Multiple buck stage single boost stage optimizer
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of buck stages each having an input configured to receive a DC voltage from a DC power source and a buck stage output configured to provide a DC voltage;
logic configured to operate the plurality of buck stages to regulate a power output of each of the DC power sources, including operate the respective buck stages at target duty cycles to maintain a target power efficiency for each buck stage, the combined DC voltages from the plurality of buck stage outputs depends on the target duty cycles; and
a boost stage comprising a boost stage output and a single boost stage input configured to receive the combined DC voltages from the plurality of buck stage outputs;
wherein the logic is further configured to instruct the boost stage to reduce the DC voltage at the input of the boost stage below a threshold voltage responsive to a determination that the combined DC voltages of the plurality of buck stages will be below the threshold voltage in order to maintain the target duty cycles of the respective buck stages.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates to technology for providing power, voltage, and/or current from a combination of DC power sources, such as photovoltaic modules or DC batteries. One aspect includes a buck-boost optimizer having a number of inductorless buck stages and a boost stage. The buck-boost optimizer may be used within a power generation system. The combined output voltages of each of the buck stages may be input to the boost stage. The boost stage may have an inductor that may serve as an energy storage device to boost a voltage, as well as to filter a signal from the buck stages. Thus, the buck-boost optimizer may use a single inductor. Having a single inductor provides for a very efficient power generation system. Also, cost and size of components in the power generation system may be reduced.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of buck stages each having an input configured to receive a DC voltage from a DC power source and a buck stage output configured to provide a DC voltage; logic configured to operate the plurality of buck stages to regulate a power output of each of the DC power sources, including operate the respective buck stages at target duty cycles to maintain a target power efficiency for each buck stage, the combined DC voltages from the plurality of buck stage outputs depends on the target duty cycles; and a boost stage comprising a boost stage output and a single boost stage input configured to receive the combined DC voltages from the plurality of buck stage outputs; wherein the logic is further configured to instruct the boost stage to reduce the DC voltage at the input of the boost stage below a threshold voltage responsive to a determination that the combined DC voltages of the plurality of buck stages will be below the threshold voltage in order to maintain the target duty cycles of the respective buck stages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a power generation system, the method comprising:
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receiving DC voltages from each of respective ones of a plurality of photovoltaic modules at a corresponding plurality of buck stages; operating each of the plurality of buck stages to regulate a power output of the corresponding photovoltaic modules, including generating a DC output voltage for each buck stage, including operating the respective buck stages at target duty cycles to maintain a target power efficiency for each buck stage, the combined DC voltages from the plurality of buck stage outputs depends on the target duty cycles; receiving a combined DC output voltage from all of the plurality of buck stages at an input of a single boost stage; operating the single boost stage to boost the combined output voltage from the plurality of buck stages, including instructing the boost stage to reduce the DC voltage at the input of the boost stage below a threshold voltage responsive to a determination that the combined DC voltages of the plurality of buck stages will be below the threshold voltage in order to maintain the target duty cycles of the respective buck stages to thereby allow the respective buck stages to be operated at the target duty cycles; and providing the boosted voltage to a solar inverter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each configured to provide a DC voltage; a buck-boost convertor comprising a plurality of buck stages and a single boost stage, wherein each of the buck stages comprises an input configured to receive the DC voltage from one of the photovoltaic modules, wherein each of the buck stages comprises an output configured to provide a DC voltage, wherein each of the buck stages is configured to regulate a power output of the corresponding photovoltaic module, wherein the single boost stage comprises a single input configured to receive the combined DC voltages from the plurality of buck stage outputs, wherein the single boost stage comprises an output configured to provide a DC voltage; and logic configured to operate the respective buck stages at target duty cycles to maintain a target power efficiency for each buck stage, the combined DC voltages from the plurality of buck stage outputs depends on the target duty cycles, the logic is further configured to instruct the boost stage to reduce the DC voltage at the input of the boost stage below a threshold voltage responsive to a determination that the combined DC voltages of the plurality of buck stages will be below the threshold voltage in order to maintain the target duty cycles of the respective buck stages. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification