Power conversion apparatus, power generation system, controller, and method for converting power

A power generation system comprising:

• an electric generation apparatus;
• and
• a power conversion apparatus comprising:
• a power converter configured to convert DC power input from the electric generation apparatus into AC power;
• a voltage detector configured to detect a DC voltage input into the power converter;
• a determiner configured to determine an output power command from a plurality of potential output power commands by comparing levels of the plurality of potential output power commands with a second level that corresponds to the DC voltage detected by the voltage detector and selecting the output power command or the output current command that has a first level that correlates with the second level;
• and
• a drive controller configured to control the power converter based on the output power command determined by the determiner,
• wherein the drive controller comprises
• a current command generator configured to generate an output current command based on the output power command determined by the determiner,
• a power detector configured to detect the DC power input into the power converter,
• an adjustor configured to adjust the output current command generated by the current command generator to maximize the DC power detected by the power detector, and
• a current controller configured to control the power converter to output an AC current that is based on the output current command adjusted by the adjustor.

A controller comprising:

• a determiner configured to determine an output power command from a plurality of potential output power commands by comparing levels of the plurality of potential output power commands with a second level corresponding to a DC voltage input into a power converter from an electric generation apparatus and selecting the output power command that has a first level that correlates with the second level;
• and
• a drive controller configured to control the power converter based on the output power command determined by the determiner,
• wherein the drive controller comprises
• a current command generator configured to generate an output current command based on the output power command determined by the determiner,
• a power detector configured to detect the DC power input into the power converter,
• an adjustor configured to adjust the output current command generated by the current command generator to maximize the DC power detected by the power detector, and
• a current controller configured to control the power converter to output an AC current that is based on the output current command adjusted by the adjustor.

A method for converting power, the method comprising:

• detecting a DC:
• voltage input into a power converter from an electric generation apparatus;
• determining an output power command from a plurality of potential output power commands by comparing levels of the plurality of potential output power commands with a second level corresponding to the DC voltage detected in the detecting step and selecting the output power command that has a first level that correlates with the second level;
• and
• controlling the power converter based on the output power command determined in the determining step,
• wherein the controlling further comprises
• generating an output current command based on the determined output power command,
• detecting the DC power input into the power converter,
• adjusting the generated output current command to maximize the detected DC power, and
• controlling the power converter to output an AC current that is based on the adjusted output current command.

A power conversion apparatus comprising:

• a power converter configured to convert DC power input from an electric generation apparatus into AC power;
• a voltage detector configured to detect a DC voltage input into the power converter;
• means for, controlling the power converter to maximize the DC power by determining an output power command from a plurality of potential output power commands by comparing levels of the plurality of potential output power commands with a second level that corresponds to the DC voltage detected by the voltage detector, by selecting the output power command that has a first level that correlates with the second level, by controlling the power converter based on the determined output power command, and by
• generating an output current command based on the determined output power command, detecting the DC power input into the power converter, adjusting the generated output current command to maximize the detected DC power, and controlling the power converter to output an AC current that is based on the adjusted output current command.