Photovoltaic source switching regulator with maximum power transfer efficiency without voltage change
First Claim
1. A switching circuit for regulating a photovoltaic power source for maximum power transfer to a load without change in voltage, comprising:
- first switching means having an input for connection to one output terminal of a photovoltaic power source, said first switching means having an output,first magnetic energy storage means having an input connected to said output of said first switching means and an output for connection to another output terminal of said photovoltaic power source which is opposite in polarity to said one terminal,second magnetic energy storage means having an input for connection to said one output terminal of said photovoltaic power source, said second magnetic energy storage means having an output,second switching means having an input connected to said output of said second magnetic energy storage means, said second switching means having an output,third switching means having an output connected to said output of said first switching means and to said output of said second switching means, said third switching means having an input,fourth switching means having an input connected to said output of said second magnetic energy storage means and an output connected to one terminal of said load, said load having another terminal opposite in polarity to said one terminal,first electric energy storage means having an output connected to said input of said third switching means, and an input connected to said one terminal of said load,second electric storage means having an output connected to said output of said first electric energy storage means and an input connected to said other terminal of said load and to said output of said first magnetic storage means,control means, responsive to an error signal, for causing said first switching means and said second switching means to alternately assume conductive and nonconductive states by alternately closing and opening the respective electric power flow paths between said input and said output of said first switching means and between said input and said output of said second switching means, the relative on an doff times of said first and second switching means being in opposite phase and having a duty cycle determined by said error signal, anderror signal supply means for supplying said error signal to said control means.
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Abstract
For matching the electrical impedance of a photovoltaic power source and a load, a switching regulator circuit has properties especially suited to the conversion of photovoltaic power to electric power. The circuit regulates the source voltage for maximum power output and supplies a load voltage equal to the regulated source voltage. The circuit comprises two branches: one in which a switching transistor (38), a diode (40), and filter components (30) and (42) provide a positive voltage; and the other in which similar components (22, 32, 24, and 44) in a different configuration, provide a negative voltage. The load voltage is the sum of these and is equal to the input voltage. Since the source voltage is substantially constant, the switching regulator in effect converts the photovoltaic power source to a constant-voltage source. The circuit provides improved performance and thus enhances the utility of photovoltaic power sources.
231 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A switching circuit for regulating a photovoltaic power source for maximum power transfer to a load without change in voltage, comprising:
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first switching means having an input for connection to one output terminal of a photovoltaic power source, said first switching means having an output, first magnetic energy storage means having an input connected to said output of said first switching means and an output for connection to another output terminal of said photovoltaic power source which is opposite in polarity to said one terminal, second magnetic energy storage means having an input for connection to said one output terminal of said photovoltaic power source, said second magnetic energy storage means having an output, second switching means having an input connected to said output of said second magnetic energy storage means, said second switching means having an output, third switching means having an output connected to said output of said first switching means and to said output of said second switching means, said third switching means having an input, fourth switching means having an input connected to said output of said second magnetic energy storage means and an output connected to one terminal of said load, said load having another terminal opposite in polarity to said one terminal, first electric energy storage means having an output connected to said input of said third switching means, and an input connected to said one terminal of said load, second electric storage means having an output connected to said output of said first electric energy storage means and an input connected to said other terminal of said load and to said output of said first magnetic storage means, control means, responsive to an error signal, for causing said first switching means and said second switching means to alternately assume conductive and nonconductive states by alternately closing and opening the respective electric power flow paths between said input and said output of said first switching means and between said input and said output of said second switching means, the relative on an doff times of said first and second switching means being in opposite phase and having a duty cycle determined by said error signal, and error signal supply means for supplying said error signal to said control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification