Inverter Switching Device Power Threshold Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic systems experience a high number of switching cycles in their inverters when connecting to a supply grid or load, leading to reduced service life and increased power consumption due to repeated activation and deactivation processes.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method where the inverter's switching device is activated only if the photovoltaic modules can deliver a specified minimum input power, determined through a test procedure, minimizing the number of switching cycles and reducing the demand on the switching device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the inverter initiates switching-on procedure when input voltage reaches threshold value, then the feed-in mode of operation can be initiated quickly, but the number of switching cycles increases and service life of switching device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs a preliminary check of the input power from photovoltaic modules before initiating the switching-on procedure. By evaluating whether the input power is sufficient to maintain feed-in operation, the system avoids unnecessary switching cycles and activates the switching device only when conditions are favorable, thereby extending its service life while still enabling quick initiation when possible.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the inverter repeatedly activates and deactivates switching device to maintain feed-in mode, then the system can adapt to varying power conditions, but the number of switching cycles increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously monitors the input power from photovoltaic modules and uses this feedback to make informed decisions about switching device activation. By evaluating the current power conditions before each potential switching cycle, the system adapts to varying power conditions only when necessary, minimizing unnecessary switching operations and reducing overall power consumption.
3Reliability
If the inverter uses a test procedure to determine input power before switching activation, then the number of switching cycles is minimized and service life is extended, but additional control complexity is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control device uses existing sensors and processing capabilities already present in the inverter system to perform the input power evaluation. By leveraging existing system resources rather than adding dedicated test hardware, the method minimizes additional complexity while still achieving the goal of reducing switching cycles and extending switching device service life.
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
This approach extends the service life of the switching device and inverter, reduces power consumption, and allows for the use of more cost-effective components by minimizing the number of activations and operating hours.
Implementation Method 1
The DC voltage generated by the photovoltaic modules is converted in an inverter
Data Source
AI summary
A method for feeding energy from photovoltaic modules (2) of a photovoltaic system (1) into a supply grid (5), or to a load, converts the DC voltage (UDC) generated by the photovoltaic modules (2) in an inverter (3) with an intermediate circuit (7) with a capacitor (CZW) and with a DC/AC-converter (8) into an AC voltage (UAC), and in a feed-in mode of operation the inverter (3) is connected via a switching device (4) to the supply grid (5), or to the load, together with an inverter (3) for executing the method. For conservation of the switching device (4) the input power (Pe) of the photovoltaic modules (2) is determined in a test procedure, and the switching device (4) of the inverter (3) is activated if the input power (Pe) of the photovoltaic modules (2) as determined is greater than or equal to a specified minimum input power (Pe,min).