JP2010187030A - Solar power generating apparatus and connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a bad influence from being exerted on MPPT control over an inverter circuit when a boosting circuit starts operating while maintaining versatility and avoiding an increase in cost. <P>SOLUTION: A control device 24 sets a maximum Vmax of a standard input voltage to 0, reads in a current standard input voltage Vs that a voltage sensor 23 detects to determine whether boosting circuits 16A, 16B are at a stop, and reads in the maximum Vmax of the standard input voltage to compare it with the current standard input voltage Vs when they are at a stop. When the current standard input voltage Vs is not larger than the maximum Vmax of the standard input voltage, it is determined whether the voltage Vs is lower than the value obtained by subtracting a boosting circuit start determination voltage Vn from Vmax. When it is so, a timer 25 starts clocking the time and when the low state lasts longer than a start determination time Tn of the inverter circuit 8 up to a time-out, the control device 24 allow the boosting circuits 16A, 16B to start operating. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a solar power generation device that supplies an output generated by a solar cell. More specifically, the present invention relates to a solar power generation device that boosts DC power generated by a solar cell, converts the DC power into AC power, and supplies the AC power.

  As a conventional solar power generation device of this type, DC power generated by a solar cell is boosted by a booster circuit, and the boosted DC power is converted into AC power by an inverter circuit, and the converted AC power There is known a solar power generation apparatus that is controlled by a control means and is regenerated to a commercial power supply system (for example, see Patent Document 1).

And as a characteristic of the solar cell used for the solar power generation device described above, the output power gradually increases from the Vmax (open voltage) to the maximum power point Pm and exceeds the maximum power point Pm. When the voltage decreases, the output voltage gradually decreases from the maximum power point Pm. For this reason, as control for taking out the maximum power from the solar cell, maximum power tracking control (hereinafter referred to as “MPPT control”) in which the operating point of the solar cell is changed so as to always track the maximum power point Pm in the inverter circuit. ")") Is known (for example, see Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-9398 A JP-A-11-282553

  However, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, a predetermined number of solar cell panels are connected in series, a standard solar cell capable of generating a rated, that is, standard DC power is connected to an inverter circuit, and the predetermined The power generated by connecting a smaller number of solar cell panels in series than the standard DC power is less than the standard DC power, and the DC power voltage is smaller than the standard DC power voltage. In the solar power generation device connected to the inverter circuit via, for example, when the sunlight during morning and evening or bad weather is low, the inverter circuit becomes intermittently operated due to a shortage of the amount of power generated by the solar cell, and before it enters the continuous operation state, When the operation is started, there is a possibility of adversely affecting the MPPT control of the inverter circuit.

  Therefore, it is necessary to start operation of the booster circuit in a state where it can be confirmed that the inverter circuit is continuously operating. In this case, it is possible to check whether the inverter is continuously operated by communication with the control microcomputer of the inverter circuit, and to measure the power by providing a voltage / current sensor at the input from the standard solar cell circuit. Thus, continuous operation of the inverter circuit can be confirmed.

  However, in the former case, only an inverter circuit corresponding to communication can be connected and an inverter circuit not compatible with communication cannot be connected. In the latter case, the number of parts increases and the cost increases. There was a problem.

  Therefore, the present invention can prevent the above-described problems from being adversely affected when the booster circuit starts operating while maintaining versatility and avoiding an increase in cost. The purpose is to do.

  For this reason, the first invention provides a first solar cell that generates power of a DC voltage of a predetermined voltage, a second solar cell that generates power of a DC voltage that is lower in voltage than the first solar cell, and A booster circuit that boosts the voltage of the electric power generated by the second solar cell, and converts the electric power boosted by the booster circuit and the DC power generated by the first solar cell into AC power and also tracks the maximum power In a solar power generation device including an inverter circuit that performs control, a voltage sensor that detects a voltage of DC power generated by the first solar cell, and the first solar cell and the second solar cell generate power. And a control device for controlling to start the operation of the booster circuit when the timer counts the predetermined time. Characterized by comprising and.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first solar cell that generates power of a DC voltage having a predetermined voltage, a second solar cell that generates power of a DC voltage having a voltage lower than that of the first solar cell, A booster circuit that boosts the voltage of the power generated by the second solar cell, and converts the power boosted by the booster circuit and the DC power generated by the first solar cell into alternating current power and maximum power tracking control. In the solar power generation apparatus including the inverter circuit that performs the above, a voltage sensor that detects the voltage of the DC power generated by the first solar cell, and the first solar cell and the second solar cell generate power. A timer that starts and counts a continuous time in a state where the detected voltage of the voltage sensor is equal to or lower than a voltage obtained by subtracting a preset voltage from the maximum output voltage of the first solar cell, and this timer counts a predetermined time Characterized by comprising a control device for controlling so as to initiate the operation of the boost circuit can.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to make the inverter circuit compatible with communication, maintain general versatility, avoid an increase in cost, and adversely affect the MPPT control of the inverter circuit when the booster circuit starts operation. Can be avoided.

