MAXIMUM POWER POINT MOTOR CONTROL
A method and apparatus are implemented in software to control motor speed as a function of available power in a DC source—inverter—AC motor system, i.e. to perform maximum power tracking of motor speed. An inverter or motor drive converts DC power from a DC source, such as a solar panel, to AC power, to power the motor. The inverter or motor drive is controlled by software, implemented either by programmable features built directly into the inverter or drive or by a separate programmable device connected to the inverter or drive, to track motor power as a function of source power. The software-controlled inverter or drive sets motor speed as a function of source power by sensing only a single parameter, the DC source voltage. The software-controlled inverter or drive samples the source voltage at preset intervals, and changes the frequency of the AC output of the inverter or drive to match or track the available power so that the motor operates at or near its optimum for any source voltage.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the operation of AC motors or similar loads with AC motor drives that convert power from a DC source to AC, and more particularly to operation of the motor at maximum power as the power from the-DC source varies. A particular application is to solar powered systems and to water pumps.
2. Description of Related Art
An AC load can be powered from a DC source by using a converter to change DC to AC. However, because of changes in both the source and the load, it can be difficult to meet the power requirements of the load. For example, a photovoltaic solar cell array is a DC source. However, the current-voltage (I-V) curve shifts under varying conditions, e.g. amount of sun. Thus the available power will vary. One application of solar power is to operate water pumps, which typically include three phase AC motors. However, the load curve of the AC pump motor can also shift with varying conditions, e.g. water depth. Thus it can be difficult to efficiently operate an AC pump from a solar array.
A solar powered water pumping system typically has three primary components: the solar array, made of photovoltaic (PV) modules; a converter (inverter or motor drive) which converts the DC from the PV array to AC; and an AC motor (pump). The motor typically runs at a particular frequency (speed), e.g. 60 Hz. The converter will usually be set to provide AC power at that particular frequency. The motor will run at a speed equal to the AC frequency.
In operation, the motor demands power. The motor pumps the most water when it is at the maximum power point. As the solar array output changes, e.g. decreases from a maximum to a lower voltage, the I-V power curve changes, but there is always a maximum power point. However, if the motor continues to run at the same speed, e.g. 60 Hz, then as the voltage drops, the current must increase to meet the power requirements, until the increased current can damage the motor.
Thus, controlling motors at fixed frequency is very difficult. If the power is to remain constant at a given frequency, then a change in DC voltage must be accompanied by a change in DC current. If the voltage decreases, the current must increase, which results in a further voltage decrease and current increase until a point is reached where a shutdown must occur to prevent motor damage or increased heat or other related damage.
In general, it is desirable to operate at the maximum power point (MPP) on a power curve. However, it is difficult to track power. Power tracking generally requires detecting two parameters, current (I) and voltage (V), and measuring changes in the product (IV).
If the motor operates at a reduced frequency, then it requires less power. While this is not as good as operating at full power, the motor can be kept operating at the maximum operating frequency for the existing conditions, without damaging the motor. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus to operate an AC motor from a motor drive by changing the AC frequency and thus the motor speed to correspond to the available power.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,275,403 is directed to a bias control circuit connected to a DC to AC converter to control motor frequency of a connected motor by applying a bias voltage to the converter to control the frequency of the AC output of the converter. The bias control circuit is responsive to the DC voltage from a DC source, e.g. solar array, connected to the converter. The system is designed to operate an AC motor or other load from a DC source under varying source and/or load conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the bias control circuit has a multistage configuration and provides bias voltages at a plurality of discrete DC source voltages. Thus the system, while providing significant improvement in motor operation, requires an additional hardware circuit, and operates at a number of discrete levels limited by the number of stages in the circuit.
Accordingly it is desirable to provide a simple system for controlling the motor speed to better match the maximum power point without having to measure power. It would also be desirable to provide a system which is implemented in software and eliminates the need for additional hardware circuits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is method and apparatus implemented in software to control motor speed as a function of available power in a DC source - inverter - AC motor system, i.e. to perform maximum power tracking of motor speed. An inverter or motor drive is used to convert DC power from a DC source, such as a solar panel, to AC power, which powers the motor. The inverter or motor drive is controlled by software, implemented either by programmable features built directly into the inverter or drive or by a separate programmable device connected to the inverter or drive, to track motor power as a function of source power. The software-controlled inverter or drive sets motor speed as a function of source power by sensing only a single parameter, the DC source voltage, which is input into the inverter or drive. The software-controlled inverter of the invention samples the source voltage at preset intervals, and changes the frequency of the AC output of the inverter or drive to match or track the available power so that the motor operates at or near its optimum for any source voltage.
