US 12,255,451 B2
Modular power grid
Stefan Matan, Novato, CA (US); Fred C. Horton, Santa Rosa, CA (US); and Frank P. Marrone, Cloverdale, CA (US)
Assigned to Apparent Labs, LLC, Novato, CA (US)
Filed by Apparent Labs, LLC, Novato, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/864,276.
Application 17/864,276 is a continuation of application No. 17/343,457, filed on Jun. 9, 2021, granted, now 11,462,908.
Application 17/343,457 is a continuation of application No. 16/413,387, filed on May 15, 2019, granted, now 10,686,314, issued on Jun. 16, 2020.
Application 16/413,387 is a continuation of application No. 14/791,429, filed on Jul. 4, 2015, granted, now 11,063,431, issued on Jul. 13, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/021,085, filed on Jul. 4, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0344969 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. H02J 3/18 (2006.01); G01R 11/48 (2006.01); G05F 1/66 (2006.01); G06G 7/635 (2006.01); H02J 3/00 (2006.01); H02J 3/01 (2006.01); H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02J 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 13/00028 (2020.01) [G01R 11/48 (2013.01); G05F 1/66 (2013.01); G06G 7/635 (2013.01); H02J 3/00 (2013.01); H02J 3/01 (2013.01); H02J 3/1892 (2013.01); H02J 3/381 (2013.01); H02J 13/00 (2013.01); H02J 13/00034 (2020.01); H02J 2300/24 (2020.01); H02J 2310/12 (2020.01); Y02E 40/40 (2013.01); Y02E 40/70 (2013.01); Y04S 10/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A power grid system, comprising:
a first control node coupled to a power grid at a first point of common coupling (PCC), the first control node having a first microinverter to generate reactive power on a consumer side of the first PCC for devices downstream from the first PCC, the reactive power to provide for reactive power demand downstream from the first PCC;
a second control node coupled between a second PCC downstream from the first PCC and a first grid segment downstream from the second PCC, the second control node having a second microinverter to generate power on a consumer side of the second PCC, the first grid segment including consumer premises, at least some of which have local energy generation and including a first neighborhood power source capable of meeting peak power demand of at least multiple of the consumer premises of the first grid segment and lacking sufficient generation capacity to meet peak power demand of all consumer premises of the first grid segment, the first neighborhood power source being dispatchable, with its generation operation controlled by dispatch information by grid system management; and
a third control node coupled between a third PCC downstream from the first PCC and a second grid segment downstream from the third PCC, a third control node having a third microinverter to generate power on a consumer side of the third PCC;
wherein the first control node includes a controller to cause the first microinverter to generate a current-based output current to control power distribution from the second grid segment to the first distribution from the second grid segment to the first grid segment via the first PCC when the first grid segment has peak power demand greater than the first neighborhood power source can satisfy.