Power converter

This application is a Continuation Application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2012/058596, filed Mar. 30, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a power converter.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, it is known to supply power to a load by power converters. Such power converters are controlled by various methods. For example, the following control methods are disclosed.

It is disclosed that the number of operating inverters is controlled to maximize alternating current (AC) output power of a power generation system (see Patent Literature 1). There is disclosed a power supply system in which a selection is randomly made from inverters and is operated (see Patent Literature 2). It is disclosed that maximum power of a photovoltaic cell detected from measured data of a pyranometer and a thermometer is compared to the total value of rated outputs of inverters and the inverters are controlled (see Patent Literature 3). It is disclosed that inverters are respectively connected to photovoltaic cells placed on respective roof surfaces facing in directions different from each other and the inverters are controlled (see Patent Literature 4).

However, if power is supplied to a load by power converters, it is hard to increase the accuracy of power to be supplied to the load because of an output error of each of the power converters.

An object of the present invention is to provide a power converter capable of improving the accuracy of power to be supplied to a load by controlling inverters.

A power converter according to an aspect of the present invention comprises inverters, AC sides of the inverters being connected in parallel; and a controller configured to control total output power of the inverters by controlling output power of at least one of the inverters in a control cycle shorter than a shortest communication cycle which allows communication with each of the inverters.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a structural view showing a structure of a power conversion system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a waveform chart showing a relationship between a control cycle of a controller and a communication cycle of an inverter according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a structural view showing a structure of a power conversion system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a structural view showing a structure of a controller according to the second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a structural view showing a structure of a power conversion system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Also, the same portions in the drawings are given the same signs, the detailed explanations thereof will be omitted, and different portions will be mainly described. Also in the following embodiment, overlapping explanations will be omitted.

The power conversion system 10 includes a controller 1 , n direct current (DC) power sources 2 , an AC power system 3 , and n inverters INV 1 to INVn. Here, n is an integer greater than one.

To DC sides of the inverters INV 1 to INVn, the DC power sources 2 are connected, respectively. AC sides of all the inverters INV 1 to INVn are connected to the AC power system 3 . The inverters INV 1 to INVn convert DC power supplied from the DC power sources 2 into AC power and supply it to the AC power system 3 . The inverters INV 1 to INVn are controlled in accordance with control command values C 1 to Cn output from the controller 1 . In addition, the inverters INV 1 to INVn are provided with control modules (not shown in the figures), respectively. Necessary control other than those by a command from the controller 1 is executed over the inverters INV 1 to INVn by the control modules provided, respectively. For example, the control modules perform monitoring, measurement, protection, transmission and reception of data to and from the controller 1 , intermediation of control by the controller 1 , and the like. A part of the functions performed by the control modules may be performed by the controller 1 .

The DC power sources 2 supply DC power to the inverters INV 1 to INVn, respectively. The DC power sources 2 may be any things as long as they output DC power. For example, the DC power sources 2 are photovoltaic (PV) cells, secondary cells, or converters.

The AC power system 3 is an AC load which receives AC power Pt from the inverters INV 1 to INVn. The AC power system 3 may include an AC power source.

The controller 1 executes such control under which all the inverters INV 1 to INVn are controlled together. The controller 1 generates control command values C 1 to Cn for controlling the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn. The controller 1 outputs control command values C 1 to Cn to the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn at regular time intervals, and controls output powers PQ 1 to PQn of the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn. Power PQt to be supplied to the AC power system 3 is thereby controlled.

Control command values C 1 to Cn include set values for each of effective power and reactive power. Here, the set values are values which determine the output power values preset for the inverters INV 1 to INVn. Accordingly, set values determined by the controller 1 correspond to power command values for output powers PQ 1 to PQn of the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn. These set values are determined, such that the n inverters INV 1 to INVn share a required power value required by the AC power system 3 input from an upper control system. The required power value may be preset for the controller 1 .

In addition, control command values C 1 to Cn include information necessary for controlling the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn, information necessary for communication, and the like. The inverters INV 1 to INVn output powers PQ 1 to PQn in accordance with control command values C 1 to Cn received, respectively. Total power PQt output from the inverters INV 1 to INVn is thereby supplied to the AC power system 3 .

Also, when output powers PQ 1 to PQn of the inverters INV 1 to INVn are changed, the controller 1 calculates a change rate of power. The controller 1 determines set values, such that a calculated change rate of power falls within a preset permissible range of an output change rate. For example, output powers PQ 1 to PQn of the inverters INV 1 to INVn are rapidly changed in such cases as those where the DC power sources 2 are PV cells which are rapidly insolated.

