GREEN ENERGY AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (GeEMS) WITH POWER LINE COMMUNICATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to solar photovoltaic systems and in particular to a Green energy and Energy Management System (GeEMS) with Power Line Communication for integrating and managing power from various sources and loads into an enclosed metallic structure consisting of Power Line Communication, charge controllers, rectifier modules and sensors with indicators for efficient working of telecom sites.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
There is growing awareness about the need for clean and sustainable energy, particularly with the depletion of fossil fuels and knowledge about their impact on the environment.

In recent years, India has witnessed tremendous increase in the use of renewable energy, more particularly over the past 10 years. Solar energy has occupied a major role in the power production in rural and urban areas. Though the maximum efficiency of solar panels is 23%, their use reduces the dependency on electricity grids to a great extent. It also serves as a good substitute for fossil fuels and oil reserves which are getting extinct and becoming more expensive.

A solar site generally has the following components for photovoltaic system installation - PV panels, battery for storing excess energy, charge controllers which determine the battery operation and inverters for converting the direct current (DC) output from the PV panel to alternating current (AC) power. The main components in a telecom site consists of a tower, communication equipments, a generator that is used as source of power and a shelter for storing materials such as battery bank which is used as storage of excess energy.

Communication is required between the GeEMS and the other equipment that are used-in the telecom sites. Along with the power cables, communication cables are also used to collect the data from the various devices to the controller according to specified parameters. When the data cable gets disconnected, the information related to the sites is no longer available. In order to secure the site, data is transferred over the power lines, which cannot be disconnected, thus bringing Power Line Communication in existence. It avoids additional cables, thereby avoiding congestion and extra expense of the cables. Devices are associated with a communication module. Therefore cables for communication can be excluded by using these communication modules. A high frequency carrier signal is added to the power signals. This carrier signal transmits the information to the GeEMS from the components distributed over the entire site.

It is important to keep these control devices at a safe location for proper functioning and increased lifetime. Periodic observation becomes easier if they are placed at a common point. In the prior art, these difficulties were faced along with the threat of theft and pilferage.

The present invention seeks to overcome the above drawbacks of the prior art. According to the present invention, all the control devices are included inside a metallic box, the GeEMS, which also provides protection from theft. In this invention, a single entity, which is a metallic box or cubicle, accommodates all the components. It is called the GeEMS cubicle, which also provides protection from theft.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide a single entity, which is a metal cubicle, to house different components of Green Energy and Energy Management System, which are located distributed over a telecom site, at a common location.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system which is compact, easy to maintain and extracts maximum power.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system which is able to measure and control the equipment used in telecom sites that includes charging and discharging of battery, distribution of AC and DC voltages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system with Power Line Communication for securing information from the various components at the telecom site over the power line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system which senses the availability of voltage, current, power, energy and output of electricity grid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system which selects the source of power between electricity grid and AC diesel generator, in the absence of solar energy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for sensing generator operation including the availability of fuel and capacity.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide charge controllers having high efficiency which ensures an increase in the PV array output.

How the foregoing objects are achieved will be clear from the following description. In this context it is clarified that the description provided is non-limiting and is only by way of explanation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A Green energy and Energy Management System (GeEMS) with Power Line Communication is enclosed in a metallic cubicle. It comprises of charge controllers located in the lower part of the cubicle, rectifier modules located in the upper half, switchgears/protection devices placed above the rectifier modules, Communication Modules and sensors with indicators placed in the middle portion. The GeEMS is adapted to communicate with battery bank, diesel generator and connected loads located distributed outside the cubicle according to the parameters assigned to a programmable logic controller placed in the middle portion of the cubicle.

The Power Line Communication is provided for the transmission and reception of both electric power and control and feedback data through the power cables.

The charge controllers are Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controllers.

The Power Line Communication is adapted to combine a high frequency carrier signal with the power signal for communication with the communication modules associated with different devices.

Power from PV panels flows to the charge controllers which regulate DC current and voltage to the connected loads through common DC bus.
All other energy sources are connected to the programmable logic controller through breakers.

The programmable logic controller is adapted to communicate with all the devices for the selection of electricity grid or AC diesel generator in the absence of any of the renewable sources of energy.

The programmable logic controller is adapted to control the flow of current and voltage to the connected loads in addition to charging and discharging of said battery bank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The nature and scope of the present invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawings, which are by way of illustration of a preferred embodiment and not by way of any sort of limitation. In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating the operation of the Green energy and Energy Management System (GeEMS) according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cubicle of the Green energy and Energy Management System (GeEMS) with Power Line Communication according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Having described the main features of the invention above, a more detailed and non-limiting description of a preferred embodiment will be given in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In all the figures, like reference numerals represent like features. Further, the shape, size and number of the devices shown are by way of example only and it is within the scope of the present invention to change their shape, size and number without departing from the basic principle of the invention.

Further, when in the following it is referred to "top", "bottom", "upward", "downward", "above" or "below" , "right hand side", "left hand side" and similar terms , this is strictly referring to an orientation with reference to the apparatus , where the base of the apparatus is horizontal and is at the bottom portion of the figures. The number of components shown is exemplary and not restrictive and it is within the scope of the invention to vary the shape and size of the apparatus as well as the number of its components, without departing from the principle of the present invention.

