System and method for maintaining a photovoltaic power source at a maximum power point

• US 9,436,201 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2015
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KarmSolar
• Original Assignee: KarmSolar
• Inventors: Teirelbar, Ahmed, Morsi, Alia
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US14/738,113
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A method is provided for setting an operating parameter for a load on a photovoltaic power source, such as an AC signal or the speed of a motor, including operating a load, using a control system, with the operating parameter set at a first value, providing a measurement of DC source voltage at the power source to the control system, and providing a measurement of DC source current at the power source to the control system, determining the logarithm of the conductance from the measurement of DC source voltage and the measurement of DC source current, and comparing a reference parameter based on the logarithm of the conductance to a reference setpoint. Based on that comparison, the operating parameter may be modified for the load if the value of the reference parameter differs from the value of the reference setpoint by more than a threshold amount.

Claims

1. A method for setting an operating parameter for a load on a photovoltaic power source, the method comprising:

operating a load, using a control system, with the operating parameter at a first value;

providing a measurement of DC source voltage at the power source to the control system;

providing a measurement of DC source current at the power source to the control system;

determining, at the control system, the logarithm of the conductance from the measurement of DC source voltage and the measurement of DC source current;

comparing a reference parameter based on the logarithm of the conductance to a reference setpoint; and

modifying the operating parameter for the load if the value of the reference parameter differs from the value of the reference setpoint by more than a threshold amount.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeatedly providing updated measurements of DC source voltage and DC source current at the power source to the control system, determining the logarithm of the updated conductance from the measurements, comparing an updated reference parameter to the reference setpoint, and modifying the operating parameter so long as the reference parameter differs from the reference setpoint by more than the threshold amount.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising tracking the reference parameter across a plurality of cycles of the method and determining a rate of change of the measurement, wherein the control system modifies the reference parameter by a first amount when the rate of change is below a threshold, and by a second amount when the rate of change is above a threshold.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the control system is a fuzzy control system biased towards modifying the operating parameter in a first direction.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the operating parameter is adjusted in a first direction if the reference parameter is larger than the setpoint and is adjusted in a second direction if the reference parameter is smaller than the setpoint.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference parameter is

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating parameter is an AC signal.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating parameter is a speed of a motor.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the control signal modifies the operating parameter by outputting an amount by which a variable speed drive will change the speed of the motor.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the modification in the first direction is a result of a reduced conductance.

11. A computer based method for controlling a load on a photovoltaic power source, the method comprising:

setting an operating parameter of the load at a first value;

receiving, at a controller, a measurement of DC source voltage at the power source;

receiving, at the controller, a measurement of DC source current at the power source;

determining, at the controller, the logarithm of the conductance from the measurement of DC source voltage and the measurement of DC source current;

comparing a reference parameter based on the logarithm of the conductance to a reference setpoint; and

modifying the operating parameter for the load if the value of the reference parameter differs from the value of the reference setpoint.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising repeatedly receiving updated measurements of DC source voltage and DC source current at the power source, determining an updated logarithm of the conductance from the measurements, comparing an updated reference parameter to the reference setpoint, and modifying the operating parameter so long as the reference parameter differs from the reference setpoint by more than a threshold amount.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the operating parameter is adjusted in a first direction if the reference parameter is larger than the setpoint and is adjusted in a second direction if the reference parameter is smaller than the setpoint.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the reference parameter is

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the operating parameter is an AC signal.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the operating parameter is a speed of a motor.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the control signal modifies the operating parameter by outputting an amount by which a variable speed drive will change the speed of the motor.

18. A photovoltaic power system comprising:

a photovoltaic power source;

a load driven by the photovoltaic power source;

a first sensor configured to monitor DC source voltage at the power source;

a second sensor configured to monitor DC source current at the power source; and

a controller for controlling the load, the controller configured to;

operate the load at a first value of an operating parameter;

receive, from the first sensor and the second sensor, measurements of DC source voltage and current at the power source;

determine the logarithm of the conductance from the measurement of DC source voltage and the measurement of DC source current;

compare a reference parameter based on the logarithm of the conductance to a reference setpoint; and

modify the operating parameter for the load if the value of the reference parameter differs from the value of the reference setpoint.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the reference parameter is

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the operating parameter is a speed of a motor.