Solar synchronized loads for photovoltaic systems

Abstract

An electrical power supply arrangement includes a solar power device that converts sunlight into DC electrical power. A DC load runs on the DC current electrical power. The DC load may be controlled or adjusted to consume a maximum amount of the electrical output of the solar power device. A DC-to-AC converter converts the DC electrical power into AC electrical power. A controller enables the DC-to-AC converter to receive a portion of the DC current electrical power from the solar power device only if all of the DC current electrical power cannot be consumed by the DC load.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical power supply arrangement comprising:
 a solar power device configured to convert sunlight into DC electrical power;   an adjustable DC load configured to run on the DC current electrical power;   an electrical output sensing device configured to sense a level of electrical output of the solar power device; and   a controller coupled to each of the adjustable DC load and the electrical output sensing device, the controller being configured to:
 receive a signal from the electrical output sensing device; 
 adjust the DC loads such that the DC loads consumes a maximum amount of the electrical output of the solar power device, the adjusting of the DC load being dependent upon the received signal; and 
 if the DC load cannot consume all of the electrical output of the solar power device, then cause a remaining portion of the electrical output of the solar power device to be converted into AC electrical power. 
   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the solar power device comprises a solar photovoltaic device. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the electrical output sensing device comprises a power meter. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable DC load comprises an HVAC system. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 4  wherein the HVAC system comprises a circulation fan, the controller being configured to use power from the solar power device to operate the circulation fan while heating and cooling is not needed. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 4  wherein the HVAC system comprises a compressor, the controller being configured to use power from the solar power device to operate the compressor in a dehumidification mode while heating and cooling is not needed. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 4  wherein the controller is configured to use power from the solar power device to perform overheating or overcooling with the HVAC system beyond a set temperature of the HVAC system, the set temperature having been set by a human user. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising a battery configured to supplement the DC electrical power provided by the solar power device. 
     
     
         9 . An electrical power supply method, comprising the steps of:
 converting sunlight into DC electrical power by use of a solar power device;   providing the DC current electrical power to a plurality of adjustable DC loads;   sensing a level of electrical output of the solar power device; and   adjust each of the DC loads such that the DC loads conjointly consume a maximum amount of the electrical output of the solar power device, the adjusting of the DC loads being dependent upon the level of electrical output of the solar power device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  comprising the further step, if the DC loads cannot consume all of the electrical output of the solar power device, of converting a remaining portion of the electrical output of the solar power device into AC electrical power. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  comprising the further step of determining a respective portion of the electrical output of the solar power device to be consumed by each of the loads. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the determining step is performed by use of an algorithm or a lookup table. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the determining step includes controlling a rate of change of an aggregate consumption of the electrical output of the solar power device by the loads such that the rate of change does not exceed a threshold rate of change. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each of the loads includes a processor, the determining step including the processors of the loads communicating with each other. 
     
     
         15 . An electrical power supply arrangement comprising:
 a solar power device configured to convert sunlight into DC electrical power;   a DC load configured to run on the DC current electrical power;   a DC-to-AC converter configured to convert the DC electrical power into AC electrical power; and   a controller configured to enable the DC-to-AC converter to receive a portion of the DC current electrical power from the solar power device only if all of the DC current electrical power cannot be consumed by the DC load.   
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the solar power device comprises a solar photovoltaic device. 
     
     
         17 . The arrangement of  claim 15  further comprising an AC-to-DC power supply configured to supply DC electrical power to the DC load if sunlight is not available to the solar power device. 
     
     
         18 . The arrangement of  claim 15  further comprising a DC power bus interconnecting the solar power device and the DC load. 
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the DC load comprises an appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The arrangement of  claim 19  wherein the appliance comprises HVAC equipment.