Power Converter Nighttime Heating Control Without a Space Heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power conversion systems require a space heater to prevent temperature drops during nighttime when solar power generation ceases, increasing system complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A controller that determines nighttime conditions and maintains switches in closed states to consume power through resistors or operate the power converter, generating heat without a separate space heater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the power converter stops operation at nighttime, then power consumption is reduced, but temperature inside the housing drops requiring a space heater
Solution Approach 1:
The power converter uses its own internal resistor to generate heat during nighttime operation, eliminating the need for a separate space heater. The system serves its own heating requirement through controlled power consumption in standby mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The resistor in the power converter serves dual purposes: it acts as a power consumption element during normal operation and as a heating element during nighttime standby mode, eliminating the need for a separate space heater.
2Temperature
If a space heater is added to prevent temperature drop, then temperature inside the housing is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power converter utilizes its own internal components (resistor and control unit) to provide heating functionality, eliminating the need for a separate space heater and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The resistor serves multiple functions including power consumption during operation and heat generation during standby, replacing the need for a dedicated space heater and simplifying the system configuration.
3Loss of energy
If the switch is opened to disconnect power supply, then power consumption is reduced, but temperature inside the housing drops
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely disconnecting power supply during nighttime, the system maintains a closed switch with minimal power consumption through the resistor, providing just enough power to maintain temperature while keeping energy usage low.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power consumption parameter from zero (completely disconnected) to a low standby level, allowing the resistor to generate sufficient heat to maintain housing temperature during nighttime.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Suppresses temperature drops within the housing by maintaining power consumption, simplifying the system configuration and reducing costs by eliminating the need for a space heater.
Implementation Method 1
maintain power consumption by a resistor provided in a main circuit inside a housing of the power converter
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for a power conversion system includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a current time is in nighttime in an environment of a power converter that is connected to one or both of a direct-current power supply and an alternating-current power supply, and a control unit configured, in a case that the determination unit determines that the current time is in the nighttime, to maintain a switch in a closed state, the switch being provided between the power converter and one of the alternating-current power supply and the direct-current power supply, and to maintain power consumption by a resistor provided in a main circuit inside a housing of the power converter. The power conversion system can suppress lowering of temperature inside a housing without separately including a space heater.