| CPC H01M 8/04537 (2013.01) [H01M 8/04992 (2013.01); H02J 3/0012 (2020.01); H02J 3/381 (2013.01); H02J 3/388 (2020.01); H02J 9/06 (2013.01); H01M 2250/10 (2013.01); H02J 2300/22 (2020.01); H02J 2300/24 (2020.01); H02J 2300/28 (2020.01); H02J 2300/30 (2020.01)] | 12 Claims |
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1. A method of operating a power generator having a first electrical output electrically connected to a utility grid and a second electrical output electrically connected to a load, comprising:
detecting if the first electrical output of the power generator is electrically disconnected from the utility grid; and
electrically connecting at least a neutral line of the first electrical output to ground in response to detecting that the first output is electrically disconnected from the utility grid
wherein:
the power generator comprises a direct current (DC) fuel cell power generator;
the fuel cell power generator comprises a plurality of fuel cell modules, a plurality of input outputs modules containing a respective DC/AC inverter, and an electrical distribution module;
a first electrical output of the of each of the plurality of the fuel cell modules is electrically connected to a respective one of the plurality of input output modules;
the plurality of input output modules are electrically connected to the utility grid via the electrical distribution module, a utility grid transformer and a circuit breaker;
further comprising:
at least one first switch comprising a switch located in the electrical distribution module or a plurality of switches are located in the respective input output modules, wherein the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker and to electrically connect at least the neutral line to the ground via a ground line containing a ground line switch in response to detecting that at least one of the electrical distribution module or the plurality of input output modules are electrically disconnected from the utility grid transformer by the circuit breaker; and
detecting that the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker, and closing the ground line switch from a normally open position to electrically connect at least the neutral line to the ground via the ground line;
wherein:
the at least one first switch comprises a relay containing a primary contactor, an auxiliary contactor and a detector; and
detecting that the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker comprises detecting a current or voltage through the auxiliary contactor using the detector.
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2. A method of operating a power generator having a first electrical output electrically connected to a utility grid and a second electrical output electrically connected to a load, comprising:
detecting if the first electrical output of the power generator is electrically disconnected from the utility grid; and
electrically connecting at least a neutral line of the first electrical output to ground in response to detecting that the first output is electrically disconnected from the utility grid
wherein:
the power generator comprises a direct current (DC) fuel cell power generator;
the fuel cell power generator comprises a plurality of fuel cell modules, a plurality of input outputs modules containing a respective DC/AC inverter, and an electrical distribution module;
a first electrical output of the of each of the plurality of the fuel cell modules is electrically connected to a respective one of the plurality of input output modules;
the plurality of input output modules are electrically connected to the utility grid via the electrical distribution module, a utility grid transformer and a circuit breaker;
further comprising:
at least one first switch comprising a switch located in the electrical distribution module or a plurality of switches are located in the respective input output modules, wherein the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker and to electrically connect at least the neutral line to the ground via a ground line containing a ground line switch in response to detecting that at least one of the electrical distribution module or the plurality of input output modules are electrically disconnected from the utility grid transformer by the circuit breaker; and
detecting that the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker, and closing the ground line switch from a normally open position to electrically connect at least the neutral line to the ground via the ground line;
wherein:
the at least one first switch comprises a relay; and
detecting that the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker comprises sending an electrical test signal between the electrical distribution module and the plurality of input output modules and detecting that the at least one first switch is switched when the electrical test signal is disrupted.
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3. A method of operating a power generator having a first electrical output electrically connected to a utility grid and a second electrical output electrically connected to a load, comprising:
detecting if the first electrical output of the power generator is electrically disconnected from the utility grid; and
electrically connecting at least a neutral line of the first electrical output to ground in response to detecting that the first output is electrically disconnected from the utility grid
wherein:
the power generator comprises a direct current (DC) fuel cell power generator;
the fuel cell power generator comprises a plurality of fuel cell modules, a plurality of input outputs modules containing a respective DC/AC inverter, and an electrical distribution module;
a first electrical output of the of each of the plurality of the fuel cell modules is electrically connected to a respective one of the plurality of input output modules;
the plurality of input output modules are electrically connected to the utility grid via the electrical distribution module, a utility grid transformer and a circuit breaker;
further comprising:
at least one first switch comprising a switch located in the electrical distribution module or a plurality of switches are located in the respective input output modules, wherein the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker and to electrically connect at least the neutral line to the ground via a ground line containing a ground line switch in response to detecting that at least one of the electrical distribution module or the plurality of input output modules are electrically disconnected from the utility grid transformer by the circuit breaker; and
detecting that the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker, and closing the ground line switch from a normally open position to electrically connect at least the neutral line to the ground via the ground line;
wherein:
the at least one first switch comprises a relay; and
detecting that the at least one first switch is switched to electrically disconnect at least the neutral line from the circuit breaker comprises measuring a change in resistance between the ground line and a point in the neutral line located between the circuit breaker and the at least one switch.
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