It is a whole system system diagram of a solar power generation device. It is a circuit diagram of a booster circuit built-in connection device. It is a flowchart explaining the control at the time of a booster circuit start-up.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing the overall system of the photovoltaic power generation apparatus. In FIG. 1, 1-3 are predetermined numbers, for example, five solar cell panels connected in series, and rated, that is, standard solar cells (first solar cells) that can generate standard DC power, and 5 is a number of solar panels that are less than a predetermined number, for example, three solar battery panels connected in series, and the generated DC power is less than the standard DC power, and the voltage of the DC power is higher than the voltage of the standard DC power. It is a small fraction solar cell (second solar cell).

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a connection device in which a booster circuit (DC / DC converter), which will be described later, is built in the box 6A. Reference numeral 7 denotes a power conditioner that is connected to the connection device 6 and includes an inverter circuit 8. The power conditioner 7 Is connected to the commercial power system. Then, the power conditioner 7 performs MPPT control (Maximum Power Point Tracking Control) which is maximum power tracking control in which the operating point of the solar cell is changed so as to always track the maximum power point so as to extract the maximum power from the solar cell. Do.

  Hereinafter, the connecting device 6 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10A, 10B, and 10C are standard input circuits connected to standard solar cells 1, 2, and 3 through terminals 11A, 11B, and 11C, respectively, and are provided in the same number as the connected solar cells. Reference numerals 12A, 12B, and 12C are backflow prevention diodes connected to the output sides of the standard input circuits 10A, 10B, and 10C.

  Reference numerals 16A and 16B denote boosting circuits (DC / DC converters). The boosting circuits 16A and 16B are connected to the fractional solar cells 4 and 5 via terminals 17A and 17B and the first and second voltage sensors 18A and 18B. . Reference numeral 22 denotes a third voltage sensor that detects output voltages of the booster circuits 16A and 16B, and reference numeral 23 denotes a fourth voltage sensor that detects output voltages of the standard input circuits 10A, 10B, and 11C (hereinafter referred to as “standard input voltage”). It is. Here, since the control power source of the booster circuits 16A and 16B is obtained from the fractional solar cells 4 and 5, it does not become a load of the solar cells 1, 2, and 3.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes a control device which is a microcomputer. The control device 24 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a timer 25 (not shown). Further, an input voltage detection unit 26 and an output voltage detection unit 27 are provided. The control device 24 outputs a control signal to the booster circuits 16A and 16B via a PWM (pulse width modulation) control circuit (pulse width modulation control circuit) 28. The connection device 6 is connected to the power conditioner 7 via the output side terminal 30.

  Hereinafter, based on the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, the operation of the photovoltaic power generation apparatus, particularly the operation at the time of starting will be described. First, the control device 24 sets the maximum value Vmax of the standard input voltage to 0 (reset to zero), and reads the current standard input voltage Vs detected by the fourth voltage sensor 23. Next, the control device 24 determines whether or not the booster circuits 16A and 16B are stopped. When the booster circuits 16A and 16B are stopped, the control device 24 reads the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax set in advance and stored in the RAM, and To the standard input voltage Vs.

  When the current standard input voltage Vs is equal to or lower than the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax, the current standard input voltage Vs is preset from the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax and stored in the RAM. It is determined whether or not the value is lower than the value obtained by subtracting Vn. If it is low, the timer 25 starts measuring time, and this low state is stored in advance in the RAM. The startup determination time of the inverter circuit 8 (the time during which it can be determined that the inverter circuit 8 is continuously operating) Tn. When the timer 25 continues to run for a longer time and times out after measuring the activation determination time Tn, the control device 24 determines that the inverter circuit 8 of the power conditioner 7 is activated, and sends a start signal to the booster circuits 16A and 16B. , And each booster circuit 16A, 16B starts operation.

