Method and apparatus including an energy management system - Patents.com

Abstract

An energy management system is provided that includes a smart switch including an input configured to connect to one of a service entrance meter or a main load panel, a storage system connected to the smart switch, and a combiner connected to one of the smart switch or the main load panel and one or more photovoltaic (PV) arrays.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to power systems, and more particularly to methods and apparatus including energy management systems that manage multiple energy resources, including, but not limited to, solar, storage, loads, grids, and / or generators. [Background technology]

[0002] A grid-tied solar PV system is a photovoltaic energy system that is connected (or tied) to a utility electrical grid and operates only when the grid is available. During a power outage, a grid-tied PV system stops generating electricity and remains shut down until grid power is available. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] According to at least some embodiments, an energy management system is provided that includes a smart switch including an input configured to connect to one of a meter at a service entrance or a main load panel, a storage system connected to the smart switch, and a combiner connected to one of the smart switch or the main load panel and one or more photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.

[0004] According to at least some embodiments, an energy management system is provided that includes a smart switch including an input configured to connect to one of a service entrance meter or a main load panel, the smart switch configured to support one of a whole home backup, a partial home backup, and a sub-panel backup; a storage system connected to the smart switch, the storage system comprising one of a three-phase AC-coupled battery or a single-phase AC-coupled battery connected to the smart switch; and a combiner connected to one of the smart switch or the main load panel and one or more photovoltaic (PV) cells.

[0005] So that the above-mentioned features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the present disclosure briefly summarized above may be made by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the present disclosure may lead to other equally effective embodiments, and therefore, the accompanying drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a backup configuration supported by an energy management system, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a backup configuration supported by an energy management system, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a backup configuration supported by an energy management system, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a backup configuration supported by an energy management system, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a smart switch of an energy management system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates a circuit breaker installation for a smart switch, a lug at the main breaker location, and a breaker installed at the main breaker location, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7A] FIG. 1 is a diagram of wire field connections of an energy management system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7B] FIG. 1 is a diagram of wire field connections of an energy management system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7C] FIG. 1 is a diagram of wire field connections of an energy management system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7D] FIG. 1 is a diagram of wire field connections of an energy management system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 6 is a diagram of a wall mount used to install the smart switch of FIG. 5, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 9 is a diagram of a smart switch bracket for use with the wall mount of FIG. 8, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 illustrates a smart switch shown mounted on a mounting surface using a wall mount and a smart switch bracket, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 illustrates a housing used to house a combiner with a gateway and a wireless kit, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] 1A-1C are diagrams of two types of AC batteries, with the backsides of a single-phase AC battery and a three-phase AC battery shown at the top and bottom, respectively, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 13]FIG. 13 is a screenshot of a cloud interface for use in an energy management system, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] The methods and apparatus described herein provide an energy management system (technology) that manages multiple energy resources, including solar power, storage systems, loads, grids, or generators. The energy management system described herein can seamlessly manage an energy environment that includes one or more of these resources. Additionally, the energy management system is configured to prevent islands of energy (known as "anti-islanding") that may continue to supply power to the utility grid during an outage, potentially injuring workers / technicians attempting to restore service to the grid.

[0008] The energy management systems described herein are compatible with one or more microinverters (such as the IQ® Series family of PV microinverters available from Enphase Energy, Inc. of Petaluma, California) for both existing (e.g., retrofit) and new installations, and can be connected to or include storage systems, power supplies, and wireless communication kits, thus enabling independence from a user's home grid.

[0009] The energy management system allows users to fully or partially back up their residences up to rated energy capacities of up to 40kWh and power ratings of over 15kW, thereby providing maximum flexibility to the user.

[0010] The energy management systems described herein can be configured for use with the IQ-series and, through backward compatibility, can be adapted for use with the M- or S-series microinverter systems.

[0011] The smart switch provides microgrid interconnect device (MID) functionality that allows the residence to be disconnected from the utility grid, thus enabling grid independence. The smart switch also provides connectivity for easier integration of battery storage, PV, and generator integration into the home energy system, and can be configured to manage load imbalances within the residence.

[0012] A microgrid system can be defined as an premises wiring system that has generation, energy storage, and load, or any combination thereof, and includes the ability to be disconnected from and paralleled with a primary source. Such systems have also been called "intentionally islanded systems."

