An electronic interface couples a combination of generation and storage devices with a power grid and/or a load. The interface comprises a DC bus; a DC storage device coupled to the DC bus; a first DC-to-AC inverter (N1) having a DC port operatively coupled to the DC bus, and an AC port; a second DC-to-AC inverter (N2) having a DC port operatively coupled to the DC bus, and an AC port; a switch (S4) for electrically coupling the AC port of the second DC-to-AC inverter to a first generator or an AC storage device; a first rectifier (D1) for coupling an AC output of the first generator to the DC bus; and a second rectifier (D2) for coupling an AC output of the AC storage device to the DC bus. The electronic interface provides an efficient mechanism for integrating a variety of storage and generation devices to produce high quality power and reliability to a load as well as to facilitate interfacing of the storage and generation devices to the power grid for purposes of energy control, load leveling, and peak shaving.

Universal distributed-resource interface

A system and method for providing an uninterrupted supply of power to a critical load includes at least two uninterruptible power supply UPS modules that receive power from separate utility sources. A controller controls the UPS modules so that the output power from one UPS module is substantially in-phase with the output power from the other UPS module. As a result, the output powers from the UPS modules can be combined with one another to provide a sufficient source of uninterruptible power to the critical load regardless of the phase difference in the power provided by the separate utility sources.

System and method for providing an uninterruptible power supply to a critical load

A power system (10) comprising: a primary power source (32) in electrical communication with a bridging power source (46), wherein the bridging power source is in electrical communication with a bus (40); a secondary power source (100) in electrical communication with the bus, wherein the secondary power source comprises an electrical system including a fuel cell (34). The system further includes: a controller (44) electrically disposed between and in operable communication with the bus and the bridging power source, and electrically disposed between and in electrical communication with the bus and the secondary power source. The controller monitors the primary power source, initiates powering by the bridge power source when the primary power source exhibits selected characteristics, initiates the secondary power source when the bridging power source is depleted exceeding a first selected threshold, and initiates interruption of powering by the secondary power source.

Method and system for balanced control of backup power

A power system, comprising: a primary power source in electrical communication with a bus and a bridging power source, wherein the bridging power source comprises at least one of a capacitor, a battery, and an electrolysis cell, and the bridging power source is in electrical communication with the bus; and a secondary power source in electrical communication with the bus. A method for operating a power system, comprising: monitoring a primary power source; if the primary power source exhibits selected characteristics, directing power from a bridging power source to a bus and initiating a secondary power source, and the bridging power source comprises at least one of a capacitor, a battery, and an electrolysis cell; and unless the secondary power source exhibits the selected characteristics, powering the bus with the secondary power source and ceasing the directing power from the bridging power source.

Method and system for controlling and recovering short duration bridge power to maximize backup power

A cabinet and associated method are provided for storage of electrical components. In one embodiment, the cabinet includes a chamber including a number of side walls and a top cap and a canted ceiling formed by the top cap. A first overhang portion is defined by a wide end of the top cap and a second overhang portion is defined by a narrow end of the top cap. A number of first air flow openings are located in the first overhang portion and a number of second air flow openings are located in the second overhang portion. The elevation of at least one of the first air flow openings is at least as great as an elevation of the second air flow openings.

Outdoor cabinet for electrical components

An uninterruptible power system (10) in which separate inverters (A, B, C) are connected to separate d.c. power sources (16, 42, 64) established by independent power supplies, a.c., d.c. or both, and have their a.c. outputs connected to separate transformer primary windings (36, 62, 86) with the primary to secondary turns ratios of the primary windings establishing different effective secondary voltages for determining the power source for normally supplying the power from the system (10) and the sequence in which the other power sources are used on power failure, the magnitudes of the effective voltages determining the power source for initially supplying the power with any other power source supplying the power when its effective voltage is higher than any other available power source.

Howard H. Bobry

Papers

Uninterruptible power supply with plurality of inverters