Regulation of Inverter DC Input Voltage in Photovoltaic Arrays
First Claim
1. A control module for controlling a power converter configured to couple to a solar panel to provide an output voltage and an output current to a bus, the control module comprising:
- a plurality of input ports, each given input port of the plurality of input ports configured to receive a different 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; and
a controller configured to implement a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm and an output power control algorithm, each using the first, second, third, and fourth parameters as input values, to regulate the input voltage, input current, output voltage, and output current of the power converter;
wherein in implementing the output power control algorithm, the controller is configured to adjust an output power versus output voltage characteristic of the power converter.
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Abstract
A converter unit configured to couple to a photovoltaic panel (PV) may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the photovoltaic panel, and manage the output voltage of a corresponding power converter coupled to a DC bus to regulate the resultant bus voltage to a point that reduces overall system losses, and removes non-idealities when the panels are series connected. The controller may also adapt to output condition constraints, and perform a combination of input voltage and output voltage management and regulation, including maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for the PV. The output voltage and output current characteristic of the power converter may be shaped to present a power gradient—which may be hysteretically controlled—to the DC bus to compel an inverter coupled to the DC bus to perform its own MPPT to hold the DC-bus voltage within a determinate desired operating range.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A control module for controlling a power converter configured to couple to a solar panel to provide an output voltage and an output current to a bus, the control module comprising:
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a plurality of input ports, each given input port of the plurality of input ports configured to receive a different 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; and a controller configured to implement a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm and an output power control algorithm, each using the first, second, third, and fourth parameters as input values, to regulate the input voltage, input current, output voltage, and output current of the power converter; wherein in implementing the output power control algorithm, the controller is configured to adjust an output power versus output voltage characteristic of the power converter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A control system for controlling a power converter configured to couple to a solar panel to provide an output voltage and output current to a voltage bus residing at an overall bus voltage, 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 the output voltage and the output current of the power converter; a controller configured to; regulate the input voltage of the power converter according to the sensed input current and sensed input voltage of the power converter and according to the sensed output voltage and sensed output current of the power converter, to optimize power derived from the solar panel; and execute an output power control algorithm to compel an inverter coupled to the voltage bus to track the overall bus voltage to maintain the overall bus voltage within an overall bus voltage range to ensure that the overall bus voltage is at a determinate preferred value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a power converter coupled to a solar panel to provide an output voltage and an output current to a voltage bus, the method comprising:
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monitoring input voltage and input current of the power converter; monitoring the output voltage and the output current of the power converter; regulating the input voltage of the power converter according to a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm using parameters corresponding to; the monitored input voltage and monitored input current of the power converter; and the monitored output voltage and output current of the power converter; and regulating output power of the power converter to compel an inverter coupled to the voltage bus to track an overall bus voltage of the voltage bus to ensure that the overall bus voltage is within a determinate preferred range. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35)
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31. A converter unit comprising:
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a power converter having an input configured to couple to a solar panel to obtain 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 of the power converter; a second parameter indicative of an input voltage of the power converter; a third parameter indicative of the converter output voltage; and a fourth parameter indicative of the converter output current; and a controller configured to implement a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) algorithm and an output power curve shaping algorithm using the first, second, third, and fourth parameters as input values, to regulate the input voltage, input current, output voltage, and output current of the power converter; wherein the output power curve shaping algorithm puts emphasis on converter output power versus the converter output voltage to allow tracking to a specified value of an overall voltage on the voltage bus, for maximum power transfer over the voltage bus. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 36)
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37. A system for harnessing photonic energy to provide power to one or more loads, the system 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 DC voltage bus providing a DC bus voltage; a plurality of converter units coupled to the DC voltage bus, each converter unit of the plurality of converter units configured to provide a respective converter output voltage to the DC voltage bus, 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 corresponding converter unit is configured to; regulate an input voltage of its switching power module according to an MPPT (maximum power point tracking) algorithm receiving parameters as inputs, wherein the parameters correspond to one or more of; the input voltage and input current of the switching power module; and the respective converter output voltage, and the respective converter output current; and regulate the respective converter output voltage according to a function of output power provided by the switching power module with respect to the converter output 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 (38, 39)
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Specification