Apparatus for controlling power production of solar panel

Abstract

The present invention proposes an apparatus for controlling power production of a solar panel, the apparatus being capable of monitoring and controlling power produced by the solar panel, and monitoring and controlling the power with which a charging device is charged. The apparatus for controlling power production of a solar panel monitors the amount of electric energy produced by each of multiple panel arrays or all of the multiple panel arrays and the amount of battery charging, compares the result of the monitoring with a preconfigured value, and selects a path of a charge transmitted from a specific panel array to a specific battery.

Description

Solar panel power generation control device

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar panel power generation control device, and more particularly, to a solar panel power generation control device capable of monitoring and controlling power produced by a solar panel and also monitoring and controlling power charged to a charging device, thereby maximizing the lifespan of the charging device.

[0002] Since the power generation capacity of a solar power generation system is not large for a single module that includes multiple solar cells that convert actual sunlight into electric current, it is essential to have a structure that connects multiple unit modules in series, parallel, or series-parallel to obtain voltage and current levels appropriate for specific needs such as household and industrial use.

[0003] This structure leads to a decrease in the overall current when partial shading occurs in some unit modules due to environmental factors such as surrounding buildings or dust, which results in a decrease in the overall system efficiency.

[0004] Since multiple solar panels generate different charges depending on their installation location, even solar panels installed in a limited area may produce different amounts of charge depending on their installation location.

[0005] For a solar power generation system to produce electricity efficiently, it must be able to vary the path that transfers the charge generated by the solar panels to the charging device, and it must be able to effectively monitor the amount of charge generated from a specific solar panel.

[0006] The lifespan of a battery, which is a storage device that stores the generated electricity, also varies depending on the amount of charge charged to the battery. Therefore, in order to optimize the lifespan of a battery, it is necessary to monitor the battery's charge level and charge an appropriate amount of electricity to the battery.

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a solar panel power generation control device capable of monitoring and controlling the power produced by a solar panel and monitoring and controlling the power charged to a charging device.

[0008] The technical problems to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0009] In order to achieve the above technical task, the solar panel power generation control device according to the present invention monitors the amount of electric energy produced by each of a plurality of panel arrays or the entirety of the plurality of panel arrays and the charge amount of a battery, and compares the results of the monitor with a preset value to select a path for the charge to be transferred from a specific panel array to a specific battery.

[0010] The technical problems to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0011] The solar panel power generation control device according to the present invention as described above not only effectively stores electric energy produced from a solar panel in a charging device according to the state of the solar panel, but also has the advantage of maximizing the lifespan of the battery by determining whether to charge according to the charge amount of the battery, which is the charging device.

[0012] The effects that can be obtained from the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0013] The specific functions of the configuration illustrated in Fig. 1 are described below.

[0014] Figure 2 shows a specific example of the solar panel power generation control device illustrated in Figure 1.

[0015] Figure 3 illustrates a case where the type and amount of charge transferred to the battery is controlled by adjusting the path through which the charge flows.

[0016] In order to fully understand the present invention, its operational advantages, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of the present invention and the contents described in the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by describing preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numerals in each drawing represent the same components.

[0018] Figure 1 shows a solar power generation system including a solar panel power generation control device according to the present invention.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, the solar power generation system includes a solar panel array (10), a charging device (20), and a solar panel power generation control device (100).

[0020] The solar panel array (10) includes a plurality of solar unit panels, and the plurality of solar unit panels may include panel arrays connected in series, parallel, or series-parallel, and the electric energy produced in each panel array is transmitted to the charging device (20) via the solar panel power generation control device (100). The solar panel converts the collected solar energy into electric charge and transmits it to the outside, but for the convenience of explanation, it is expressed as the movement of electric charge or electric energy below.

[0021] The charging device (20) charges the electric energy produced by the solar panel. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed herein to be a battery. That is, the charging device (20) can include anything from a large-capacity storage device that stores solar energy produced in large quantities to a battery that stores solar energy produced in small quantities in a single household.

[0022] A solar panel power generation control device (100) monitors the amount of electric energy produced by each or all of a plurality of panel arrays constituting a solar panel array (10) and the charge amount of a battery (20), and performs the function of selecting a path for charge to be transferred from a specific panel array to a specific battery as needed, and includes a power generation monitor / charge path router (110), a switch control device (120), and a signal processing device (130).

[0023] The power generation monitor / charge path router (110) includes a power generation monitor 1 (111), a power generation monitor 2 (115), a power supply router (116), and a second panel protector (117).

[0024] Power generation monitor 1 (111) includes a panel selection switch (112), a panel power generation monitor (113), and a first panel protector (114).

[0025] The specific functions of the configuration illustrated in Fig. 1 are described below.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a specific example of the solar panel power generation control device illustrated in Figure 1.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a solar panel power generation control device (100) according to the present invention includes a power generation monitor / charge path router (110), a switch control device (120), and a signal processing device (130). Depending on the embodiment, the power generation monitor / charge path router (110) may include a plurality of power generation monitors / charge path routers (110-1, 110-2).

[0028] For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that there is a first power generation monitor / charge path router (110-1), a second power generation monitor / charge path router (110-2), a switch control device (120), and a signal processing device (130).

[0029] It is assumed that the first power generation monitor / charge path router (110-1) is connected in parallel with two solar panels (11, 12) among the plurality of solar panels constituting the solar panel array (10), and the second power generation monitor / charge path router (110-2) is connected in parallel with the other two solar panels (13, 14) among the plurality of solar panels. Each of the plurality of solar panels (11 to 14) has a plurality of solar cells installed.

[0030] The first power generation monitor / charge path router (110-1) includes a panel selection switch (112), a first panel power generation monitor (113), a first panel protector (114), a second power generation monitor (115), a power supply router (116), and a second panel protector (117). Referring to FIG. 1, the panel selection switch (112), the first panel power generation monitor (113), and the first panel protector (114) may be included in the first power generation monitor (111).

[0031] The panel selection switch (112) includes two switches (SW1, SW2) that switch the charge produced from two solar panels (11, 12) to the first panel power production monitor (113) in response to multiple switch control signals (SC1, SC2).

[0032] The first panel power generation monitor (113) includes two current measuring devices (A1, A2) that monitor the amount of charge produced from two solar panels (11, 12) applied via the panel selection switch (112) and transmit the result to a signal processing device (130).

[0033] The first panel protector (114) is installed between the panel power generation monitor 1 (113) and the power generation monitor 2 (115) and includes two protection diodes (PD1, PD2) that block reverse current flowing from the second power generation monitor (115) toward the first panel power generation monitor (113).

[0034] The second power generation monitor (115) includes a fifth current measuring device (A5) that monitors the total amount of charge produced from two solar panels (11, 12) that are applied via a panel selection switch (112) and transmits the result to a signal processing device (130).

[0035] The power supply router (116) includes two switches (SW5, SW6) that transmit charges passing through the power generation monitor 2 (115) to one of two output terminals (OUT1, OUT2) in response to multiple switch control signals (SC5, SC6).

[0036] The second panel protector (117) is installed between the first output terminal (OUT1) and the power supply router (116) and includes a fifth protection diode (PD5) that blocks reverse current flowing from the first output terminal (OUT1) toward the power supply router (116).

[0037] The first switch (SW1) included in the panel selection switch (112) switches the charge generated from the solar panel 1 (11) connected to one terminal to the first current measuring device (A1) connected to the other terminal in response to the first switch control signal (SC1). Here, the term “switching” means short-circuiting or opening both terminals of the switch, and will be described with the same meaning hereinafter. The second switch (SW2) included in the panel selection switch (112) switches the charge generated from the solar panel 2 (12) connected to one terminal to the second current measuring device (A2) connected to the other terminal in response to the second switch control signal (SC2).

[0038] The first current measuring device (A1) included in the first panel power generation monitor (113) monitors the amount of charge produced in solar panel 1 (11) via the first switch (SW1). The second current measuring device (A2) included in the panel power generation monitor 1 (113) monitors the amount of charge produced in solar panel 2 (12) via the second switch (SW2).

[0039] The second power generation monitor (115) includes a fifth current measuring device (A5) that monitors the sum of charges passing through the first current measuring device (A1) and the second current measuring device (A2).

[0040] The first protective diode (PD1) included in the first panel protector (114) has its positive terminal connected to the first current measuring device (A1) and its negative terminal connected to the fifth current measuring device (A5). The second protective diode (PD2) included in the first panel protector (114) has its positive terminal connected to the second current measuring device (A2) and its negative terminal connected to the fifth current measuring device (A5).

[0041] The fifth switch (SW5) constituting the power supply router (116) switches the charge flowing from the fifth current measuring device (A5) to the fifth protection diode (PD5) in response to the fifth switch control signal (SC5). The sixth switch (SW5) constituting the power supply router (116) switches the charge flowing from the fifth current measuring device (A5) to the second power generation monitor / charge path router (110-2) in response to the sixth switch control signal (SC6).

[0042] The fifth protection diode (PD5) constituting the second panel protector (117) has its positive terminal connected to the fifth switch (SW5) and its negative terminal connected to the first output terminal (OUT1).

[0043] The second power generation monitor / charge path router (110-2) has the same components as the first power generation monitor / charge path router (110-1), but differs in that the solar panels (13, 14) that receive the charge are different and the charge is output to the second output terminal (OUT2). Therefore, it is not described in detail here.

[0044] However, since the power supply routers (116) constituting the first power generation monitor / charge path router (110-1) and the second power generation monitor / charge path router (110-2) are connected by crossing each other's charge paths, this will be described below.

[0045] Referring to Fig. 2, the switch control device (120) generates a plurality of switch control signals (SC1 to DC8) in response to a control signal (SW_CON) of a signal processing device. The plurality of switch control signals (SC1 to SC8) control the opening and closing operations of the corresponding switches (SW1 to SW8).

[0046] The signal processing device (130) uses the current amount received from the plurality of current measuring devices (A1 to A6) and the status information of the corresponding batteries received from the plurality of batteries (Battery 1, Battery 2) to generate a control signal (SW_CON) that instructs the switch control device (120) to generate a switch control signal (SC1 to SC8) that determines the opening and closing of the plurality of switches (SW1 to SW8) included in the power generation monitor / charge path router (110).

[0047] For example, a specific current measuring device monitors whether a current exceeds a preset amount of current or, conversely, whether a current less than a preset amount of current flows, thereby controlling the operation of a related switch to efficiently transfer the charge of the solar panel to the battery or to prevent damage to the battery due to overcurrent in advance.

[0048] In particular, the ideal charging amount according to the lifespan and efficient use of the battery is set in advance, and the battery replacement and charging stop can be controlled by the operation of the related switch by comparing the battery's charging status.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, when the sixth switch (SW6) included in the first power generation monitor / charge path router (110-1) is turned on, the charge produced in solar panels 1 & 2 (11, 12) is transferred to the second output terminal (OUT2) connected to the second power generation monitor / charge path router (110-2), and conversely, when the eighth switch (SW8) included in the second power generation monitor / charge path router (110-2) is turned on, the charge produced in solar panels 3 & 4 (13, 14) is transferred to the first output terminal (OUT1) connected to the first power generation monitor / charge path router (110-1).

[0050] Using this path, it is possible to specify a battery to store the power produced, or to merge the charge from neighboring solar panels into a specific battery to charge it, as described below.

[0051] Figure 3 illustrates a case where the type and amount of charge transferred to the battery is controlled by adjusting the path through which the charge flows.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that the charge produced from the solar panel can be selected from among two output terminals depending on the combination of four switch control signals (SC5 to SC8) applied to four switches (SW5 to SW8) constituting the power supply router (116) included in each of the first power generation monitor / charge path router (110-1) and the second power generation monitor / charge path router (110-2).

[0053] First, when supplying charge to two output terminals (OUT1, OUT2) as in CASE 1, that is, when the charge collected from two solar panels (11, 12) is to be transferred to the first output terminal (OUT1) and the charge collected from two solar panels (13, 14) is to be transferred to the second output terminal (OUT2), the fifth switch (SW5) and the seventh switch (SW7) can be turned on using the fifth switch control signal (SC5) and the seventh switch control signal (SC7), respectively. In Fig. 3, panel 1 refers to a panel combining solar panels 11 and 12, and panel 2 refers to a panel combining solar panels 13 and 14, respectively. In addition, turning on means that both terminals of the switch are short-circuited, and conversely, turning off means that both terminals of the switch are opened to each other.

[0054] CASE 1 can generally be used for battery charging when there is no particular abnormality in the solar power generation system.

[0055] When one of the two batteries (Battery 1, Battery 2) has reached the desired charge level or needs to be disconnected from the solar power generation system for separate reasons, there may be times when the output terminal connected to that battery no longer supplies charge and the remaining output terminal must supply charge.

[0056] In such cases, it would be effective to operate like CASE 2 and CASE3.

[0057] CASE2 includes an operation of activating only the fifth switch control signal (SC5) when it is desired to output only the charges produced in the two first panels to the first output terminal (OUT1) and block the charges produced in the second panel, and activating both the fifth switch control signal (SC5) and the eighth switch control signal (SC8) simultaneously when it is desired to output both panels to the first output terminal (OUT1).

[0058] CASE3 is the switch selection mode when, contrary to CASE2, the first output terminal is blocked and charge is output only through the second output terminal.

[0059] CASE4 is an optional mode of the switch that blocks the flow from the two output terminals (OUT1 & OUT2) to the battery (20).

[0060] In general, to maximize the life of a battery, the battery charge level is set to 10 to 80%. However, in the present invention, the battery charge level is collected in real time by a signal processing device (130), and the four cases shown in FIG. 3 can be adjusted according to the battery charge level.

[0061] When the signal processing device (130) that has collected the battery status information determines that the battery's charging status is normal and that continuous charging is necessary, the switch control device (120) instructs the fifth switch (SW5) and the seventh switch (SW7) to be activated, and when it determines that the charge amount of the battery (Battery 1) connected to the first output terminal (OUT1) has reached a set value, the seventh switch control signal (SC7) is instructed to be activated, and conversely, when it determines that the charge amount of the battery (Battery 2) connected to the second output terminal (OUT2) has reached a set value, the fifth switch control signal (SC5) is instructed to be activated.

