JP2009177857A - Pwm signal generating circuit, system interlocking inverter system equipped with the pwm signal generating circuit and program for achieving the pwm signal generating circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a PWM signal generating circuit for controlling a voltage step-up circuit so as to prevent the occurrence of switching loss when a voltage step-up level is low. <P>SOLUTION: The PWM signal generating circuit 6 generates a signal for PWM-controlling a voltage step-up circuit 3 for stepping up voltage of DC power. The PWM signal generating circuit includes: a carrier frequency determining means 65 for determining a carrier frequency from an input voltage input into a voltage step-up converter circuit 3 and an output voltage output from the voltage step-up converter circuit 3; a carrier signal generating means 66 for generating a carrier signal of the carrier frequency determined by the carrier frequency determining means 65; command value signal generating means 62, 63, 64 for generating command value signals based on the input voltage or the input current to be input into the voltage step-up converter circuit 3; and a pulse signal generating means 68 for generating a pulse signal from the carrier signal and the command value signals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a PWM signal generation circuit that generates a signal for PWM control of a boost converter circuit that boosts the voltage of DC power, a grid-connected inverter system including the PWM signal generation circuit, and the PWM signal generation circuit. It relates to a program for realizing.

  Conventionally, a grid-connected inverter system has been developed that converts DC power generated by a DC power source such as a solar battery into AC power and supplies the AC power to a commercial power system. In order to link the supplied power to the commercial power system, the grid-connected inverter system requires a configuration that matches the output voltage (AC voltage) of the system with the voltage (system voltage) of the commercial power system. A configuration is known in which a transformer is provided in a stage and an output voltage is transformed into a system voltage by the transformer. Further, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-103768, in order to reduce the size and weight of the grid-connected inverter system and reduce the manufacturing cost, a boost converter is provided in the output stage of the DC power supply instead of the transformer, A transformer-less grid-connected inverter system that boosts the output voltage (DC voltage) from a DC power supply has also been developed.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a conventional transformer-less system interconnection inverter system. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a basic circuit configuration of a boost converter circuit provided in the grid interconnection inverter system.

  As a basic configuration, the grid-connected inverter system 110 controls a boosting operation of the DC power source 120 configured by a fuel cell, a solar cell, etc., a boost converter circuit 130 that boosts an output voltage from the DC power source 120, and the boost converter circuit 130. A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal generation circuit 160 and an inverter circuit 140 that converts DC power output from the boost converter circuit 130 into AC power and outputs the AC power to the commercial power system 150 are included. A control block that controls the power conversion operation of the inverter circuit 140 is omitted.

  The grid-connected inverter system 110 boosts the DC voltage output from the DC power source 120 to a predetermined voltage by the boost converter circuit 130 and then converts the DC power output from the boost converter circuit 130 into AC power by the inverter circuit 140. It is the structure which is converted into and is supplied to the commercial power system 150.

  After connecting to the commercial power system 150 in the grid-connected inverter system 110, the inverter circuit 140 is a voltage between the boost converter circuit 130 and the inverter circuit 140 (hereinafter referred to as “bus voltage” if necessary). Is controlled to be a constant voltage, and the boost converter circuit 130 performs voltage control so that the DC voltage output from the DC power supply becomes an arbitrary value.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the boost converter circuit 130 includes a known boost converter circuit including an inductor L1, a transistor Q as a semiconductor switch element, a diode D1, and a capacitor C1. In addition, a field effect transistor, IGBT, etc. can also be used as a semiconductor switch element.

  Boost control of the boost converter circuit 130 is performed by a PWM signal generated by the PWM signal generation circuit 160. The PWM signal generation circuit 160 includes a voltmeter 161, an input voltage target value setting circuit 162, a PI control circuit 163, a carrier signal generation circuit 164, a comparison circuit 165, and a pulse signal generation circuit 166.

  The PWM signal generation circuit 160 generates a PI control value of a deviation between the input voltage measured by the voltmeter 161 and the target value of the input voltage set by the input voltage target value setting circuit 162 by the PI control circuit 163, and compares it. The circuit 165 compares the PI control value with a carrier signal having a preset carrier frequency, the pulse signal generation circuit 166 generates a pulse signal from the comparison result, and a boost converter circuit as a PWM signal for controlling boosting To 130.

JP 2001-103768 A

  By the way, the DC power supply of the grid-connected inverter system is configured by connecting a large number of batteries in series or in parallel. Since the output voltage of this DC power supply varies depending on the installation location of the grid-connected inverter system and the battery connection method, the specifications of the operating voltage range (output voltage range of DC power supply 120) on the input side of the grid-connected inverter system are A relatively wide voltage range is set.

For example, when the specification of the operating voltage range on the input side of the grid-connected inverter system 110 is set to 360 to 700 [v], the output voltage is low if the power supplied from the DC power supply 120 is the same. As the output current increases. For example, when the power P supplied from the DC power source 120 is 100 [kW], the input voltage V _IN is 7 because P = V _IN × I _IN = 100 [kW].
The input current I _IN is 143 [A] when 00 [v], and the input current I _IN is 278 [A] when the input voltage V _IN is 360 [v].

The peak-to-peak value of the ripple current (hereinafter referred to as “ripple PP value”) I _RP
As shown in FIG. 9, _L is larger when the input voltage is 360 [v] than when 700 V, and the peak value I _P (= I _IN + I _{RPL) of the} DC current input to the boost converter circuit 130. / 2) is maximum when the input voltage is 360 [v].

