Title: Inverter communications using output signal

Abstract

Technologies for communicating information from an inverter configured for the conversion of direct current (DC) power generated from an alternative source to alternating current (AC) power are disclosed. The technologies include determining information to be transmitted from the inverter over a power line cable connected to the inverter and controlling the operation of an output converter of the inverter as a function of the information to be transmitted to cause the output converter to generate an output waveform having the information modulated thereon.

Inventors:

Chapman, Patrick L.

Issue Date:

2019-09-03

Research Org.:

Enphase Energy, Inc., Petaluma, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1576410

Patent Number(s):

10404190

Application Number:

15/426,712

Assignee:

Enphase Energy, Inc. (Petaluma, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02J - CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02M - APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

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H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02J - CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER

H02J3/38 - Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02M - APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

H02M1/084 - using a control circuit common to several phases of a multi-phase system

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/56 - Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02J - CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER

H02J3/00 - Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
H02J3/381 - {Dispersed generators}
H02J3/40 - Synchronising a generator for connection to a network or to another generator
H02J13/00009 - {using pulsed signals}

H - ELECTRICITY H04 - ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE H04B - TRANSMISSION

H04B3/54 - Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
H04B3/548 - {the power on the line being DC

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y04 - INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS Y04S - SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

Y04S10/123 - the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
Y04S40/121 - Using the power network as support for the transmission

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02M - APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

H02M7/5395 - by pulse-width modulation

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02J - CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER

H02J2300/24 - of photovoltaic origin
H02J3/383 - {Solar energy, e.g. photovoltaic energy

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/76 - Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02J - CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER

H02J1/102 - {being switching converters

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E40/70 - Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of electrical power generation, transmission or distribution, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02M - APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

H02M7/44 - by static converters

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02J - CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER

H02J3/386 - {Wind energy

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02M - APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS

H02M7/493 - the static converters being arranged for operation in parallel
H02M7/81 - arranged for operation in parallel

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02J - CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER

H02J3/46 - Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers

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DOE Contract Number:  

EE0005341

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2017 Feb 07

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION