Feedback based photovoltaic conversion systems

• US 10,608,437 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2017
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ampt, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ampt, LLC
• Inventors: Ledenev, Anatoli, Porter, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal
• Application Number:
  US15/679,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20170373503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 307 58, 307 63, 307 64, 307 72, 307 77, 307 80, 307 82, 307 84
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• 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 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0077 Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source or strings of panels for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control, and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements.

Claims

1. A grid powering solar power system comprising:

a plurality of DC power sources;

a plurality of power converters, each of said power converters coupled to a different, corresponding one or more of said plurality of DC power sources, wherein each power converter comprises a boost and buck power conversion circuit;

converter functionality control circuitry that, during operation of said grid powering solar power system to produce operational power that is sufficient to power the grid, is capable of alternating between;

maximum power point tracking,

overcurrent boundary condition control of converter DC output at other than maximum power point, and

overvoltage boundary condition control of said converter DC output at other than said maximum power point, and

wherein each of the plurality of power converters is connected in series to at least one other power converter of the plurality of power converters.

2. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1, wherein each of said DC power sources comprises at least one solar panel.

3. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1, wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in series.

4. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in parallel.

5. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in both series and parallel.

6. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar panels connected in series.

7. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said power converters converts at greater than 98% efficiency.

8. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said power converters converts using synchronous duty cycle switching.

9. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said power converters comprises a parallel capacitance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

10. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said power converters comprises a series inductance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

11. A grid powering solar power system comprising:

a plurality of DC power sources;

a plurality of power converters, each of said power converters coupled to a different, corresponding one or more of said plurality of DC power sources, wherein each power converter comprises a boost and buck power conversion circuit;

converter functionality control circuitry that, during operation of said grid powering solar power system to produce operational power that is sufficient to power the grid, is capable of alternating between;

maximum power point tracking, and

overcurrent boundary condition control of converter DC output at other than maximum power point, and

wherein each of the plurality of power converters is connected in series to at least one other power converter of the plurality of power converters.

12. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises at least one solar panel.

13. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in series.

14. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in parallel.

15. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in both series and parallel.

16. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar panels connected in series.

17. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said power converters converts at greater than 98% efficiency.

18. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said power converters converts using synchronous duty cycle switching.

19. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said power converters comprises a parallel capacitance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

20. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said power converters comprises a series inductance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

21. A grid powering solar power system comprising:

a plurality of DC power sources;

a plurality of power converters, each of said power converters coupled to a different, corresponding one of said plurality of DC power sources, wherein each power converter comprises a boost and buck power conversion circuit;

converter functionality control circuitry that, during operation of said grid powering solar power system to produce operational power that is sufficient to power the grid, is capable of alternating between;

maximum power point tracking, and

overvoltage boundary condition control of converter DC output at other than maximum power point, and

wherein each of the plurality of power converters is connected in series to at least one other power converter of the plurality of power converters.

22. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21, wherein each of said DC power sources comprises at least one solar panel.

23. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in series.

24. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in parallel.

25. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in both series and parallel.

26. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar panels connected in series.

27. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said power converters converts at greater than 98% efficiency.

28. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said power converters converts using synchronous duty cycle switching.

29. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said power converters comprises a parallel capacitance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

30. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said power converters comprises a series inductance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

31. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein, during said overvoltage boundary condition control and said overcurrent boundary condition control, said operational power exhibits a proportionality between voltage and current.

32. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein, during said overcurrent boundary condition control, said operational power exhibits a proportionality between voltage and current.

33. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein, during said overvoltage boundary condition control, said operational power exhibits a proportionality between voltage and current.