Incidentally, FIG. 9 (a), the upper limit of the operating voltage range of the input voltage V _IN (700 [v]) as the lower limit (360 [v]) and the between the input voltage V _IN and an output voltage V _OUT when FIG. 5B shows the relationship between the ripple value I _RPL of the input current and the peak when the input voltage V _IN is the upper limit value (700 [v]) and the lower limit value (360 [v]) of the operating voltage range. The change of the value I _P is shown.

Therefore, the inductor L1 constituting a boost converter circuit 130, the semiconductor switching element Q, when the minimum voltage of operation voltage range for the diode D1 and a capacitor C1 (when the peak value I _P of the input current is maximum) is most severe Since this is an operating condition, in the design of the boost converter circuit 130 and the PWM signal generation circuit 160, selection of circuit elements and setting of the carrier frequency are performed with the minimum voltage in the operating voltage range.

  However, the output voltage of the DC power supply 120 of the grid-connected inverter system 110 is rarely operated near the minimum voltage in the operating voltage range, and on average, the voltage near the center of the operating voltage range (approximately 530 [v]) ). If the output voltage of the DC power supply 120 is near or above the center of the operating voltage range depending on the installation location and battery connection conditions, the grid-connected inverter system should be viewed from the viewpoint of durability and power loss. Thus, there are margins in the design values of the boost converter circuit 130 and the PWM signal generation circuit 160.

  In particular, in the PWM signal generation circuit 160, as described below, there is a design value margin in terms of switching loss.

In the case of the example of FIG. 9, the carrier frequency of the carrier signal generated by the carrier signal generation circuit 164 that determines the frequency of the PWM signal is the peak value I _P of the input current when the input voltage V _IN is 360 [v]. It is fixed at a value that does not exceed the upper limit value I _PMAX of the allowable range.

Specifically, the ripple PP value I _RPL has a bus voltage V _DCB , a boost level ΔV = V _DCB −V _IN , a carrier frequency F _SW , and an inductance value of the inductor L 1 in the boost converter circuit 130 L. , I _RPL = (ΔV · V _DCB −ΔV ² ) / (L · V _DCB · F _SW ) = K / F _SW (where K = (ΔV · V _DCB −ΔV ² ) / (L · V _DCB )) In the example of FIG. 9, if V _DCB = 720 [v], ΔV = 360 [v]. Therefore, (ΔV · V _DCB −ΔV ² ) / (L · V _DCB) ) Is Ks, and the ripple PP value determined from the difference between the input current I _IN (278 [A]) at the input voltage V _IN = 360 [v] and the upper limit value I _PMAX of the peak value I _P of the input current is I _RPLS Then, the carrier frequency F _SW is determined by Ks / I _RPLS and fixed to that value.

In a situation where the input voltage V _IN operates at a voltage higher than the minimum voltage 360 [v] of the operating voltage range, as shown in FIG. 9A, the input current I _IN becomes smaller and the ripple PP value I _RPL becomes smaller. Therefore, the peak value I _{P of} the input current is also lower than when the input voltage V _IN is 360 [v], and there is a margin for the allowable range of the peak value I _P of the input current.

This is because when the boost level ΔV is in the range of 0 to 360 “v”, the value of K decreases as the boost level ΔV decreases, so that the carrier frequency F _SW is higher than the frequency F _SWS determined by Ks / I _RPLS. This means that the frequency is fixed to F _SWS even though there is a margin that can be reduced.

That is, the system interconnection inverter system is a small operating voltage range of the boost level [Delta] V, it is possible to suppress the switching loss of boost converter circuit 130 by reducing the frequency of the PWM signal by reducing the carrier frequency F _SW Nevertheless, the carrier frequency F _SW is fixed to the high frequency F _SWS , and the switching loss that can be suppressed is generated.

The above description is of the relationship between the optimum carrier frequency F _SW when the design value of the carrier frequency F _SW and system interconnection inverter system 110 is actually installed solar as a DC power source 120 In the case of using a battery, the maximum power point output from the DC power source 120 changes due to variations in the amount of solar radiation and the surface temperature of the battery during operation after the grid-connected inverter system 110 is installed, and the boost level ΔV Fluctuates in the range of 0 to 360 [v] and the optimum carrier frequency F _SW changes, so that the switching loss that can be suppressed further increases.

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and generates a PWM signal for controlling a boost converter circuit that suppresses the occurrence of switching loss by lowering the carrier frequency when the boost level is small. Its purpose is to provide a circuit.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

  A PWM signal generation circuit provided by a first aspect of the present invention is a PWM signal generation circuit that generates a PWM signal for controlling on / off operation of a switching element included in a boost converter circuit that boosts a DC voltage. A carrier frequency determining means for determining a carrier frequency from an input voltage input to the boost converter circuit and an output voltage output from the boost converter circuit; and a carrier having a carrier frequency determined by the carrier frequency determining means Carrier signal generating means for generating a signal, command value signal generating means for generating a command value signal based on an input voltage or input current input to the boost converter circuit, and a comparison result of the carrier signal and the command value signal PWM signal generating means for generating the PWM signal from The features.

  According to this configuration, the carrier frequency is changed according to the input voltage and the output voltage, and a PWM signal whose frequency varies is generated. Therefore, if the carrier frequency is set to be low when the boost level of the boost converter circuit is small, a PWM signal having a low frequency is generated when the boost level is small. When the PWM signal is input, the boost converter circuit can reduce the number of switching when the boost level is small, and suppress the occurrence of switching loss.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier frequency determining means calculates the carrier frequency _FSW by the following arithmetic expression.

  According to this configuration, when the boost level of the boost converter circuit is small, the carrier frequency is low. As a result, the boost converter circuit can reduce the number of times of switching and suppress the occurrence of switching loss. In addition, since the carrier frequency is limited so that the peak-to-peak value of the ripple current is constant, the deterioration of the switching element due to the increase of the flowing ripple current can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent voltage and current control of the boost converter circuit from becoming unstable.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further comprises detection means for detecting a peak-to-peak value of a ripple current of the input current input to the boost converter circuit, and the detection value detected by the detection means Feedback control is performed to the target value.

  According to this configuration, since the peak-to-peak value of the ripple current of the input current input to the boost converter circuit is controlled to be the target value by the feedback control, the boost converter circuit can be more accurately The peak-to-peak value of the ripple current of the input current that is input can be made constant.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier frequency determining means calculates the carrier frequency by multiplying a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage by a predetermined conversion ratio and adding a predetermined reference frequency.

  According to this configuration, if the conversion ratio is set to a positive value, the carrier frequency is lowered when the boosting level of the boosting converter circuit is small. As a result, the boost converter circuit can reduce the number of times of switching and suppress the occurrence of switching loss.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier frequency determination means includes storage means for storing a frequency corresponding to a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage, and determines a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage. Based on this, the frequency stored in the storage means is determined as the carrier frequency.

  According to this configuration, the carrier frequency is determined based on the boost level of the boost converter circuit. Therefore, if the boost frequency of the boost converter circuit is small, the carrier frequency is set to be low. When the boost level is small, the boost converter circuit reduces the number of switching and suppresses the occurrence of switching loss. be able to.

  A grid-connected inverter system provided by the second aspect of the present invention supplies DC power to the PWM signal generation circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the boost converter circuit, and the boost converter circuit. And a inverter circuit for converting DC power output from the boost converter circuit into AC power.

  According to this configuration, when the boosting level of the boosting converter circuit is small, the number of times of switching can be reduced and the occurrence of switching loss can be suppressed. Therefore, when the power supplied from the DC power supply increases and the boost level of the boost converter circuit decreases, the power conversion efficiency increases, and the total efficiency of the grid-connected inverter system can be improved. .

  A program provided by the third aspect of the present invention is a PWM signal generation circuit that generates a PWM signal for controlling an on / off operation of a switching element included in a boost converter circuit that boosts a DC voltage. In a program for causing a function to be performed, carrier frequency determination means for determining a carrier frequency from an input voltage input to the boost converter circuit and an output voltage output from the boost converter circuit, and the carrier frequency determination Carrier signal generation means for generating a carrier signal having a carrier frequency determined by the means, command value signal generation means for generating a command value signal based on an input voltage or an input current input to the boost converter circuit, and Comparison result between carrier signal and command value signal Wherein the PWM signal generating means for generating et the PWM signal, to the be made to function. According to this configuration, the same operation and effect as the PWM signal generation circuit provided by the first aspect of the present invention are obtained.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a grid-connected inverter system including a first embodiment of a PWM signal generation circuit according to the present invention.

  The grid interconnection inverter system 1 shown in FIG. 1 uses a solar cell as a DC power source. The grid-connected inverter system 1 has, as a basic configuration, a DC power source 2 that supplies DC power, a boost converter circuit 3 that boosts an output voltage from the DC power source 2, and a DC power output from the boost converter circuit 3 that is converted into AC power. Inverter circuit 4 that outputs to commercial power system 5 and PWM signal generation circuit 6 that controls the boosting operation of boost converter circuit 3 are provided. A control block for controlling the power conversion operation of the inverter circuit 4 is omitted.

  The DC power supply 2, the boost converter circuit 3, the inverter circuit 4, and the commercial power system 5 are connected in series in this order. A PWM signal generation circuit 6 is connected to the boost converter circuit 3. In the grid-connected inverter system 1, the DC voltage output from the DC power supply 2 is boosted to a predetermined voltage by the boost converter circuit 3, and then the DC power output from the boost converter circuit 3 is converted to AC power by the inverter circuit 4. It is configured to convert and supply to the commercial power system 5.

  The direct current power source 2 generates direct current power and includes a solar battery that converts solar energy into electric energy. In general, the relationship between the output voltage and output current of a solar cell is as shown in the current-voltage characteristics of FIG. In the figure, the horizontal axis represents the output voltage of the solar cell, and the vertical axis represents the output current of the solar cell. Curve A shows an example of a characteristic when the amount of solar radiation is large, curve B shows an example of a characteristic when the amount of solar radiation is small, and current-voltage characteristics when the amount of solar radiation is between these. Is a characteristic that changes in a similar waveform in a portion between the curve A and the curve B.

  The output voltage and output current of the solar cell change on a current-voltage characteristic curve corresponding to the amount of solar radiation. In any of the characteristics, there is a maximum power point Pmax as shown by curves A and B, and the output power Pout of the solar cell is obtained when the output voltage Vout is the maximum power operating voltage Vmax and the output current Iout is the maximum power operating current Imax. Maximum.

Therefore, in order to efficiently obtain power from the DC power source 2, it is necessary to operate the solar cell near the maximum power point Pmax in the figure. In the grid-connected inverter system 1, the boost converter circuit 3 is controlled so that the input voltage V _IN from the DC power supply 2, that is, the output voltage Vout of the solar cell becomes the maximum power operating voltage Vmax, thereby tracking the maximum power point. Take control.

The step-up converter circuit 3 is composed of the well-known step-up converter circuit shown in FIG. By turning on / off the transistor Q, the power supplied from the DC power source 2 is accumulated in the inductor L1 during the on period of the transistor Q, and the power accumulated in the inductor L1 during the off period of the transistor Q is passed through the diode D1. It is discharged to the capacitor C1. Therefore, in the boost converter circuit 3, the transistor Q is turned on / off by the PWM signal from the PWM signal generation circuit 6, thereby accumulating the power from the DC power source 2 in the inductor L1 and the accumulated power in the inductor L1 to the capacitor C1. The DC power from the DC power source 2 is temporarily accumulated in the capacitor C1, and the voltage across the capacitor C1 (the input voltage V _IN is applied to the load (inverter circuit 4 in FIG. 1) from the capacitor C1. Boosted voltage, supplied with output voltage V _OUT ).

  The inverter circuit 4 is configured by a voltage-controlled self-excited inverter circuit including a bridge circuit including a plurality of switching elements such as a bipolar transistor, a field effect transistor, or a thyristor, and by turning each switching element on and off, DC power input from the boost converter circuit 3 is converted into AC power. The inverter circuit 4 is provided with a low-pass filter for removing switching noise at the subsequent stage of the bridge circuit, and a sinusoidal AC voltage is output from the low-pass filter to the commercial power system 5.

In the grid-connected inverter system 1, it is necessary to make the output voltage (AC voltage) of the inverter circuit 4 coincide with the grid voltage of the commercial power system 5 after linking to the commercial power system 5. The power conversion is performed so that the voltage (the voltage between the boost converter circuit 3 and the inverter circuit 4; hereinafter referred to as “bus voltage V _DCB ”) is a constant voltage (for example, 720 [v]). Control is performed.

  The PWM signal generation circuit 6 generates a PWM signal for controlling the on / off operation of the transistor Q of the boost converter circuit 3. The PWM signal generation circuit 6 includes a voltmeter 61a, 61b, an input voltage target value setting circuit 62, a subtractor 63, a PI control circuit 64, a carrier frequency determination circuit 65, a carrier signal generation circuit 66, a comparison circuit 67, and a pulse signal generation circuit. 68, and an ammeter 69.

The voltmeter 61 a measures the input voltage V _IN of the boost converter circuit 3. The voltmeter 61b measures the bus voltage V _DCB , that is, the output voltage V _OUT of the boost converter circuit 3. The input voltage V _IN measured by the voltmeter 61a is input to the input voltage target value setting circuit 62, the subtractor 63 and the carrier frequency determination circuit 65, and the output voltage V _OUT measured by the voltmeter 61b is the carrier frequency determination circuit 65. Is input. The ammeter 69 measures the input current I _IN of the boost converter circuit 3. The input current I _IN measured by the ammeter 69 is input to the input voltage target value setting circuit 62.

The input voltage target value setting circuit 62 sets a target value V _C for the input voltage from the DC power supply 2. The step-up converter circuit 3 controls the input voltage V _IN from the DC power supply 2 to be the target value V _C. The input voltage target value setting circuit 62 changes this target value V _C at regular time intervals. For example, in this embodiment, it is changed by 2 [v] every 0.3 seconds. The input voltage target value setting circuit 62 includes power P _OUT (= V _IN ×) output from the DC power source 2 from the input voltage V _IN measured by the voltmeter 61a and the input current I _IN measured by the ammeter 69. I _IN ) is calculated, and this power P _OUT is compared with the power P _OUT ′ calculated at the previous target value V _C ′. If the comparison result is P _OUT > P _OUT ′, the target value V _C is increased by 2 [v], and if P _OUT <P _OUT ′, the target value Vc is decreased by 2 [v]. As a result, the input voltage V _IN from the DC power supply 2 is controlled to the maximum power operating voltage Vmax corresponding to the maximum power point Pmax at the power P _OUT output from the DC power supply 2.

The subtractor 63 calculates a deviation ΔV (= V _IN −V _C ) between the input voltage target value Vc set by the input voltage target value setting circuit 62 and the input voltage V _IN measured by the voltmeter 61a. The PI control circuit 64 calculates the PI control value of the deviation ΔV calculated by the subtractor 63 and outputs the PI control value to the comparison circuit 67 as a command value signal. That is, the input voltage target value setting circuit 62, the subtracter 63, and the PI control circuit 64 constitute a command value signal generating means.

The carrier frequency determination circuit 65 _{calculates the} carrier frequency F _SW from the input voltage V _IN measured by the voltmeter 61a, the output voltage V _OUT measured by the voltmeter 61b, and the target value I _RPLC of the ripple PP value of the input current I _IN. This is determined and output to the carrier signal generation circuit 66. In the present embodiment, the carrier frequency F _SW is changed according to the fluctuation of the input voltage V _IN , and the carrier frequency F _SW is determined by the following equation (1) in the range of 2 to 4 kHz.

In Equation (1), L is an inductance value of the inductor L1. Further, when the carrier frequency F _SW is obtained, the target value I _RPLC is input to I _RPL to calculate the carrier frequency F _SW . Further, the above equation (1) calculates the following equation (2) for calculating the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current I _IN , the following equation (3) for calculating the _ON time T _ON of the PWM signal, and the step-up ratio α. The following equation (4) is derived.

That is, (2), (3), (4) from, because it is _{I RPL · L / V IN =} (V DCB -V IN) / (V DCB · F SW), wherein the From this equation F _SW (1) is calculated.

  The carrier signal generation circuit 66 generates a triangular wave signal having a carrier frequency input from the carrier frequency determination circuit 65 and outputs the triangular wave signal to the comparison circuit 67 as a carrier signal.

  The comparison circuit 67 compares the command value signal input from the PI control circuit 64 with the carrier signal input from the carrier signal generation circuit 66. For example, when the command value signal ≧ the carrier signal, the high level signal is converted into a pulse signal. When the command value signal <carrier signal, a low level signal is output to the pulse signal generation circuit 68.

  The pulse signal generation circuit 68 corrects the rectangular wave signal input from the comparison circuit 67 with a limiter circuit or the like to generate a pulse signal. This pulse signal is input to the boost converter circuit 3 as a PWM signal. The step-up converter circuit 3 performs switching of the transistor Q by the input PWM signal. That is, the transistor Q is turned on when the PWM signal is at a high level, accumulates DC power input from the DC power supply 2 in the inductor L1, and is turned off when the PWM signal is at a low level, and the DC power accumulated in the inductor L1. Is discharged to the capacitor C1 through the diode D1.

In the step-up converter circuit 3 shown in FIG. 8, V _IN = (T _OFF / T) · V _OUT is established, where T is the period of the PWM signal, T _{OFF is the OFF} period, and T _ON is the _ON period. Since the output voltage V _OUT is fixed to the bus voltage V _DCB by the inverter circuit 4, if the period T of the PWM signal is constant, the input voltage V _IN increases as the off period T _OFF becomes longer, and the on period T _The longer _ON is, the smaller the input voltage V _IN is.

When the input voltage V _IN from the DC power supply 2 becomes higher than the target value V _C , the level of the command value signal becomes higher than the center level of the amplitude of the carrier signal, and the signal output from the comparison circuit 67 has a frequency of the carrier signal. And a pulse signal having a duty ratio (ON period) larger than 50%. Therefore, since the duty ratio (ON period) of the PWM signal output from the pulse signal generation circuit 68 is also larger than 50%, the PWM signal generation circuit 6 responds when the input voltage V _IN becomes higher than the target value V _C. To generate a PWM signal for lowering the input voltage V _IN .

On the other hand, when the input voltage V _IN from the DC power supply 2 becomes lower than the target value V _C , the level of the command value signal becomes lower than the center level of the amplitude of the carrier signal, and the signal output from the comparison circuit 67 has a frequency of The pulse signal is the same as the carrier signal and has a duty ratio (ON period) smaller than 50%. Therefore, since the duty ratio (ON period) of the PWM signal output from the pulse signal generation circuit 68 is also smaller than 50%, the PWM signal generation circuit 6 responds when the input voltage V _IN becomes lower than the target voltage V _C. To generate a PWM signal for increasing the input voltage V _IN .

As described above, the input voltage target value setting circuit 62 decreases the target value V _C at a pitch of 2 [v] so that the power P _OUT output from the DC power supply 2 approaches the maximum power point Pmax. The circuit 3 controls the output voltage V _IN from the DC power supply 2 to the maximum power operating voltage Vmax by changing the target value V _C in this way.

  Next, the operation of the PWM signal generation circuit 6 will be described.

Assume that the bus voltage V _DCB controlled by the inverter circuit 4 is set to 720 [v], and the specification of the operating voltage range on the input side of the grid-connected inverter system 1 is set to 360 to 700 [v]. Therefore, the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current I _IN of the boost converter circuit 3 is allowed up to the value I _RPLC set under the condition that the input voltage V _IN is 360 [v], and is set in the carrier frequency determination circuit 65. It is assumed that the ripple current target value is the allowable value I _RPLC .

That is, in the conventional grid-connected inverter system, the carrier frequency F _SW is fixed regardless of the fluctuation of the input voltage V _IN , and the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current I _IN is changed according to the fluctuation of the input voltage V _IN. which it was, but in the present embodiment, the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current I _iN is fixed to the target value I _RPLC regardless of any changes in the input voltage V _iN, corresponding to the carrier frequency F _SW to variations in the input voltage V _iN Change.

Specifically, the carrier frequency F _SW is calculated by the above equation (1). In the equation (1), when the ripple PP value I _RPL is fixed to I _RPLC , the above equation (1) can be expressed by −A · V _IN ² + B · V _IN (where A = 1 / (V _DCB · I _RPLC · L ), B = 1 / (I _RPLC · L) That is, the carrier frequency F _SW becomes maximum when V _IN = B / 2A = V _DCB / 2 = 360 [v], and 360 [v] ≦ V _IN In the range of ≦ 700 [v], it decreases monotonously as V _IN increases.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the carrier frequency F _SW is lowered as the input voltage V _IN increases, in other words, as the boost level ΔV (= V _DCB −V _IN ) decreases. Controlled to be low.

