POWER CONTROLLER

• US 20200136393A1
• Filed: 09/19/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: SATAKE, Shuuji
• Granted Patent: US 10,965,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/26 involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A plurality of DC/DC converters is provided for each group of solar panels and is configured to convert an output power of the solar panels. A charger includes an input to which outputs of the plurality of DC/DC converters are connected and is configured to convert an input voltage with maintaining the input voltage to a lower limit voltage during charging. The control device controls each of the plurality of DC/DC converters independently. Each of the plurality of control devices is configured to control so as to gradually increase the output voltage of the DC/DC converter from the lower limit voltage, measure the output power of the solar panel each time the output voltage is increased, and search for the output voltage where the measured output power is maximum and maintain that output voltage.

Claims

1. A power controller configured to extract power from a group of solar cells, comprising:

a plurality of converters provided for each group of solar cells and configured to convert output power of the solar cells;

a charger including an input to which outputs of the plurality of converters are connected and configured to convert an input voltage with maintaining the input voltage to a reference voltage during charging; and

a plurality of control devices configured to control each of the plurality of converters independently, wherein

each of the plurality of control devices is configured to control so as to;

gradually increase the output voltage of the converter from the reference voltage;

measure the output power of the solar cell each time the output voltage of the converter is increased; and

search for the output voltage where the measured output power is maximum and maintain that output voltage.

2. The power controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each of the plurality of control devices is configured to control such that the converters operate to provide a constant current when an output current of the converter becomes equal to or larger than an upper limit current, and

the reference voltage is set to be equal to or larger than the output voltage obtained when the output current has reached to the upper limit current as a result of reducing the output voltage of the converter and increasing the output current of the converter.

3. The power controller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a storage device configured to store a conversion efficiency of the solar cell; and

a calculating device configured to calculate a maximum power of the solar cell based on the conversion efficiency, wherein

the plurality of control devices is configured to control so as to maintain the output voltage of the converter where the measured output power is the maximum power calculated by the calculating device.

4. The power controller as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a storage device configured to store a conversion efficiency of the solar cell; and

a calculating device configured to calculate a maximum power of the solar cell based on the conversion efficiency, wherein

the plurality of control devices is configured to control so as to maintain the output voltage of the converter where the measured output power is the maximum power calculated by the calculating device.