In addition, the controller 1 has a scheduling function for activating or stopping the inverters INV 1 to INVn sequentially, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a waveform chart showing a relationship between a control cycle Ttx of the controller 1 and a communication cycle Trx of the inverters INV 1 to INVn according to the present embodiment. A wavy form TX indicates the state of the controller 1 . Wavy forms RX 1 to RXn indicate the states of the control modules of the inverters INV 1 to INVn, respectively. In each of the wavy forms TX and RX 1 to RXn, a high level and a low level indicate being in a calculation process and not being in a calculation process, respectively.

A cycle in which the wavy form TX of the controller 1 reaches a high level is the control cycle Ttx. The control cycle Ttx is also the resolution of control intervals of the power conversion system 10 . A cycle in which the wavy forms RX 1 to RXn of the inverters INV 1 to INVn reach a high level is the communication cycle Trx with the controller 1 . Here, it is supposed that the communication cycle Trx is set at a shortest cycle.

The controller 1 outputs control command values C 1 to Cn at regular intervals sequentially in the order of the first inverter INV 1 , the second inverter INV 2 , . . . , the n-th inverter INVn. After outputting the control command value Cn to the last n-th inverter INVn, the controller 1 outputs again the control command values C 1 to Cn in order from the first inverter INV 1 . The controller 1 repeats this and controls the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn. That is, the controller 1 sequentially controls output powers PQ 1 to PQn of the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn with time-shared time differences.

In this manner, the controller 1 controls the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn substantially in the control cycle Ttx.

According to the present embodiment, even if the shortest communication cycle Trx between the controller 1 and each of the inverters INV 1 to INVn is longer than the control cycle Ttx of the controller 1 , the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn can be controlled in the control cycle Ttx. The controller 1 can thereby improve the accuracy of power to be supplied to the AC power system 3 . Thus, the power conversion system 10 can perform stable power supply to the AC power system 3 .

If the communication cycle Trx between the controller 1 and each of the inverters INV 1 to INVn is longer than the control cycle Ttx of the controller 1 , the controller 1 can control the individual inverters INV 1 to INVn only in the communication cycle Trx.

Thus, by controlling at least one of the inverters INV 1 to INVn in the control cycle Ttx, the controller 1 can control the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn in the control cycle Ttx shorter than the shortest communication cycle Trx.

Also, the controller 1 can cause the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn to reach target output power PQt promptly by gradually changing the output power PQt within a preset permissible range of a power change rate in the control cycle Ttx. The power conversion system 10 can thereby perform stable power supply to the AC power system 3 without causing a rapid power fluctuation even if the output power PQt is greatly changed.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a structural view showing a structure of a power conversion system 10 A according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The power conversion system 10 A is obtained by replacing the controller 1 with a controller 1 A in the power conversion system 10 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 . With respect to the other points, the power conversion system 10 A has the same structure as that of the power conversion system 10 according to the first embodiment.

The controller 1 A is obtained by adding the following structures and functions to the controller 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a structural view showing a structure of the controller 1 A according to the present embodiment.

The controller 1 A includes a set-value detector 11 , a number-of-operable-inverters detector 12 , and a control-command generator 13 .

To the set-value detector 11 , a required power value DM required by the AC power system 3 is input. The set-value detector 11 detects one or two set values for each of effective power and reactive power. The set-value detector 11 outputs a detected set value to the control-command generator 13 .

The number-of-operable-inverters detector 12 detects the number n of operable inverters INV 1 to INVn all the time. The number n may be detected in any way. For example, the number-of-operable-inverters detector 12 receives, from wiring connected to each of the inverters INV 1 to INVn, a signal indicating whether they are operable or not.

To the control-command generator 13 , the required power value DM, one or two set values detected by the set-value detector 11 , and the number n detected by the number-of-operable-inverters detector 12 are input. The control-command generator 13 generates control command values C 1 to Cn on the basis of the required power value DM, the one or two set values, and the number n. The control-command generator 13 outputs generated control command values C 1 to Cn to the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn and controls the inverters INV 1 to INVn individually.

Next, a control method of the inverters INV 1 to INVn by the controller 1 A will be described. Here, it is supposed that performance such as the control cycle and the resolution of output power of all the inverters INV 1 to INVn is the same. Also, although control over effective power will be described, the same is true of control over reactive power.

Now, it is supposed that the required power value DM requires that effective power corresponding to P % of the total of respective maximum output powers of the n inverters INV 1 to INVn be supplied to the AC power system 3 . That is, if all the n inverters INV 1 to INVn output effective power of exactly P % of maximum output power (the average effective power value obtained by dividing the required power value DM by n, if capacities are the same; an effective power value obtained by proportionally dividing the required power value DM on the basis of rated outputs of the respective inverters, if the capacities are different), power according to the required power value DM can be supplied to the AC power system 3 .

