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40 
Oki Technical ReviewApri 2009/Issue 214 Vol.76 No.1
Development of Power ConditionerUsing Digital Controls forGenerating Solar Power
Tadashi Ryu
Power electronics has been in the limelight in recentyears in conjunction with the promotion of energyconservation. Power electronics is a technology forcontrolling electric power consumption usingsemiconductors, such as field effect transistors (FETs). Alot of progress has been made particularly to increaseefficiency and extend the capacity of inverters to outputalternating current. Such efforts have been contributingto energy conservation in the form of various products,ranging from household appliances, such as refrigeratorsand air conditioners, to hybrid cars.OKI Information Systems (hereinafter referred to as“OIS”) has been involved with the development of powerelectronics and power conditioners for generating solarpower through the application of digital controls, inpartnership with OKI Power Tech (hereinafter referred toas “OPT”). Power conditioners are equipments thatgenerate solar power by converting direct current,supplied by solar cell modules, into alternating current.These devices play a very important role in the promotionof higher efficiency (energy conservation) solar powergenerating systems.This paper describes the current status of digitallycontrolled power supplies, the functions of powerconditioners for generating solar power and elementaltechnologies, as well as the status of the developmentsand future activities.
Current status of digitally controlled powersupplies
Power supplies in use at the present time primarilyuse analog controllers. In recent years, however,research and development has concentrated on digitallycontrolled power supplies that use microcomputers anddigital signal processors (DSPs)
*1)
. Digitally controlledpower supplies control the overall system that involvesvoltage control, current control and remotecommunication controls using microcomputers andDSPs. The efficiency of the whole system can beincreased utilizing controls that respond to the currentconditions, using information derived from such controls.OIS, in partnership with OPT, started thecommercialization of a DC-DC converter power supply in2004, as an evaluation board for digitally controlledpower supplies that use DSPs manufactured by TexasInstruments. The external appearance of a DC-DCconverter power supply is shown in
Photo 1
. Such unitswere supplied to customers who expressed a desire toconduct trials on digitally controlled power supplies and afavorable outcome resulted.Commercialization of a DC-AC inverter power supplyfor communication base stations was completed in 2007.The external appearance of a DC-AC inverter powersupply is shown in
Photo 2
. This product is capable ofsustaining high conversion efficiency from light to heavyload conditions, with the use of load-adaptive control.Details pertaining to the load-adaptive control areprovided in a later section.Since 2008 OIS has been developing powerconditioners to generate solar power, as products intendedfor green energy initiatives, in partnership with OPT.The hardware for these products has been developedby OPT, since OPT possesses a wealth of experience inthe development of power supplies and the software hasbeen developed by OIS, since OIS has an abundantexperience with digital controls.
*1)DSP is an abbreviation for “digital signal processor”.
Photo 1 DC-DC converter power supplyPhoto 2 DC-AC inverter power supply
 
Special Edition on the Environment: Aiming for Low Carbon Society
Oki Technical Review
41
Apri 2009/Issue 214 Vol.76 No.1
Power conditioners for generating solarpower
Power conditioners for generating solar power(hereinafter referred to as “PV
*2)
power conditioners”)feature functions for converting direct current electricpower, supplied by solar cell modules (hereinafterreferred to as “PV modules”) that output electric powerdependent on irradiance and temperature, into alternatingcurrent electric power. Ordinary DC-AC inverter powersupplies are controlled to output the amount of electricpower required by the load, whereas PV powerconditioners require controls to ensure efficient output ofelectric power supplied by PV modules.PV power conditioners are configured either as apower grid interconnecting system or a self sustainedoperation system. A power grid interconnecting system isconfigured to connect the output of a PV powerconditioner to commercial AC mains, which allows for thesale of unconsumed excessive amounts of electric powerto the electric power company by supplying it to thepower grid. A configuration that does not offer anyconnection to the power grid is called a self sustainedoperation system, which features the ability to operateeven during a power outage. We are developing a hybridsystem that combines the power grid interconnectingsystem and the self sustained operation system. Theconfiguration of the hybrid system is shown in
Fig. 1
.
Fig. 1 Configuration of hybrid system
Elemental technologies for PV power condi-tioner controls
The “Maximum Power Point Tracking”, “Power GridInterconnecting Control” and “Power Grid InterconnectingProtective Function”, are the principal technologiesrequired to use the controls of PV power conditioners.Each elemental technology is explained below.
(1)Maximum power point tracking
An electric power output/voltage characteristic for PVmodules is shown in
Fig. 2
. PV modules have anoptimum operating point at which the maximum amountof electric power can be output under certainenvironmental conditions. This optimum operating pointvaries, depending on irradiance and temperature. Theconstant control to sustain electric power supplied by PVmodules to the PV power conditioner at an optimumoperating point is called maximum power point tracking(MPPT
*3)
).
Fig. 2 Electric power output/voltage characteristic for PVmodules
Maximum power point tracking plays an extremelyimportant role in a PV system, since the powergenerating efficiency for the entire system is important,rather than simply the electric power conversionefficiency at the DC-DC converter section or the DC-ACinverter section.
(2)Power grid interconnecting control
Even though the controls of ordinary DC-AC inverterpower supplies are for the purpose of supplying outputvoltage in an alternating current, with the use of PVpower conditioners interconnected with a power grid,aside from the controls necessary to match the phaseand amplitude of the output voltage with the voltage ofthe power grid, it is also necessary to use additionalcontrols for the purpose of efficiently supplying electricpower provided by PV modules to the power grid.Controls must be executed considering a drop in voltageas well as phase delays due to the reactor in the inverteroutput section.
(3)Power grid interconnecting protective function
Rapid suspension of operations and protection of thepower grid system are obligatory requirements forequipment connected to power grid systems, accordingto the “Interpretation of Technical Standards on ElectricFacilities”
1)
, when any abnormality occurs with respect tovoltage, current and frequency. This applies to PV powerconditioners, which must be equipped with functions toprotect the power grid system. The provisions for settingvalues and setting times vary from one electric powercompany to another, therefore, discussions with theelectric power company are essential prior to connectinga system to a power company's power grid system.
*2)PV is an abbreviation for ”photovoltaic“.
Power gridPower conditionerPV modules
Load
DCACDCDCDCDCDCDCDCDC
*3)MPPT is an abbreviation for Maximum Power Point Tracking.
ElectricpoweroutputFluctuation due toirradiance & temperatureOptimum operating pointOutput voltage
 
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Oki Technical ReviewApri 2009/Issue 214 Vol.76 No.1
Aside from the protective functions in relation tovoltage, current and frequency, as described above, PVpower conditioners must be equipped with an islandingdetection capability. An islanding involves the output ofelectric power from PV power conditioners, even whenthe power grid voltage has been suspended, due to apower outage or the like. Equipment connected to apower grid system is required to have a capability fordetecting an islanding, in order to ensure the safety forinspection personnel of power grid systems.
Characteristics of PV power conditioners indevelopment
The PV power conditioner currently being developedhas the following three features, aside from the improvedbasic functions for PV power conditioner controlsdescribed in previous sections:•Incorporation of insulation method•Improvement of power generating efficiency•Compatibility for networks
(1)Incorporation of insulation method
Equipment connected to power grid systemsordinarily offer protection against current leakage(grounding current) through the use of a ground-faultinterrupter or the like. PV modules and the power gridsystem are not insulated in non-insulated PV systems,indicating a potential for current leakage overlaid withdirect current components. Therefore, a need exists toinsulate the junction between the grounding detectorcapability and the section that connects to the power gridsystem using an alternating current transformer.An alternating current transformer is required for theinsulation method, but this produces the drawback of alarger system volume. A volume equivalent to that ofequipment adopting the non-insulated method has beenrealized with the PV power conditioner currently beingdeveloped, through the control of multiple compacttransformers. This represents a volume less than two-thirds that of conventional non-insulating-type PV powerconditioners.
(2)Improvement of power generating efficiency
The power conversion efficiency of a power supplyordinarily represents the value for the output of ratedelectric power. The power conversion efficiency duringlower electric power output is lower than that of the ratedelectric power output. The PV power conditioner currentlybeing developed is equipped with multiple DC-DCconverter circuits and the number of these DC-DCconverter circuits in operation varies, depending on theelectric power output conditions. This makes it possible tomaintain a high efficiency electric power conversion inconditions ranging from low to high electric poweroutputs. A conceptual diagram of a load-adaptive controlis shown in
Fig. 3
.
Fig. 3 Concept of load adaptive control
Improvements to the electric power generatingefficiency are being made from a structural approach forthe housing of the PV power conditioner currently beingdeveloped. When the internal temperature of the PVpower conditioner rises, a function that restricts output istriggered in order to prevent damage and thedeterioration of the device. Although large amounts ofelectric power can be generated during periods when thelevel of irradiance is high, the internal temperature riseswhen the surrounding temperature increases. Thefunction for restricting the electric power output from thePV power conditioner is then triggered, which results in adeterioration of the electric power generating efficiency.The thermal analysis simulation, shown in
Photo 3
, wasused in preparation for the housing design, to enable thedesign of a structure that minimizes a rise in temperature.This allowed us to extend the time period during whichthe maximum amount of electric power can be supplied,while improving the electric power generating efficiency.
Photo 3 Thermal analysis simulation
(3)Compatibility for networks
PV systems are often installed at unmanned locationsand for this reason it is essential for them to beconnected to the internet in order for such PV systems tobe maintained in an efficient manner. Hence, a piece ofequipment, such as a personal computer capable ofconnecting to the internet, is most commonly used withconventional PV power conditioners.
Efficiency of product being developedEfficiency(%)Efficiency of conventional productsSignificant energy conservation effects
High efficiency throughout low to highelectric power output range
Load (W)
of 00

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