Methods and apparatus for controlling operation of photovoltaic power plants
US9059604B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 2011 |
| Grant date | Jun 16, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 31, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/56
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A photovoltaic power plant includes a photovoltaic inverter that converts direct current generated by solar cells to alternating current. The output of the photovoltaic inverter is provided to a point of interconnection to a power grid. A meter at the point of interconnection may be read to detect the output of the photovoltaic inverter at the power grid. The photovoltaic power plant includes a plant controller with a state machine. The plant controller is configured to adjust setpoints of the photovoltaic inverter to control the output of the photovoltaic power plant. The plant controller is also configured to soft start and soft stop automatic voltage regulation (AVR) of the photovoltaic power plant to prevent perturbing the AVR.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.