[0013] In accordance with the present disclosure, MID devices may comply with the following: (1) being required for any connection between a microgrid system and a primary power source; (2) being listed or field labeled in service; and (3) having a sufficient number of overcurrent devices in place to provide overcurrent protection from all sources.

[0014] In at least some embodiments, multiple smart switches can be configured to back up separate 200A load panels. In such embodiments, each smart switch can also include a communication gateway and can be set up as an independent system in backup operation. Each smart switch can be a separate island with its associated load panel during backup operation, e.g., each island is configured to appear as two separate systems. In at least some embodiments, during backup operation, the islands are not connected to each other, and the loads, energy storage devices, and PV within each island can be isolated from the rest of the system via each smart switch.

[0015] In the unlikely event of a smart switch failure, the solar power system can fall back to grid-tied mode. When the energy management system is connected to application software, such as a cloud-based tertiary control using an application programming interface (API), the remote troubleshooting capabilities of the energy management system can be configured to identify and fix such occurrences.

[0016] The storage system and the smart switch communicate with the gateway via one or more suitable wireless interfaces (e.g., using the IEEE 802.15.4 specification to build a personal area network requiring low data transfer rates, energy efficiency, and secure networking). For this purpose, a wireless adapter (USB dongle) is provided and configured to connect to a USB port of the gateway (e.g., present inside a combiner box). As a fail-safe mechanism, the wireless adapter is configured to operate in two frequency bands: 2.4 GHz and 915 MHz. The former frequency band is the primary communication band, and if the primary communication fails, the energy management system establishes communication using the latter.

[0017] The components of the energy management system are configured to communicate with each other and with the cloud using standard encrypted messaging and authentication.

[0018] In at least some embodiments, monitoring capabilities are available in the energy management system for each panel, each microinverter, and each battery storage base unit. Additionally, in at least some embodiments, real-time monitoring capabilities are available in the energy management system.

[0019] 1 is a diagram of a backup configuration supported by an energy management system 100, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. In at least some embodiments, the energy management system 100 includes a storage system 108, a smart switch 110, a combiner 107 including a wireless adapter that may be a USB dongle that connects to a communication gateway, one or more PVs 106, and a tertiary control 112 (e.g., a cloud-based tertiary control using an application programming interface (API)) capable of over-the-air firmware upgrades.

[0020] The combiner 107 can connect / communicate with the smart switches 110 and the storage system 108 via wireless connections (or wired connections such as AC power wires) and with the Internet and / or cloud via WiFi or cellular connections. For example, the combiner 107 includes a communication gateway (FIG. 11) to which a wireless adapter connects, and communicates with the smart switches 110, the storage system 108, the Internet and / or the cloud. The combiner 107 can connect to one or more PVs 106 and communicate with the PVs 106 via Power Line Communication (PLC) over AC power wires, and other components of the energy management system 100 can connect to each other via AC power wires. A suitable combiner for use in the energy management system 100 is the IQ® series of combiners available from Enphase Energy, Inc. of Petaluma, California.

[0021] The energy management system 100 of FIG. 1 is configured as a full dwelling backup (or partial dwelling backup and sub-panel backup) with a smart switch 110 (e.g., a transfer switch) of the energy management system 100 located at the service entrance (e.g., connected to a meter 105 that is connected to the utility grid 101). A user can back up an entire main load panel 104 (e.g., Siemens MC3010B1200SECW or MC1224B1125SEC, GE 200Amp 20 / 40, etc.) that connects to one or more loads 103 (e.g., critical loads or backup loads). In such a configuration, the smart switch 110 can support up to an 80A breaker for the PV 106 circuit connected to a combiner 107 (e.g., a PV combiner (photovoltaic)) and also an 80A breaker for the battery storage circuit (e.g., for the storage system 108).

[0022] When an existing combiner 107 circuit is connected to the main load panel 104 (FIG. 2), the user can keep the combiner 107 connected to the main load panel 104 and connect only the storage system 108 to the smart switch 110, leaving the space in the smart switch 110 for the combiner 107 free and available for additional battery storage devices.

