IP Library Granted Patent US 10,608,437
Granted Patent B2
US 10,608,437 · App. 15/679,745 · Granted Mar 31, 2020

Feedback based photovoltaic conversion systems

Inventors: Anatoli Ledenev (Fort Collins, CO); Robert M. Porter (Fort Collins, CO)
Assignee: AMPT, LLC
H02J3/385H02J3/00H02J13/0003H02M2001/0077Y02E10/58Y02E40/72Y02P80/23Y04S10/123Y10S136/293Y10T307/609Y10T307/615Y10T307/658Y10T307/685Y10T307/696Y10T307/707Y10T307/718
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,608,437
App. No.
15/679,745
Granted
Mar 31, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Different systems to achieve solar power conversion are provided in at least three different general aspects, with circuitry that can be used to harvest maximum power from a solar source or strings of panels for DC or AC use, perhaps for transfer to a power grid three aspects can exist perhaps independently and relate to: 1) electrical power conversion in a multimodal manner, 2) alternating between differing processes such as by an alternative mode photovoltaic power converter functionality control, and 3) systems that can achieve efficiencies in conversion that are extraordinarily high compared to traditional through substantially power isomorphic photovoltaic DC-DC power conversion capability that can achieve 99.2% efficiency or even only wire transmission losses. Switchmode impedance conversion circuits may have pairs of photovoltaic power series switch elements and pairs of photovoltaic power shunt switch elements.

Claims (52)

1. A grid powering solar power system comprising:

a plurality of DC power sources;

a plurality of power converters, each of said power converters coupled to a different, corresponding one or more of said plurality of DC power sources, wherein each power converter comprises a boost and buck power conversion circuit;

converter functionality control circuitry that, during operation of said grid powering solar power system to produce operational power that is sufficient to power the grid, is capable of alternating between:

maximum power point tracking,

overcurrent boundary condition control of converter DC output at other than maximum power point, and

overvoltage boundary condition control of said converter DC output at other than said maximum power point, and

wherein each of the plurality of power converters is connected in series to at least one other power converter of the plurality of power converters.

2. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 , wherein each of said DC power sources comprises at least one solar panel.

3. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 , wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in series.

4. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in parallel.

5. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in both series and parallel.

6. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar panels connected in series.

7. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said power converters converts at greater than 98% efficiency.

8. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said power converters converts using synchronous duty cycle switching.

9. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said power converters comprises a parallel capacitance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

10. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein each of said power converters comprises a series inductance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

11. A grid powering solar power system comprising:

a plurality of DC power sources;

a plurality of power converters, each of said power converters coupled to a different, corresponding one or more of said plurality of DC power sources, wherein each power converter comprises a boost and buck power conversion circuit;

converter functionality control circuitry that, during operation of said grid powering solar power system to produce operational power that is sufficient to power the grid, is capable of alternating between:

maximum power point tracking, and

overcurrent boundary condition control of converter DC output at other than maximum power point, and

wherein each of the plurality of power converters is connected in series to at least one other power converter of the plurality of power converters.

12. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises at least one solar panel.

13. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in series.

14. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in parallel.

15. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in both series and parallel.

16. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar panels connected in series.

17. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said power converters converts at greater than 98% efficiency.

18. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said power converters converts using synchronous duty cycle switching.

19. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said power converters comprises a parallel capacitance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

20. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein each of said power converters comprises a series inductance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

21. A grid powering solar power system comprising:

a plurality of DC power sources;

a plurality of power converters, each of said power converters coupled to a different, corresponding one of said plurality of DC power sources, wherein each power converter comprises a boost and buck power conversion circuit;

converter functionality control circuitry that, during operation of said grid powering solar power system to produce operational power that is sufficient to power the grid, is capable of alternating between:

maximum power point tracking, and

overvoltage boundary condition control of converter DC output at other than maximum power point, and

wherein each of the plurality of power converters is connected in series to at least one other power converter of the plurality of power converters.

22. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 , wherein each of said DC power sources comprises at least one solar panel.

23. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in series.

24. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in parallel.

25. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar cells connected in both series and parallel.

26. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said DC power sources comprises a plurality of solar panels connected in series.

27. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said power converters converts at greater than 98% efficiency.

28. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said power converters converts using synchronous duty cycle switching.

29. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said power converters comprises a parallel capacitance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

30. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein each of said power converters comprises a series inductance configured between a boost part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit and a buck part of said boost and buck power conversion circuit.

31. The grid powering solar power system of claim 1 wherein, during said overvoltage boundary condition control and said overcurrent boundary condition control, said operational power exhibits a proportionality between voltage and current.

32. The grid powering solar power system of claim 11 wherein, during said overcurrent boundary condition control, said operational power exhibits a proportionality between voltage and current.

33. The grid powering solar power system of claim 21 wherein, during said overvoltage boundary condition control, said operational power exhibits a proportionality between voltage and current.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2017
From: LEDENEV, ANATOLI; PORTER, ROBERT M.
To: AMPT, LLC
Reel/Frame 043753/0247 →
Continuity (11)
Continuation 15612892 · Jun 2, 2017
Continuation 15219149 · Jul 25, 2016
Continuation 13934102 · Jul 2, 2013
Continuation 13275147 · Oct 17, 2011
Continuation 13192329 · Jul 27, 2011
Continuation 12955704 · Nov 29, 2010
Continuation 12682889
Provisional Application 60986979 · Nov 9, 2007
Provisional Application 60982053 · Oct 23, 2007
Provisional Application 60980157 · Oct 15, 2007
Related Publication 20170373503A1 · Dec 28, 2017
Cited By (4)
US 12,538,608 US 12,573,838 US 12,573,856 US 12,727,283