High Voltage Renewable Energy Harvesting Network with Virtual Immersion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Utility-size renewable energy systems face challenges in physical visualization and control due to the spread-out nature of their components, making centralized control and efficient energy harvesting and conversion difficult.
Innovation Solution
A high voltage renewable energy harvesting network combined with a centralized grid synchronized multiphase regulated current source inverter system, utilizing multiple strings of renewable energy collectors and distributed power optimizers, along with a virtual immersion monitoring and control system for centralized input and output control, and a three-dimensional visually-oriented virtual reality display environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If utility-size renewable energy systems use spread-out components over large land areas, then energy collection capacity is improved, but physical visualization and control difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual three-dimensional copy of the physical renewable energy system components and their spatial relationships. This virtual model allows operators to visualize and control the spread-out components remotely through a centralized interface, eliminating the need for physical presence at each location while maintaining full system oversight and control capability.
2Productivity
If multiple distributed power optimizers are used across the harvesting network, then energy harvesting efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large-scale renewable energy system into multiple independent power optimizer units, each responsible for optimizing energy harvest from specific strings of collectors. Each optimizer operates autonomously to improve local efficiency while the modular architecture allows the system to scale without proportionally increasing overall complexity, as each unit follows the same standardized design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each distributed power optimizer communicates with the centralized control system, providing real-time data on energy harvest conditions and performance. This feedback loop enables the central controller to coordinate the distributed optimizers, managing system complexity through intelligent control algorithms that automatically balance and optimize the combined output of all distributed units.
3Productivity
If high voltage DC-to-DC conversion is used for power optimization, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but electrical safety requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces isolated DC-to-DC converter units as intermediary devices between the low-voltage energy collectors and the high-voltage transmission network. These converters provide galvanic isolation, allowing efficient voltage transformation while protecting both the collectors and the grid from high voltage hazards. The isolated architecture ensures that faults in one section do not propagate to other sections, maintaining electrical safety throughout the system.
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 enables efficient power optimization and monitoring across the system, improving energy harvesting and conversion efficiency while facilitating centralized control and visualization, addressing the challenges of scale and complexity in utility-size renewable energy systems.
Implementation Method 1
an integral setup-up DC-to-DC converter having an converter input connected to the DC output of the strings of renewable energy collectors with means to boost the voltage of the DC output of the strings of renewable energy collectors to an integral step-up DC-to-DC converter positive high voltage DC output
Data Source
AI summary
A renewable energy, utility-size electric power system is provided with a high voltage, renewable energy harvesting network connected by a direct current link to a centralized grid synchronized multiphase regulated current source inverter system. The harvesting network includes distributed renewable energy power optimizers and transmitters that control delivery of renewable energy to the grid synchronized multiphase regulated current source inverter system by step-up voltage boost of the DC voltage from the renewable energy sources in combination with a DC-to-DC conversion where the stepped-up voltage of the renewable sources is utilized as a positive high voltage DC output across the input of an inverter used in a DC-to-DC converter to establish an equal magnitude negative high voltage DC output across a rectified output of the inverter. A visual immersion monitoring and control system can be provided for a three-dimensional, visually-oriented, virtual reality display, and command and control environment.