  As described above, after determining that the inverter circuit 8 is continuously operated based on the timer 25 based on the standard input voltage Vs, the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax, and the booster circuit activation determination voltage Vn, each booster circuit 16A. 16B starts operation, the inverter circuit 8 provided in the power conditioner 7 does not need to be compatible with communication, maintains versatility, and has a current flowing to the standard input circuits 10A, 10B, and 10C. It is possible to avoid adversely affecting the MPPT control of the inverter circuit 8 when the booster circuits 16A and 16B start operation while avoiding an increase in cost without providing a sensor or the like.

  Further, when the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax is read and compared with the current standard input voltage Vs, when the control device 24 determines that the current standard input voltage Vs is larger than the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax, the current standard input voltage Vmax is determined. The input voltage Vs is maintained at the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax. In this case, the current standard input voltage Vs is equal to or lower than the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax, and the current standard input voltage Vs is preset from the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax and stored in the RAM. It is determined whether or not the voltage Vn is lower than the subtracted value. Similarly to the case where the voltage Vn is determined to be high, the timer 25 is set to 0 (reset to zero) and the booster circuits 16A and 16B are stopped. To do.

  Further, the booster circuit activation determination voltage in which the current standard input voltage Vs is equal to or less than the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax and the current standard input voltage Vs is preset from the standard input voltage maximum value Vmax and stored in the RAM. It is determined whether or not the value is lower than the value obtained by subtracting Vn, and the booster circuits 16A and 16b are held stopped until the timer 25 starts timing and times out.

  After each booster circuit 16A, 16B is activated, the output voltage of the fractional solar cells 4, 5 detected by the first and second voltage sensors 18A, 18B and the booster circuit by the third voltage sensor 22 are used. Based on the output voltages of 16A and 16B, the input voltage detection unit 26 and the output voltage detection unit 27 of the control device 24 operate, and the control device 24 controls the boosting circuits 16A and 16B via the PWM control circuit 28 to The output voltages of the circuits 16A and 16B are kept equal to the output voltages of the standard input circuits 10A, 10B, and 10C, and power of a predetermined voltage is supplied from the solar power generation device.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, various alternatives, modifications or variations can be made based on the above description, and the various alternatives, modifications or variations described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is included.

1, 2, 3 Solar cell (first solar cell)
4,5 fractional solar cell (second solar cell)
6 Connecting Device 7 Power Conditioner 8 Inverter Circuit 16A, 16B Booster Circuit 23 Fourth Voltage Sensor 24 Controller 25 Timer

Claims (4)

A first solar cell for generating first rated DC power;
An inverter circuit supplied with DC power generated by the first solar cell;
A second solar cell for generating second rated DC power having a voltage lower than that of the first rated DC power;
A first voltage sensor for detecting an output voltage of the second solar cell;
A booster circuit connected to the second solar cell;
A second voltage sensor for detecting an output voltage of the booster circuit;
A third voltage sensor for detecting an output voltage of the first solar cell;
A control circuit for controlling the output voltage of the booster circuit,
The output power of the booster circuit is supplied to the inverter circuit,
The control circuit controls the output voltage of the booster circuit to be kept equal to the output voltage of the first solar cell based on the voltages detected by the first voltage sensor and the third voltage sensor. A featured solar power generator.   The photovoltaic power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control power source of the booster circuit is obtained from the second solar cell.   3. The booster circuit, the first voltage sensor, the second voltage sensor, the third voltage sensor, and the control circuit are built in a single box. The solar power generation device described. A first terminal connected to a first solar cell that generates DC power of a first rated voltage;
A second terminal connected to a second solar cell that generates a second rated DC power having a voltage lower than that of the first rated DC power;
A first voltage sensor for detecting an output voltage of the second solar cell;
A booster circuit connected to the second terminal;
A third voltage sensor for detecting an output voltage of the booster circuit;
A fourth voltage sensor for detecting an output voltage of the first solar cell;
A control circuit for controlling the output voltage of the booster circuit;
DC power boosted by the booster circuit and DC power generated by the first solar cell are supplied, and an output side terminal connected to an inverter circuit includes the control circuit, the first voltage sensor, The connection device, wherein the output voltage of the booster circuit is controlled to be equal to the output voltage of the first solar cell based on the voltage detected by the third voltage sensor.

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