Control Scheme for Smart Combiner in Large-Scale Solar Farms

The smart combiner is a new device which can help increase the energy yield of large solar farms. However, its control system needs to be well designed. This project aims at developing a new control scheme to best utilize the ability of smart combiners, increasing energy yield while ensuring control accuracy and good dynamics. To reach this goal, an emerging control technology, model predictive control, will be adopted and designed to achieve a high-performance control system for smart combiners. The controller hardware will be developed and applied to the smart combiner for validation of the proposed control scheme.

Faculty Supervisor:

Yunwei Ryan Li

Student:

Hao Tian

Partner:

Electronic Grid Systems Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - computer / electrical

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Alberta