DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of solar inverters. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a solar charge managing system and method.
BACKGROUND
[002] Typically, solar inverters comprise a battery or a battery set, which is charged by the photovoltaic energy captured from the sun. The existing solar inverters with the solar panels are configured to track the sun light and in turn charge the battery. The existing solar systems include only one battery or battery bank, which is either getting charged by solar energy or is converting the stored solar energy into electricity. In this configuration, when the battery or battery bank gets fully charged, the solar panels are suspended from the activity of tracking the sunlight and storing it into battery, and thus solar radiation is not effectively utilized, as battery can either be charged or discharged at any given time.
[003] In the light of the aforementioned discussion, there exists a need for an efficient solar charge managing system and method thereof to utilize all the solar radiation for efficient usage of the solar energy.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[004] The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
[005] According to an exemplary aspect, the solar charge managing a charge controller unit electrically connected to a plurality of solar panels configured to control a charging action of two or more batteries comprising smart control logic and an inverter electrically connected to the batteries configured to receive a photovoltaic input and provide an alternating current output.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[006] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein:
[007] FIG. 1 is block diagram depicting a solar charge managing system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[008] FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting batteries charging controlled with smart control logic through switch S1 and S2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[009] FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting batteries electrically switching with the inverter through switch S3 and S4, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[010] FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting electrical connections switching between the inverter and the charge controller unit through switched S1, S2, S3 and S4, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[011] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram depicting a method of solar charge managing, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[012] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description
or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[013] The use of “including”, “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Further, the use of terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.
[014] Referring to FIG. 1 is a block diagram 100 depicting a solar charge managing system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 100 includes solar panels 102, a charge controller unit 104, batteries 106a and 106b, an inverter 108 connected to a home grid 120 which is coupled with a main power grid 122. Further the system 100 includes switches S1, S2, S3 and S4 and smart control logic 124.
[015] The solar panels 102 are configured to capture the solar energy from the sun light for converting into electrical energy. The solar panels 102 may be designed to track the sun light from any direction and any angle, without limiting the scope of the disclosure.
[016] The charge controller unit 104 is electrically connected to the solar panels 102 for performing charge controlling operation of the batteries 106a and 106b through the switches S1 and S2. The switches S1 and S2 are connected between the battery 106a and charge controller unit 104; and between the battery 106b and charge controller unit 104 respectively. The smart control logic 124 may be configured to decide which of the batteries106a and 106b will be charged by the solar. The smart control logic 124 may be extended to have a network capability, which may allow a user to securely check the system status, like battery charge levels, which battery is feeding the home grid 120, current load on the inverter 108 etc., over the internet or on smart phone as an App. This information may keep the user informed about how long he or she
could expect battery to provide electricity or how much of his grid electricity is being provided by the solar energy.
[017] The ends of the batteries 106a and 106b are connected through the switches S3 and S4. The switches S3 and S4 are controlled by the smart control logic 124 to decide, which of the batteries106a and 106b are feeding to the inverter 108. The above referred batteries 106a and 106b are also referred as first battery and the second battery.
[018] Referring to FIG. 2 is a block diagram 200 a diagram depicting batteries charging controlled with smart control logic through S1 and S2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The diagram comprises a charge controller unit 104 and batteries 106a and 106b. The input end of the charge controller unit 104 electrically connected with the solar panels 102 and the output end of the charge controller unit 104 electrically connected with the batteries 106a and 106b through the switches S1 and S2. The charge controller unit 104 is configured to control the charging operation of the batteries 106a and 106b through the smart control logic 124. The smart control logic 124 configured to switch the batteries 106a and 106b for charging based on the charge level of the batteries 106a and 106b.
[019] As shown in FIG. 2 the charge level of the battery is determined by the threshold value, which is pre-set by the smart control logic 124. The smart control logic 124 works based on pre-set threshold value of the charge level. According to the present disclosure, the smart control logic 124 determines if the charge of the battery 106a is fully charged or above the threshold value and the charge of battery 106b is below the threshold value or at the threshold value, then the smart control logic 124 swaps the charge to the battery 106b through couple the switch S2. Similarly if the charge of the battery 106a is below the threshold value or at the threshold value and the charge of the battery 106b is fully charged or above the threshold value, then the smart control logic 124 swaps the charge to the battery 106a through couple the switch S1.
[020] Referring to FIG. 3 is a diagram 300 depicting batteries electrically switching with the inverter through S3 and S4, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The diagram comprises an inverter 108, batteries 106a and 106b, switches S3 and S4 and smart control logic 124. The output ends of the batteries 106a and 106b are electrically connected with
the input end of the inverter 108 through the switches S3 and S4. According to the present disclosure, if the battery 106a possesses full charge, then the electrical connection 112 is established between the battery 106a and the inverter 108 through the switch S3. Similarly if the battery 106b possesses charge full charge, then the electrical connection 112 is established between the battery 106b and the inverter 108 through the switch S4.
