Power supply system

• US 8,310,094 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Kazuo, Yagi, Ayumi, Matsui, Ryoji, Yoshimi, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARRIES, DRU M
• Application Number:
  US12/162,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20090302681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,119 Days
• Field of Search: 307/46, 307/66
• US Class Current: 307/46
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/26 involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources maximum power point systems in particular G05F1/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

Abstract

A power supply system capable of smoothing photovoltaic generation output, and enabling time shift is provided. A power supply system including a DC power supply string in which a storage battery is connected in parallel to a DC power supply; and a DC/AC power conversion device for connecting the DC power supply string to a power system or a load is provided. A switch is connected between the DC power supply and the storage battery, where an output power of the DC power supply or a combined output power of the DC power supply and the storage battery is switched and supplied to the DC/AC power conversion device by the switch. The photovoltaic generation output is thereby smoothed, and time shift is enabled.

Claims

1. A power supply system comprising:

a DC power supply string in which a storage battery module is connected in parallel to a DC power supply;

a DC/AC power conversion device for connecting the DC power supply string to a power system or a load; and

a switch, connected between the DC power supply and the storage battery module, for switching an output power of the DC power supply when the switch is ON or OFF or a combined output power of the DC power supply and the storage battery module when the switch is ON and supplying to the DC/AC power conversion device,

wherein the DC power supply is a solar battery module, and the DC power supply string is a solar battery string,

wherein the DC power supply string includes a time monitoring unit, a voltage detecting unit, or a current detecting unit,

wherein the switch is switched when one of the time monitoring unit, the voltage detecting unit, or the current detecting unit satisfies a predetermined condition, and

wherein the predetermined condition is

i) start output (switch ON) when a detected voltage of the voltage detecting unit or a detected current of the current detecting unit becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, or stop output (switch OFF) when becoming smaller than or equal to the predetermined value,

ii) start output (switch ON) or stop output (switch OFF) in accordance with a predetermined time of the time monitoring unit,

iii) start output (switch ON) or stop output (switch OFF) when the detected voltage of the voltage detecting unit or the detected current of the current detecting unit becomes greater than or equal to the predetermined value and in accordance with the predetermined time of the time monitoring unit, and

iv) start output (switch ON) or stop output (switch OFF) when the detected voltage of the voltage detecting unit or the detected current of the current detecting unit becomes smaller than or equal to the predetermined value and in accordance with the predetermined time of the time monitoring unit.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the storage battery module has a charging capacity for storing an output power generated by the solar battery module for at least 0.3 hours.

3. The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the storage battery module is set to a voltage range capable of retrieving a power of greater than or equal to 60% and less than or equal to 100% with respect to a maximum power point voltage (Vpmax) output when the solar battery module receives a predetermined insolation amount at a predetermined temperature.

4. The power supply system according to claim 1, including a plurality of power supply devices in parallel to the power system or the load including the DC power supply string and the DC/AC power conversion device, further comprising a power conversion control unit for controlling the DC/AC power conversion device according to the output power of the DC power supply.

5. The power supply system according to claim 4, further comprising a storage amount detecting means for detecting a storage amount of a storing unit, wherein the power conversion control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device according to the storage amount detected by the storage amount detecting means.

6. The power supply system according to claim 4, further comprising an output power amount detecting means for detecting an output power amount of the power supply system, wherein the power conversion control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device according to the output power amount detected by the output power amount detecting means.

7. A power supply system comprising:

a solar battery string in which a storage battery is connected in parallel to a solar battery;

a DC/AC power conversion device for connecting the solar battery string to a power system or a load;

a battery state detecting unit for detecting a state of the storage battery;

an output detecting unit for detecting an output power of the DC/AC power conversion device; and

an output control unit for controlling the DC/AC power conversion device based on the state of the storage battery detected by the battery state detecting unit and the output power detected by the output detecting unit,

wherein the storage battery includes a plurality of storage battery modules with a corresponding plurality of electromotive forces, and

wherein the output control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device such that power is drawn from a storage battery module whose electromotive force will not cause an overcurrent flow from any other storage battery module.

8. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the battery state detecting unit includes one or more of a voltage of the storage battery modules, a state of charge (SOC), and a rate of change in the state of charge (SOC) per unit time.

9. The power supply system according to claim 7, further comprising a data storage unit or a communication unit for receiving external data, wherein

the data storage unit or the communication unit acquires one or more information of past insolation data, average air temperature data, predicted insolation amount or predicted air temperature by weather forecast, temperature data of the solar battery module, predicted temperature characteristics of the solar battery module, and degrading information of the storage battery module;

and

the output control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device based on the information.

10. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the battery state detecting unit includes

a voltage comparison part numbering in the order of high storage battery voltage detected by the battery state detecting unit,

a storage battery group generating part for generating a storage battery group in the order of high numbering by the voltage comparison part, and

a first start-up control part for controlling the DC/AC power conversion device so that the output power of the DC/AC power conversion device becomes smaller than a total output power permitted from the storage battery group in start-up of the power supply system.

11. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the battery state detecting unit includes

an SOC comparison part numbering in the order of large state of charge (SOC) of the storage battery modules detected by the battery state detecting unit,

an SOC storage battery group generating part for generating an SOC storage battery group in the order of large state of charge (SOC) numbered by the SOC comparison part, and

a second start-up control part for controlling the DC/AC power conversion device so that the output power of the DC/AC power conversion device becomes smaller than a total output power permitted from the SOC storage battery group in start-up of the power supply system.

12. The power supply system according to claim 7, wherein the solar battery string includes a charge switch for every storage battery module to turn ON the charge switch and charge the storage battery module with the solar battery module configuring the DC power supply when a charging amount of the storage battery module is small in time of solar irradiation.

13. The power supply system according to claim 7,

wherein the power supply system comprises a plurality of (n) solar battery strings,

wherein SB1, SB2 . . . SBn are the storage battery modules at time of start-up of the power supply system in order of high voltage E1, E2, . . . En,

wherein the output control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device to output power P from each storage battery module SBi satisfying a condition

(E1-Ei)/r<

Δ

Imax, i=2, 3 . . . , k,

r being an internal resistance of the storage battery module,

Δ

Imax being a margin from an absolute maximum rating Imax of an output current of the storage battery module, and k≧

n, and

wherein the output power P satisfies a relational expression,

P<

(E1−

r×

Imax)×

(Imax+I2max+ . . . +Ikmax)×

η

,

(Iimax=Imax×

(Ei−

(E1−

r×

Imax)) /(E1−

r×

Imax), i=2, 3 . . . , k)

η

being an efficiency of the DC/AC power conversion device.

14. The power supply system according to claim 13, wherein the voltage of each storage battery module is periodically monitored from the start-up of the power supply system, and an output acceptable value of the DC/AC power conversion device is increased in correspondence to increase in k when the k is increased as additional storage battery modules satisfy the condition (E1-Ei)/r<

Δ

Imax.

15. The power supply system according to claim 7,

wherein the plurality of storage battery modules include first and second storage battery modules with corresponding first and second electromotive forces, the first electromotive force being highest of all electromotive forces, and

wherein the output control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device to draw power from the second storage battery module only when the second electromotive force is sufficiently high such that a difference between the first and second electromotive forces will not cause the overcurrent to be drawn from the first storage battery module.

16. The power supply system according to claim 7, further comprising a switch, connected between the solar battery and the storage battery for switching an output power of the solar battery when the switch is OFF or a combined output power of the solar battery and the storage battery when the switch, is ON and supplying to the DC/AC power conversion device.

17. A power supply system, comprising:

a plurality of DC power supply strings in which a storage battery module is connected in parallel to a DC power supply in each DC power supply string;

a DC/AC power conversion device arranged to connect the plurality of DC power supply strings to a power system or a load; and

a storage battery control unit arranged to control the DC/AC power conversion device to substantially equalize voltages of the storage battery modules by controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make a power request from the plurality of DC power supply strings.

18. The power supply system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a storage battery current detecting unit for detecting an output current of each storage battery module,

wherein the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device based on the currents detected by the current detecting units so that each storage battery module voltage becomes substantially equal.

