FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hybrid solar charge controller. The present invention
in particular relates to hybrid solar charge controller which can work with already
existing1 operating power backup system for optimum usage of solar energy.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
Industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, utilize electrical power primarily from
a municipal power supply grid. However, the use of alternative supplies of power is
becoming widespread. These alternative supplies of power include, for examplc, green
energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV) cell arrays, wind farms as well as fossil fuel
generators. As these alternative supplies of power may be insufficient to fully satisfy the
energy requirements, it is often necessary to employ a mixed-approach to energy
consumption whereby green energy sources are used to the extent available. The
municipal power supply grid may be relied upon to compcnsate for thc diffcrcncc
between the supply of power from the green energy sources and the energy demanded
by the facility.
Hybrid power systems employing multiple. power energy sources require
careful control of system in order to coordinate the delivery of power from thc sources
to system loads. These loads can vary widely in magnitude, and occur unexpectedly in
time, particularly in hybrid powered inverters or batteries.
Now, reference may be made to the following prior arts:-
US publication No. 20130170271 describes an inverter with a connector element,
comprising a fixture with a connector element arranged thereupon and an electronic part
which can be plugged into said connector element, together forming said inverter, the
connector element comprising a connector block for connecting at least one solar
module, and at least one connector for the electronic part, wherein corresponding
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connector sockets for pluggably connecting to the connectors are arranged on the
electronic part, and said converter also comprising a DC breaking element.
The patent describes a system with does not include the features such as the mains input
measurement, battery state of charge and the peak power tariff control settings
,US Publication No. 20130046415 provides a system for managing power in a facility
includes a hardware interface with a plurality of access ports for connecting with a
utility power grid, at least one renewable power source, and at least one electrical load.
A plurality of sensor devices monitors power conditions at the plurality of access ports.
A microprocessor controls the hardware interface to enable or disable each of the
plurality of access ports in accordance with the one or more control programs and the
monitored power conditions of the access ports. An interface device receives
instructions from a user and modifying the one or more control programs stored in the
storage device based on the received instructions. The patent describes a system with
does not include the features such as the mains .input measurement, battery state of
charge and the peak power tariff control settings
Publication No. W02007042617 provides a system for transmitting electric energy
generated as a result of a photoelectric effect to an electronic device, and particularly to
a card and a card receiver, and to a system in which identification cards or
corresponding cards can be utilized as part of a system transmitting electric energy. The
patent describes a system with does not include the features such as the mains input
measurement, bhttery state of charge and the peak power tariff control settings
Publication No. CN202663133 provides portable solar combined power supply device
comprising a charging energy storage input interface, a charging energy storage module,
a direct-current power supply output module and an alternating-current power s~!pply
output module, wherein the charging energy storage input interface is connected with
the charging energy storage module; the charging energy storage module is capable of
gating a charging mode through a charging control module so as to charge electric
energy into a storage battery bank; the electric energy in the storage battery bank is
output from a direct current output interface in the form of direct current through a
voltage conversion and control module; and the electric energy in the storage battery
bank can also be output from the alternating-current power supply output module in the
'form of alternating current of 220 V and 50 Hz through an inverter power supply
circuit. This patent describes a system with does not include the features such as the
mains input measurement, battery state of charge and the peak power tariff control
settings
Publication No, CN201590672 provides a portable solar energy integrated module
power supply device, which belongs to the technical field of solar energy power supply
manufacturing. The power supply device is characterized in that the solar panel is
installed on the top portion of the outer casing, the circuit controller and the storage
battery are installed inside a casing body; the direct-current interface is installed on one
side of the casing body; the solar panel is .connected with the circuit controller; the
circuit controller is connected with the storage battery; the storage battery is further
connected with the circuit controller; and the circuit controller is connected with the
direct-current interface. Besides, an inverter is hrther installed inside the outer casing;
an alternating-current interface is installed on one side of the outer casing; one end of