The controller 1 A detects the number n of operable inverters INV 1 to INVn. Here, it is supposed that all the n inverters INV 1 to INVn are operable.

If effective power of exactly P % of maximum output power can be output from each of the inverters INV 1 to INVn (if the inverters INV 1 to INVn have set values of P %), the controller 1 A outputs, to all the inverters INV 1 to INVn, control command values C 1 to Cn to output effective power of P % at the common set values of P %. Here, if the difference between a set value closest to P % and P % is lower than the value obtained by dividing the resolution of output powers of the inverters INV 1 to INVn by the number n, the set value closest to P % can be regarded as a set value of exactly P %.

If the inverters INV 1 to INVn cannot output effective power of exactly P % by the resolution of output powers of the inverters INV 1 to INVn (if the inverters INV 1 to INVn do not have set values of P %), the controller 1 A controls the n inverters INV 1 to INVn in the following manner.

First, the controller 1 A searches for two set values CL and CH which the inverters INV 1 to INVn can output. The low set value CL is a set value of CL % which is closest to P % while being lower than P %. The high set value CH is a set value of CH % which is closest to P % while being higher than P %.

Next, the controller 1 A determines inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output the low set value CL and inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output the high set value CH, respectively, on the basis of the number n of operable inverters INV 1 to INVn. The numbers of the inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output the two set values CL and CH, respectively, are determined, such that the total of effective power output from all the inverters INV 1 to INVn becomes closest to a required effective power of P %.

The controller 1 A outputs control command values C 1 to Cn to the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn to make them output power at the set values CL and CH.

Next, with respect to the case where the inverters INV 1 to INVn do not have the same set values as required output powers PQ 1 to PQn, the control of the inverters INV 1 to INVn by the controller 1 A will be described with concrete examples.

Here, it is supposed that the required power value DM requires that effective power corresponding to 60.3% of the total of respective maximum output powers of ten inverters INV 1 to INVn be supplied to the AC power system 3 . Also, it is supposed that the resolution of output powers of the inverters INV 1 to INVn is in steps of 1%.

The controller 1 A searches for a set value CL which is closest to 60.3% while being lower than 60.3%. The controller 1 A determines that the set value CL is 60%. Also, the controller 1 A searches for a set value CH which is closest to 60.3% while being higher than 60.3%. The controller 1 A determines that the set value CH is 61%.

The controller 1 A performs calculation for determining the respective numbers of inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output the set value CL and the set value CH. The controller 1 A determines the respective numbers of the inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output the set value CL and the set value CH, such that the total effective power of ten inverters INV 1 to INVn becomes closest to effective power required by the required power value DM. More specifically, the controller 1 A determines that the number of the inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output the low set value CL is seven, and the number of the inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output the high set value CH is three.

Thus, the controller 1 A generates control command values C 1 to Cn to make seven inverters INV 1 to INVn output the low set value CL, and to make three inverters INV 1 to INVn to output the high set value CH.

The inverters INV 1 to INVn output power to the AC power system 3 in accordance with the control command values C 1 to Cn generated as described above. The inverters INV 1 to INVn thereby supply effective power of 60.3% as required by the required power value DM, while they have the accuracy with which power of 60% is output by a command value of 60.3%.

Next, the case where the inverters INV 1 to INVn have stopped because of a failure, etc., will be described.

Here, it is supposed that the first inverter INV 1 has stopped during operation of the power conversion system 10 A. Also, it is supposed that the inverter INV 1 , which has stopped, performed output according to the low set value CL.

The controller 1 A detects, by the number-of-operable-inverters detector 12 , that the number of operating inverters has decreased by one to n−1. The controller 1 A calculates set values for the respective inverters INV 2 to INVn excluding the first inverter INV 1 as in the above-described case where the number of operating inverters is n, such that effective power corresponding to the low set value CL is shared by n−1 inverters.

Also, the controller 1 A calculates a change rate of power to be supplied to the AC power system 3 in the case where power corresponding to the low set value CL is increased.

If a calculated change rate of power falls within a preset permissible range of an output change rate, the controller 1 A outputs control command values C 2 to Cn on the basis of calculated set values for the respective inverters INV 2 to INVn.

When the inverter INV 1 has stopped, the permissible range of the output change rate of the total output power PQt is prevented from being exceeded by reducing output of the inverter INV 1 and increasing outputs of the other inverters INV 2 to INVn.

