Energy panel arrangement power dissipation

• US 10,097,108 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marici Holdings The Netherlands B.V.
• Original Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: White, Paul Michael, White, Robert Preston
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhang, Jue
• Application Number:
  US15/536,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20170373610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53871 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for facilitating shutdown of output power from an energy panel arrangement to a power converter. A shutdown implementation module is coupled between an energy panel arrangement and a power converter that converts DC power from the energy panel arrangement to AC power for an AC power grid. Responsive to identifying a power shutdown condition, the shutdown implementation module shuts down output power from the energy panel arrangement to the power converter. A power dissipating device is invoked to dissipate power associated with the shutdown of the output power (e.g., residual power within energy storage devices, such as capacitors, associated with the power converter). The shutdown implementation module may be located within a threshold distance from the energy panel arrangement (e.g., within about 10 feet) so that the output power may be shut off within a threshold timespan (e.g., within about 10 seconds).

Claims

1. A system for facilitating a shutdown of output power from an energy panel arrangement to a power converter, comprising:

a shutdown discharge circuit coupled between an energy panel arrangement and a power converter that is configured to convert DC power from the energy panel arrangement to AC power for an AC power grid, the shutdown discharge circuit comprising;

a switching arrangement configured to direct power, associated with shutting down output power from the energy panel arrangement to the power converter, through a power dissipating device; and

the power dissipating device configured to dissipate the power associated with shutting down the output power from the energy panel arrangement to the power converter; and

a shutdown implementation module configured to;

establish a communication connection, over a power-line communication line between the energy panel arrangement and the power converter, with a shutdown controller associated with the power converter; and

responsive to identifying a power shutdown condition;

initiate shutdown of output power from the energy panel arrangement to the power converter; and

invoke the power dissipating device to dissipate the power associated with shutting down the output power.

2. The system of claim 1, the power dissipating device comprising at least one of a resistor or a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device.

3. The system of claim 1, the switching arrangement comprising:

a first switch configured to direct output power between the energy panel arrangement and the power converter when closed.

4. The system of claim 3, the switching arrangement comprising:

a second switch configured to direct output power between the energy panel arrangement and the power converter when closed.

5. The system of claim 4, the switching arrangement comprising:

a third switch configured to direct the power through the power dissipating device during shutdown of the output power based upon at least one of the first switch or the second switch being open.

6. The system of claim 5, the third switch configured to:

transition into an open state for triggering at least one of the first switch or the second switch to transition into a closed position for directing output power from the energy panel arrangement to the power converter.

7. The system of claim 5, the third switch comprising at least one of a semiconductor arrangement, a mechanical switch, or a relay switching device.

8. The system of claim 1, the power dissipating device configured to dissipate the power from an energy storage component associated with the power converter during shutdown of the output power.

9. The system of claim 8, the energy storage component comprising a capacitor located a threshold distance from the energy panel arrangement.

10. The system of claim 1, the shutdown implementation module configured to:

perform a self-evaluation utilizing at least one of a temperature sensor or an electrical parameter measurement sensor.

11. The system of claim 1, the power shutdown condition corresponding to an arc-fault notification instruction received over the power-line communication line from the shutdown controller.

12. The system of claim 1, the power shutdown condition corresponding to a loss of the communication connection.

13. The system of claim 12, the shutdown implementation module configured to:

identify the loss of the communication connection based upon loss of a heartbeat signal, received over the power-line communication line, from the shutdown controller.

14. The system of claim 1, the power shutdown condition corresponding to shutdown instruction received over the power-line communication line from the shutdown controller.

15. The system of claim 1, the power shutdown condition corresponding to a power loss of the AC power grid.

16. The system of claim 1, the power shutdown condition corresponding to a power converter failure of the power converter.

17. The system of claim 10, the shutdown implementation module configured to:

identify the power shutdown condition based upon the self-evaluation resulting in an operational alert for the shutdown implementation module.

18. The system of claim 1, the energy panel arrangement comprising one or more photovoltaic (PV) strings.

19. A method for facilitating a shutdown of output power from an energy panel arrangement to a power converter, comprising:

establishing a communication connection, over a power-line communication line between an energy panel arrangement and a power converter, between a shutdown implementation module and a shutdown controller associated with the power converter, the shutdown implementation module coupled between the energy panel arrangement and the power converter; and

responsive to at least one of identifying a loss of the communication connection or receiving a shutdown instruction over the power-line communication line from the shutdown controller;

initiating a shutdown of output power from the energy panel arrangement to the power converter; and

invoking a switching arrangement to direct power, associated with the shutdown of output power, through a power dissipating device for power dissipation.

20. A system for facilitating a shutdown of output power from an energy panel arrangement to a power converter, comprising:

a shutdown controller associated with a power converter that is configured to convert DC power from an energy panel arrangement to AC power for an AC power grid, the shutdown controller configured to;

establish a communication connection, over a power-line communication line between the energy panel arrangement and the power converter, with a shutdown implementation module coupled between the energy panel arrangement and the power converter; and

responsive to identifying a power shutdown condition, send a shutdown instruction over the power-line communication line to the shutdown implementation module, the shutdown instruction instructing the shutdown implementation module to;

initiate a shutdown of output power from the energy panel arrangement to the power converter; and

invoke a switching arrangement to direct power, associated with the shutdown of output power, through a power dissipating device for power dissipation.