteries; and DC-DC battery converters (DCBCs) coupled to the batteries. The MPPT converters maximize solar power production by the PV arrays and minimize mismatch between the PV arrays. The DCBCs manage charge and discharge of the batteries, enable the interconnection of the PV arrays and the batteries, and supply a constant medium voltage to the central inverter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.