[0023] The smart switch 110 is configured to aggregate interconnected devices in a single enclosure and to streamline the installation of PV and battery storage with grid independence capabilities by providing a consistent, pre-wired solution to a user (e.g., a residential user). In addition to the functionality of the smart switch 110, the smart switch 110 also includes input circuitry for the PV 106, storage system 108, and generator 109. The smart switch 110 includes inputs configured to connect to one of a service entrance meter 105 or a main load panel 104.

[0024] A smart switch suitable for use in the energy management system 100 may be the ENPOWER® line of smart switches available from Enphase Energy, Inc. of Petaluma, Calif. The smart switch 110 may be installed using a wall mounting bracket, as described in more detail below, and may be installed in compliance with national and local electrical codes and standards.

[0025] 3 is a diagram of a backup configuration supported by the energy management system 100, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The energy management system 100 can be configured to accommodate partial dwelling backup using sub-panel 300 backup of loads 103 (e.g., critical or backup loads), with main load panel 104 connected to other loads 111 (e.g., non-critical / non-essential loads) at the service entrance and combiner 107 connected to sub-panel 300, for example, when the PV 106 circuit is above 80 A. The space available for connecting the combiner 107 in the smart switch 110 of the energy management system 100 can be left free.

[0026] 4 is a diagram of a backup configuration supported by the energy management system 100, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The energy management system 100 can be configured to accommodate partial dwelling backup using sub-panel 300 (e.g., critical load) backup, for example, when the PV 106 circuit and storage system 108 are below 80 A, with the main load panel 104 at the service entrance and the combiner 107 connected to the smart switch 110 of the energy management system 100.

[0027] According to at least some embodiments, when the energy management system 100 is configured for full backup, the PV 106 and storage system 108 are connected to the smart switch 110 on the utility side of the main load panel 104, so no upgrade of the main load panel 104 is required and the main load panel 104 is protected from violating the 120% rule, for example, by the main breaker of the main load panel 104, which was protecting the main load panel 104 before the connection of the PV 106 and storage system 108. Similarly, when the energy management system 100 is configured for partial backup, upgrading the main load panel can also be avoided by downsizing the utility breaker in the main load panel 104. For example, for a 200A main load panel, downsizing the 200A breaker to 150A allows the 90A capacity of the PV 106 and storage system 108 to be available without upgrading the main load panel. In addition, when the energy management system 100 complies with UL Certification Requirement Decision (CRD) 1741 for Power Control Systems, upgrading of the main load panel can also be avoided.

[0028] 5 includes various exterior views of a smart switch 110, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The smart switch 110 includes a reliable and durable NEMA Type 3R enclosure, is configured to provide safe control connectivity to the grid 101, is configured to automatically detect grid 101 outages, and is configured to provide a seamless transition to a backup. The smart switch 110 can be connected to one or more loads 103 or the service entrance side of the main load panel 104 (FIG. 1), can include a center mounting bracket to support mounting to one or more mounting surfaces, can support conduit entry from the bottom, bottom left, and / or bottom right, can support whole dwelling, partial dwelling backup, and subpanel backup, can provide main breaker support up to 200A, and can include a neutral-forming transformer for split phase 120 / 240V backup operation. The smart switch 110 streamlines installation of the PV 106 and storage system 108 with grid independence capabilities. The smart switch 110 can include a housing 500 with a front cover 501 having a width of approximately 19.7 inches and a height of approximately 36 inches. The smart switch 110 can include a main enclosure 502 having a width of approximately 18.8 inches, a height of approximately 33.8 inches, and a depth of approximately 7.2 inches, with the distance between the rear face 504 of the enclosure 502 and the front face 503 of the front cover 501 being approximately 9.7 inches.

[0029] As noted above, the smart switch 110 is MID (e.g., according to NEC 705). The smart switch 110 can be configured for 100A, 150A, or 200A disconnecting current capacity for backup. The smart switch 110 can provide seamless transition to backup during utility grid outage, can include an autotransformer to support 120V / 240V loads during backup, can support single-phase AC-coupled battery, three-phase AC-coupled battery, combiner 107, backup load panel interconnection, can support whole dwelling and subpanel backup, can include a NEMA-3R enclosure for indoor and outdoor installation, can support 2.4GHz and 900MHz wireless communication, and can support generator integration.

