APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A SOLAR ARRAY POWER SYSTEM

摘要

A system for controlling power supplied by a solar array panel (12) to one of either a load (22) or a battery (18) for optimal power consumption is disclosed. The solar array power control system (30) of the present invention includes a power stage (14) for directing the solar array (12) to discharge an oppropriate amount of current, a signal conditioner (32) for receiving and conditioning voltage and current signals from the solar array and determining the signs of the time derivatives of solar array (12) voltage and power, a processor (34) for evaluating the signs of the time derivatives of solar array power voltage and for directing the operation of either a battery current control mode or a peak power tracking mode an a high gain amplifier (38) for directing an appropirate voltage to the power stage (14) according to the operating mode. The signal conditioner (32), processor (34) and high gain amplifier (38) cooperate to determine whether the solar array (12) is capable of supplying the power demanded by at least one of the battery (18) and the load (22). When it has been determined that the required power level to be supplied from the solar array (12) is within the capability of the solar array (12), the system commands the solar array (12) to discharge the exact power demanded. In times when the solar array (12) is not capable of completely satisfying the required power level, the system commands the solar array (12) to discharge the maximum power available under the present conditions.