Split-bus electrical panel in parallel configuration to maximize PV/battery inverter back-feed power

• Main Author: Phillips, Timothy
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.06.2023
• Subjects: CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY

An apparatus provides a single split-bus electrical panel with back-feed circuit breakers arranged and sized so that, for example, a single 225 A rated split-bus electrical panel with a 200 A main breaker may be used to connect a far higher photovoltaic power source than conventional configurations. The circuit breakers are connected to a Microgrid Interconnection Device for isolation of critical loads during a utility power outage. A first panel section of the split-bus panel is connected to a utility and supplies power to non-critical loads. A second panel section is connected to a renewable power source with battery back-up to supply power to the critical loads and is connected through a relay to the utility, in parallel with the first panel section, to supply both utility power and renewable power when there is no outage. The relay is configured to isolate the second panel when there is a utility outage.