19. The power supply system according to claim 17, wherein the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device such that each storage battery module voltage becomes substantially equal before the DC/AC power conversion device outputs power, at every predetermined time or constant interval, or when the storage battery module voltage reaches a predetermined voltage.

20. The power supply system according to claim 17, further comprising a switch for one or more of the DC power supply strings, wherein the switch is connected between the DC power supply and the storage battery of the DC power supply string for switching an output power of the DC power supply when the switch is OFF or a combined output power of the DC power supply and the storage battery module when the switch is ON and supplying to the DC/AC power conversion device.

21. The power supply system according to claim 17, wherein the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device so that each storage battery module voltage becomes substantially the same without having overcurrent drawn from any of the storage battery modules.

22. The power supply system according to claim 17, wherein storage battery control unit is arranged output control signals only to the DC/AC power conversion device.

23. The power supply system according to claim 17, wherein the storage battery control unit is arranged such that when the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules, the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device such that a total amount of current drawn from all of the plurality of DC power supply strings is less than or equal to a maximum allowable current from the storage battery module of one DC power supply string.

24. The power supply system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of current sensors each arranged to detect charging or discharging currents of the storage battery modules,

wherein the storage battery control unit is arranged such that when the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules, the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device such that an amount of current drawn from each DC power supply strings is less than or equal a maximum allowable current from the storage battery module of one DC power supply string.

25. The power supply system according to claim 24, further comprising:

a voltage sensor arranged to detect a voltage output by the plurality of DC power supply strings,

wherein the storage battery control unit is arranged to control the DC/AC power conversion device to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules when the voltage detected by the voltage sensor is at or above a predetermined maximum operating voltage.

26. The power supply system according to claim 24, wherein the storage battery control unit is arranged such that when the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules, the storage battery control unit controls the DC/AC power conversion device such that the amounts of current drawn from the DC power supply strings are all substantially equal.

27. A control method of a power supply system, the power supply system including a plurality of DC power supply strings in which a storage battery module is connected in parallel to a DC power supply in each DC power supply string, and a DC/AC power conversion device for connecting the plurality of DC power supply strings to a power system or a load, the method comprising the steps of:

controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to substantially equalize voltages of the storage battery modules; and

outputting power from the DC/AC power conversion device,

wherein the step of controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to substantially equalize voltages of the storage battery modules comprises controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make a power request from the plurality of DC power supply strings.

28. The control method of the power supply system according to claim 27, further comprising when n+1 DC power supply strings are connected and the output of each DC power supply differs, controlling the DC/AC power conversion device such that the DC/AC power conversion device always requests for the output power of greater than or equal to (I1-Ia)+(I2-Ia)+ . . . (In-Ia) where Ia is a minimum current and I1, I2, . . . In is the current of the remaining DC power supplies of the DC power supplies.

29. The control method according to claim 27, wherein in the step of controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules, only the DC/AC power conversion device is directly controlled.

30. The control method according to claim 27, wherein the step of controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make the power request to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules comprises controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make the power request such that a total amount of current drawn from the plurality of DC power supply strings is less than or equal to a maximum allowable current from the storage battery module of one DC power supply string.

31. The control method according to claim 30, wherein the step of controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make the power request to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules is performed without monitoring the voltage and the current of each storage battery module.

32. The control method according to claim 27, further comprising detecting currents of each of the storage battery modules,

wherein the step of controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make the power request to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules comprises controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make the power request such that an amount of current drawn from each DC power supply strings is less than or equal a maximum allowable current from the storage battery module of one DC power supply string.

33. The control method according to claim 32, wherein the step of controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make the power request to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules comprises controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make the power request such that the amounts of current drawn from the DC power supply strings are all substantially equal.

34. The control method according to claim 32, further comprising detecting a voltage output by the plurality of DC power supply strings,

wherein the step of controlling the DC/AC power conversion device to make the power request to substantially equalize the voltages of the storage battery modules is performed when the detected voltage output by the plurality of DC power supply strings is at or above a predetermined maximum voltage.