As described with reference to FIG. 2, the maximum power point Pmax of the solar cell changes depending on the amount of solar radiation. For example, the curve A changes from the state of the characteristic of the curve B (hereinafter referred to as “characteristic B”). The maximum power point Pmax of the solar cell passes through the line C from the maximum power point Pmax of the characteristic B to the state of the characteristic (hereinafter referred to as “characteristic A”). Therefore, the input voltage V _IN and the input current I _IN from the DC power supply 2 rise as the amount of solar radiation increases, and decrease as the amount of solar radiation decreases. Accordingly, the carrier frequency F _SW decreases as the amount of solar radiation increases and changes so as to increase as the amount of solar radiation decreases.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a change in the input current of boost converter circuit 3 when the current-voltage characteristic of the solar cell changes from characteristic B to characteristic A in FIG.

FIG. 4A shows the change in the input voltage _VIN when the current-voltage characteristic of the solar cell changes from the characteristic B to the characteristic A, and FIG. 4B shows the control of the conventional PWM signal generation circuit 6. The change of the input current I _IN and the ripple PP value I _RPL due to (control with the carrier frequency F _SW fixed) is shown. FIG. 8C shows the control of the PWM signal generation circuit 6 (the carrier frequency F _SW is set according to the boost level). The change of the input current I _IN and the ripple PP value I _RPL by the control to be changed) is shown.

When the solar cell is operating with the current-voltage characteristic B, the maximum power point tracking control causes the power 40 [kW] from the DC power supply 2 to be input voltage V _IN = 550 [v] and the input current I _IN = 73 [A]. ] To be supplied to the boost converter circuit 3. When the amount of solar radiation increases from this state and the solar cell changes so as to operate with the current-voltage characteristic A, the power 100 [kW] from the DC power source 2 is input voltage V _IN = 650 [ v], the control is changed so that the input current I _IN = 154 [A] is supplied to the boost converter circuit 3.

In the case of the conventional PWM signal generation circuit, the carrier frequency F _SW is fixed regardless of the change in the input voltage V _IN , so that the frequency of the ripple current of the input current also changes as shown in FIG. Absent. When the input voltage V _IN is high, that is, when the boost level ΔV is small, the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current becomes small, and the peak value I _P of the input current I _IN has a margin with respect to the upper limit value I _PMAX . The carrier frequency F _SW can be lowered. However, since the carrier frequency F _SW is fixed, the switching frequency of the transistor Q in the step-up converter circuit 3 can be reduced, but remains high, so that unnecessary switching loss is generated accordingly. become.

In the case of the PWM signal generation circuit 6 in the present embodiment, since the carrier frequency F _SW changes so as to decrease as the input voltage V _IN increases, as shown in FIG. - voltage characteristic changes from characteristic B to the characteristic a, the peak value I _P ripple PP value I while maintaining the _RPL to the value when the characteristic B (input current I _iN of the input current I _iN is the upper limit value I _PMAX The frequency of the ripple current is also lowered, while allowing changes to the vicinity. Therefore, the number of switching times of the transistor Q in the boost converter circuit 3 is reduced due to the decrease in the carrier frequency _{FSW, and} the switching loss that can be suppressed can be preferably suppressed. Further, since the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current I _IN is kept constant, it is possible to suppress problems due to an increase in the ripple current.

In the first embodiment, since a solar cell is used as the DC power source 2 and the maximum power point tracking control is performed by the boost converter circuit 3, the boost converter circuit 3 performs control so that the input voltage V _IN becomes a target value. However, when the maximum power point tracking control is not performed, the input current I _IN of the boost converter circuit 3 may be controlled.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a grid-connected inverter system provided with the second embodiment of the PWM signal generation circuit according to the present invention. In the figure, the same or similar elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The grid interconnection inverter system 1 ′ is different from the grid interconnection inverter system 1 in that an input current target value setting circuit 62 ′ is provided instead of the input voltage target value setting circuit 62.

The input current target value setting circuit 62 ′ sets a target value I _C of input current from the DC power supply 2. The PI control circuit 64 calculates the PI control value of the deviation between the target value I _C set by the input current target value setting circuit 62 ′ calculated by the subtractor 63 and the input current I _IN measured by the ammeter 69. The PI control value is calculated and output to the comparison circuit 67 as a command value signal. Other configurations, operations, and actions are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. In order to make the effects of the present invention easier to understand, a case where the input current is controlled to be constant will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a change in the input current of the boost converter circuit 3 when the input voltage changes when the input current is controlled to be constant. FIG. 5A shows the change in the input voltage V _IN when the output power of the DC power supply 2 changes due to the change in the amount of solar radiation when the input current is controlled to be constant. FIG. 6B shows changes in the input current I _IN and the ripple PP value I _RPL under the control of the conventional PWM signal generation circuit, and FIG. 6C shows the input current I _{IN under} the control of the PWM signal generation circuit 6 ′. A change in the ripple PP value I _RPL is shown.

In the case of the conventional PWM signal generation circuit, the carrier frequency F _SW is fixed regardless of the change in the input voltage V _IN , so that the frequency of the ripple current of the input current also changes as shown in FIG. Absent. Further, the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current changes according to the change of the input voltage V _IN . From FIG. 5B, when the input voltage V _IN is high, that is, when the boost level ΔV is small, the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current becomes small, and the peak value I _P of the input current I _IN becomes the upper limit value I _PMAX . On the other hand, since a margin is generated, the carrier frequency F _SW can be lowered. However, since the carrier frequency F _SW is fixed, the switching frequency of the transistor Q in the step-up converter circuit 3 can be reduced, but remains high, so that unnecessary switching loss is generated accordingly. become.