[0030] 6 includes a diagram of a circuit breaker installation for a smart switch 110, a lug for a main breaker position, and a breaker installed in the main breaker position, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The smart switch 110 includes a back surface 600 configured to support the electrical components of the smart switch 110 and to expose a main breaker 602 (e.g., 200 A). The main breaker 602 is connected to a main lug housing 604, which includes a connection area 606 to which the main breaker 602 is connected. The main lug housing 604 is supported on the back surface 600. The main breaker 602 includes a switch 608 and two electrical connection areas 610 configured to receive corresponding wires (not shown).

[0031] 7A-7D are diagrams of an electrical panel 700 including electrical details of a smart switch 110, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 7A shows a back cover 702 partially covering the electrical panel 700 of the smart switch 110. The back cover 702 includes a door 704 that covers a control PCBA 706 (FIG. 7B) and an autotransformer (not shown). The back cover 702 includes an opening through which one or more breakers, eaton breakers, relays, MID relays, connectors, bus bars, and other electrical components of the electrical panel 700 extend (FIG. 7A). For example, the electrical panel 700 may include an AC combiner breaker 708, a battery storage system breaker 710, an autotransformer breaker 712, a generator breaker 714, a main load breaker 602, a main relay 716 (e.g., 200 A), a main breaker 718 for service disconnect, an I / O connector 720, and one or more connectors 722 for the combiner 107, the storage system 108, and the generator 109 (FIGS. 7A and 7C). Wiring from the electrical panel 700 may feed from the smart switches 110 to various components of the energy management system 100 (e.g., the combiner 107, the storage system 108, the generator 109, etc.) or to components connected to the energy management system 100, such as the main load panel 104 (FIG. 7D).

[0032] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a wall mount 800 used to mount a smart switch 110 of an energy management system 100, FIG. 9 is a diagram of a bracket 900 of the smart switch 110, and FIG. 10 is a diagram of the smart switch 110 shown mounted on a mounting surface 1000, according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The wall mount 800 includes a plurality of openings 802. The openings 802 are configured to receive one or more fasteners therethrough for mounting the wall mount 800 to the mounting surface 1000. The bracket 900 is configured to connect to the back side of the smart switch 110 and the wall mount 800. For example, in at least some embodiments, the bracket 900 includes a plurality of generally L-shaped fastening tabs 902 configured to engage with a side of the smart switch 110. During installation, a user aligns the multiple openings 904 in the bracket 900 with the multiple openings 802 in the wall mount 800 and drives one or more fasteners (e.g., bolts, screws, etc., not shown) through the openings 802, 904 into the mounting surface 1000, such as a single stud, wood, brick, or concrete wall. The user can then attach / connect the smart switch 110 to the bracket 900 by pushing the smart switch 110 into the bracket 900 until the fastening tabs 902 engage with the sides of the housing 500 of the smart switch 110.

[0033] FIG. 11 is a diagram of a combiner 107 with a gateway 1100 and a wireless communication kit 1102 (such as, for example, the ENSEMBLE® line of communication kits available from Enphase Energy, Inc. of Petaluma, California), in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The gateway 1100 further includes a gateway controller 1104, which is coupled to a bus 1106 via a breaker 1108 and communicates with, for example, a power conditioner (e.g., via a PLC and / or other type of wired and / or wireless technique). The gateway controller 1104 includes a transceiver, support circuits, and memory, each coupled to a CPU (not shown). The CPU can include one or more conventionally available microprocessors or microcontrollers. Alternatively, the CPU may include one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The gateway controller 1104 can send command and control signals to one or more of the storage system 108, the smart switch 110, the PV 106, and the inverter, and / or receive data (e.g., status information, performance data, etc.) from one or more of the storage system 108, the smart switch 110, the PV 106, and the inverter. In some embodiments, the gateway controller 1104 can be a gateway that is further coupled to communicate data (e.g., performance information, firmware updates, etc.) to / from a master controller (e.g., the tertiary control 112) over a communication network (e.g., the Internet) by wireless and / or wired techniques.

