JP5764638B2 - Power supply device with maximum power point tracking means - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device including a maximum power point tracking means for efficiently extracting power from a solar cell in a solar power generation system.

  In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the safety of nuclear power generation and the environmental destruction of carbon dioxide emissions from thermal power generation. Under such circumstances, attention is focused on solar power generation. Even in homes, there are some places where a plurality of solar cell panels are connected in series or in parallel or both so that desired power can be obtained.

The voltage at which the maximum power can be extracted varies depending on how the solar cell is exposed to light and the temperature of the solar cell. For this reason, a maximum power point tracking method has been proposed so far in which a dedicated power supply device is connected and the voltage output from the solar cell is adjusted to determine the optimum operating point at that time.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-85312 discloses a so-called “mountain climbing method” in which the output value is changed in the positive direction of a change in electric power. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-230952 discloses a method of searching for a narrow range using a “mountain climbing method” and the like, and in addition to this, a wide range with a longer period than that is set as a tracking range.

JP 62-85312 A JP-A-9-230952

However, since the method of Patent Document 1 looks at the positive / negative of the change in power, the influence of a specific error due to the analog-digital conversion of the microcomputer may not be avoided. In the method of performing a wide search with a long period of the method of Patent Document 2, the voltage-power characteristic of the solar cell module array draws an ideal curve, and even when there is only one maximum value, a wide search is performed. The loss of power cannot be ignored.
For example, consider an ideal voltage-power characteristic of a solar cell module array as shown in FIG. This has a single maximum value, and a narrow range tracking method is sufficient. That is, it is sufficient to track only the ideal tracking range shown in FIG. However, in the method of Patent Document 2, even if the voltage-power characteristics of the solar cell module array are as shown in FIG. 1, a range such as the shaded portion in FIG. Therefore, the electric power obtained from the solar cell module array becomes small during the time of searching for the shaded portion.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems. When searching in a normal narrow range, a voltage value and a current value are sampled at a plurality of points within the range, and a maximum power point is selected from the sampling. Search the wide range only when the power is turned on and when it is considered that two or more local maximum values have occurred in the voltage-power characteristics of the solar cell module array. Therefore, it is providing the power supply device which converts the voltage of the electric power from the solar cell which can obtain maximum electric power.

  The power supply device according to the present invention includes a voltage sensor that detects a voltage value from a solar cell, a current sensor that detects a current value from the solar cell, and a power value that calculates a power value from the voltage value and the current value. A calculation unit and output value setting means for controlling a voltage output from the solar cell are provided. Using the output value setting means, a plurality of output values are set for each predetermined change amount in a predetermined narrow range from the operation center point of the output value in a direction in which the voltage value increases and decreases. The voltage value and current value output from the solar cell are sampled at each change. The output value at that time and the power value output from the solar cell are stored, and the first tracking means is provided with the output value corresponding to the highest power value among them as a new operation center point.

  In this control method, the operating point of the voltage-power characteristic is not a method in which the amount of change in power moves in the positive direction, but the operating point corresponding to the maximum power value in the search range is determined as the operating center point of the next first tracking means. It is said. For this reason, the maximum power point can be found effectively without being affected by the error more than the hill-climbing method that searches in the positive and negative directions.

  In a power supply device equipped with first tracking means, the voltage value is changed by changing the output value by a certain amount over a voltage range wider than that of the first tracking means, and the voltage value and power value are changed for each change. Is stored, and the second tracking means having the output value with the maximum power value as the operation center point of the next first tracking means is provided.

  By searching for a voltage range wider than the first tracking range, the solar cell module array is partially shaded, and there are two or more maximum values in the voltage-power characteristics of the solar cell module array. The maximum power point can be specified.

  Further, in the power supply device including the first tracking means and the second tracking means, the maximum power value in the first tracking means is larger than the maximum power value obtained when the second tracking means executed last time is executed. Second tracking means is provided that is executed when the ratio increases or decreases from a predetermined ratio.

  Since the second tracking means is used when the maximum value of the voltage-power characteristics of the array of solar cell modules is considered to be two or more, there is less loss than a regular wide search. . Here, it is conceivable that one of the causes of the decrease in the maximum power point over time is that a part of the solar cell module array has been shaded. In this case, for example, the voltage-power characteristic indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2 where the point A is the maximum power point is changed to the voltage-power characteristic indicated by the solid line in FIG. There are things to do. During the first tracking means, the operation center point continues to change from the vicinity of point A to the vicinity of point B. Here, if the previous second tracking means is performed when the characteristic indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2 is performed, the power obtainable from the solar cell module array is reduced by ΔP. If ΔP is equal to or greater than the value calculated in advance, if the tracking range of the second tracking means is searched using the second tracking means, the maximum power point at that time is not point B but point C. By moving the next operation center point of the first tracking means to the point C, the maximum power can be obtained. Therefore, when the maximum power value obtained by the first tracking means performed each time has changed from a predetermined ratio compared to the maximum power value in the second tracking means last time, that is, when the amount of solar radiation has changed by a certain amount or more Just do a wide range search. As a result, larger power can be obtained when the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 is used. In addition, although the voltage-power characteristic of the solar cell module array shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 has two maximum values, the same effect can be obtained with three or more.