In the case of the PWM signal generation circuit 6 ′ in this embodiment, the carrier frequency F _SW changes so as to decrease as the input voltage V _IN increases. The carrier frequency F _SW is calculated from the above equation (1), and the ripple PP value I _RPL is a constant target value I _RPLC . As a result, as shown in FIG. 6C, the frequency of the ripple current changes according to the input voltage V _IN , and the ripple PP value I _RPL becomes constant. Therefore, the number of switching times of the transistor Q in the boost converter circuit 3 is reduced due to the decrease in the carrier frequency _{FSW, and} the switching loss that can be suppressed can be preferably suppressed. Further, since the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current I _IN is kept constant, it is possible to suppress problems due to an increase in the ripple current.

In the first embodiment, the carrier frequency determination circuit 65 calculates the carrier frequency F _SW using the target value I _RPLC of the ripple PP value, and inputs the PWM signal generated using the carrier frequency F _SW . Although the ripple PP value of the input current of the boost converter circuit 3 is _brought close to the target value I _RPLC , the ripple PP value may be brought closer to the target value I _RPLC by feedback control.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a grid-connected inverter system including the third embodiment of the PWM signal generation circuit according to the present invention. In the figure, the same or similar elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. The grid-connected inverter system 1 "differs from the grid-connected inverter system 1 in that it has a configuration for PI control of the ripple PP value of the input current of the boost converter circuit 3. Specifically, the grid-connected inverter system 1 The system 1 ″ includes a ripple current detection circuit 70, a subtracter 71, a PI control circuit 72, and an adder 73 in the PWM signal generation circuit 6 ″.

The ripple current detection circuit 70 detects the ripple PP value I _RPL from the input current I _IN measured by the ammeter 69. Subtracter 71, the deviation [Delta] _RPL the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current I _IN which is detected by the input current I _IN target value I _RPLC and ripple current detection circuit 70 of the ripple PP value (= I _RPLC -I _RPL ) Is calculated. The PI control circuit 72 calculates the PI control value of the deviation ΔI _RPL calculated by the subtracter 71. The adder 73 adds the PI control value calculated by the PI control circuit 72 and the target value I _RPLC of the ripple PP value of the input current I _IN and outputs the result to the carrier frequency determination circuit 65. Other configurations, operations, and actions are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

According to the present embodiment, the ripple PP value I _RPL of the input current of the boost converter circuit 3 is controlled to be the target value I _RPLC by the PI control, so that the ripple PP value can be made constant more accurately.

In the first embodiment to the third embodiment described above, the carrier frequency is calculated by the above equation (1), but is not limited thereto. That is, as described above, in the equation (1), when the ripple PP value I _RPL is fixed to I _RPLC , F _SW = −A · V _IN ² + B · V _IN , and the carrier frequency F _SW is V _IN = 360. It has a characteristic that it becomes maximum at [v] and monotonously decreases as V _IN increases in the range of 360 [v] ≦ V _IN ≦ 700 [v]. In the first to third embodiments, this monotonic decrease characteristic is used to reduce the carrier frequency _FSW in accordance with the decrease of the input voltage V _IN and suppress the switching loss. The characteristic may be approximated by a linear function instead of a quadratic function curve, or may be approximated by another curve. Further, the carrier frequency F _SW may not be decreased continuously in accordance with the decrease of the input voltage V _IN , but may be decreased step by step.

In the case of using a monotonic decrease characteristic approximated by a linear function, for example, the carrier frequency determination circuit 65 uses the following (from the input voltage V _IN measured by the voltmeter 61a and the output voltage V _DCB measured by the voltmeter 61b: It is preferable to determine the carrier frequency according to equation (5). Here, K _I is the conversion ratio from the booster level (V _DCB -V _IN) to the carrier frequency, F _INI is the initial value of the carrier frequency. When limiting the carrier frequency range, for example, when the operating range of the input voltage is 360 V to 700 V and the carrier frequency is limited to 2 to 4 kHz, 4 kHz when the input voltage is 360 V and 2 kHz when the input voltage is 700 V. so that may be determined to K _I and F _INI.

  Even in this case, similarly to the first embodiment, when the boost level is small, the carrier frequency becomes low and the occurrence of switching loss is suppressed. However, since the ripple PP value is not fixed as in the first embodiment, the ripple PP value also changes according to the change in the carrier frequency. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the range of the carrier frequency so that the peak value of the input current (including the ripple current) does not exceed the design range of the boost converter circuit 3.

  In the above-described embodiment, the carrier frequency determination circuit 65 calculates the carrier frequency using an arithmetic expression and linearly changes the carrier frequency. However, the carrier frequency may be configured to change nonlinearly.

For example, a storage circuit is provided to store an optimum carrier frequency corresponding to the boost level, and the boost level is determined from the input voltage V _IN measured by the voltmeter 61a and the output voltage V _DCB measured by the voltmeter 61b. (V _DCB −V _IN ) may be calculated, and the carrier frequency may be output according to the value. At this time, if the carrier frequency stored in the memory circuit is set so that the peak value of the input current (including the ripple current) does not exceed the design range of the boost converter circuit 3, the boost level changes due to the change of the input voltage. However, it is possible to prevent problems due to an increase in the ripple current. Moreover, since the carrier frequency does not increase more than necessary, the occurrence of switching loss is suppressed.

