Local Power Network Arrangement With DC Link Energy Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The traditional electrical power distribution chain faces challenges in handling high power levels from electric vehicles and surplus energy production from solar cells, leading to increased costs for infrastructure upgrades and capacity fees, without efficient solutions for end-node power management.
Innovation Solution
A local power network arrangement using a Direct Current (DC) link network between bidirectional electrical inverters connected to separate Alternating Current (AC) networks, allowing energy sharing without the need for local energy storage or upgrades to power lines and fuses, and enabling efficient energy transfer and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If new power lines and mains fuses are installed to accommodate higher load from electric vehicles and solar cells, then the power delivery capacity is increased, but the infrastructure cost and capacity fees increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple local AC networks into a single DC network by connecting bidirectional inverters from each AC network to a common DC link. This allows power from solar cells in one network to directly supply electric vehicles in another network, effectively combining the power delivery capacity of multiple networks without requiring each individual network to be upgraded separately. The shared DC infrastructure reduces redundant power line and fuse upgrades.
Solution Approach 2:
The DC link network serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a power distribution bus, an energy sharing platform, and a peak load smoothing mechanism. The bidirectional inverters enable the system to handle both power consumption (electric vehicle charging) and power generation (solar cell output) through the same infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate upgrade paths for each function.
2Ease of manufacture
If bidirectional inverters and DC link network are implemented to enable energy sharing, then capacity fees and infrastructure upgrade costs are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameter domain from AC to DC for the shared network infrastructure. By converting local AC networks to connect through a common DC link, the system exploits the simplicity of DC power flow (no frequency or phase synchronization needed) to reduce control complexity compared to AC-AC interconnection. The bidirectional inverters handle the AC-DC conversion, simplifying the overall network management.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances power availability for users, reduces peak load on the distribution network, and lowers costs by allowing energy sharing among AC networks, smoothing power use, and minimizing capacity fees, while enabling increased self-consumption of solar energy without the need for local storage.
Implementation Method 1
bidirectional electrical inverters, each such inverter connected to a separate local AC network
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a local power network arrangement 1 comprising - at least two separate local Alternating Current -AC- voltage networks 2, each connected to an electricity distribution network 3 via at least one mains fuse and an electricity meter 4, said at least two separate local AC networks 2 comprising at least one AC electrical energy consumer 5, - a bidirectional electrical inverter 6 for each local AC network 2, co-located with and connected to its local AC network 2, - a local Direct Current -DC- link network 7 connected to each inverter, thereby indirectly connecting the AC networks 2, - and wherein the inverters 6 are arranged such that they are able to coordinate a transfer of energy over the DC-network 7 in a desired direction.