# US 12,224,707 B2 · Photovoltaic system and maximum input power determining method

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- Number: US 12,224,707 B2
- Document ID: US12224707B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/338,573
- Filed: 2023-06-21
- Published: 2023-10-19
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-12-23
- Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Xinyu Yu; Kai Xin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224707B2

## CPC

- H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
- H02S 50/10: Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells (testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing {H10P74/00})
- H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators}
- H02S 40/32: comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
- H02J 2101/25: {involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources}
- Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An input end of each DC-DC conversion circuit in the photovoltaic system is connected to a corresponding photovoltaic string. Output ends of a plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits are connected in parallel to an input end of a DC-AC conversion circuit. A controller performs a partial IV curve scan on each of the DC-DC conversion circuits, and in a scanning process, controls a total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits to be consistent with that existing before the scan; and obtains a sum of the maximum input powers of all the DC-DC conversion circuits based on the maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits, where a scanned voltage of the partial IV curve scan is less than an open-circuit voltage. The partial IV curve improves scanning efficiency and obtains a maximum input power in a power-limited state, facilitating subsequent power dispatch and control.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A photovoltaic system, comprising: a controller; a Direct Current-Alternating Current (DC-AC) conversion circuit; and a plurality of Direct Current-Direct Current (DC-DC) conversion circuits, wherein: an input end of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits is coupled to connect to a corresponding photovoltaic string, and output ends of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits are connected in parallel and coupled to an input end of the DC-AC conversion circuit; and the controller is configured to: perform a partial Current-Voltage (IV) curve scan on each of the DC-DC conversion circuits, and in a process of the partial IV curve scan, control a total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits to be consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan, to obtain a maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits; and obtain a sum of the maximum input powers of all the DC-DC conversion circuits based on the maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits, wherein a scanned voltage of the partial IV curve scan is less than an open-circuit voltage; wherein the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits comprise at least a first DC-DC conversion circuit and a second DC-DC conversion circuit, wherein the input end of the first DC-DC conversion circuit is connected to the corresponding photovoltaic string, the input end of the second DC-DC conversion circuit is connected to the corresponding photovoltaic string, and the output end of the first DC-DC conversion circuit and the output end of the second DC-DC conversion circuit are connected in parallel and connected to the input end of the DC-AC conversion circuit; and the controller is configured to: control an input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to change, to perform the partial IV curve scan to obtain a first maximum input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit; in a process of performing the partial IV curve scan on the first DC-DC conversion circuit, adjust an input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit, so that a sum of an input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit and the input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit is consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan; by analogy, obtain a second maximum input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit; and obtain the sum of the maximum input powers of all the DC-DC conversion circuits based on the first maximum input power and the second maximum input power.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: control the input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan; record the scanned voltage and a scanned current of the first DC-DC conversion circuit in the process of the partial IV curve scan; and stop scanning when the input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit decreases and the scanned voltage is less than a voltage existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: control the input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan; record the scanned voltage and a scanned current of the first DC-DC conversion circuit in the process of the partial IV curve scan; and stop scanning when the input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit is equal to an input power existing before the partial IV curve scan and the scanned voltage is less than a voltage existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to obtain the first maximum input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit based on the scanned voltage and the scanned current.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to control the input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to gradually decrease from a first voltage to perform the partial IV curve scan, wherein the first voltage is an input voltage, of the first DC-DC conversion circuit, corresponding to the maximum input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit when the total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits is consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit in the process of the IV curve scan based on the input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit, so that the sum of the input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit and the input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit is a power limit instruction value of the photovoltaic system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits comprise N circuits in total, and the N DC-DC conversion circuits are divided into at least the following two groups: a first group comprising K circuits and a second group comprising N-K circuits, wherein K is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and the controller is configured to: separately perform the partial IV curve scan on the K DC-DC conversion circuits in the first group; in the process of the partial IV curve scan, control a total input power of the N DC-DC conversion circuits to be consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan; obtain the maximum input power of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits; by analogy, obtain the maximum input power of each of the N-K DC-DC conversion circuits; and obtain the sum of the maximum input powers of the N DC-DC conversion circuits based on the maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to: control the input voltage of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan; record the scanned voltage and a scanned current of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits; and stop scanning when the input power of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits decreases and the scanned voltage is less than a voltage existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to: control the input voltage of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan; record the scanned voltage and a scanned current of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits; and stop scanning when the input power of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits is equal to an input power existing before the partial IV curve scan and the scanned voltage is less than a voltage existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to obtain the maximum input power of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits based on the scanned voltage and the scanned current of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to: control the input voltage of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits to gradually decrease from a second voltage to perform the partial IV curve scan, wherein the second voltage is an input voltage, of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits, corresponding to a maximum total input power of the N-K DC-DC conversion circuits when the total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits is consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 12