  Further, the carrier frequency to be stored in the storage circuit may be set for each range of a predetermined boost level, and the set carrier frequency may be output according to the calculated boost level. For example, a carrier frequency of 2 kHz may be output when the boost level is less than 140 V, 3 kHz when the boost level is 140 V or more and less than 250 V, and 4 kHz when 250 V or more.

  In addition, although embodiment mentioned above demonstrated the case where the boost converter circuit used for a grid connection inverter system was controlled, it is not restricted to this. The PWM signal generation circuit according to the present invention can also be applied when PWM control is performed on a boost converter circuit used in another system. This is particularly effective when it is desired to suppress the occurrence of switching loss in the boost converter circuit.

  The PWM signal generation circuit according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The specific configuration of each part of the PWM signal generation circuit according to the present invention can be varied in design in various ways.

  Further, a program for generating a PWM signal by the above-described method is read from a recording medium such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a flash memory recorded so as to be readable by a computer, and the PWM signal generation circuit of the present invention is loaded on the computer. It may be realized. Further, the PWM signal generation circuit of the present invention may be realized by causing the conventional PWM signal generation circuit to execute the program.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating an example of the grid connection inverter system provided with 1st Embodiment of the PWM signal generation circuit which concerns on this invention. It is a current-voltage characteristic figure which shows the relationship between the output voltage and output current of a solar cell. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a change in input current of a boost converter circuit when a current-voltage characteristic of a solar cell is changed from a characteristic A to a characteristic B in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram for demonstrating an example of the grid connection inverter system provided with 2nd Embodiment of the PWM signal generation circuit which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the change of the input current of a step-up converter circuit when an input voltage changes when the input current is controlled to be constant. It is a block diagram for demonstrating an example of the grid connection inverter system provided with 3rd Embodiment of the PWM signal generation circuit which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the conventional transformer-less system interconnection inverter system. It is a figure which shows the basic circuit structure of the step-up converter circuit in a grid connection inverter system. The input current I _IN when the maximum output power Pmax of the DC power supply is 100 [kW] and the input power of the boost converter circuit is the upper limit value (700 [V]) and lower limit value (360 [V]) of the operating voltage range. is a diagram illustrating a change in the ripple value I _RPL and the peak value I _P.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Grid connection inverter system 2 DC power supply 3 Boost converter circuit 4 Inverter circuit 5 Commercial power system 6 PWM signal generation circuit 61a, 61b Voltmeter 62 Input voltage target value setting circuit (command value signal generation means)
62 'Input current target value setting circuit (command value signal generating means)
63 Subtractor (command value signal generating means)
64 PI control circuit (command value signal generating means)
65 Carrier frequency determination circuit 66 Carrier signal generation circuit 67 Comparison circuit 68 Pulse signal generation circuit 69 Ammeter 70 Ripple current detection circuit 71 Subtractor 72 PI control circuit 73 Adder

Claims (7)

In a PWM signal generation circuit that generates a PWM signal for controlling on / off operation of a switching element included in a boost converter circuit that boosts a DC voltage,
Carrier frequency determining means for determining a carrier frequency from an input voltage input to the boost converter circuit and an output voltage output from the boost converter circuit;
Carrier signal generation means for generating a carrier signal having a carrier frequency determined by the carrier frequency determination means;
Command value signal generating means for generating a command value signal based on an input voltage or an input current input to the boost converter circuit;
PWM signal generation means for generating the PWM signal from the comparison result of the carrier signal and the command value signal;
A PWM signal generation circuit comprising: 2. The PWM signal generation circuit according to claim 1, wherein the carrier frequency determination unit calculates the carrier frequency F _SW by the following arithmetic expression.

Detection means for detecting a peak-to-peak value of the ripple current of the input current input to the boost converter circuit;
The PWM signal generation circuit according to claim 2, wherein the detection value detected by the detection means is feedback-controlled to the target value. 2. The carrier frequency determination unit according to claim 1, wherein the carrier frequency determination unit calculates the carrier frequency by multiplying a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage by a predetermined conversion ratio and adding a predetermined reference frequency. PWM signal generation circuit. The carrier frequency determining means includes
Storage means for storing a frequency corresponding to a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage;
2. The PWM signal generation circuit according to claim 1, wherein a frequency stored in the storage unit is determined as the carrier frequency based on a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage. PWM signal generation circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The boost converter circuit;
A DC power supply for supplying DC power to the boost converter circuit;
An inverter circuit for converting DC power output from the boost converter circuit into AC power;
A grid-connected inverter system characterized by comprising: Computer
In a program for functioning as a PWM signal generation circuit that generates a PWM signal for controlling on / off operation of a switching element included in a boost converter circuit that boosts a DC voltage,
The computer,
Carrier frequency determining means for determining a carrier frequency from an input voltage input to the boost converter circuit and an output voltage output from the boost converter circuit;
Carrier signal generation means for generating a carrier signal having a carrier frequency determined by the carrier frequency determination means;
Command value signal generating means for generating a command value signal based on an input voltage or an input current input to the boost converter circuit;
PWM signal generation means for generating the PWM signal from the comparison result of the carrier signal and the command value signal;
A program characterized by making it function.

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