Safety methods and apparatus for adaptive operation of solar power systems

• US 10,326,282 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ampt, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ampt, LLC
• Inventors: Porter, Robert M., Ledenev, Anatoli
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal
• Application Number:
  US15/262,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20160380436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 307 82
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

Methods and apparatus may provide for the adaptive operation of a solar power system (3). Solar energy sources (1) and photovoltaic DC-DC power converters (2) may be interconnected in serial, parallel, or combined arrangements. DC photovoltaic power conversion may be accomplished utilizing dynamically adjustable voltage output limits (8) of photovoltaic DC-DC power converters (2). A photovoltaic DC-DC power converter (2) may include at least one external state data interface (7) receptive to at least one external state parameter of a solar power system (3). A dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control (12) may be used to relationally set a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit (8) of a photovoltaic DC-DC power converter (2). Dynamically adjusting voltage output limits (8) may be done in relation to external state parameter information to achieve desired system results.

Claims

1. A method of solar energy power conversion comprising the steps of:

creating a DC photovoltaic output from at least one solar energy source;

establishing said DC photovoltaic output as a DC photovoltaic input to a photovoltaic DC-DC power converter;

providing at least one external state parameter to said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter;

relationally setting a dynamically adjustable output limit of said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in relation to said at least one external state parameter;

converting said DC photovoltaic input with said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter utilizing said dynamically adjustable output limit into a converted DC photovoltaic output.

2. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 1 wherein said step of relationally setting a dynamically adjustable output limit comprises the step of relationally setting a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit of said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in relation to said at least one external state parameter;

and wherein said step of converting said DC photovoltaic input comprises the step of converting said DC photovoltaic input with said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter utilizing said dynamically adjustable voltage output limit into a converted DC photovoltaic output.

3. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 2 wherein said step of relationally setting a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit of said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in relation to said at least one external state parameter comprises the step of first adjusting an external voltage to a safe condition.

4. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 2 wherein said step of providing at least one external state parameter comprises the step of providing at least one inter-string parameter, and wherein said step of relationally setting a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit comprises the step of dynamically adjusting said dynamically adjustable voltage output limit utilizing said at least one inter-string parameter to achieve a desired inter-string condition.

5. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 4 wherein said step of providing at least one inter-string parameter comprises the step of providing a voltage for at least one external string, and wherein said step of dynamically adjusting said dynamically adjustable voltage output limit comprises the step of compensating for said voltage for said at least one external string.

6. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 5 wherein said step of compensating for said voltage comprises the step of compensating selected from the group consisting of compensating for an increased voltage output of at least one external string, compensating for a decreased voltage (original) output of at least one external string, compensating for dropout of at least one external string, compensating for shading of at least one external string, compensating for blockage of at least one external string, compensating for damage to at least one external string, compensating for malfunctioning of at least one external string, and compensating for non-uniformity in at least one external string.

7. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 1 wherein said solar energy source comprises a solar energy source selected from the group consisting of at least one solar cell, a plurality of electrically connected solar cells, a plurality of adjacent electrically connected solar cells, at least one solar panel, a plurality of electrically connected solar panels, and at least one string of electrically connected solar panels.

8. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 1 wherein said step of providing at least one external state parameter to said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises the step of providing at least one external state parameter selected from the group consisting of a voltage parameter, a current parameter, a power parameter, an insolation parameter, a temperature parameter, a system status parameter, a demand status parameter, a power converter output parameter, a string output parameter, a historical data tracking parameter, and a regulatory requirement parameter.

9. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 1 wherein said step of providing at least one external state parameter to said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter comprises the step of providing at least one multi-parametric external state parameter.

10. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 9 wherein said step of providing at least one multi-parametric external state parameter comprises the step of including a parametric component for said at least one multi-parametric external state parameter selected from the group consisting of a voltage parameter, a current parameter, a power parameter, an insolation parameter, a temperature parameter, a system status parameter, a demand status parameter, a power converter output parameter, a string output parameter, a historical data tracking parameter, and a regulatory requirement parameter.

11. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 1 wherein said step of relationally setting a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit of said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter in relation to said at least one external state parameter comprises the step of compensating selected from the group consisting of compensating for an increased voltage output of at least one intra-string solar energy source, compensating for a decreased voltage output of at least one intra-string solar energy source, compensating for dropout of at least one intra-string solar energy source, compensating for shading of at least one intra-string solar energy source, compensating for blockage of at least one intra-string solar energy source, compensating for damage to at least one intra-string solar energy source, compensating for malfunctioning of at least one intra-string solar energy source, and compensating for non-uniformity in at least one intra-string solar energy source.

12. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing at least one external state parameter to a plurality of photovoltaic DC-DC power converters;

relationally setting a dynamically adjustable output limit in multiple of said plurality of photovoltaic DC-DC power converters, each in relation to said provided at least one external state parameter.

13. A method of solar energy power conversion as described in claim 12 wherein said step of relationally setting a dynamically adjustable output limit comprises the step of relationally setting a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit in multiple of said plurality of photovoltaic DC-DC power converters, each in relation to said provided at least one external state parameter.

14. A solar energy power conversion apparatus comprising:

at least one solar energy source having a DC photovoltaic output;

a photovoltaic DC-DC power converter having a DC photovoltaic input that accepts power from said DC photovoltaic output;

at least one external state data interface of said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter;

a dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control of said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter relationally responsive to said at least one external state data interface;

at least one converted DC photovoltaic output of said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

15. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said at least one external state data interface comprises a current data interface.

16. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said solar energy source comprises a solar energy source selected from the group consisting of at least one solar cell, a plurality of electrically connected solar cells, a plurality of adjacent electrically connected solar cells, at least one solar panel, a plurality of electrically connected solar panels, and at least one string of electrically connected solar panels.

17. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said at least one external state data interface comprises an data interface selected from the group consisting of a voltage data interface, a current data interface, a power data interface, an insolation data interface, a temperature data interface, a system status data interface, a demand data interface, a power converter output data interface, a string output data interface, a historical data tracking data interface, and a regulatory requirement data interface.

18. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said at least one external state data interface comprises a multi-parametric data interface.

19. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 18 wherein said multi-parametric data interface comprises an data interface component selected from the group consisting of a voltage data interface component, a current data interface component, a power data interface component, an insolation data interface component, a temperature data interface component, a system status data interface component, a demand data interface component, a power converter output data interface component, a string output data interface component, a historical data tracking data interface component, and a regulatory requirement data interface component.

20. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said dynamically adjustable output limit control comprises a control selected from the group consisting of a suboptimal efficiency control for said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter, a suboptimal input voltage control for said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter, a suboptimal power loss control for said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter, and a suboptimal MPP voltage control for said at least one solar energy source.

21. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control comprises an external voltage safeguard control.

22. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said dynamically adjustable output limit control comprises an external state parameter compensation control.

23. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 22 wherein said external state parameter compensation control comprises an external state parameter voltage drop detector and a voltage output limit increase control.

24. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 22 wherein said external state parameter compensation control comprises an external state parameter voltage gain detector and a voltage output limit decrease control.

25. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said dynamically adjustable output limit control comprises a slaved dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control.

26. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 25 wherein said slaved dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control comprises a hierarchically slaved dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control.

27. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 26 wherein said hierarchically slaved dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control comprises:

a regulatory slaved primary control;

an operationally slaved secondary control; and

a MPP slaved tertiary control.

28. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said at least one external state data interface comprises at least one intra-string data interface and wherein said dynamically adjustable voltage output limit control comprises an intra-string control.

29. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 28 wherein said at least one intra-string data interface comprises at least one intra-string element voltage data interface, and wherein said intra-string condition control comprises an intra-string element voltage compensation control.

30. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 29 wherein said intra-string element voltage compensation control comprises a control selected from the group consisting of an intra-string solar energy source voltage output increase compensation control, an intra-string solar energy source voltage output decrease compensation control, an intra-string solar energy source dropout compensation control, a shaded intra-string solar energy source compensation control, a blocked intra-string solar energy source compensation control, a damaged intra-string solar energy source compensation control, an intra-string solar energy source malfunction compensation control, and a non-uniform intra-string solar energy source compensation control.

31. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 wherein said dynamically adjustable output limit control comprises an external string voltage compensation control.

32. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 31 wherein said external string voltage compensation control comprises a control selected from the group consisting of an external string voltage output increase compensation control, an external string voltage output decrease compensation control, an external string dropout compensation control, a shaded external string compensation control, a blocked external string compensation control, a damaged external string compensation control, an external string malfunction compensation control, and a non-uniform external string compensation control.

33. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 14 further comprising:

a plurality of solar energy sources, each having a DC photovoltaic output;

a plurality of photovoltaic DC-DC power converters, each having a DC photovoltaic input that accepts power from one of said DC photovoltaic outputs;

at least one external state data interface of each said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter;

a dynamically adjustable output limit control of each said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter relationally responsive to each said external state data interface of each said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter;

at least one converted DC photovoltaic output of each said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.

34. A solar energy power conversion apparatus as described in claim 33 wherein at least one said external state data interface comprises an external state data interface of one said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter responsive to a voltage output of at least another said photovoltaic DC-DC power converter.