Power-fluctuation reducing apparatus for power generation system

• US 9,035,493 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Arata, Masanori, Taniyama, Yoshihiro, Yasui, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHILLON, JAGDEEP S
• Application Number:
  US13/205,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20120038212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,379 Days
• Field of Search: 307 42- 48, 307/104, 307/109, 363/37, 700/291
• US Class Current: 307/46
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0016 using shunting, discharge or bypass circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

According to one embodiment, there is provided a power-fluctuation reducing apparatus in a power generation system to control a converter connected to the power generation system and connected to secondary batteries. The power-fluctuation reducing apparatus includes adjusting direct current voltages output from the secondary batteries, respectively, detecting the directing current voltages output from the secondary batteries, respectively, controlling to adjust the direct current voltages output from the secondary batteries to make the direct current voltages uniform, based on the detected direct current voltages, and controlling the converter to reduce power fluctuations in the power generation system.

Claims

1. A power-fluctuation reducing apparatus in a power generation system to control a converter, the converter being connected to the power generation system, connected to a plurality of secondary batteries connected in parallel, and configured to convert a direct current power output from the plurality of secondary batteries into an alternating current power, the power-fluctuation reducing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of direct current voltage adjustment units configured to adjust direct current voltages output from the plurality of secondary batteries, respectively;

a plurality of direct current voltage detectors configured to detect the direct current voltages output from the plurality of secondary batteries, respectively;

a direct current voltage controller configured to control the plurality of direct current voltage adjustment units to adjust the direct current voltages output from the plurality of secondary batteries to make the direct current voltages uniform, based on the direct current voltages detected by the plurality of direct current voltage detectors; and

a power conversion controller configured to control the converter to reduce power fluctuations in the power generation system.

2. The power-fluctuation reducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary battery controller configured to control charge/discharge of the plurality of secondary batteries based on operation states of the plurality of secondary batteries.

3. The power-fluctuation reducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the plurality of secondary batteries.

4. The power-fluctuation reducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the converter.

5. The power-fluctuation reducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of direct current voltage adjustment units are a plurality of direct current choppers.

6. The power-fluctuation reducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of direct current voltage adjustment units are circuits each including a configuration in which a resistor and an open/close device are connected in series.

7. The power-fluctuation reducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a weather prediction value obtaining unit configured to obtain a weather prediction value indicating a prediction concerning weather;

a power generation prediction unit configured to predict a power generation amount of the power generation system based on the weather prediction value obtained by the weather prediction value obtaining unit; and

a charge/discharge plan controller configured to control in a planned manner based on the power generation amount predicted by the power generation prediction unit.