A power supply device according to the present invention includes a voltage sensor that detects a voltage value from a solar cell, a current sensor that detects a current value from the solar cell,
A power value calculation unit for calculating a power value from the voltage value and the current value;
Output value setting means for controlling the voltage output from the solar cell is provided.
The maximum voltage value realized at the terminal on the solar cell side obtained when the output value of the power supply device is maximized at the time of starting the power supply device is set as the specific voltage value of the voltage value output from the solar cell. The output value corresponding to a voltage value smaller than the specific voltage value based on the specific voltage value is set as the upper limit of the tracking range, and the upper limit of the tracking range is determined from the predetermined lower limit of the tracking range, and the maximum power point tracking means of the solar cell The tracking range.

  By specifying the tracking range first according to the characteristics of the solar cell, when searching for a wide range, by setting the upper limit of the tracking range to an output value corresponding to a value smaller than the specific voltage value, a range where power is generated As a result, the conversion efficiency can be expected to be high.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the voltage-power characteristic of the solar cell module array has only one maximum value, the power can be extracted with less error and the maximum value becomes two or more. A power supply device that can draw power from a solar cell with high efficiency even when it is considered to be considered can be provided.

It is a figure used for demonstrating the technical content currently disclosed by patent document 2. FIG. It is the figure showing the mode of the change of the voltage-power characteristic of a solar cell module array when it changes from the state in which the solar cell module array is not shaded to the state in which it was shaded. It is the block diagram which showed the structural example of the solar energy power generation system provided with the power supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the method of the maximum power point tracking at the time of the power supply device start-up in the system of FIG. 3 using the example of the characteristic graph of a solar cell. It is the flowchart which showed the method of the maximum electric power point tracking in the system of FIG. It is the flowchart explaining in detail the 2nd tracking method among the methods shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the 2nd tracking method shown in FIG. 6 using the example of the characteristic of a solar cell module array. 6 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a first tracking method among the methods illustrated in FIG. 5. It is the figure which showed the 1st tracking method shown in FIG. 8 using the example of the characteristic of a solar cell module array.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The power supply device in this embodiment includes a main body unit 1, a voltage sensor 2, a current sensor 3, a power value calculation unit 4, and an output value setting unit 5.

  The solar cell 6 is a part that uses the photovoltaic effect to convert light energy into electric power. Usually, a plurality of solar cell modules are connected in series, in parallel, or both, and an array is configured to obtain a desired power.

  Examples of the power supply device include a DC / DC converter using an element such as a field effect transistor that can be turned on and off using an external signal. This power supply device can control the input voltage and the like by changing the duty ratio of the gate pulse.

  Examples of the load 7 include an inductive load, a lamp load, a resistance load, or a combination thereof, or a commercial power system.

  The voltage sensor 2 is a normally used voltage detection means, the current sensor 3 is a commonly used current detection means, and the power calculation unit is detected by the voltage value detected by the voltage sensor 2 and the current sensor 3. This is a part for deriving the power value from the measured current value by calculation. The voltage value, current value, and power value are input to the output value setting means 5. The output value setting means 5 changes the duty ratio of the gate pulse applied to the main body 1 of the power supply device according to the input voltage value / power value. The voltage sensor 2, the current sensor 3, and the output value setting means 5 can be realized by using a control microcomputer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I / O, and the like.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the maximum power point tracking method for obtaining the maximum power from the solar cell in the power device of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a graph of voltage-power characteristics of an array in which a plurality of solar cell modules are connected in series or in parallel. The horizontal axis is the voltage value, and the vertical axis is the power value. Note that, in the voltage range where power is generated from the solar cell, the voltage value and the output value are in a proportional relationship, and thus may be the output value. The output value here is a parameter for determining the voltage and current from the solar cell, and the voltage value from the solar cell increases as the output value increases. For example, there is a value obtained by subtracting from 1 a duty ratio of a gate pulse applied to a field effect transistor that determines an output voltage in a normal boost chopper circuit.

  In carrying out the present invention, the output value fluctuation range ΔD of the first tracking means, the output value fluctuation range of the second tracking method, the tracking range lower limit of the output value, the search cycle, the tracking range upper limit setting method, the second tracking means It is preferable to store the conditions for executing the above in the ROM in advance.

