Systems, devices, and methods for module-based cascaded energy systems configured to interface with renewable energy sources

Abstract

Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are provided herein for energy systems having multiple modules arranged in cascaded fashion for storing power from one or more photovoltaic sources. Each module includes an energy source and converter circuitry that selectively couples the energy source to other modules in the system over an AC interface for generating AC power or for receiving and storing power from a charge source. Each module also includes a DC interface for receiving power from one or more photovoltaic sources. Each module can be controlled by control system to route power from the photovoltaic source to that modules energy source or to the AC interface. The energy systems can be arranged in single phase or multiphase topologies with multiple serial or interconnected arrays. The energy systems can be arranged such that each module receives power from the same single photovoltaic source, or multiple photovoltaic sources.

1 . An energy storage system, comprising:
 a plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion to form an array, wherein the array is configured to output an AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the plurality of converter modules, each of the plurality of converter modules comprising:
 a DC-DC converter configured to electrically couple with a photovoltaic (PV) source and configured to convert a first DC voltage from the PV source to a second DC voltage; 
 an energy buffer electrically coupled with the DC-DC converter; 
 an energy source electrically coupled with the DC-DC converter and with a DC-AC converter; 
 a power connection configured to output an AC module voltage of the module; 
 the DC-AC converter configured to convert an input DC voltage to the AC module voltage; and 
 a local control device configured to control the DC-DC converter and the DC-AC converter to route energy from the PV source to the energy source and/or the power connection. 
   
     
     
         2 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the DC-DC converter comprises a first DC-AC converter electrically connected to a transformer, and a diode rectifier electrically coupled to the transformer. 
     
     
         3 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the DC-DC converter comprises a first DC-AC converter electrically connected to a transformer, and a first AC-DC converter electrically coupled to the transformer. 
     
     
         4 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein each converter module of the plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled with the same PV source over a DC bus. 
     
     
         5 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein each converter module of the plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled with a different PV source. 
     
     
         6 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the array is a first array, the AC signal is a first AC signal, and the plurality of converter modules is a first plurality of converter modules, the system comprising a second array comprising a second plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the second array is configured to output a second AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the second plurality of converter modules. 
     
     
         7 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the array is a first array, the AC signal is a first AC signal, the plurality of converter modules is a first plurality of converter modules, the system comprising:
 a second array comprising a second plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the second array is configured to output a second AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the second plurality of converter modules; and   a third array comprising a third plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the third array is configured to output a third AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the third plurality of converter modules.   
     
     
         8 . The energy storage system of  claim 7 , wherein each converter module of the first plurality of converter modules, the second plurality of converter modules, and the third plurality of converter modules is coupled with the same PV source. 
     
     
         9 . The energy storage system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the PV source of each converter module in the first plurality of converter modules is a first PV source, each converter module of the second plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled with a second PV source, and each converter module of the third plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled with a third PV source; and   the first PV source, the second PV source, and the third PV source are different PV sources.   
     
     
         10 . The energy storage system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 each converter module of the first plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a different PV source;   each converter module of the second plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a different PV source; and   each converter module of the third plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a different PV source.   
     
     
         11 . The energy storage system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 each converter module of the first plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to the same PV source;   each converter module of the second plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a different PV source; and   each converter module of the third plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a different PV source.   
     
     
         12 . The energy storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the DC-DC converters of the converter modules of each array are connected in a daisy chain arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . The energy storage system of  claim 7 , wherein the first array, the second array, and the third array form a first instance of arrays, the system comprising a second instance of arrays comprising:
 a fourth array comprising a fourth plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the fourth array is configured to output a fourth AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the fourth plurality of converter modules;   a fifth array comprising a fifth plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the fifth array is configured to output a fifth AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the fifth plurality of converter modules; and   a sixth array comprising a sixth plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the sixth array is configured to output a sixth AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the sixth plurality of converter modules.   
     
     
         14 . The energy storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the power connection of a first converter module of each of (i) the first plurality of converter modules, (ii) the second plurality of converter modules, and (iii) the third plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a wind source. 
     
     
         15 . The energy storage system of  claim 14 , wherein the power connection of a first converter module of each of (i) the first plurality of converter modules, (ii) the second plurality of converter modules, and (iii) the third plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to an AC bus. 
     
     
         16 . The energy system of  claim 15 , wherein the AC bus is electrically coupled to a grid. 
     
     
         17 . The energy storage system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the DC-DC converters of the converter modules of the first plurality of converter modules, the second plurality of converter modules, and the third plurality of converter modules are connected in a first daisy chain arrangement;   the DC-DC converters of the converter modules of the fourth plurality of converter modules, the fifth plurality of converter modules, and the sixth plurality of converter modules are connected in a second daisy chain arrangement; and   the first daisy chain arrangement of DC-DC converters is in parallel with the second daisy chain arrangement of DC-DC converters.   
     
     
         18 . The energy storage system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the DC-AC converter of each converter module is a first DC-AC converter;   the power connection of each converter module is a first converter module; and   each converter module comprises a second DC-AC converter and a second power connection.   
     
     
         19 . The energy storage system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first power connection of a first converter module of each of (i) the first plurality of converter modules, (ii) the second plurality of converter modules, and (iii) the third plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a wind source; and   the second power connection of the first converter module of each of (i) the first plurality of converter modules, (ii) the second plurality of converter modules, and (iii) the third plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to an AC bus.   
     
     
         20 . The energy storage system of  claim 19 , wherein the first array, the second array, and the third array form a first instance of arrays, the system comprising a second instance of arrays comprising:
 a fourth array comprising a fourth plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the fourth array is configured to output a fourth AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the fourth plurality of converter modules;   a fifth array comprising a fifth plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the fifth array is configured to output a fifth AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the fifth plurality of converter modules; and   a sixth array comprising a sixth plurality of converter modules electrically coupled together in cascaded fashion, wherein the sixth array is configured to output a sixth AC signal comprising a superposition of AC module voltages from the sixth plurality of converter modules.   
     
     
         21 . The energy storage system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the first power connection of a first converter module of each of (i) the fourth plurality of converter modules, (ii) the fifth plurality of converter modules, and (iii) the sixth plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to the wind source; and   the second power connection of the first converter module of each of (i) the fourth plurality of converter modules, (ii) the fifth plurality of converter modules, and (iii) the sixth plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to the AC bus.   
     
     
         22 . The energy storage system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the wind source if a first wind source;   the AC bus is a first AC bus;   the first power connection of a first converter module of each of (i) the fourth plurality of converter modules, (ii) the fifth plurality of converter modules, and (iii) the sixth plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a second wind source; and   the second power connection of the first converter module of each of (i) the fourth plurality of converter modules, (ii) the fifth plurality of converter modules, and (iii) the sixth plurality of converter modules is electrically coupled to a second AC bus.   
     
     
         23 . The energy storage system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the DC-DC converters of the converter modules of the first plurality of converter modules, the second plurality of converter modules, and the third plurality of converter modules are connected in a first daisy chain arrangement;   the DC-DC converters of the converter modules of the fourth plurality of converter modules, the fifth plurality of converter modules, and the sixth plurality of converter modules are connected in a second daisy chain arrangement; and   the first daisy chain arrangement of DC-DC converters is in parallel with the second daisy chain arrangement of DC-DC converters.   
     
     
         24 . The energy storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a master control device communicatively coupled with the local control devices of the converter modules.