Charge/discharge control device and power generation system

• US 8,527,110 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakashima, Takeshi, Sakai, Souichi, Hagihara, Ryuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): JARRETT, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/426,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/297
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• 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: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

A charge/discharge control device capable of increasing the lifetime of a storage portion while suppressing effects of fluctuation in power generated by a power generator on a power grid is provided. This charge/discharge control device is so formed as to start charge/discharge control of the storage portion if an amount of change in power detected by a power detection portion detecting power passing through a prescribed portion of a line between the power generator and the power grid is at least a prescribed amount of change when the detected power changes from first power to second power while the detected power does not return to power in the vicinity of the first power from the second power within a first period from a time point when the detected power changes from the first power to the second power.

Claims

1. A charge/discharge control device linked to a power grid, employed in a power generation system comprising a power generator generating power with natural energy and a storage portion capable of storing power, and controlling charge/discharge of said storage portion,

so formed as to start charge/discharge control of said storage portion if an amount of change in power detected by a power detection portion detecting power passing through a prescribed portion of a line between said power generator and said power grid is at least a prescribed amount of change when detected said power changes from first power to second power while said detected power does not return to power in a vicinity of the first power from said second power within a first period from a time point when said detected power changes from said first power to said second power.

2. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 1, so formed as to determine that said power detected by said power detection portion does not return to said power in the vicinity of said first power from said second power if detected said power does not reach a prescribed threshold including a value in the vicinity of said first power or a value equal to said first power within said first period from the time point when said detected power changes from said first power to said second power.

3. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 2, wherein

said threshold includes a first threshold in the vicinity of said first power, larger than said first power and a second threshold in the vicinity of said first power, smaller than said first power,

the charge/discharge control device so formed as to determine that said detected power does not return to said power in the vicinity of said first power from said second power if said detected power changes in an increasing direction from said first power to said second power and does not decrease to not more than said first threshold within said first period, and determine that said detected power does not return to said power in the vicinity of said first power from said second power if said detected power changes in a decreasing direction from said first power to said second power and does not increase to not less than said second threshold within said first period.

4. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 1, so formed as to acquire data on said power detected by said power detection portion at a prescribed detection time interval, determine, based on said data on detected said power acquired at said prescribed detection time interval, whether or not an amount of change in said power detected by said power detection portion is at least a prescribed amount of change, and determine whether or not said detected power has returned to said power in the vicinity of said first power within said first period longer than said prescribed detection time interval.

5. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 4, wherein

said first period comprises a period of an integral multiple of at least twice said prescribed detection time interval.

6. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 1, wherein

said first period comprises a period of not more than a fluctuation period capable of being dealt with by load frequency control.

7. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 1, so formed as to calculate a target output value by a method of moving average, and render a period to acquire data on said detected power employed to calculate a moving average shorter than a period other than at least either an initial stage or a final stage of said charge/discharge control in at least either said initial stage or said final stage of said charge/discharge control to calculate said target output value, when performing said charge/discharge control of said storage portion.

8. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 7, so formed as to render said period to acquire said data on said detected power employed to calculate said moving average shorter than a period other than said initial stage and said final stage of said charge/discharge control in said initial stage of said charge/discharge control, and gradually increase, from said initial stage of said charge/discharge control to said period other than said initial stage and said final stage of said charge/discharge control, said period to acquire said data on said detected power employed to calculate said moving average in response to a number of pieces of said data on said detected power having been accumulated since start of said charge/discharge control to calculate said target output value.

9. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 7, so formed as to render said period to acquire said data on said detected power employed to calculate said moving average shorter than a period other than said initial stage and said final stage of said charge/discharge control in said final stage of said charge/discharge control, and gradually decrease, from said period other than said initial stage and said final stage of said charge/discharge control to said final stage of said charge/discharge control, said period to acquire said data on said detected power employed to calculate said moving average to calculate said target output value.

10. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 1, so formed as to acquire data on said detected power within a prescribed second period as a period to acquire said data on said detected power and calculate a target output value by a method of moving average when performing said charge/discharge control of said storage portion, wherein

said prescribed second period comprises a period of at least a lower limit period of a fluctuation period capable of being dealt with by load frequency control.

11. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 1, so formed as to terminate said charge/discharge control after elapse of a prescribed third period from start of said charge/discharge control.

12. The charge/discharge control device according to claim 11, so formed as to extend said prescribed third period of said charge/discharge control if a change of at least said prescribed amount of change in said power detected by said power detection portion is generated a prescribed number of times or more in said charge/discharge control.

13. A power generation system comprising:

a power generator linked to a power grid, generating power with natural energy;

a storage portion capable of storing power;

a power detection portion detecting power passing through a prescribed portion of a line between said power generator and said power grid; and

a controller controlling charge/discharge of said storage portion, wherein

said controller is so formed as to start charge/discharge control of said storage portion if an amount of change in power detected by said power detection portion is at least a prescribed amount of change when detected said power changes from first power to second power while said detected power does not return to power in a vicinity of said first power from said second power within a first period from a time point when said detected power changes from said first power to said second power.

14. The power generation system according to claim 13, wherein

said controller is so formed as to determine that said power detected by said power detection portion does not return to said power in the vicinity of said first power from said second power if detected said power does not reach a prescribed threshold including a value in the vicinity of said first power or a value equal to said first power within said first period from the time point when said detected power changes from said first power to said second power.

15. The power generation system according to claim 13, wherein

said power generator is so formed as to generate power with sunlight,

said controller is so formed as to acquire said power detected by said power detection portion at a prescribed detection time interval and determine, based on detected said power acquired at said prescribed detection time interval, whether or not an amount of change in said power detected by said power detection portion is at least a prescribed amount of change, and

said prescribed amount of change is larger than a maximum amount of change in said detected power at said prescribed detection time interval in the daytime in fine weather when said charge/discharge control is started.

16. The power generation system according to claim 13, further comprising:

an inverter provided on said line between said power generator and said power grid to link said power generator and said power grid to each other;

a DC-DC converter serially connected between said power generator and said inverter, converting a DC voltage of power generated by said power generator to a prescribed DC voltage; and

a charge/discharge portion performing the charge/discharge of said storage portion, wherein

said storage portion is connected in parallel to a connecting wire connecting said DC-DC converter and said inverter, and so formed as to store said power generated by said power generator,

said power detection portion is so formed as to detect generated said power of said prescribed DC voltage obtained by conversion of said DC voltage by said DC-DC converter, and

said controller is so formed as to start said charge/discharge control of said storage portion if an amount of change in said generated power of said prescribed DC voltage obtained by said conversion of said DC voltage by said DC-DC converter is at least said prescribed amount of change when said generated power changes from said first power to said second power while said generated power does not return to power in the vicinity of said first power from said second power within said first period from a time point when said generated power changes from said first power to said second power.

17. The power generation system according to claim 13, wherein

said power detection portion is so formed as to detect power generated by said power generator, and

said controller is so formed as to start said charge/discharge control of said storage portion if an amount of change in said power generated by said power generator is at least said prescribed amount of change when generated said power changes from first generated power to second generated power while said generated power does not return to power in a vicinity of said first generated power from said second generated power within the first period from a time point when said generated power changes from said first generated power to said generated second power.

18. The power generation system according to claim 17, wherein

said controller is so formed as to detect a change in an operation state of a load connected to said line between said power generator and said power grid, and perform said charge/discharge control of said storage portion to suppress a change in power input to/output from said power grid resulting from said change in said operation state of said load.

19. The power generation system according to claim 13, wherein

said line between said power generator and said power grid is so formed as to be capable of connecting a load,

said power detection portion is provided on a side closer to said power grid with respect to a portion of said line connected with said load and so formed as to detect power input to/output from said power grid, and

said controller is so formed as to start said charge/discharge control of said storage portion if an amount of change in said power input to/output from said power grid is at least the prescribed amount of change when input/output said power changes from said first power to said second power while said input/output power does not return to power in the vicinity of said first power from said second power within the first period from a time point when said input/output power changes from said first power to said second power.

20. The power generation system according to claim 19, wherein

said power detection unit includes at least either a purchase power detection portion detecting power purchased from said power grid or a sale power detection portion detecting power sold to said power grid.