POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20150057827A1
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd. (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Platforms, Ltd. (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: UCHIKAWA, Takafumi
• Granted Patent: US 9,588,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/297
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power

Abstract

Is provided a power supply system optimizing a power conversion efficiency of its entire system, including at least one main power supply unit converting an input power into an output power supplied to a load; an auxiliary power supply unit including a power storage unit supplying an output power by the power storage unit to the load; a power measurement unit for measuring an output power from the main and auxiliary power supply units; and a power supply control unit for calculating an optimal output power in the main power supply unit maximizing its power conversion efficiency according to the output power measured by the power measurement unit and an optimal output power or charge power in the auxiliary power supply unit, controlling the main power supply unit based on the optimal output power, and controlling the auxiliary power supply unit based on the optimal output power or charge power.

Claims

1. A power supply system comprising:

at least one main power supply unit that converts an input power into an output power and supplies the output power to a load;

an auxiliary power supply unit that supplies an output power to the load, from a power storage unit capable of functioning as a power supply source;

a power measurement unit, that is connected between output sides of the main power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit and the load, that measures an output power output by the main power supply unit and the auxiliary power supply unit; and

a power supply control unit

that calculates an optimal output power of the main power supply unit that maximizes a power conversion efficiency of the main power supply unit in a given output adjustment range for the main power supply unit in accordance with the output power measured by the power measurement unit,

calculates an optimal output power or charge power of the auxiliary power supply unit based on the given output adjustment range,

controls the main power supply unit based on the calculated optimal output power of the main power supply unit, and

controls the auxiliary power supply unit based on the calculated optimal output power or charge power of the auxiliary power supply unit.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply control unit calculates an input power to the main power supply unit in accordance with the output power measured by the power measurement unit based on an input-output conversion model expressing power conversion between an input power to the main power supply unit and an output power output from the main power supply unit.

3. The power supply system according to claim 2, wherein

the power supply control unit

detects a charge remaining amount of the power storage unit included in the auxiliary power supply unit,

assigns the output power of the main power supply unit measured by the power measurement unit as a first output power,

calculates a first input power to the main power supply unit based on the first output power and the input-output conversion model,

calculates a first power conversion efficiency based on the first output power and the first input power,

derives a second output power of the main power supply unit where the first output power is converted by using a given adjustment value falling within the given output adjustment range for the main power supply unit,

calculates a second input power of the main power supply unit based on the second output power and the input-output conversion model,

calculates a second power conversion efficiency based on the second output power and the second input power, and

controls the output power of the main power supply unit and the output power or the charge power in the auxiliary power supply unit based on a result obtained by comparing the first power conversion efficiency and the second power conversion efficiency, and the detected charge remaining amount of the power storage unit.

4. The power supply system according to claim 3, wherein

the power supply control unit

charges the power storage unit included in the auxiliary power supply unit based on a power corresponding to the given adjustment value in an output power of the main power supply unit when the given adjustment value is a positive value, and

controls power supply from the power storage unit included in the auxiliary power supply unit based on the given adjustment value when the given adjustment value is a negative value.

5. The power supply system according to claim 3, wherein

the power supply control unit includes a conversion-characteristic-control unit that adjusts characteristics of a power conversion efficiency of the main power supply unit, and wherein

the conversion-characteristic-control unit adjusts characteristics of a power conversion efficiency of the main power supply unit based on power consumption measured by the power measurement unit and the given adjustment value.

6. The power supply system according to claim 5,

wherein the power supply control unit

calculates a total output power amount output for a given period of time in the auxiliary power supply unit, and

calculates a total charge power amount charged for a given period of time in the auxiliary power supply unit, and

wherein the conversion-characteristic-control unit adjusts characteristics of the power conversion efficiency of the main power supply unit based on the calculated total output power amount and the calculated total charge power amount.

7. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein

the power supply control unit

calculates a total output power amount output for a given period of time in the auxiliary power supply unit,

calculates a total charge power amount charged for a given period of time in the auxiliary power supply unit, and

controls a maximum output power in the auxiliary power supply unit to increase when the calculated total charge power amount is larger than the calculated total output power amount.

8. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein

the power supply control unit

controls the auxiliary power supply unit to supply an output power when the power conversion efficiency of the main power supply unit is lower than a minimum power conversion efficiency that is a threshold for determining whether the auxiliary power supply unit supplies a power or not,

calculates a total output power amount output for a given period of time in the auxiliary power supply unit,

calculates a total charge power amount charged for a given period of time in the auxiliary power supply unit, and

controls the minimum power conversion efficiency to increase when the calculated total charge power amount is larger than the calculated total output power amount.

9. A control method for a power supply system comprising:

measuring an output power output from at least one main power supply unit that converts an input power into an output power and supplies the output power to a load, and an output power output from an auxiliary power supply unit including a power storage unit capable of functioning as a power supply source;

calculating an optimal output power of the main power supply unit maximizing a power conversion efficiency in the main power supply unit in a given output adjustment range for the main power supply unit in accordance with the measured output power;

calculating an optimal output power or charge power of the auxiliary power supply unit based on the given output adjustment range;

controlling the main power supply unit based on the calculated optimal output power of the main power supply unit; and

controlling the auxiliary power supply unit based on the calculated optimal output power or charge power of the auxiliary power supply unit.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recorded with a control program for a power supply system causing a computer to execute:

a processing that measures an output power output from at least one main power supply unit that converts an input power into an output power and supplies the output power to a load, and an output power output from an auxiliary power supply unit including a power storage unit capable of functioning as a power supply source;

a processing that calculates an optimal output power of the main power supply unit maximizing a power conversion efficiency in the main power supply unit in a given output adjustment range for the main power supply unit in accordance with the measured output power;

a processing that calculates an optimal output power or charge power of the auxiliary power supply unit based on the given output adjustment range;

a processing that controls the main power supply unit based on the calculated optimal output power of the main power supply unit; and

a processing that controls the auxiliary power supply unit based on the calculated optimal output power or charge power of the auxiliary power supply unit.