[0034] The combiner 107 with gateway 1100 and wireless kit 1102 (e.g. USB dongle) is configured to support up to four circuits (solar and storage), uses eaton busbars, requires a BR breaker (solar distribution breaker can be added separately), includes a 10A gateway breaker, includes control and communication through the gateway, configured for single stud mounting for ease of installation, accepts conduit entry along the sides, bottom, and / or back of the enclosure, and is configured to accommodate, for example, 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz wireless communication kits.

[0035] Residences are typically built with a main load panel that is sized for connection to a specific amount of resource load and utility connections. This specific amount is determined by section 705 of the National Electrical Code (NEC) which prevents any installation from installing more resources than the main panel can handle. Adding new PV or battery storage to an existing residence can lead to a situation where the total amount of resources connected to the main load panel exceeds the main load panel's limits. Traditionally, there have been two ways to address this limitation of the main load panel: (1) only install PV and battery storage up to the maximum limit of the load main panel, which can be very restrictive; or (2) upgrade the main load panel to a larger size panel that can accommodate more PV and battery storage, which can lead to additional expense.

[0036] Thus, the energy management system 100 provides an innovative solution to main load panel upgrades by connecting additional PV and battery storage devices to the smart switch 110 instead of to the main load panel, thus avoiding a main load panel upgrade for whole dwelling and subpanel backup systems. For whole dwelling backup, the smart switch 110 is connected between the meter 105 and the main load panel 104 with an overcurrent protection device that limits the amount of current flowing to the main load panel, thus avoiding a main load panel upgrade. For subpanel 300 backup, the user can move as many load circuits from the main load panel 104 to the subpanel 300 until the requirements of 705.12(D)(2)(3)(c) are reached.

[0037] If the supplied power is used in grid-tied mode, for example for self-consumption without backup, time of use optimization, the smart switch 110 may not be necessary.

[0038] The load 103 circuits that are backed up during a grid outage can be pre-selected during installation of the energy management system 100. If the user chooses to use the sub-panel 300 backup, the user can select which circuits he or she wants to back up during installation of the energy management system 100. In this case, only the selected load 103 circuits will be backed up and other non-critical / non-essential loads 111 will not be powered up during a power outage. In such a case, there is no need to manually open the breakers on the main load panel if the user has selected the sub-panel 300 backup option.

[0039] If the user selects the entire residence back up option, all load 103 circuits in the residence will be backed up. If the user wishes to limit the load 103 circuits that are backed up during a power outage, they may not need to use those particular loads or manually open the breakers for those particular load 103 circuits.

[0040] When the energy management system 100 is configured as a backup system, disconnecting the smart switch 110 of the energy management system 100 from the grid 101 does not turn off the power to the home as the energy management system 100 provides power to the home during, for example, a power outage. The single-phase AC-coupled battery and the three-phase AC-coupled battery are grid forming elements of the energy management system 100 and they need to be disconnected or shut down from the energy management system 100 to de-energize the premises.

[0041] In order to de-energize the energy management system 100, all breakers within the smart switch 110 must be opened. By opening the main breaker 602 within the smart switch 110, the energy management system 100 is shut down.

[0042] Some AHJs (authorities having jurisdiction) expect additional mechanical disconnects, therefore installers should understand their particular local regulatory requirements for the installation of PV and battery storage systems and design the energy management system 100 to be fully compliant with those regulatory requirements.

[0043] In at least some embodiments, as described above, the energy management system 100 can be configured for three-phase applications.

[0044] In at least some embodiments, a generator (eg, generator 109 ), including hardware and software functionality, may be integrated into the energy management system 100 .

[0045] 12 is a diagram of a single phase AC-coupled battery 1200 and a three phase AC-coupled battery 1202, in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The single phase AC-coupled battery 1200 and the three phase AC-coupled battery 1202 may be part of the storage system 108.