[0062] If it is determined that the charge levels of the two batteries (Battery 1, Battery 2) connected to the two output terminals (OUT1, OUT2) have both reached the set value, all four switch control signals (SC5 to SC8) applied to the four switches (SW5 to SW8) included in the power supply router (116) are to be deactivated.

[0063] In the above description, the expression “activate” means turning on the switch, and conversely, the expression “deactivate” means turning off the switch.

[0064] As described above, the solar panel power generation control device according to the present invention not only effectively stores power generated from the solar panel in a charging device according to the state of the solar panel, but also determines whether to charge the battery according to the charge amount of the battery, which is the charging device, thereby maximizing the lifespan of the battery.

[0065] The present invention proposes a solar panel power generation control device capable of monitoring and controlling the power produced by a solar panel and the power charged to a charging device. The solar panel power generation control device monitors the amount of electric energy produced by each of a plurality of panel arrays or the entirety of the plurality of panel arrays and the charge amount of a battery, and compares the results of the monitoring with a preset value to select a path for the charge to be transferred from a specific panel array to a specific battery.

Claims

1. A solar panel power generation control device that monitors the amount of electric energy produced by each of a plurality of panel arrays or the entirety of the plurality of panel arrays and the charge amount of a battery, and compares the results of the monitor with a preset value to select a path for the charge to be transferred from a specific panel array to a specific battery.

2. In paragraph 1, the solar panel power generation control device, A signal processing device that receives monitored values ​​of the amount of electric energy produced by each or all of a plurality of panel arrays constituting the panel array and the amount of charge of the battery, and generates a control signal by reflecting the results of comparing the received monitored values ​​with preset values; The switch control device generating a plurality of switch control signals in response to the above control signal; and A power generation monitor / charge path router that monitors the electric energy produced by each of a plurality of panel arrays or the entirety of a plurality of panel arrays and the charge amount of the battery and transmits the results to the signal processing device, and selects a path for the charge to be transmitted from a specific panel array to a specific battery in response to the plurality of switch control signals; The above power generation monitor / charge path router is a solar panel power generation control device having at least two or more.

3. In the second paragraph, one of the power generation monitor / charge path routers, A first power production monitor that monitors the power production amount of each panel among the panels included in the plurality of panel arrays; A second power production monitor that monitors the total power production amount of the panel that has passed through the second power production monitor; and A power supply router that transmits one or all of the charges passing through the second power generation monitor or the charges received from the power generation monitor / charge path router neighboring the power generation monitor / charge path router to the first output terminal, or blocks the path through which the charges passing through the second power generation monitor and the charges received from the neighboring power generation monitor / charge path router are transmitted to the first output terminal; A solar panel power generation control device including:

4. In the third paragraph, the first power generation monitor, Includes panel selection switch, first panel power generation monitor and first panel protector. The above panel selection switch includes two switches that switch the charge produced from two solar panels included in the solar array to the first panel power production monitor in response to a plurality of switch control signals generated by the switch control device. The above first panel power generation monitor includes two current measuring devices that each monitor the amount of charge produced from the two solar panels applied via the panel selection switch and transmit it to the signal processing device. A solar panel power generation control device, wherein the first panel protector comprises two protection diodes installed between the first panel power generation monitor and the second power generation monitor to block reverse current flowing from the second power generation monitor toward the first panel power generation monitor.

5. In the third paragraph, the power supply router, A fifth switch that switches the charge flowing in the second panel power monitor to the first output terminal in response to the fifth switch control signal generated by the above switch control device; and A sixth switch that switches the charge flowing in the second panel power monitor to the neighboring second power generation monitor / charge path router in response to the sixth switch control signal generated by the above switch control device; A solar panel power generation control device including:

6. In the third paragraph, the power generation monitor / charge path router, A second panel protector installed between the first output terminal and the power supply router to block reverse current flowing from the first output terminal toward the power supply router; A solar panel power generation control device including:

7. In paragraph 4, the two switches, A first switch that switches a charge generated from a panel connected to one terminal to another terminal in response to a first switch control signal generated by the above switch control device; and A second switch that switches the charge produced from another panel connected to one terminal to another terminal in response to a second switch control signal generated by the above switch control device; A solar panel power generation control device including:

8. In paragraph 7, the two current measuring devices, A first current measuring device that monitors the amount of charge transmitted from the first switch and transmits it to the signal processing device; and A second current measuring device that monitors the amount of charge transmitted from the second switch and transmits it to the signal processing device; A solar panel power generation control device including:

9. In paragraph 8, the two protective diodes, A first protection diode that prevents reverse current flowing from the second power generation monitor to the first current measuring device; and A second protection diode that prevents reverse current flowing from the second power generation monitor to the second current measuring device; A solar panel power generation control device including:

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