US 12,413,076 B2
Systems and methods for microgrid-power distribution management when distributed energy resources transition between operating modes
Vishal Anand Aisur Gopalakrishnan, San Jose, CA (US); Ranganathan Gurunathan, San Jose, CA (US); Prasad Pmsvvsv, San Jose, CA (US); Rangesh Babu Chennakesavula, San Jose, CA (US); Borra Mohan Krishna, San Jose, CA (US); and Rajkannu Govindan, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/755,295.
Claims priority of application No. 202341043106 (IN), filed on Jun. 27, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0007293 A1, Jan. 2, 2025
Int. Cl. H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02J 3/28 (2006.01)
CPC H02J 3/388 (2020.01) [H02J 3/28 (2013.01); H02J 3/381 (2013.01); H02J 2300/30 (2020.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
a fuel cell system configured to generate Direct Current (DC) power in a microgrid site;
a multi-mode inverter system electrically connected to the fuel cell system via a DC bus, the multi-mode inverter system configured to operate in one of at least two operating modes based at least on an availability status of a grid electrically coupled to the microgrid site, for supplying power to at least one load, the at least two operating modes comprising a grid-following mode and a grid-forming mode;
a site controller electronically coupled to a plurality of electrical points and a plurality of electrical components in the microgrid site, the site controller configured to:
receive at least one of a plurality of electrical signals from the plurality of electrical points and the plurality of electrical components, and a load operating input corresponding to the at least one load connected to the microgrid site;
facilitate the multi-mode inverter system to transition between the at least two operating modes based at least on the plurality of electrical signals; and
generate a control signal based at least on the load operating input and the transitioning of the multi-mode inverter system between the at least two operating modes;
a DC braking module electrically connected to the DC bus, the DC braking module configured to:
turn ON in response to the receipt of the control signal;
receive a DC voltage value from the DC bus; and
dissipate excess energy, via energy dissipating circuitry, from the DC bus when the DC voltage value is greater than a threshold voltage value and during transitioning of the multi-mode inverter system between the at least two operating modes; and
an energy storage module electrically connected to the DC bus, the energy storage module configured to:
turn ON in response to the receipt of the control signal; and
supply power to the DC bus for supporting the at least one load, when the DC voltage value on the DC bus is less than the load operating input and during transitioning of the multi-mode inverter system between the at least two operating modes.