[0046] The storage system 108 can be a modular AC-coupled battery storage system with time-of-use and backup capabilities. One type of storage system suitable for use in the energy management system 100 is the ENCHARGE 3® and ENCHARGE 10® family of storage systems available from Enphase Energy, Inc. of Petaluma, California. The storage system can include a single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 (e.g., 3.36 kWh capacity and 1.28 kVA rated continuous output power) or a three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202 (e.g., 10.08 kWh and 3.84 kVA rated continuous output power). Internally, the three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202 has three single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 base units. In at least some embodiments, the modularity allows a user to install many single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 base units and add more single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 base units as needed, thus allowing the system to function seamlessly. The minimum AC power supply is 3.36 kWh, and because the storage system is modular and an expandable storage product, users can install as many storage systems as they need to power the appliances they want, up to a maximum of twelve single-phase AC-coupled batteries 1200 or four three-phase AC-coupled batteries 1202.

[0047] In at least some embodiments, at least four three-phase AC-coupled batteries 1202 or twelve single-phase AC-coupled batteries 1200 (e.g., totaling 40 kWh) can be connected to the smart switch 110. Additionally, up to two three-phase AC-coupled batteries 1202 can be daisy-chained and connected directly to the smart switch 110. For more units, an external sub-panel (not shown) may be required to combine the circuits and connect them to the smart switch 110. In the case of a three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202 with a usable energy capacity of 10.08 kWh, if one 3.36 kWh base unit fails, the storage system 108 continues to operate with its remaining base units to provide backup power.

[0048] Each single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 includes four integrated microinverters 1206, an LFP battery cell, and a battery management unit (BMU) (not shown). Thus, if one microinverter fails (the storage system 108 has a DPPM value less than 1000), the storage system 108 continues to operate and back up using the remaining microinverters. The failed microinverter can be easily replaced.

[0049] The single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 can be configured to support 3:3.36 kWh / 1.28 kW operation, can have a weight of approximately 100 lb, and can have dimensions of approximately 26.1" x 14.4" x 12.5" (H x L x D). The three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202 can be configured to support 10.08 kWh / 3.84 kW operation, can have a weight of approximately 136 kg, 300 lb, and can have dimensions of approximately 26.1" x 42.1" x 12.5" (H x L x D). The single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 and the three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202 can be AC-coupled with an integrated PV micro and can support backup operation and black start (e.g., no power). In at least some embodiments, the single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 and the three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202 can be of the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) type, can be configured for passive cooling, can be configured for indoor and / or outdoor installation, can be configured for wireless communications (e.g., Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.), and can be configured with modular, scalable power and energy ratings.

[0050] The all-AC architecture and LFP chemistry of the storage system 108 of the energy management system 100 provides a safe and cost-effective home energy management system. Micro-inverters present in the storage system 108 provide grid coverage in the user's home when the utility grid goes down.

[0051] The single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 and the three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202 each have an AC input / output of 240V and an AC maximum continuous input / output current of 5.3A, an operating frequency of 60Hz, an output power factor of about -0.85 to about +0.85 (adjustable), an AC maximum continuous input / output power of 1.28kVA, and a maximum short circuit current of 23.2A. rmsIt can have a 3 cycle, single phase 240V, a maximum energy output of 3.36kWh, an ambient operating temperature of about -15°C to about +55°C, and can be connected to a maximum 20A dedicated branch circuit.

[0052] The passive cooling feature of the storage system eliminates the presence of any moving parts (e.g., mechanical fans, cooling media, etc.), thereby making the storage system less prone to failure. For example, passive cooling uses natural conventions to cool the single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 and the three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202.

[0053] Some advantages of the single-phase AC-coupled battery 1200 and the three-phase AC-coupled battery 1202 of the energy management system 100 compared to conventional systems include: a) up to 5.7 kWac photovoltaic (PV) can be paired with one three-phase AC-coupled battery for backup, and additional batteries can be installed if the size of the paired PV exceeds this value; b) the single-phase AC-coupled battery can be used for PV self-consumption, PV non-export, and other grid-tied applications; c) the single-phase AC-coupled battery can also be used to augment the three-phase AC-coupled battery in a backup system and to provide additional single-phase AC-coupled batteries needed to pair with PVs beyond the limits of the three-phase AC-coupled battery; and d) each single-phase AC-coupled battery can be used to enable backup with small PV systems less than 1.9 kWac in size, and more single-phase AC-coupled batteries can be installed for larger PV system sizes. f) reliability including distributed AC architecture versus single point of failure of high reliability PV micro, string inverter and DC coupled solutions, passive cooling (no moving parts, fans and pumps with high failure rates), flexible PV and storage solution for new and retrofit installations; g) AC coupled with battery storage in 3.36kWh / 1.28kW increments and ease of future expansion; h) simple and easy design and installation, smarts including integrated control, seamless transition to backup and wireless communication; and i) safety including AC voltage safety, LFP battery safety and battery storage safety (e.g. UN38.3, UL1973, UL1998, UL991, 9540, 9540A).

