GOALI: Highly Integrated Grid-Tied Multi-Port Power Module for PV and Storage

国家、公用事业公司和社区正在寻求将可再生能源纳入国家电网的创新解决方案。这将减少美国对化石燃料的依赖，并提供环境和经济利益。其中一个解决方案是在国家现有的电网系统中使用和存储光伏(太阳能)能源，并随着国家电网系统的发展积极应对未来的光伏并网发电。然而，快速部署和维护集成光伏系统的成本、在整个电网中控制和分配能量的能力、由于热问题而导致的潜在材料劣化以及单点故障的可能性是目前阻碍并网光伏广泛使用的挑战。IPV++系统将使光伏能源更多地渗透到电网中，从而在全球范围内扩大太阳能的使用，刺激整个光伏产业，创造就业机会，并降低能源成本。IPV++模块将通过简化的安装流程和功能(包括即插即用以及电池和逆变器的轻松更换)来加速光伏部署，进一步加快光伏部署，并显著降低安装和维护成本。IPV++是一种新型系统，它将光伏设计与无缝的硬件和软件集成结合在一起，提供可靠、经济高效的解决方案，作为当前电网的一项资产，并成为未来智能电网的关键。这种方法的新奇之处在于设计和开发了一种独特的架构，将智能电力电子与本地存储和电池管理相结合，以获取太阳能。该解决方案利用一种具有智能和动态控制算法的新型逆变器，并通过公用事业交互功能为并网提供高度稳定和可预测的能量。该方案的目标是研究、设计和开发一种先进的、集成的、低成本的技术，包括光伏智能逆变器和电池管理。关键创新是拟议的新型架构，具有创新的多端口拓扑和控制，使智能电力电子与本地存储相集成，为并网应用提供高度稳定和可预测的基于光伏的太阳能。IPV++项目通过解决相关的控制和动态挑战，探索将电力电子、电池和通信集成到光伏电池板的背板中。该技术方法将提供辅助好处，如光伏加固、高峰负荷转移，以及从公用事业角度来看的可控功率。建议的“积木”模块化方法与行业合作伙伴Allcell Technology的相变复合材料的创新被动热管理相结合，确保了电池模块的安全性，简化了安装和维护，并由于温度控制而显著延长了使用寿命。该控制技术将允许使用光伏电池板内的本地存储，并通过公用事业接入支持电网功能，提供负荷转移和调峰，最大限度地减少输电和配电损耗，并优化当地能源生产和消费。硬件开发工作预计将显著提高功率密度和效率，这将进一步导致显著的成本和尺寸减少。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

AbstractThe nation, utility companies, and communities are seeking innovative solutions that incorporate renewable energy resources into the nation's power grids. This will reduce United States dependency on fossil fuels and provide environmental and economic benefits. One such solution is to use and store photovoltaic (solar) energy within the nation's existing power grid system, and to proactively address future photovoltaic incorporation as the nation' grid system evolves. However, the cost to rapidly deploy and maintain integrated photovoltaic systems, the ability to control and distribute energy across the grids, potential material deterioration due to thermal concerns, and the potential for a single point-of-failure are challenges that currently prohibit the broad use of grid-tied photovoltaics. The iPV++ system will enable greater penetration of photovoltaic energy into the electric grid, which in turn will expand worldwide use of solar energy, stimulate the entire photovoltaic industry, create employment opportunities, and lead to lower energy costs. The iPV++ module will result in accelerated photovoltaic deployment through simplified installation processes and features including plug-and-play and the easy replacement of the battery and inverter, will further accelerate photovoltaic deployment, and significantly reduce the installation and maintenance costs. The iPV++ is a novel system which integrates photovoltaic design with seamless hardware and software integration for a reliable, cost-effective solution that serves as an asset to the current grid, and becomes essential for the future smart grid. The novelty of this approach is in the design and development of a unique architecture that integrates smart power electronics with local storage and battery management to harvest solar power. The solution utilizes a new innovative inverter with smart and dynamic control algorithms, and provides highly stable and predictable energy for grid connection with utility-interaction functionalities.The goal of this proposed effort is to investigate, design and develop an advanced, integrated, and cost-effective technology consisting of photovoltaic smart inverters and battery management. The key innovation is the proposed novel architecture with innovative multi-port topology and control, enabling the integration of smart power electronics with local storage to deliver highly stable and predictable photovoltaic-based solar power for grid-tied applications. The iPV++ project explores integrating power electronics, battery and communication into the backplane of the photovoltaic panel by addressing the associated control and dynamic challenges. The technical approach will provide ancillary benefits, such as photovoltaic firming, peak load shifting, and controllable power from the utility perspective. The proposed modular approach of "building blocks," combined with the innovative passive thermal management with the industry partner AllCell Technology's Phase Change Composite, guarantees the safety of the battery modules, simplifies the installation and maintenance, and significantly increases lifetime due to temperature control. The control technique will allow for the use of local storage within the photovoltaic panel with utility access to support grid functionalities, provide load shifting and peak shaving, minimize transmission and distribution losses, and optimize local energy production and consumption. A significant improvement in power density and efficiency is expected as a result of the hardware development effort, which will further lead to significant cost and size reduction.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.