All through the specification including the claims, the technical terms and abbreviations are to be interpreted in the broadest sense of the respective terms, and include all similar items in the field known by other terms, as may be clear to persons skilled in art. Restriction or limitation if any referred to in the specification, is solely by way of example and understanding the present invention.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a Green energy and Energy Management System with Power Line Communication (7) which comprises of charge controllers (1), rectifier modules (2), switchgears/protection devices (3) Communication Modules (4) and sensors (5) with indicators (6). As shown in figure 1, GeEMS (7) communicates with the battery bank (8), diesel generator (9 and the connected loads (10) according to the parameters assigned to theprogrammable logic controller (11). In ordinary cabling system, along with power cables forpower transmission, separate data cables are also used for transferring data. When the datacable is disconnected, proper information cannot be obtained. A Power Line Communicationis provided in the system (7) for the transmission and reception of both electric power anDcontrol and feedback data through the power cables with the help of communicationmodules (4). A high • frequency carrier signal is combined with the power signal forcommunication with the communication modules (4) associated with the different devices.

The communication modules (4) encrypt or decrypt the data. The data is displayed on the display of said controller (11) which executes all the control strategies of GeEMS (7).

As shown in figure 2, power from the PV panels (12) flows to the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controllers (1) which regulate DC current and voltage to the loads (10 connected through the common DC bus (14). All other energy sources (15) areconnected to the programmable logic controller (11) through the breakers (16). Theprogrammable logic controller (11) communicates with all the devices for the selection ofelectricity grid (17) or AC diesel generator (9), the AC output of which is converted to DCusing the rectifiers (2) through common AC bus (18) in the absence of any of the renewable Sources of energy (19). The output from the programmable logic controller (11) controls theflow of current and voltage to the connected loads (10) in addition to charging and discharging of the battery bank (8) which is used as a backup in the sites.

Advantages:
Some of the major advantages of the present invention are listed below. However, it is to be clearly understood that this list is exemplary and non-limiting.

provides a single entity to house the components in the site at a common location sothat the system is compact, easy to maintain and extracts maximum power from renewable sources of energy.

provides a programmable logic controller consisting of multiple input and outputports which is able to measure and control the equipment used in telecom sites thatincludes charging and discharging of battery, distribution of AC and DC voltages.

provides Power Line Communication for securing information from the various components at the telecom site.

incorporates healthy phase selector card for sensing the availability of voltage,current, power, energy and output of electricity grid, for which a signal is given to the controller.

incorporates Auto Mains Failure (AMF) logic to select the source of power from electricity grid and AC diesel generator, in the absence of any of the renewable sources of energy.

incorporates Gen Card for sensing generator operation including the availability of fuel and capacity.
the rectifier modules have energy saving functionality with maximum efficiency and wide AC input range.

the charge controllers have high efficiency which ensures an increase in the PV arrayoutput. has sensors and alarms for the efficient working of the different equipment at the telecom sites.

provides led driver for controlling charge controller display.incorporates anti theft system with three-point lock and pad lock bracket at both
front and rear sides of the doors for the secure operation of equipments.The present invention has been described with reference to some drawings and a preferred embodiment purely for the sake of understanding and not by way of any limitation and the present invention includes all legitimate developments within the scope of what has been described herein before and claimed in the appended claims.

I claim:
l.A Green energy and Energy Management System (GeEMS) (7) with Power Line Communication enclosed in a metallic cubicle comprising of charge controllers (1) located in the lower part of the cubicle, rectifier modules (2) located in the upper half, switchgears/protection devices (3) placed above the rectifier modules, Communication Modules (4) and sensors (5) with indicators (6) placed in the middle portion, said GeEMS (7) being adapted to communicate with battery bank (8), diesel generator (9) and connected loads (10), said battery bank (8), diesel generator (9) and connected loads (10) being distributed outside the cubicle, according to the parameters assigned to a programmable logic controller (11) placed in the middle portion of the cubicle.

2.The GeEMS (7) as claimed in claim 1, wherein Power Line Communication is provided for the transmission and reception of both electric power and control and feedback data through the power cables.

3.The GeEMS (7) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charge controllers (1) are Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controllers.

4.The GeEMS (7) as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein said Power Line Communication is adapted to combine a high frequency carrier signal with the power signal for communication with said communication modules (4) associated with different devices.

5.The GeEMS (7) as claimed in claim 1, wherein power from PV panels (12). flows to said charge controllers (1) which regulate DC current and voltage to the connected loads (10) through common DC bus (14).

6.The GeEMS (7) as claimed in claims 1 and 5, wherein all other energy sources (15) are connected to said programmable logic controller (11) through breakers (16).

7.The GeEMS (7) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said programmable logic controller (11) is adapted to communicate with all the devices for the selection of electricity grid (17) or AC diesel generator (9) in the absence of any of the renewable sources of energy (19).

8.The GeEMS (7) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said programmable logic controller (11) is adapted to control the flow of current and voltage to said connected loads (10) in addition to charging and discharging of said battery bank (8).