Constraint weighted regulation of DC/DC converters

摘要

A converter unit to improve overall recovered power in a photovoltaic array configuration. Each photovoltaic panel in the photovoltaic array may be coupled to a respective converter unit, which may include a controller to sense an output voltage and output current produced by the solar panel, and manage the output voltage of a corresponding power converter to optimize and regulate the resultant bus voltage to a point which reduces overall system losses, maintains a low loss condition, and removes series-string non-idealities when the panels are series connected. The controller may also adapt to output condition constraints. Instead of single-port regulation, a combination of input voltage and output voltage management and regulation may be performed within the converter. The source voltage and current characteristic may be shaped to correspond to an optimized power curve at the desired bus voltage to allow MPPT tracking according to the DC voltage bus. The optimized power curve may be tracked to hold the DC-bus voltage at the desired operating point.

主权项

1. A controller for controlling a power converter, the controller comprising:
at least four input ports, each respective input port of the at least four input ports configured to receive a respective one of a plurality of parameters comprising:
a first parameter indicative of a value of an input current of a power converter;a second parameter indicative of a value of an input voltage of the power converter originating from the solar panel;a third parameter indicative of a value of an output voltage of the power converter; anda fourth parameter indicative of a value of an output current of the power converter;wherein the power converter is coupled between a solar panel and a voltage bus and is configured to provide an output voltage and an output current to the voltage bus, the input current originating from the solar panel; and control circuitry configured to set a value of a control signal that controls the output voltage of the power converter, according to:
a first function corresponding to a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) signal path and configured to set a nominal value of the control signal according to a corresponding MPPT algorithm; anda second function corresponding to an output voltage signal path of the power converter and configured to adjust the value of the control signal from the nominal value to an adjusted value that establishes a weak control path that provides a sloping output power characteristic of the power converter on either side of a flat output power characteristic of the power converter, wherein the flat output power characteristic corresponds to a preferred voltage range of the output voltage of the power converter within which the output voltage of the power converter is generated according to the nominal value of the control signal.