[021] Referring to FIG. 4 is a diagram 400 depicting electrical connections established between the inverter 108, the charge controller unit 104 and batteries B1 and B2 through the switches S1, S2, S3 and S4, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The diagram comprises a charge controller unit 104, batteries 106a and 106b and an inverter 108. The input ends of the batteries B1 and B2 are electrically connected to the charge controller unit 104 and the output ends of the batteries B1 and B2 are electrically connected to the inverter 108 through the switches S1, S2, S3 and S4. For instance, if the charge level of the battery B1 is full or above the threshold value, then the active electrical connection path is established between the inverter 108 and the battery B1 by closing switch S3 and opening switch S1. Additionally, the control logic deactivates electrical connection path 110 between the inverter 108 and the battery B2 by opening switch S4 and closing switch S2. In this configuration, with switches S1 and S4 open, and S2 and S3 closed, the battery B1 is connected to the inverter 108 for supplying power to the home grid, and battery B2 is connected to the charge controller 104 to be charged via solar energy. Similarly if the battery B2 is fully charged or above the threshold value, then the active electrical connection path is established between the inverter 108 and the battery B2 with switch S4 closed and S4 open. Additionally, the smart control logic deactivates electrical connection path 110 between the inverter 108 and the battery B1 by opening switch S3 and closing S1 respectively. In this configuration, with switches S1 and S4 closed, and S2 and S3 open, the battery B2 is connected to the inverter for supplying power to the home grid, and battery B1 is connected to the charge controller to be charged via solar energy.
[022] Referring to FIG. 5 is a flow diagram 500 depicting a method for solar charge managing, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The method starts at step 502 whereby the solar panels capture the solar energy from the sun light. The method continues to next step 504 for checking the charge level of the batteries by the charge controller.
[023] The method continues to step 506 for comparing the charge level of the battery B1 & step 516 for comparing the charge level of the battery B2 with the threshold charge level, which is preset in the charge controller unit. Smart control logic has following four operating states based on the charge level
[024] At step 508, step 516 combination, charge level of both the batteries B1 and B2 are above the threshold charge level. In this scenario, battery B1 is connected to the inverter by closing switch S3, whereas both switch S2 and S4 are left open, so battery B2 is not connected either to inverter or charge controller unit. Charge level of battery B1 is continuously monitored at step 508. When the charge of battery B1 falls below the threshold, it creates the step 512 and 520 combination.
[025] At state 510 and 518 combination, the battery B1 has the charge above the threshold and battery B2 has the charge below the threshold. In this scenario, Battery B2 is connected to the charge controller unit for charging using switch S2, while battery B1 is connected to inverter using switch S3. Switch S1 and S4 are open in this state combination.
[026] At step 512 and 520 combination, the battery B1 has the charge below the threshold and battery B2 has the charge above the threshold. In this scenario, Battery B1 is connected to the charge controller unit for charging using switch S1, while battery B2 is connected to inverter using switch S4. Switch S2 & S3 are open in this state combination.
[027] At step 514 and 524 combination, both battery B1 and B2 has the charge below the threshold. In this scenario, battery B1 is connected to the charge controller unit for charging using Switch S1. Switch S2, S3 and S4 are off. When B1 has charge above the threshold, S1 is turned off and Battery B1 is connected to inverter using Switch S3, and battery B2 is connected to charge controller unit for charging using Switch S2.
[028] Although the present disclosure has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments and illustrations thereof, other embodiments and modifications to preferred embodiments may be possible that are within the principles and spirit of the invention. The above descriptions and figures are therefore to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.
[029] Thus the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described herein above as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.
5. CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A system comprising:
a charge controller unit electrically connected to a plurality of solar panels configured to control a charging action of two or more batteries comprising a smart control logic; and an inverter electrically connected to the batteries configured to receive a photovoltaic input and provide an alternating current output.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of solar panels configured to capture the solar energy from the sun light for converting into electricity.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the two or more batteries electrically connected to the charge controller unit configured to charge the two or more batteries with the solar energy.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the inverter configured to provide the alternating current to a power grid.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein smart control logic swaps electrical connection of the two or more batteries based on a preset threshold charge level.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart control logic configured to identify batteries charge status to perform switching to fully utilize solar radiation.
7. A method comprising: checking the charge level of the two or more batteries with a smart control logic for comparing the two or more batteries charge level with the preset threshold charge level by the charge controller unit; and establishing the electrical connection between the charge controller unit with the two or more batteries; and the two or more batteries with the inverter based on the determined charge level.
8. The method comprising: checking the charge level of a first battery with a smart control logic; comparing a first battery charge level with the preset threshold charge level by smart control logic for establishing an electrical connection between the charge controller unit with the first battery, and the first battery with the inverter based on the determined charge level; activating the electrical connection between the charge controller unit with the first battery based on the determined charge level of the first battery below the preset threshold value, whereby the electrical connection between the charge controller unit with the first battery configured to provide a photovoltaic input to the first battery; and deactivating the electrical connection between the first battery with the inverter based on the determined charge level of the first battery above the preset threshold value, whereby the electrical connection between the first battery with the inverter configured to switch a photovoltaic input to the inverter;
9. The method comprising: checking the charge level of the second battery with the smart control logic: comparing a second battery charge level with the preset threshold charge level by smart control logic for establishing an electrical connection between the charge controller unit with the second battery; and the second battery with the inverter based on the determined charge level; activating the electrical connection between the charge controller unit with the second battery based on the determined charge level of the second battery below the preset threshold value, whereby the electrical connection between the charge controller unit with the second battery configured to provide a photovoltaic input to the second battery; and deactivating the electrical connection between the second battery with the inverter based on the determined charge level of the second battery above the preset threshold value, whereby the electrical connection between the second battery with the inverter configured to switch a photovoltaic input to the inverter;
10. The method of claim 8 and 9, wherein the smart control logic configured to determine the charge level of the first battery and the second battery, whereby the smart control logic automatically swaps the battery, when one battery gets charged enough and second battery starts draining.