Systems and methods for shunt power factor correction

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that operate to correct the electrical characteristics of an electric distribution system based on analysis at a particular point in the system, for example, at a customer's meter. To do so, the subject characteristic may be measured at the meter. The subject characteristic may be provided to a power inverter controller, which responds by modifying the characteristic of the inverter output to achieve the desired measurement at the meter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power inverter system, comprising:
 a controller capable of generating signals based on an analysis of current measured electrically proximate a meter operatively coupled via a grid power line to an electric distribution grid and via a load power line to a load;   a power inverter comprising:
 a power input for receiving DC power; 
 a signal input for receiving signals from the controller; 
 a power output for providing AC power to at least one of the load and the electric distribution grid; 
 a voltage converter for converting a voltage level of the DC power to an effective voltage level of the AC power; 
 a current converter for converting a current of the DC power to an effective current of the AC power; and 
 a plurality of components electrically responsive to the signals received from the controller. 
   
     
     
         2 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , further comprising a photovoltaic array capable of providing the DC power to the power input. 
     
     
         3 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage converter comprises one of a buck and a boost inverter. 
     
     
         4 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , wherein the power inverter further comprises a grid frequency transform. 
     
     
         5 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , wherein the load further comprises a DC load, and wherein the DC voltage received at the power input is at least partially provided unconverted to the DC load. 
     
     
         6 . The power inverter system of  claim 5 , wherein the DC load comprises at least one battery. 
     
     
         7 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , wherein the signals generated comprise a modification to a power factor for execution by the plurality of components. 
     
     
         8 . The power inverter system of  claim 7 , wherein the modification comprises an injection of reactive power. 
     
     
         9 . The power inverter system of  claim 7 , wherein the modification comprises a harmonic distortion counteraction. 
     
     
         10 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , further comprising an analyzer capable of executing the analysis. 
     
     
         11 . The power inverter system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the analyzer and the controller comprises a wireless communicator. 
     
     
         12 . The power inverter system of  claim 11 , wherein the analysis further dictates signals by the controller responsive to power at a second meter remote from the meter. 
     
     
         13 . The power inverter system of  claim 10 , wherein the analyzer comprises a spectrum analyzer, 
     
     
         14 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , wherein the power inverter is bi-directional. 
     
     
         15 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical measure proximate the meter comprises a clamp probe placed about a conductor supplying the meter. 
     
     
         16 . The power inverter system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a direct current (DC) power source coupled to the power inverter;   a spectrum analyzer coupled to the controller;   a current clamp coupled to measure the current of the grid power line proximate the meter.   
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a power inverter, comprising:
 receiving DC power at a power input;   receiving, at a signal input, signals from a controller, the signals based on an analysis of current measured proximate a meter operatively coupled via a grid power line to an electric distribution grid and via a load power line to a load;   providing, at a power output, at least AC power to at least one of the load and the electric distribution grid;   converting a voltage level of the DC power to an effective voltage level of the AC power;   converting a current of the DC power to an effective current of the AC power; and   configuring a plurality of components based on the signals received from the controller.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing, at the power output, DC power to the load. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the receiving of DC power comprises receiving DC power from at least one photovoltaic cell. 
     
     
         20 . A method for operating a solar power system, comprising:
 receiving direct current (DC) power from a solar source coupled to an inverter;   measuring a current of a grid power line proximate a meter, using a current clamp coupled to a spectrum analyzer;   analyzing a spectrum of the measured current using the spectrum analyzer; and   modifying alternating current (AC) power provided by the inverter in accordance with the analyzing.