Maximum power point tracking method and apparatus

• US 9,065,336 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Huang, Chao-Jen, Chu, Fang-Chih
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L
• Application Number:
  US13/965,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20150002127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 323/222, 323/282, 323/284, 323/285, 323/351, 323/906
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 maximum power point systems in particular G05F1/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0025 Arrangements for modifying reference values, feedback values or error values in the control loop of a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) apparatus and a MPPT method are disclosed. A converter uses an inductor therein to perform power conversion operations according to a gating signal so as to convert an input electrical energy into an output electrical energy to a load. A controller monitors the voltage difference of the inductor and the element temperature, performs a lookup table operation or calculates the element characteristic according to the element temperature, and further uses the element characteristic and the voltage difference of the inductor for calculating a characteristic value and correspondingly adjusts the gating signal according to the characteristic value so as to track the power of the input electrical energy.

Claims

1. A maximum power point tracking method, comprising:

performing a power conversion operation by a converter through an inductor inside the converter according to a gating signal so as to convert an input electrical energy supplied by an energy source into an output electrical energy feeding to a load;

sensing an operation temperature of the converter;

obtaining at least one element characteristic according to the operation temperature so as to use the at least one element characteristic to monitor a voltage difference of the inductor;

calculating a characteristic value according to the voltage difference of the inductor; and

correspondingly adjusting the gating signal according to the characteristic value so as to track power of the input electrical energy of the energy source.

2. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gating signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.

3. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of adjusting the gating signal adopts a pulse width modulation scheme, a pulse skip modulation scheme, a pulse frequency modulation scheme, a Σ

-Δ

modulation (sigma-delta modulation) scheme or a burst modulation scheme.

4. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter comprises a DC-DC converter.

5. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the element characteristic comprises a conductive voltage drop of a power switch inside the DC-DC converter or a forward voltage drop of a diode inside the DC-DC converter.

6. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter comprises a boost converter, a buck converter, a buck-boost converter, a flyback converter, a SEPIC converter or a Cú

k converter.

7. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises a photovoltaic cell or a thermoelectric energy.

8. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring a voltage difference of the inductor comprises:

sensing voltage of the input electrical energy of the energy source;

sensing voltage of the output electrical energy of the converter; and

calculating the voltage difference of the inductor according to the voltage of the input electrical energy and the voltage of the output electrical energy.

9. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of calculating a voltage difference of the inductor comprises:

when the converter is a buck converter and the inductor is operated in an energy-storing duration, calculating V_L=V_IN−

V_M1−

V_OUT, wherein V_L represents the voltage difference of the inductor, V_IN represents the voltage of the input electrical energy, V_M1 represents a conductive voltage drop of a power switch inside the converter, and V_OUT represents the voltage of the output electrical energy.

10. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of calculating a voltage difference of the inductor further comprises:

performing a lookup table operation or calculating the conductive voltage drop V_M1 of the power switch according to the operation temperature.

11. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of calculating a voltage difference of the inductor further comprises:

when the converter is a boost converter and the inductor is operated in an energy-storing duration, calculating V_L=V_IN−

V_M1, wherein V_L represents the voltage difference of the inductor, V_IN represents the voltage of the input electrical energy, and V_M1 represents a conductive voltage drop of a power switch inside the converter.

12. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of calculating a voltage difference of the inductor comprises:

performing a lookup table operation or calculating the conductive voltage drop V_M1 of the power switch according to the operation temperature.

13. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of calculating a voltage difference of the inductor comprises:

when the converter is a boost converter and the inductor is operated in an energy-releasing duration, calculating V_L=V_OUT+V_D1−

V_IN, wherein V_L represents the voltage difference of the inductor, V_OUT represents the voltage of the output electrical energy, V_D1 represents a forward voltage drop of a diode inside the converter, and V_IN represents the voltage of the input electrical energy.

14. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of calculating a voltage difference of the inductor further comprises:

performing a lookup table operation or calculating the forward voltage drop V_D1 of the diode according to the operation temperature.

15. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the characteristic value comprises a current of the input electrical energy, a power of the input electrical energy, a current of the inductor, a current of the output electrical energy or a power of the output electrical energy.

16. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a characteristic value comprises:

calculating

17. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the characteristic value comprises the current I_SE.

18. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of calculating a characteristic value further comprises:

calculating an average power

19. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of calculating a characteristic value further comprises:

calculating an average power

20. The maximum power point tracking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of correspondingly adjusting the gating signal according to the characteristic value further comprises:

comparing the characteristic value with a reference value to obtain a comparison result; and

correspondingly adjusting a duty cycle of the gating signal according to the comparison result.

21. A maximum power point tracking apparatus, comprising:

a converter, configured to perform a power conversion operation through an inductor inside the converter according to a gating signal so as to convert an input electrical energy supplied by an energy source into an output electrical energy feeding to a load;

a temperature sensor, configured to sense an operation temperature of the converter; and

a controller, coupled to the converter to provide the gating signal and coupled to the temperature sensor to obtain the operation temperature, wherein the controller obtains at least one element characteristic according to the operation temperature so as to use the at least one element characteristic to monitor a voltage difference of the inductor, and the controller calculates a characteristic value according to the voltage difference of the inductor and correspondingly adjusts the gating signal according to the characteristic value so as to track power of the input electrical energy of the energy source.

22. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the gating signal comprises a pulse width modulation signal.

23. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the controller adopts a pulse width modulation scheme, a pulse skip modulation scheme, a pulse frequency modulation scheme, a Σ

-Δ

modulation (sigma-delta modulation) scheme or a burst modulation scheme so as to adjust the gating signal.

24. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the converter comprises a DC-DC converter.

25. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the element characteristic comprises a conductive voltage drop of a power switch inside the DC-DC converter or a forward voltage drop of a diode inside the DC-DC converter.

26. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the converter comprises a boost converter, a buck converter, a buck-boost converter, a flyback converter, a SEPIC converter or a Cú

k converter.

27. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the energy source comprises a photovoltaic cell or a thermoelectric energy.

28. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the controller senses voltage of the input electrical energy of the energy source and senses voltage of the output electrical energy of the converter;

and the controller calculates the voltage difference of the inductor according to the voltage of the input electrical energy and the voltage of the output electrical energy.

29. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein when the converter is a buck converter and the inductor is operated in an energy-storing duration, the controller calculates V_L=V_IN−

V_M1−

V_OUT, wherein V_L represents the voltage difference of the inductor, V_IN represents the voltage of the input electrical energy, V_M1 represents a conductive voltage drop of a power switch inside the converter, and V_OUT represents the voltage of the output electrical energy.

30. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the controller performs a lookup table operation or calculates the conductive voltage drop V_M1 of the power switch according to the operation temperature.

31. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein when the converter is a boost converter and the inductor is operated in an energy-storing duration, the controller calculates V_L=V_IN−

V_M1, wherein V_L, represents the voltage difference of the inductor, V_IN represents the voltage of the input electrical energy, and V_M1 represents a conductive voltage drop of a power switch inside the converter.

32. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the controller performs a lookup table operation or calculates the conductive voltage drop V_M1 of the power switch according to the operation temperature.

33. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein when the converter is a boost converter and the inductor is operated in an energy-releasing duration, the controller calculates V_L=V_OUT+V_D1−

V_IN, wherein V_L represents the voltage difference of the inductor, V_OUT represents the voltage of the output electrical energy, V_D1 represents a forward voltage drop of a diode inside the converter, and V_IN represents the voltage of the input electrical energy.

34. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the controller performs a lookup table operation or calculates the forward voltage drop V_D1 of the diode according to the operation temperature.

35. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the characteristic value comprises a current of the input electrical energy, a power of the input electrical energy, a current of the inductor, a current of the output electrical energy or a power of the output electrical energy.

36. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the controller calculates

37. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the characteristic value comprises the current I_SE.

38. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the controller calculates an average power

39. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the controller calculates an average power

40. The maximum power point tracking apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the controller compares the characteristic value with a reference value to obtain a comparison result;

and the controller correspondingly adjusts a duty cycle of the gating signal according to the comparison result.