Smart Inverter Load Control for Seamless Backup Power Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems for homes with electric power generation capabilities, such as solar photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage, are complex and costly to design, install, and operate, particularly when integrating direct current (DC) loads and power conditioning systems (PCS) into a single unit, leading to increased installation time and error risks during emergency power transitions.
Innovation Solution
A power management system that integrates an electrical panel with multiple circuits, a power backup interface, a power storage mechanism, an inverter, and a control circuit managed by a computing device, allowing for selective control of circuit states based on configuration characteristics, enabling efficient management of electricity from various sources, including the electrical grid, renewable energy, and stored power, while converting DC to AC and managing electrical supplies through a smart load control mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If power management systems integrate multiple components (PCS, DC loads, battery storage) into a single unit, then system functionality and power management capability are improved, but device complexity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power conditioning system (PCS), battery storage mechanism, inverter, and control circuits into a single integrated power management system. This merging allows the system to handle multiple functions (grid connection, battery charging/discharging, AC/DC conversion, load control) within one unified device, improving adaptability while managing complexity through integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated power management system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it can connect to the electrical grid, charge and discharge battery storage, convert between AC and DC power, control various electrical loads, and provide backup power. This multi-functionality within a single system addresses the versatility requirement while the modular internal structure manages the inherent complexity
2Use of energy by moving object
If direct current (DC) loads and power conditioning systems are integrated into a single unit, then system efficiency is improved, but installation time and error risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates DC loads directly with the power conditioning system in a unified design, eliminating the need for separate DC load components and their associated connections. This merging improves energy efficiency by reducing conversion losses and connection points, while the pre-integrated nature of the design actually reduces installation time compared to assembling multiple separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with pre-configured DC load connections and integrated circuitry that is prepared during manufacturing. This preliminary integration of DC loads with the PCS means that during installation, the system requires fewer field adjustments and connections, thereby reducing installation time and potential errors while maintaining the efficiency benefits of direct DC connectivity
3Reliability
If emergency power transitions are performed with multiple separate components, then system reliability is improved, but error risks during transition increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the inverter, battery management system, and load control circuits into a unified power management system with centralized control. This integration reduces the number of interface points and communication protocols between separate components, thereby reducing potential sources of error during emergency power transitions while maintaining reliable backup power capability
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system incorporates centralized control circuits that continuously monitor the state of the battery, inverter, and electrical loads. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to detect and respond to transition conditions in real-time, coordinating power flow between grid, battery, and loads to prevent errors during emergency transitions while ensuring reliable backup power delivery
4Reliability
If all power management components are integrated into a single unit, then interoperability and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates all power management components (PCS, battery storage, inverter, control circuits) into a single unified system with standardized internal interfaces. This merging ensures that all components are designed to work together from the outset, improving interoperability and safety by eliminating compatibility issues between separate manufacturers' components, while the integrated design actually reduces overall system complexity compared to coordinating multiple independent systems
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated power management system incorporates universal control circuits that can manage multiple functions (grid connection, battery charging/discharging, AC/DC conversion, load control) through a single centralized controller. This multi-functionality within one system improves interoperability by ensuring all components speak the same control language, while the unified control architecture manages the complexity of coordinating multiple functions
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
The system provides a cost-effective, efficient means to manage and control electricity in buildings, optimizing backup power transitions, reducing installation complexity, and ensuring safe and interoperable operation by integrating all necessary components into a single unit, thus minimizing errors and enhancing user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
an inverter electrically connected to the power storage mechanism and the electrical panel
Data Source
AI summary
A power management method include receiving, at a user interface, at least one input, generating at least one configuration characteristic based on the at least one input, and configuring a control circuit using the at least one configuration characteristic. The control circuit is associated with an inverter. The method also includes, in response to a determination that electrical power from a first electrical power input at an electrical panel is less than a threshold, using the control circuit, selectively controlling a state of at least one circuit of the electrical panel, and selectively directing power, received from a power storage mechanism and converted by the inverter, to the electrical panel, wherein the power storage mechanism receives electrical power from a second electrical power input.