An aspect of the invention is an apparatus for converting DC power from a DC source to AC power to drive an AC motor, formed of a software-controlled inverter which produces an AC output from a DC input, wherein the software-controlled inverter carries out an algorithm for varying the AC output frequency in response to changes in the DC voltage from the DC source so that the speed of an AC motor driven by the inverter tracks the maximum power available from the DC source.
Another aspect of the invention is a system including a DC source; a software-controlled inverter connected to the DC source to produce an AC output from a DC input; and an AC motor connected to the AC output from the inverter; wherein the software-controlled inverter carries out an algorithm for varying the AC output frequency in response to changes in the DC voltage from the DC source so that the speed of the AC motor tracks the maximum power available from the DC source.
A further aspect of the invention is a method for powering an AC motor from a DC source by obtaining DC power from a DC source; converting the DC power to AC power; powering the AC motor with the AC power; and varying the AC frequency in response to changes in the DC voltage from the DC source so that the speed of the AC motor tracks the maximum power available from the DC source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the accompanying drawings:
As shown in
Inverter 14 is a conventional DC to AC converter, also commonly known as a motor drive or variable speed drive (VFD). Controller 16 is programmed to carry out an algorithm which produces maximum power point tracking by varying the AC output frequency from the inverter 14 as a function of the DC source voltage. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, inverter 14 and controller 16 are replaced by inverter 15 with an internal controller 17, as shown in
As the solar array output changes, and the associated I-V curve changes, the MPP changes. To optimize motor performance, it is necessary to adjust to the change in MPP. The invention provides a way for the motor to track the MPP. This is accomplished by. measuring the DC voltage, and changing the AC frequency (and thus motor speed) in response thereto.
In accordance with the invention, the motor is allowed to operate at a frequency compatible with source power, but this is done without actually sampling the source power. Instead, only the source voltage is sampled, and on the basis of changes in the source voltage the motor speed is decreased or increased to track lower or higher power availability.
In step 30, the array voltage (AV) is sampled. Sampling is done at the sampling interval set in step 30. In step 34, the present value of the array voltage is compared to the previously sampled value, i.e. the difference ΔAV=AV(n)−AV(n−1) is computed. (On the initial AV sample when the system is first turned on, there is no previous value of AV to compare so the difference is zero.)
In step 36, a decision as to whether a change in frequency is required is made, based on the comparison made in step 34. A comparison is made as to whether the measured ΔAV is greater than or equal to a preset threshold value ΔAV(threshold). The value ΔAV(threshold) represents the minimum change in voltage (and power) for which the motor speed should be changed. It should be relatively low so that the motor speed closely follows the available power but cannot be so small that the system tries to respond to insignificant changes in voltage (power). A suitable value is in the range of about 10 to 25 volts.
If the measured ΔAV is less than ΔAV(threshold), then no change in AC frequency or motor speed is required, and the algorithm returns to step 32, takes the next voltage sample, and continues on through step 34 to step 36 again. If the measured ΔAV is greater than or equal to ΔAV(threshold), then a change in AC frequency and motor speed is required.
In response to a Yes decision in step 36, a control signal is produced in step 38. The control signal may be generated internal to the inverter, as in
The invention includes a method for powering an AC motor from a DC source, e.g. solar panel, by obtaining DC power from the DC source; converting the DC power to AC power; powering the AC motor with the AC power; and varying the AC frequency in response to changes in the DC voltage from the DC source so that the speed of the AC motor tracks the maximum power available from the DC source. The method may be carried out with an algorithm made up of a series of instructions for sequentially sampling the DC source voltage at a preset sampling interval, comparing the present sampled value of the DC voltage to the prior sampled value, determining whether a change of AC frequency is required based on the comparison of the present to the prior sampled DC voltages, producing a control signal if a change in AC frequency is required, changing the AC frequency in response to the control signal, and continuously repeating the series of instructions.