A maximum input power determining method for a photovoltaic system, wherein the photovoltaic system comprises: a Direct Current-Alternating Current (DC-AC) conversion circuit and a plurality of Direct Current-Direct Current (DC-DC) conversion circuits, wherein an input end of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits is configured to connect to a corresponding photovoltaic string, and output ends of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits are connected in parallel and connected to an input end of the DC-AC conversion circuit; and the method comprises: performing a partial Current-Voltage (IV) curve scan on each of the DC-DC conversion circuits, and in a process of the partial IV curve scan, controlling a total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits to be consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan, to obtain 34 a maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits; and obtaining a sum of the maximum input powers of all the DC-DC conversion circuits based on the maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits, wherein a scanned voltage of the partial IV curve scan is less than an open-circuit voltage; wherein the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits comprise at least a first DC-DC conversion circuit and a second DC-DC conversion circuit; the performing a partial Current-Voltage (IV) curve scan on each of the DC-DC conversion circuits, and in a process of the partial IV curve scan, controlling a total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits to be consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan, to obtain a maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits comprises: controlling an input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to change, to perform the partial IV curve scan to obtain a first maximum input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit, and in a process of performing the IV curve scan on the first DC-DC conversion circuit, adjusting an input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit, so that a sum of an input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit and the input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit is consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan; and by analogy, obtaining a second maximum input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit; and the obtaining a sum of the maximum input powers of all the DC-DC conversion circuits based on the maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits comprises: obtaining the sum of the maximum input powers of all the DC-DC conversion circuits based on the first maximum input power and the second maximum input power.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the controlling an input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to change, to perform the partial IV curve scan comprises: controlling the input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan; recording the scanned voltage and a scanned current of the first DC-DC conversion circuit in the process of the IV curve scan; and stopping scanning when the input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit decreases and the scanned voltage is less than a voltage existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the controlling an input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to change, to perform the partial IV curve scan comprises: controlling the input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan; recording the scanned voltage and a scanned current of the first DC-DC conversion circuit in the process of the IV curve scan; and stopping scanning when the input power of the first DC-DC conversion circuit is equal to an input power existing before the partial IV 35 curve scan and the scanned voltage is less than a voltage existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the controlling the input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan comprises: controlling the input voltage of the first DC-DC conversion circuit to gradually decrease from a first voltage to perform the partial IV curve scan, wherein the first voltage is an input voltage, of the first DC-DC conversion circuit, corresponding to the maximum input power of the second DC-DC conversion circuit when the total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits is consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits comprise N circuits in total, and the N DC-DC conversion circuits are divided into at least the following two groups: a first group comprising K circuits and a second group comprising N-K circuits, wherein K is an integer greater than or equal to 2; and the performing a Current-Voltage (IV) curve scan on each of the DC-DC conversion circuits, and in a process of the IV curve scan, controlling a total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits to be consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan, to obtain a maximum input power of each of the DC-DC conversion circuits comprises: separately performing the partial IV curve scan on the K DC-DC conversion circuits in the first group; in the process of the partial IV curve scan, controlling a total input power of the N DC-DC conversion circuits to be consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan; obtaining the maximum input power of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits; and by analogy, obtaining the maximum input power of each of the N-K DC-DC conversion circuits.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein the separately performing the partial IV curve scan on the K DC-DC conversion circuits in the first group comprises: controlling the input voltage of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan; recording the scanned voltage and a scanned current of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits; and stopping scanning when the input power of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits decreases and the scanned voltage is less than a voltage existing before the partial IV curve scan; or controlling the input voltage of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan; recording the scanned voltage and a scanned current of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits; and stopping scanning when the input power of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits is equal to an input power existing before the partial IV curve scan and the scanned voltage is less than a voltage existing before the partial IV curve scan.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein the controlling the input voltage of each of the 36 K DC-DC conversion circuits to gradually decrease to perform the partial IV curve scan comprises: controlling the input voltage of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits to gradually decrease from a second voltage to perform the IV curve scan, wherein the second voltage is an input voltage, of each of the K DC-DC conversion circuits, corresponding to a maximum input power of the N-K DC-DC conversion circuits when the total input power of the plurality of DC-DC conversion circuits is consistent with that existing before the partial IV curve scan.