Dual-Loop Dynamic Fast-Tracking MPPT Control Method, Device, and System
First Claim
1. A control system for controlling a power converter configured to couple to a solar panel to provide an output voltage to a voltage bus, the control system comprising:
- one or more input ports, each given input port of the one or more input ports configured to receive one of a plurality of parameters comprising;
a first parameter indicative of an input current of the power converter provided by the solar panel;
a second parameter indicative of an input voltage of the power converter provided by the solar panel;
a third parameter indicative of an output voltage of the power converter; and
a fourth parameter indicative of an output current of the power converter;
an inner control loop configured to regulate based on a reference value one or more of;
the input current of the power converter;
the input voltage of the power converter;
the output voltage of the power converter; and
the output current of the power converter; and
an outer control loop configured to perform Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking (MPPT) control of the power converter based on the plurality of parameters, and further configured to generate the reference value based on the plurality of parameters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A converter unit to improve the response dynamics and overall recovered power in a photovoltaic array configuration. Each photovoltaic panel in the photovoltaic array may be coupled to a respective converter unit, which may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the solar panel, and control operation of a power converter to output modified voltage and current corresponding to the solar panel onto a bus coupling the converter units. The controller may operate as an analog or (digital) firmware control system to regulate the input voltage of each power converter unit under indirect guidance of a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller to optimize and regulate the resultant power, and achieve very fast dynamic response to environmental transients. Input voltage and output voltage management may be achieved by way of a fast inner control loop and a corresponding MPPT control system configured as an outer guidance loop providing a reference signal to the inner control loop.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A control system for controlling a power converter configured to couple to a solar panel to provide an output voltage to a voltage bus, the control system comprising:
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one or more input ports, each given input port of the one or more input ports configured to receive one of a plurality of parameters comprising; a first parameter indicative of an input current of the power converter provided by the solar panel; a second parameter indicative of an input voltage of the power converter provided by the solar panel; a third parameter indicative of an output voltage of the power converter; and a fourth parameter indicative of an output current of the power converter; an inner control loop configured to regulate based on a reference value one or more of; the input current of the power converter; the input voltage of the power converter; the output voltage of the power converter; and the output current of the power converter; and an outer control loop configured to perform Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking (MPPT) control of the power converter based on the plurality of parameters, and further configured to generate the reference value based on the plurality of parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A control system for controlling a power converter configured to couple to a solar panel to provide an output voltage to a voltage bus, the control system comprising:
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a sensing circuit configured to sense input current and input voltage of the power converter derived from the solar panel, and further configured to sense output voltage and output current of the power converter; an inner control loop configured to adjust, according to a corresponding reference signal, at least one of; the input voltage of the power converter; the input current of the power converter; the output voltage of the power converter; and the output current of the power converter; an outer control loop configured to perform Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking (MPPT) control of the power converter based on the input voltage, input current, output voltage, and output current of the power converter, and further configured to generate the reference signal based on the input voltage, input current, output voltage, and output current of the power converter to maintain MPPT of the power converter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for controlling a power converter coupled to a solar panel to provide an output voltage to a voltage bus, the control system comprising:
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determining a desired set-point according to a Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking (MPPT) algorithm applied to the power converter based on one or more of; input voltage and input current of the power converter; and output voltage and output current of the power converter; and adjusting one of; the input voltage of the power converter to regulate to the desired set-point when the desired set-point corresponds to a desired value of the input voltage of the power converter; and the output voltage of the power converter to regulate to the desired set-point when the desired set-point corresponds to a desired value of the output voltage of the power converter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A converter unit comprising:
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a power converter having an input configured to couple to a solar panel to receive an input voltage and input current from the solar panel, and an output configured to couple to a voltage bus to provide a converter output voltage and a converter output current to the voltage bus; and a control unit comprising; one or more input ports, each given input port of the one or more input ports configured to receive one of a plurality of parameters comprising; a first parameter indicative of an input current at the input of the power converter; a second parameter indicative of an input voltage at the input of the power converter; a third parameter indicative of the converter output voltage; and a fourth parameter indicative of the converter output current; an inner control loop configured to regulate based on a reference value one or more of; the input current at the input of the power converter; the input voltage at the input of the power converter; the converter output voltage; and the converter output current; and an outer control loop configured to perform Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking (MPPT) control of the power converter based on the plurality of parameters, and further configured to generate the reference value based on the plurality of parameters. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A solar power array, comprising:
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a plurality of solar power panels, wherein each given solar panel of the plurality of solar panels provides a respective output current and a respective output voltage; a plurality of converter units, wherein each given solar panel is coupled to a corresponding converter unit of the plurality of converter units to provide its respective output current and its respective output voltage as inputs to its corresponding converter unit, wherein each corresponding converter unit comprises a switching power module that produces a respective converter output voltage and respective converter output current, and wherein each of one or more corresponding converter units is configured to; determine a desired set-point according to a Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking (MPPT) algorithm applied to the switching power module based on one or more of; input voltage and input current of the switching power module; and the respective converter output voltage, and the respective converter output current; and adjust one of; the input voltage of the switching power module to regulate to the desired set-point when the desired set-point corresponds to a desired value of the input voltage of the switching power module; and the converter output voltage to regulate to the desired set-point when the desired set-point corresponds to a desired value of the converter output voltage; a DC voltage bus coupled to the plurality of converter units and configured to receive each respective converter output voltage to provide a DC bus voltage; and a DC/AC inverter that inverts the DC bus voltage to an AC power signal for distribution to one or more AC loads. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A solar power array, comprising:
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a plurality of solar power panels, wherein each given solar panel of the plurality of solar panels provides a respective output current and a respective output voltage; a plurality of converter units, wherein each given solar panel is coupled to a corresponding converter unit of the plurality of converter units to provide its respective output current and its respective output voltage at an input of its corresponding converter unit, wherein each corresponding converter unit comprises a switching power module that produces a respective converter output voltage and a respective converter output current, and wherein each of one or more corresponding converter units comprises; an inner control loop configured to adjust, according to a corresponding reference signal, at least one of; an input voltage at the input of the switching power module; an input current at the input of the switching power module; the respective converter output voltage; and the respective converter output current; and an outer control loop configured to perform Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking (MPPT) control of the switching power module, and further configured to generate the reference signal based on one or more of; the input voltage at the input of the switching power module and the input current at the input of the switching power module; and the respective converter output voltage and the respective converter output current; a DC voltage bus coupled to the plurality of converter units and configured to receive each respective converter output voltage to provide a DC bus voltage; and a DC/AC inverter that inverts the DC bus voltage to an AC power signal for distribution to one or more AC loads.
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Specification