Solar Power Management System Peak Power Tracking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Solar-powered devices face inefficiencies in power usage due to varying solar power generation throughout the day and seasons, necessitating a system to track and maximize peak power transfer to loads for optimal energy utilization.

Innovation Solution

A power management system that periodically adjusts loads applied to a power generating device to match peak power points, calculates correction factors for reference voltages, and adjusts testing cycle frequencies to optimize power delivery, using a computing device coupled with a power meter and power converter to measure and control voltage and current outputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If load is continuously adjusted to track peak power point, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower transfer efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic testing cycles at predetermined intervals to detect peak power points, rather than continuous adjustment. This reduces computational overhead and system complexity while maintaining effective power tracking through regular sampling and correction cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where the detected peak power point information is used to adjust the load for subsequent operation. The correction factors calculated from periodic testing are applied to optimize power transfer in real-time operation, creating a closed-loop control system that balances efficiency with manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If testing cycle frequency is increased to improve peak power detection accuracy, then power tracking precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak power detection accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs peak power point detection at periodic intervals rather than continuously, reducing the energy consumption associated with frequent measurements while maintaining adequate tracking accuracy through strategically timed testing cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies correction factors based on detected peak power points to optimize subsequent operation, using partial adjustments rather than continuous full-scale testing. This approach achieves sufficient precision by correcting trends between periodic measurements rather than requiring constant high-precision detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10693298B1Methods and systems for matching a load to a peak power point of a power generating device

Publication Date: 2020.06.23 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

Example methods and systems described herein include periodically adjusting load applied to a power generating device according to a testing cycle, detecting a peak power point of the power generating device and an associated load that results in the peak power point, adjusting the load applied to the power generating device to match the associated load that results in the peak power point, and based on the adjusted load drawing power outside of a threshold amount of the peak power point, (i) calculating a correction factor to apply to a reference voltage of the power generating device and (ii) adjusting a frequency of the testing cycle.