the inverter is connected with the circuit controller; and the other end of the inverter is
connected with the alternating-current interface. This patent describes a system with
does not include the features such as the mains input measurement, battery state of
charge and the peak power tariff control settings
Publication No. CN202524122 provides a wireless solar energy charging device. lhe
wireless solar energy charging device of the utility model is capable of realizing
.wireless charging and avoids the complicated design of a wired charging systcm.. This
patent describes a system with does not include the features such as the mains input
measurement, battery state of charge and the peak power tariff control settings
Publication No. CN102832701 provides a solar intelligent household powcr supply
system. A solar panel can charge a battery under the automatic control of an MCU
(micro-controller unit) controller. This patent describes a system with does not include
the features such as the mains input measurement, battery state of charge and the peak
power tariff control settings
Publication No. CN201813203 provides an intelligent power supply inverter comprising
.a charge controller, a current detector, a DC-AC conversion controller, a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) control module, a power switcher, an AC-DC
conversion controller and a commercial power charge switch. The patent describes a
system with does not include the features such as the mains input measurement, battery ,
state of charge and the peak power tariff control settings
US Publication No. 20120057388 provides a solar photovoltaic inverter, comprising: a
power conditioning circuit mounted on a circuit board, the power conditioning circuit
having a dc power input to receive dc power from one or more photovoltaic panels and
an ac power output to deliver ac power to an ac mains power supply. The patent
describes a system with does not include the features such as the mains input
.measurement, battery state of charge and the peak power tariff control settings
Publication No. CN201450350 provides a solar charger which comprises an outer
casing, a solar panel, a chargeable and dischargeable accumulator battery, a card slot
and a charging interface. Solar, Hydro, Wind Power, Inc. provides wind inverter which
automatically synchronizes to the utility grid and shuts off the connection if the grid
goes down. his patent describes a system with does not include the features sucli as the
mains input measurement, battery state of charge and the peak power tariff control
settings
Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. provides a hybrid solar charge controller that can work with
existing inverter and batteries. The unit consists of solar panel, batteries, & solar /Mains
charge controller cum inverter with logic circuit.
~his'describes a system with does not include the features such as the mains input
.measurement, battery state of charge and the peak power tariff control settings
Statcon Power Controls Ltd. provides hybrid solar inverter-cum- charger syitcm. It
consists of MPPT PWM solar charge controller with hybrid inverter. As per the
requirement, the same inverter can supply full DC power for charging of battery through
230V AC mains. This patent describes a system with does not include the features such
as the mains input measurement, battery state of charge and the peak power tariff
control settings
Though solar charge controller for hybrid invertei is mentioned in prior art. However,
there is a need for an efficient hybrid solar charge controller which can work with
.existing inverterslbatteries. Also a hybrid solar charge controller is required that controls
the mains supply of the inverter and is economical.
Therefore, the present invention provides a hybrid solar charge controller which enables
users of the existing inverters to use solar power from the panels, controls the main
supply to the inverter and diverts the charging of the battery from solar even if grid
supply is available.
The system intelligently monitors the input power drawn from the mains and the battery
state of charge and based on the user configuration settings controls the mains power to
the inverter connected thereto.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a hybrid solar charge
controller,which can be integrated with existing inverter and batteries.
.Another objective of the hybrid solar charge controller is to control the Maximum
demand of the user from mains supply to avoid the additional penalties associated with
over drawing power from rated load assigned.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a solar interface unit which enables
charging of inverter and batteries using solar panel
Yet another object of the present invention a hybrid solar charge controller having
simple structure
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system which diverts the
.charging of the battery from solar even if grid supply is available.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide the control mains power usage
based on the peak power tariff duration at a place
Another objectiye is to display the energy and money saved by using the solar energy to
charge the battery
Another objective is to control the mains power usage based on the battery state of
charge and solar power available
.Another objective is to control the power drawn from the mains supply during a period
and if it goes above the set threshold stop the mains power usage
Another objective is to provide the programmable peak power tariff duration setting for
the system.
