Various implementations described herein are directed to a methods and apparatuses for disconnecting, by a device, elements at certain parts of an electrical system. The method may include measuring operational parameters at certain locations within the system and/or receiving messages from control devices indicating a potentially unsafe condition, disconnecting and/or short-circuiting system elements in response, and reconnection the system elements when it is safe to do so. Certain embodiments relate to methods and apparatuses for providing operational power to safety switches during different modes of system operation.

An electric power supply comprises first and second input circuits for receiving first and second input DC voltages and a control circuit coupled to the first and second input circuits. The control circuit is configured to sense the first input DC voltage and the second input DC voltage and to enable the first input circuit and disable the second input circuit in response to the first input circuit having the highest input DC voltage to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the first input circuit from the second input circuit. The control circuit is also configured to enable the second input circuit and disable the first input circuit in response to the second input circuit having the highest input DC voltage to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the second input circuit from the first input circuit.

An electric power supply comprises first and second input circuits for receiving first and second input DC voltages and a control circuit coupled to the first and second input circuits. The control circuit is configured to sense the first input DC voltage and the second input DC voltage and to enable the first input circuit and disable the second input circuit in response to the first input circuit having the highest input DC voltage to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the first input circuit from the second input circuit. The control circuit is also configured to enable the second input circuit and disable the first input circuit in response to the second input circuit having the highest input DC voltage to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the second input circuit from the first input circuit.

A regulation loop circuit and a method for a buck converter for receiving an input voltage and providing an output voltage are presented. The buck converter has a capacitive divider coupled to the input terminal and comprising a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a plurality of switches. An inductor is coupled to the capacitive divider at a switching node and is coupled to the output terminal. The regulation loop circuit is coupled to the output terminal and a reference voltage. The loop regulates the output voltage based on the reference voltage by i) regulating a switching node voltage by switching the buck converter through a plurality of phases. and ii) maintaining an approximately equal duration for each phase.

A regulation loop circuit and a method for a buck converter for receiving an input voltage and providing an output voltage are presented. The buck converter has a capacitive divider coupled to the input terminal and comprising a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a plurality of switches. An inductor is coupled to the capacitive divider at a switching node and is coupled to the output terminal. The regulation loop circuit is coupled to the output terminal and a reference voltage. The loop regulates the output voltage based on the reference voltage by i) regulating a switching node voltage by switching the buck converter through a plurality of phases. and ii) maintaining an approximately equal duration for each phase.

A power supply device includes a main power supply, a sub-power supply, a main power supply path, a sub-power supply path, a power supply selector switch, and a load selector switch group. The main power supply path is connected to the main power supply. The sub-power supply path is different from the main power supply path and is connected to the sub-power supply. The load selector switch group is disposed between the main power supply path and the sub-power supply path, and the load unit, and performs switching so as to connect one of the main power supply path and the sub-power supply path to the load unit and to disconnect the other from the load unit, according to switching of the power supply selector switch.

A power supply device includes a main power supply, a sub-power supply, a main power supply path, a sub-power supply path, a power supply selector switch, and a load selector switch group. The main power supply path is connected to the main power supply. The sub-power supply path is different from the main power supply path and is connected to the sub-power supply. The load selector switch group is disposed between the main power supply path and the sub-power supply path, and the load unit, and performs switching so as to connect one of the main power supply path and the sub-power supply path to the load unit and to disconnect the other from the load unit, according to switching of the power supply selector switch.

A back-feed protection circuit includes input circuits and a control circuit. Each input circuit includes an input for receiving an input DC voltage. The control circuit is configured to enable one of the first input circuit and the second input circuit having the highest input DC voltage, and disable the other input circuit to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the first input circuit and/or the second input circuit. Each input circuit additionally and/or alternatively includes a positive rail, a reference rail and a plurality of switching devices. A set of the switching devices are coupled in series in the positive rail of each input circuit, and another set of the switching devices are coupled in series in the reference rail of each input circuit. Other example back-feed protection circuits, and electric power supplies including back-feed protection circuits are also disclosed.

A back-feed protection circuit includes input circuits and a control circuit. Each input circuit includes an input for receiving an input DC voltage. The control circuit is configured to enable one of the first input circuit and the second input circuit having the highest input DC voltage, and disable the other input circuit to substantially prevent current from back feeding to the first input circuit and/or the second input circuit. Each input circuit additionally and/or alternatively includes a positive rail, a reference rail and a plurality of switching devices. A set of the switching devices are coupled in series in the positive rail of each input circuit, and another set of the switching devices are coupled in series in the reference rail of each input circuit. Other example back-feed protection circuits, and electric power supplies including back-feed protection circuits are also disclosed.

A computer implemented method for controlling a power plant system comprising a photovoltaic power source, an inverter, a DC-to-DC converter, an energy storage and an energy storage manager, the method comprising: receiving target value for AC power to be supplied by the inverter; receiving weather forecast information, energy storage status information and photovoltaic power source parameters; generating forecasted energy flow information for the photovoltaic power source based on the weather information and the photovoltaic power source parameters; comparing the forecasted energy flow information and the energy storage status information; and adjusting the target value for the AC power based on the comparison.