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US 12,119,647 B2Granted
Intelligent algorithm for maximum power point tracking through load management in solar photovoltaic systems
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsMeng Tao, Kelvin Tan, Joseph Azzolini
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Principles of the present disclosure present an advanced control algorithm related to improving maximum power point tracking of a renewable energy system such as a solar photovoltaic system through load management, which estimates optimum load switch points, minimizes unsuccessful switches, and maximizes renewable energy such as photovoltaic energy delivered to loads.
Claims20
A load management system for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, the system comprising:
- a PV array of solar modules;
- a plurality of loads configured to be powered by the PV array and switched on or off by a plurality of respective relays;
- a power sensor configured to measure an amount of power delivered from the PV array to the plurality of loads;
- and
- a controller coupled to the power sensor and the plurality of relays and configured to:
- determine, by the power sensor, a first power output and a second power output of the PV array at, respectively, a first time and a second time which is later than the first time by a first delay period;
- compare the first and the second power outputs;
- cause, via a relay and based on the comparison of the first and the second power outputs, a first switch of a load;
- determine, by the power sensor, a third power output of the PV array at a third time after the first switch of the load and compare the second and the third power outputs;
- cause, via the relay and based on the comparison of the second and the third power outputs, an undo of the first switch of the load if the second power output is larger than the third power output;
- determine, by the power sensor, a fourth power output of the PV array at a fourth time after the undo of the first switch of the load and a second delay period;
- cause, via the relay, a second switch of the load;
- determine, by the power sensor, a fifth power output of the PV array at a fifth time after the second switch of the load and compare the fourth and the fifth power outputs;
- cause, via the relay and based on the comparison of the fourth and the fifth power outputs, an undo of the second switch of the load if the fourth power output is larger than the fifth power output;
- determine a first rate of change of power output between the second and the fourth power outputs and a second rate of change of power output between the third and the fifth power outputs;
- predict, based on the first and the second rates of change of power output, a power output level of the PV array at a sixth time corresponding to an optimal power level for a third switch of the load;
- and
- cause, via the relay, the third switch of the load when a measured power output level of the PV array equals the predicted power output level.
15 more elements
A load management apparatus for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, the apparatus comprising:
- a PV array of solar modules;
- a plurality of loads configured to be powered by the PV array and switched on or off by a plurality of respective relays;
- a power sensor configured to measure an amount of power delivered from the PV array to the plurality of loads;
- and
- a controller coupled to the power sensor and the plurality of relays and configured to:
- determine, by the power sensor, a first power output and a second power output of the PV array at, respectively, a first time and a second time which is later than the first time by a first delay period;
- compare the first and the second power outputs;
- cause, via a relay and based on the comparison of the first and the second power outputs, a first switch of a load;
- determine, by the power sensor, a third power output of the PV array at a third time after the first switch of the load and compare the second and the third power outputs;
- cause, via the relay and based on the comparison of the second and the third power outputs, an undo of the first switch of the load if the second power output is larger than the third power output;
- determine, by the power sensor, a fourth power output of the PV array at a fourth time after the undo of the first switch of the load and a second delay period;
- cause, via the relay, a second switch of the load;
- determine, by the power sensor, a fifth power output of the PV array at a fifth time after the second switch of the load and compare the fourth and the fifth power outputs;
- cause, via the relay and based on the comparison of the fourth and the fifth power outputs, an undo of the second switch of the load if the fourth power output is larger than the fifth power output;
- determine a first rate of change of power output between the second and the fourth power outputs and a second rate of change of power output between the third and the fifth power outputs;
- predict, based on the first and the second rates of change of power output, a power output level of the PV array at a sixth time corresponding to an optimal power level for a third switch of the load;
- and
- cause, via the relay, the third switch of the load when a measured power output level of the PV array equals the predicted power output level.
15 more elements
A load management method for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, the method comprising:
- determining, by a power sensor, a first power output and a second power output of a PV array of solar modules at, respectively, a first time and a second time which is later than the first time by a first delay period;
- comparing, by a controller, the first and the second power outputs;
- causing, via a relay and based on the comparison of the first and the second power outputs, a first switch of a load;
- determining, by the power sensor, a third power output of the PV array at a third time after the first switch of the load and comparing, by the controller, the second and the third power outputs;
- causing, via the relay and based on the comparison of the second and the third power outputs, an undo of the first switch of the load based on the second power output being larger than the third power output;
- determining, by the power sensor, a fourth power output of the PV array at a fourth time after the undo of the first switch of the load and a second delay period;
- causing, via the relay, a second switch of the load;
- determining, by the power sensor, a fifth power output of the PV array at a fifth time after the second switch of the load and comparing, by the controller, the fourth and the fifth power outputs;
- causing, via the relay and based on the comparison of the fourth and the fifth power outputs, an undo of the second switch of the load based on the fourth power output being larger than the fifth power output;
- determining, by the controller, a first rate of change of power output between the second and the fourth power outputs and a second rate of change of power output between the third and the fifth power outputs;
- and
- predicting, by the controller and based on the first and the second rates of change of power output, a power output level of the PV array at a sixth time corresponding to an optimal power level for a third switch of the load.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.