A specific sequence of steps illustrating a portion of a particular algorithm for maximum power point tracking is shown in
The second voltage sample now goes through a sequence of comparisons. Step 55, “is V2=V0”. If Yes, then the voltage has returned to the initial maximum voltage V0 so the speed must be increased back to its initial speed. Signal B to drive input 58 will increase the AC frequency, back to the initial frequency. Also return to step 51 and start a new cycle. If No, then “is V2=V”, step 56. If Yes, then the voltage has not changed from the prior value, so return to step 51 and begin a new cycle. If No, then “is V2<V1”, step 57. If Yes, then the array voltage has decreased again, and the available power is even less, so the motor speed should be decreased further. Signal A to drive input 58 results in a further decrease in motor speed. Also return to step 51 and start a new cycle. If No, then V2>V1, the voltage has increased since the last voltage sample (but not to V0) so the speed should be increased, using signal B. Again return to step 51 and start a new cycle.
Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. Apparatus for converting DC power from a DC source to AC power to drive an AC motor, comprising:
- a software-controlled inverter which produces an AC output from a DC input;
- wherein the software-controlled inverter carries out an algorithm for varying the AC output frequency in response to changes in the DC voltage from the DC source so that the speed of an AC motor driven by the inverter tracks the maximum power available from the DC source;
- wherein the algorithm comprises a series of instructions for sequentially:
- sampling the DC source voltage at a preset sampling interval,
- comparing the present sampled value of the DC voltage to the prior sampled value,
- determining whether a change of AC frequency is required based on the comparison of the present to the prior sampled DC voltages,
- producing a control signal if a change in AC frequency is required,
- changing the AC frequency in response to the control signal, and
- continuously repeating the series of instructions.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software-controlled inverter is internally programmable with the algorithm and produces internal control signals to change the AC output frequency of the inverter.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software-controlled inverter comprises an inverter and a separate controller connected to the inverter which is programmable with the algorithm and produces control signals that are input into the inverter to change the AC output frequency of the inverter.
4. (canceled)
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a change in AC frequency is required when the present value of the sampled DC voltage exceeds the prior value by a preset amount.
6. A system comprising:
- a DC source;
- a software-controlled inverter connected to the DC source to produce an AC output from a DC input;
- an AC motor connected to the AC output from the inverter;
- wherein the software-controlled inverter carries out an algorithm for varying the AC output frequency in response to changes in the DC voltage from the DC source so that the speed of the AC motor tracks the maximum power available from the DC source;
- wherein the algorithm comprises a series of instructions for sequentially;
- sampling the DC source voltage at a preset sampling interval,
- comparing the present sampled value of the DC voltage to the prior sampled value,
- determining whether a change of AC frequency is required based on the comparison of the present to the prior sampled DC voltages,
- producing a control signal if a change in AC frequency is required,
- changing the AC frequency in response to the control signal, and
- continuously repeating the series of instructions.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the DC source is a solar array.
8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a water pump driven by the AC motor.
9. The system of claim 6 wherein the software-controlled inverter is internally programmable with the algorithm and produces internal control signals to change the AC output frequency of the inverter.
10. The system of claim 6 wherein the software-controlled inverter comprises an inverter and a separate controller connected to the inverter which is programmable with the algorithm and produces control signals that are input into the inverter to change the AC output frequency of the inverter.
11. (canceled)
12. The system of claim 44 6 wherein a change in AC frequency is required when the present value of the sampled DC voltage exceeds the prior value by a preset amount.
13. The system of claim 44 6 wherein the DC source is a solar array.
14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a water pump driven by the AC motor.
15. A method for powering an AC motor from a DC source comprising:
- obtaining DC power from a DC source;
- converting the DC power to AC power;
- powering the AC motor with the AC power;
- varying the AC frequency in response to changes in the DC voltage from the DC source so that the speed of the AC motor tracks the maximum power available from the DC source;
- wherein the AC frequency is varied by carrying out an algorithm in a software-controlled inverter;
- wherein the algorithm comprises a series of instructions for sequentially;
- sampling the DC source voltage at a preset sampling interval,
- comparing the present sampled value of the DC voltage to the prior sampled value,
- determining whether a change of AC frequency is required based on the comparison of the present to the prior sampled DC voltages,
- producing a control signal if a change in AC frequency is required,
- changing the AC frequency in response to the control signal, and
- continuously repeating the series of instructions.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the DC power is obtained from a solar array.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising driving a water pump with the AC motor.
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. The method of claim 15 wherein a change in AC frequency is required when the present value of the sampled DC voltage exceeds the prior value by a preset amount.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 22, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 28, 2006
Applicant:
Inventors: Thomas McNulty (Ewing, NJ), Juan Horta (Perth Amboy, NJ), Joacine Plaisime (Hamilton Township, NJ)
Application Number: 11/158,876
International Classification: H02P 7/42 (20060101);