PV Station Power Coordination Using Sample Inverters by Array

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for determining the available power capacity of a photovoltaic station are inaccurate due to ignoring differences between arrays, leading to low precision in active and reactive power adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A power coordination method where sample inverters are distributed across all arrays requiring power adjustment, allowing for real-time active and reactive power measurements to accurately calculate available capacities and allocate power based on target values and priorities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a sample array method is used to determine available power capacity, then the measurement process is simplified, but the accuracy of power capacity determination deteriorates due to ignoring differences between arrays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower capacity determination processVSAvoidavailable power capacity accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the photovoltaic station into multiple arrays and further segments each array into multiple inverters. Instead of using a single sample array to represent the entire station, the method segments the measurement process across multiple arrays, selecting sample inverters from each array to independently determine available power capacity. This segmentation approach captures the differences between arrays while maintaining measurement simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by recognizing that different arrays have different power generation characteristics and treating each array individually rather than uniformly. Sample inverters are selected from each array based on local conditions, allowing the available power capacity determination to reflect local differences in irradiance, temperature, and inverter performance across various arrays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If sample inverters are selected from each array, then the accuracy of available power capacity determination is improved, but the complexity of the measurement process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailable power capacity accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a universal measurement methodology that can be applied to all arrays in the photovoltaic station. The same sample inverter selection criteria and available power capacity calculation method are universally applied across different arrays, making the process systematic and manageable despite the increased number of measurements required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses sample inverters as copies or representatives of their respective arrays. By measuring the available power capacity of selected sample inverters in each array and using these measurements to represent the entire array's capacity, the method reduces the complexity of measuring every inverter while maintaining accuracy through representative sampling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If conventional sample array method is used, then the power adjustment process is simple, but the precision of active and reactive power adjustment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower adjustment processVSAvoidpower adjustment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power adjustment process by determining available power capacity separately for each array based on its sample inverters' performance. This segmentation allows the active and reactive power adjustment to be tailored to each array's actual capabilities rather than using a uniform approach based on a single sample array, thereby improving adjustment precision while maintaining operational simplicity through systematic processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4156439B1Power coordination method for photovoltaic power station, and power station
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP4156439B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4156439B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B
  • EP4156439B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This application discloses a power coordination method for a photovoltaic station and a station. Sample inverters are disposed in arrays requiring power adjustment in the photovoltaic station. Real-time active power of sample inverters in each array is obtained. Then, an available active capacity and an available reactive capacity of the array and available active capacities and available reactive capacities of all the arrays requiring power adjustment are obtained based on the real-time active power of the sample inverters. Finally, active power and reactive power of the photovoltaic station are separately allocated to the N arrays based on the available active capacities and the available reactive capacities respectively corresponding to the N arrays. Because the sample inverters come from the arrays requiring power adjustment, differences between inverters and differences between the arrays can be fully exploited, and the available active capacities of the arrays can be more accurately obtained by using the sample inverters. Therefore, a more accurate available power capacity of the photovoltaic station is obtained by using relatively accurate available active capacities.