Solar Nanogrid Controller With Supercapacitor Surge Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed energy resources like solar power lack intrinsic surge capability, leading to voltage fluctuations and limitations in emergency power supply due to the absence of dispatchable energy storage.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost microgrid system controller that integrates a carport appliance with photovoltaic panels, a brushless DC motor-based flywheel generator, and a supercapacitor bank to provide surge protection and stabilize the electrical supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery storage systems are used to provide surge capacity, then voltage fluctuations are mitigated and surge protection is provided, but system cost becomes excessive due to sizing electronics and magnetics for peak power
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides surge protection functionality into two segments: a low-cost supercapacitor bank for instantaneous peak power absorption, and a smaller, more economical battery storage system for sustained energy storage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall system cost while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The supercapacitor bank provides excessive action by handling the full instantaneous surge demand, allowing the battery system to operate at reduced capacity and lower cost. The supercapacitor absorbs the excessive peak power that would otherwise require the battery system to be oversized.
2Productivity
If conventional solar inverters are used, then power is supplied to the grid, but the system turns off when the grid goes down, limiting emergency power effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The solar inverter is designed with multi-functionality to operate in both grid-tied mode and standalone emergency power mode. The system can seamlessly transition between these modes, allowing the same hardware to serve dual purposes: normal power supply to the grid and emergency backup power when the grid fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The supercapacitor bank is pre-charged during normal operation to provide instantaneous surge capacity when needed. This preliminary energy storage ensures that the system can immediately respond to grid failures or surge events without interruption, enhancing emergency power effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If solar power is used without dispatchable energy storage, then system cost is reduced, but voltage fluctuations occur during power surges and emergency supply is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the energy storage parameter from traditional heavy batteries alone to a hybrid configuration combining supercapacitors and batteries. This parameter change optimizes the balance between cost and reliability, providing voltage stability during surges while keeping the system economical.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the traditional mechanical/electrical surge protection approach (oversized battery systems with large inverters) with a supercapacitor-based solution. Supercapacitors provide instantaneous response to voltage fluctuations without the need for bulky, expensive peak-power-rated electronics.
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 efficient and reliable powering of a nano-grid by mitigating voltage fluctuations and providing surge capacity, thus enhancing the effectiveness of solar power as an emergency power source.
Implementation Method 1
a nanogrid powered by an array of photovoltaic (PV) panels
Implementation Method 2
a supercapacitor bank to provide surge protection and stabilize the electrical supply
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical supply system has a carport appliance with a framework supporting a plurality of PV panels and a system controller having a PV inverter coupled to the PV panels of the carport appliance. The PV inverter is adapted to provide current to charge electrically powered vehicles, and has a regulated bus coupled to electrical apparatus providing surge capacity for the supply system. In one instance the system controller has an AC output to input of a distribution apparatus for a residence or a business.