[0054] 13 is a diagram of a cloud interface according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated by screenshot 1300, the cloud interface provides real-time power flow and grid connectivity status and control, offers various configurable battery profiles to optimize for different use cases (e.g., self-consumption or time-of-use or backup-only modes), and provides a homeowner system estimator tool for storage+PV sizing.

[0055] In at least some embodiments, the energy management system 100 can be provided as a kit. For example, in the case of a grid-independent energy management system 100, the kit can include a single-phase AC-coupled battery, a three-phase AC-coupled battery, a smart switch 110, and a wireless communication kit 1102. In addition, two main breakers for the supply and load side connections of the supplied power, as well as circuit breakers for the connection of the PV 106 and the battery storage system 108 can be provided.

[0056] In addition to the above, the energy management system 100 provides battery storage with backup (off-grid) capabilities, such as the 3.36 kWh and 10.08 kWh products, supports backup with seamless transitions (e.g., <100 ms), and provides compatibility with existing PV micro installations (e.g., the IQ6 and IQ7 series of PV microinverters, both available from Enphase Energy, Inc. of Petaluma, California). For example, the energy management system 100 is configured to accommodate PV new installs, PV retrofits, whole home backup operation up to 200 A, subpanel backup operation up to 200 A, grid-tied operation (TOU, self-consumption, and / or diurnal), and standalone installations without PV.

[0057] In at least some embodiments, the energy management system 100 for partial backup can be configured with various downgrades of utility breakers. For example, for a 200A main panel busbar (e.g., 120% capacity is 240A), the breaker downgrade for a 200A utility breaker can be calculated using 240A-200A=40A, where 40A is the total capacity available for PV and storage, and for a 150A utility breaker downgrade, 240A-150A=90A is the total capacity available for PV and storage. Other calculations can also be used to determine the utility breaker downgrade.

[0058] In accordance with the present disclosure, energy management system 100 may be configured to accommodate rapid shutdown (eg, according to guidelines provided by NEC 201, 690.12 (C)).

[0059] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, the scope of the disclosure being determined by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 100 Energy Management Systems 101 Commercial Grid 103 Load 104 Main Load Panel 105 meters 106 PV 107 Combiner 108 Storage System 109 Generator 110 Smart Switch 111 Other loads, other non-essential loads 112 Tertiary Control 300 Subpanels 500 Housing 501 Front cover 502 Main Enclosure 503 Front 504 Back 600 back 602 Main breaker, main load breaker 604 Main Lug Housing 606 Connection Area 608 Switch 610 Electrical Connection Area 700 Electrical Panel 702 Back Cover 704 Doors 706 Control PCBA 708 AC Combiner Breaker 710 Battery Storage System Breaker 712 Autotransformer Breaker 714 Generator Breaker 716 Main Relay 718 Main Breaker 720 I / O Connector 722 Connector 800 Wall mounting part 802 Opening 900 Bracket 902 Fixing tab 904 Opening 1000 Mounting surface 1100 Gateway 1102 Wireless communication kit, wireless kit 1104 Gateway Controller 1106 Bus 1108 Breaker 1200 Single Phase AC Coupled Battery 1202 Three Phase AC Coupled Battery 1206 Integrated Microinverter 1300 Screenshots

Claims

1. a smart switch including an input configured to connect to one of a service entrance meter or a main load panel; A storage system connected to the smart switch; a combiner connected to one of the smart switch or the main load panel and one or more photovoltaic (PV) panels, the combiner communicatively connected to the storage system for at least one of transmitting control signals to the storage system and receiving data from the storage system, the data including status information; and An energy management system comprising: The energy management system, wherein the smart switch is configured to connect to a grid at the service entrance, configured to automatically detect a grid outage, and configured to transition to a backup.