Next, the case where the required power value DM increases, exceeding the permissible range of the output change rate, will be described.

If a change rate of power due to an increase in the required power value DM has exceeded the preset permissible range of the output change rate, the controller 1 A limits set values for the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn for outputting an increased required power value DM within the permissible range of the output change rate. The controller 1 A outputs control command values C 1 to Cn on the basis of the limited set values. Then, the controller 1 A outputs the control command values C 1 to Cn, gradually increasing the set values until they reach values before limitation, not to exceed the permissible range of the output change rate.

According to the present embodiment, the following operation and effect can be obtained in addition to the operation and effect according to the first embodiment.

The controller 1 A can make the resolution (%) of the total output power PQt of all the inverters INV 1 to INVn smaller than the resolution of output powers PQ 1 to PQn of the individual inverters INV 1 to INVn by controlling the inverters INV 1 to INVn through division into set values CL and CH which are respectively lower and higher than a value obtained by dividing the required power value DM by the number n of operable inverters INV 1 to INVn. The controller 1 A can thereby increase the accuracy of making the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn closer to the required power value DM.

Also, even if the inverters INV 2 to INVn have stopped, a rapid fluctuation of power to be supplied to the AC power system 3 can be prevented by changing the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn within a preset permissible range of an output change rate.

In each of the embodiments, if any of the inverters INV 1 to INVn has stopped, the control cycle Ttx of the controller 1 may be changed to be longer within a range shorter than the shortest communication cycle Trx with each of the inverters INV 1 to INVn. The total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn can be thereby controlled in the regular control cycle Ttx, even if the operable inverters INV 1 to INVn have decreased. Also, the number of operable inverters may be detected as in the second embodiment.

Also, in each of the embodiments, if the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn can be controlled in the control cycle Ttx, control command values may be simultaneously output to a part of inverters.

Moreover, in the first embodiment, the controller 1 may determine set values in any way on the basis of a required power value. In addition, all the inverters INV 1 to INVn may be controlled at one set value, or may be controlled at two or more set values.

Also, in the second embodiment, the numbers of inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output two set values CL and CH, respectively, are determined according to required power; however, this does not impose any restrictions on methods of determining the numbers of the inverters INV 1 to INVn. For example, the inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output two values CL and CH, respectively, may be determined in advance. Even if the numbers of the inverters INV 1 to INVn to be made to output the two set values CL and CH, respectively, are preset to be the same, the resolution of the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn can be half that in the case where output is performed at one set value all the time.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment, it is desirable that the two set values CL and CH be set at set values closest to the power values to be output; however, this does not impose any restrictions. Even if the two set values CL and CH are not the set values closest to the power values to be output, any set values CL and CH may be selected as long as the accuracy of the total output power of the inverters INV 1 to INVn is improved.

Also, in the second embodiment, if there is a set value which is exactly the same as the power value to be output, all the inverters INV 1 to INVn are controlled at exactly the same set value; however, this does not impose any restrictions. If the number of the inverters INV 1 to INVn is three or more, they may be controlled at two set values all the time. Also in this case, the resolution of the total output power PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn can be made finer than that in the case where control is executed at one set value all the time.

Moreover, in the second embodiment, the number n of operable inverters INV 1 to INVn is detected, but may be preset. In this case, if any of the inverters INV 1 to INVn is broken, an operator may change the set number, or a control method of the inverters INV 1 to INVn may be changed to another. Another control method is, for example, a method of making all the inverters INV 1 to INVn output power at the same set value.

Also, in the second embodiment, performance such as the control cycle and the resolution of output power of all the inverters INV 1 to INVn has been described as being the same, but this does not impose any restrictions. The inverters INV 1 to INVn may be configured in any way, as long as the inverters INV 1 to INVn can be controlled at a set value CL and a set value CH which are lower and higher, respectively, than a proportional division value obtained by proportionally dividing the required power value DM on the basis of rated outputs of the respective inverters INV 1 to INVn (if the rated outputs are the same, the average power value obtained by dividing the required power value DM by the number n of operable inverters INV 1 to INVn) and the total output power value PQt of the inverters INV 1 to INVn can be controlled with a resolution (%) smaller than the resolution (%) of the individual inverters INV 1 to INVn.

It is to be noted that the present invention is not restricted to the foregoing embodiments, and constituent elements can be modified and changed into shapes without departing from the scope of the invention at an embodying stage. Additionally, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the foregoing embodiments. For example, several constituent elements may be eliminated from all constituent elements disclosed in the embodiments. Furthermore, constituent elements in the different embodiments may be appropriately combined.