Integrated Power Conditioner for Grid-Failure Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power conditioner systems face challenges in providing stable power to major loads during grid failures, requiring cumbersome connection changes and resulting in wasted energy, as they cannot seamlessly integrate power generation and storage without grid involvement.

Innovation Solution

A power conditioner system that includes both power-generation and power-storage units, with communication between them to manage power supply and storage, allowing for independent operation and efficient energy utilization during grid failures, using units like unidirectional and bidirectional converters, inverters, and switches to route power from generation, storage, or the grid to meet load demands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If power-generation power conditioner and power-storage power conditioner are installed separately, then each unit can operate independently, but connection change is required during grid power failure and generated power may be wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply stabilityVSAvoidconnection change requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the power-generation power conditioner and power-storage power conditioner into a single integrated system where the power-storage unit can receive and store power from the power-generation unit. This merging eliminates the need for connection changes during grid failures, as the integrated system can seamlessly switch between grid power, generated power, and stored power without requiring manual intervention or physical reconnection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The power-storage power conditioner is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple power sources (grid power, generated power) and multiple operational modes (charging, discharging, standby). This universal design allows the system to adapt to different scenarios including grid failures, nighttime operations, and power surplus conditions without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If power-generation power conditioner focuses on independent operation, then it can provide power during grid failure, but major load cannot be stably powered due to solar radiation dependency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent power supply capabilityVSAvoidpower output stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by charging the power-storage unit with generated power during daytime when solar radiation is available. This advance storage of energy ensures that power is available even when generation is insufficient or impossible (nighttime, cloudy conditions), thereby stabilizing the power supply to the major load without compromising independent operation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The power-storage unit acts as a cushioning buffer that compensates for the variability of generated power. By storing excess power when generation is high and releasing it when generation is low or unavailable, the storage unit smooths out power output fluctuations and ensures stable power delivery to the major load regardless of solar radiation conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If generated power is discarded during output suppression, then grid safety is maintained, but energy waste occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrid safetyVSAvoidgenerated power waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The power-storage power conditioner serves as an intermediary that captures and stores generated power that would otherwise be discarded during grid output suppression. Instead of directly discarding the power, the system routes it through the storage unit, which absorbs the excess energy and can later release it when needed, thus preventing energy waste while maintaining grid safety requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a discard-and-recover mechanism where generated power that must be discarded due to grid output suppression is instead recovered and stored in the power-storage unit. This recovery process converts what would be wasted energy into usable stored power, which can be utilized during grid failures or periods of high demand, thereby eliminating energy waste while maintaining grid safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Enables continuous power supply to major loads during grid failures without connection changes and optimizes energy use by storing or supplying power from generation or storage units, reducing energy waste and enhancing system reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a power generation equipment 11 and a power storage equipment 13; a power-generation power conditioner 30 for connecting the power generation equipment 11 to a commercial power supply system (grid) 12

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2763265B1Power conditioner system and storage battery power conditioner
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 KYOCERA CORP
  • EP2763265B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2763265B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2763265B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A power conditioner system includes a power-generation power conditioner 30 for connecting a power generation equipment 11 to a grid 12 and a power-storage power conditioner 50 for connecting a power storage equipment 13 to the grid 12, wherein the power conditioner 30 includes an independent-power-generation output unit 34 for outputting, separately from power supply to the grid 12, power based on power of the power generation equipment 11, and the power conditioner 50 includes an independent-power-storage output unit 54 for outputting, separately from power supply to the grid 12, power based on power in the power storage equipment 13. The power conditioner 50 supplies at least one of AC power based on the output of the independent-power-generation output unit 34, AC power based on the output of the independent-power-storage output unit 54, and system power of the grid 12, to an independent output system 62 having a predetermined load.