Grid-feed with generator

[Devan]

helo. will it be possible to install a grid feed inverter with generator. the goal is for the inverter to supply load and feed excess power into the grid,when grid falls away, the generator starts and then inverter,then inverter supplies only load and does not feed into grid and generator idles to keep inverter on.

 

Will this be possible?

[phil.g00]

What you want is already achievable with a hybrid inverter providing the supply to a downstream AC coupled PV inverter.

I don't think a PV inverter will synch to small AC generator for any length of time ( if at all).

This is due to the AC quality and the generator has no power control functionality over the PV inverter. ( To make generation equal load, so the system will be unstable).

A hybrid inverter can provide quality AC and exercise power control over a PV inverter when islanded from the grid by frequency shifting, so that the system remains stable.

 

 

[Richard Mackay]

2 hours ago, Devan said:

helo. will it be possible to install a grid feed inverter with generator. the goal is for the inverter to supply load and feed excess power into the grid,when grid falls away, the generator starts and then inverter,then inverter supplies only load and does not feed into grid and generator idles to keep inverter on.

 

Will this be possible?

If I understand you you are wanting to use a generator for backup power for an inverter instead of using batteries??

[___]

16 hours ago, Devan said:

Will this be possible?

If you use a Victron Quattro inverter (with two inputs), you can put the grid on AC-2 and the generator on AC-1. You can then also (in theory, though this is not what the software does right now) use the ESS configuration to feed energy into the "generator" (balanced with the loads). But as Phil pointed out, you need some weight to the generator to make it work well (so forget about small petrol generators), and also, the default software behaviour is to charge the batteries when there is a generator there.

It makes far more sense to use the generator to power the loads and to charge the batteries. An idling generator's fuel use is uneconomical, and the mechanical wear on the engine is also disproportionate. You want the engine to work around 75%-80% of its capacity for optimum power vs fuel/wear.

A far better setup is to use the inverter for "PowerAssist", that is, the inverter supplies power from the battery above a certain limit. See this document (old, but still mostly accurate):

https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/White-paper-Using-the-MultiPlus-to-reduce-operating-cost-of-a-generator-EN.pdf

Edited November 23, 2019 by plonkster