Yet another object of the present invention a hybrid solar charge controller with cncrgy
and cost saving on hourly/daily/monthly/yearly basis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly the present invention provides a hybrid solar charge controller that can be
connected with already existing1 operatingpower backup system,thereby enabling users
I
of the existing inverters to use solar power from the panels. The invention comprises
solar charge controller unit with power supply, battery input, solar input, battery and PV
.reverse indication, mains interface and main control unit. Main control unit is interfaced
with real time clock and external communication unit. Solar charge controller unit has
ambient temperature compensation; user setting type1 battery usage, key pad interface
and display unit interface.
The system provides the facility of selecting different type of batteries such as tubular,
LA, SMF etc. The system provides the temperature compensation during the charging of
battery from the solar panel. The system measures the ambient temperature and
accordingly controls the boost voltage of the battery for the optimum charging of the
battery. This helps in the enhancing the life of the battery as charging the battery to
boost voltage at higher temperature reduces the life of the battery
.The system displays the status and various other parameters such as but not limited to
the solar panel voltage, current, power and energy generated. It also displays the energy
usage from the mains supply and various other user configurable setting such as battery
type, peak power duration, battery usage in backup, mains usage limit etc.
The hybrid solar charge controller with energy and cost saving on
hourly/daily/monthly/yearly basis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING:
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing
description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and wherein:
Fig. 1 shows block diagram according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO
.ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:-
The present invention discloses a hybrid solar charge controller.
Now, reference may be made to figure 1 which provides a hybrid solar charge controller
that can be connected with available power backup systems to enable users of the
existing inverteis to use solar power from the panels. Said hybridsolar charge controller
comprises solar charge controller unit 1 with power supply 2, battery input 3, solar input
4, battery and PV reverse indication 5, mains interface 6 and main control unit 7. Main
control unit 7 is interfaced with real time clock 8. and external communication unit 9.
The solar charge controller unit 1 has ambient temperature compensation 10, user
setting type/ battery usage 11, key pad interface 12 and display unit interface 13.
The system of present invention has provision of selecting different type of batteries
such as tubular, LA, SMF etc. Further, the system provides the temperature
compensation during the charging of battery from the solar panel. The syste~n measures
the ambient temperature and accordingly controls the boost voltage of the battery for the
optimum charging of the battery. This helps in enhancing the life of the battery as
charging the battery to boost voltage at higher temperature reduces the life of the
battery.
Further, the system has a display for displaying the status and various other parameters
such as solar panel voltage, current, power and energy generated. It also displays the
energy usage from the mains supply and various other user configurable setting such as
battery type, peak power duration, battery usage in backup, mains usage limit etc.
This hybrid nature of controller enables an accelerated charging of inverters and
batteries on one hand, whereas on the other hand it can provide the charging of the
battery from solar even if grid supply is available. The control-action of thc system Iics
' in controlling it through mains or solar panel. This invention thus has the advantage of
regulating voltage and current through external device. Thus the hybrid solar charge
controller, is an external device which controls the main supply to the inverter and
controls the charging of the battery from solar even if grid supply is available. One of
the advantages bf such hybrid system is that through its controlled mechanism it can
offset the effect of fluctuations in the mains/ solar panels to a great extent.
The solar charge controller controls the mains charging through the prograln~nable
setting based on the real time clock. It is very important feature for the peak power
tariff. So that, the battery charging and mains supply usage can be controlled.
In several places the government. is enforcing the time of day metering and also
monitoring the maximum demand generated from the users. In case the maximum usage
increases beyond the granted limits, they can levy extra charges for the electricity
consumption during that period.
The Hybrid solar charge controller not only monitors the mains input, it also does the
isolated sensing of the power drawn from the mains power supply. By this it calculates
the amount of power usage at any point of time .and the maximum demand ovcr the
defined time period.
The Hybrid solar charge controller has an inbuilt real time clock module that keeps the
track of the absolute time. The user.can set the start and the end of the peak power time.