2. 2. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the smart switch is configured to aggregate interconnected devices within a single enclosure and includes a pre-wired solution including input circuitry for at least one of the one or more PVs, the storage system, and a generator configured to connect to the smart switch.

3. It is constructed as a kit, The smart switch; the storage system comprising at least one of a single phase AC-coupled battery or a three phase AC-coupled battery; the combiner comprising a wireless communication kit transmitting on frequencies of about 2.4 GHz and about 900 MHz; The energy management system of claim 1 .

4. 13. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the smart switch, the storage system, and the combiner are connected via AC power wires, the one or more PVs communicate with the combiner via Power Line Communications (PLC) on the AC power wires, and the storage system, the combiner, and the smart switch communicate with each other using a wireless connection via a gateway.

5. The energy management system of claim 1 , wherein the smart switch is configured to connect to one or more loads.

6. The energy management system of claim 1 , wherein the smart switch comprises a central mounting bracket that supports mounting to one or more mounting surfaces.

7. The energy management system of claim 1 , wherein the smart switch is configured to support conduit entry from at least one of a bottom side, a bottom left side, or a bottom right side.

8. 10. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the smart switch is configured to support one of a whole dwelling backup, a partial dwelling backup, and a subpanel backup, the smart switch is configured for up to 200 A main breaker support, and includes a neutral forming transformer for single phase three wire 120 / 240V backup operation.

9. The energy management system of claim 1 , wherein the smart switch is configured to manage load imbalance of one or more loads.

10. The energy management system of claim 1 configured for three-phase applications.

11. The energy management system of claim 1 configured for single phase applications.

12. The energy management system of claim 1 further comprising a generator comprising hardware and software functions.

13. 2. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the storage system comprises at least one of four three-phase AC-coupled batteries or twelve single-phase AC-coupled batteries connected to the smart switch, the four three-phase AC-coupled batteries or the twelve single-phase AC-coupled batteries providing up to 40 kWh.

14. The energy management system of claim 1 , wherein the storage system comprises two three-phase AC-coupled batteries daisy-chained together and connected to the smart switch.

15. 2. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the storage system comprises a three-phase AC-coupled battery having a usable energy capacity of 10.08 kWh, the three-phase AC-coupled battery comprising three single-phase AC-coupled battery base units each having a usable energy capacity of 3.36 kWh, and wherein if one of the single-phase AC-coupled battery base units fails, the storage system is configured to continue to provide backup power using the remaining AC-coupled battery base units.

16. 2. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the storage system comprises a single-phase AC-coupled battery including four integrated microinverters, a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell, and a battery management unit, and is configured to continue operating and back up using the remaining microinverters if one integrated microinverter of the four integrated microinverters fails.

17. 2. The energy management system of claim 1, wherein the smart switch comprises a plurality of breakers including a main breaker, the smart switch is configured such that the plurality of breakers must be opened to de-energize the energy management system, and opening the main breaker causes the energy management system to shut down.

18. a smart switch including an input configured to connect to one of a service entrance meter or a main load panel, the smart switch configured to support one of a whole dwelling backup, a partial dwelling backup, and a subpanel backup; a storage system connected to the smart switch, the storage system comprising one of a three-phase AC-coupled battery or a single-phase AC-coupled battery connected to the smart switch; a combiner connected to one of the smart switch or the main load panel and one or more photovoltaic (PV) panels, the combiner communicatively connected to the storage system for at least one of transmitting control signals to the storage system and receiving data from the storage system, the data including status information; and An energy management system comprising: The energy management system, wherein the smart switch is configured to connect to a grid at the service entrance, configured to automatically detect a grid outage, and configured to transition to a backup.

19. A smart switch including an input configured to connect to one of a service entrance meter or a main load panel; A storage system connected to the smart switch; a combiner connected to one of the smart switch or the main load panel and one or more photovoltaic (PV) panels; a second smart switch, the smart switch and the second smart switch each configured to connect to a corresponding 200A main load panel, the smart switch and the second smart switch each comprising a corresponding communication gateway, and configured as an independent system in a backup mode; An energy management system comprising: The energy management system, wherein the smart switch is configured to connect to a grid at the service entrance, configured to automatically detect a grid outage, and configured to transition to a backup.

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