  The output value fluctuation range ΔD of the first tracking means is about 0.3%, the lower limit of the output value tracking range is about 4%, and the control cycle is about 100 ms. Further, when about ± 20% of the maximum power point in the second tracking means executed last time is the maximum power point in the current first tracking means, the setting is made to perform the second tracking means. Further, about 90% of the specific voltage value is set as the upper limit of the tracking range. The output value fluctuation range of the second tracking method is (upper limit-lower limit of tracking range) ÷ 60.

  The actual operation is as follows. First, it demonstrates using FIG. When this power supply device is activated, the maximum power point tracking control is started. First, the output value is set to 100% which is the maximum value (Step 0_0). The voltage value at this time is stored as a specific voltage value V_char (Step 0_1).

  The output value corresponding to 90% of the specific voltage value is set as the upper limit D_UL of the tracking range (Step 0_2), and the second tracking means is executed (Step 0_3).

  Thereafter, the first tracking means is performed (Step 0_4). When the maximum power value P_1max in the first tracking means exceeds 80% of the maximum power value P_2max obtained in the previous second tracking means and does not reach 120%, the first tracking means is executed as it is. (Step 0_5 and Step 0_7). However, if the maximum power value P_1max in the first tracking means is 120% or more of the maximum power value P_2max obtained in the previous second tracking means or 80% or less (Step 0_5), the second tracking means is performed (step 0_5). Step 0_6), and then the first tracking means (Step 0_7) is performed.

  Hereinafter, the second tracking means will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in order to reduce the voltage from the current operating point, the output value is changed from the current operating center point to the lower limit D_LL with a constant amount of change, and then from there to a constant amount of change from D_UL to the original value. The voltage value and the current value are changed to the operating point while sampling (Step 2_0). Thereafter, the output value D_max that maximizes the power value is selected (Step 2_1). Thereafter, the output value is changed to D_max while being changed by a constant change amount (Step 2_2). Of course, the second tracking means may change the output value so that the voltage becomes higher from the current operating point.

  Hereinafter, the first tracking means will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the output value D that is currently operating is set to a fluctuation range ΔD, and D−mΔD, D− (m−1) ΔD,..., D−ΔD, D, D + ΔD,. -1) At ΔD and D + nΔD, the voltage value and the current value are sampled, and the power value is calculated at each of them (Step 1_0). Then, the output value at the maximum power point is set to D_max (Step 1_2). In FIG. 9, the case of n = m = 2 is shown, but other values may be used. Then, the current output value is changed to D_max by an arbitrary amount of change (Step 1_2).

  In this way, the upper limit of the tracking range is determined when the power is turned on, and in the normal state, the maximum power point tracking is performed in a narrow range, and when the power value at the maximum power point changes greatly, the tracking range is broadly tracked. By using the means, the maximum power can be taken out from the solar cell without waste by performing a wide search from the lower limit to the upper limit of the tracking range in a situation where it can be considered that it has been finely tracked and shadowed at normal times.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main-body part of a power supply device 2 Voltage sensor 3 Current sensor 4 Power value calculating part 5 Output value setting means 6 Solar cell 7 Load

Claims (3)

From the voltage sensor that detects the voltage value from the solar cell, the current sensor that detects the current value from the solar cell, the power value calculation unit that calculates the power value from the voltage value and the current value, and the solar cell and an output value setting means for controlling the voltage output, in the electric power supply apparatus power determines the voltage from the solar cell to be the maximum from the solar cell,
Using the output value setting means, a plurality of output values are set for each predetermined change amount in a predetermined narrow range from the operation center point of the output value in a direction in which the voltage value increases and decreases. The voltage value and current value are sampled at each change, the output value and power value at that time are stored, and the output value corresponding to the highest power value among them is a new operation center point. First tracking means , and
The voltage value is changed by changing the output value by a certain amount over a voltage range wider than that of the first tracking means, and the voltage value and the power value are stored for each change, and the power value is maximized from among them. A second tracking means for executing a process of setting the output value to be the operation center point of the first tracking means for the next time,
The second tracking means increases the maximum power value in the first tracking means by a predetermined percentage or more compared to the maximum power value of the second tracking means executed last time when the power supply device is activated. Alternatively, a power supply device that executes the processing when it decreases . The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined ratio is 20%. The maximum voltage value realized at the terminal on the solar cell side obtained when the output value of the power supply device is maximized at the time of starting the power supply device is a specific voltage value of the voltage value output from the solar cell, and The output value corresponding to a voltage value smaller than the specific voltage value based on the specific voltage value is set as the upper limit of the tracking range, and the maximum power point of the solar cell from the lower limit of the tracking range determined in advance to the upper limit of the tracking range The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the tracking range is set to a tracking range .

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