The hybrid charge controller taking note of the battery state cuts the mains s~tpply from
the inverter connected thereto. During this period the battery backup is used to power
the load. If the load is increased beyond a threshold limit and the battery cannot support
the load, the mains is connected back to charge the battery after giving warning. If the
load is within limits the load would be run from the battery backup during the peak
power tariff duration, and as the mains power is not used during the peak power
duration it results in the savings of the electricity bill.
The system gives user the flexibility of setting the peak power duration through various
means such as keyboard or through communication channel. The system also has an
external current sense input to measure the charging from gridand discharging of the
battery. This is used to keep the state of charge of the connected battery.
Once the battery is fully charged the mains power is cut and the connected load runs on
the backup mode from the inverter connected after the solar charge controller. The solar
charge controller also measures the solar power generated from the connected panels,
relying on which the cumulative and day wise kwh is calculated. There is also a
provision of displaying the amount of money saved by using the solar energy, which is
calculated by multiplying the kwh unit reading with the unit rate input by the use in the
configuration settings.
Further, the present invention can control the mains power usage per day. Thc solar
charge controller measures the mains input power parameters and can restrict the LISC of
.the mains supply when the input power drawn goes above the set threshold in the user
configuration setting, after which the mains power is disconnected and the load is run
from the backup and solar power if available
All these settings are user configurable and can be enabled or disabled. Thc systci.ii also
provides external communication link for other devices to connect with it. 'I'he status
and setting of the system can be viewed and changed from cxternai devices such as
mobile phones, laptops and other hand held devices. The communication channel can be
either wired or wireless so the user can change and save the setting in the device on the
fly. All the configurations are password protected. After the settings are saved the
system starts operating according to the setting. The hybrid solar charge controller with
.energy and cost saving on hourly/daily/monthly/yearly basis
Reference numerals (Fig. 1)
Solar charge controller unit -1
Power supply-2
Battery input-3
Solar input-4
Battery and PV reverse indication-5
Mains interface unit (mains high/low/cut/connection/disconnectionF) use protection-6
Main control unit -7
Real time clock interface (*)-8
.External comm..interface -9
Amb. Temp. Compensation- 10
User setting (Battery TypeBattery usage)-1 1
Key pad interface- 12
Display unit interface- 13
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations
and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the
concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present
invention, which is further set forth under the, following claims.

WE CLAIMS:
ORIGINAL
1. A hybrid solar charge controller using solar power from the panels that can be
connected with already existing1 operating power backup system and enable
users of the existing inverters to use solar power from the panels comprises solar
charge controller unit with power supply, battery input, solar input, battery and
PV reverse indication, mains interface and main control unit interfaced with real
time clock and external communication unit wherein the solar charge controller
unit is provided with ambient temperature compensation anduser setting type/
battery usage, key pad interface and display unit interface.
2. A hybrid solar charge controller as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the solar
charge controller controls the mains1 solar charging through the programmable
setting based on the real time clock for controlling the battery charging and
mains supply usage.
3. A hybrid solar charge controller as claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein the user can control the mains power usage per day.
4. A hybrid solar charge controller as claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein the solar charge controller measures the mains input power parameters
and can restrict the use of the mains supply when the input power drawn goes
above the set threshold in the user configuration setting, following which the
mains power is disconnected and the load is run from the backup and solar
power if available
5. A hybrid solar charge controller as claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein the settings are user configurable and can be enabled or disabled.
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6. A hybrid solar charge controller as claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein the external communication link is provided for other devices (wired or
wireless) such as mobile phones, laptops and other hand held devices.
7. A hybrid solar charge controller as claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein the mains power is cut when the battery is fully charged and the
connected load runs on the backup mode from the backup system.
8. A hybrid solar charge controller as claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein the solar charge controller measures the solar power generated from the
connected panels with the provision of displaying the amount of money saved by
using the solar energy.
9. A hybrid solar charge controller as claimed in any of the preceding claims
wherein the solar charge controller can work according to the peak power tariff
settings for restricting use of mains power in peak power duration
10. A hybrid solar charge controller substantially as herein described with reference
to the accompanying drawing.