Method and apparatus for solar panel protection and control system
First Claim
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1. A solar panel protection and control system comprising:
- a measurement block to measure the parameters of a solar panel;
a protection switch to connect or disconnect said solar panel to other solar panels, the measurement block positioned in series between the solar panel and the protection switch to enable the measurement block to measure the parameters of the solar panel even when the protection switch has disconnected the solar panel;
a bypass block to bypass said solar panel when said protection switch is disconnected;
a test block to measure the maximum power point of said solar panel using the Maximum Power Law, the test block configured to calculate the gradient of the voltage-current curve of the solar panel;
a communication block to communicate with an external control unit; and
a control block to control said measurement block, said protection switch, said test block, and said communication block, whereby said solar panel can be bypassed under predetermined situations or under command of said external control unit, the control block positioned in series between the solar panel and the protection switch to enable the control block to receive power from the solar panel even when the protection switch has disconnected the solar panel.
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein describe a solar panel protection and control system. The system can bypass the solar panel under hazardous conditions or under command. The system can also help a solar panel array to reach its maximum power point in operation.
31 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A solar panel protection and control system comprising:
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a measurement block to measure the parameters of a solar panel; a protection switch to connect or disconnect said solar panel to other solar panels, the measurement block positioned in series between the solar panel and the protection switch to enable the measurement block to measure the parameters of the solar panel even when the protection switch has disconnected the solar panel; a bypass block to bypass said solar panel when said protection switch is disconnected; a test block to measure the maximum power point of said solar panel using the Maximum Power Law, the test block configured to calculate the gradient of the voltage-current curve of the solar panel; a communication block to communicate with an external control unit; and a control block to control said measurement block, said protection switch, said test block, and said communication block, whereby said solar panel can be bypassed under predetermined situations or under command of said external control unit, the control block positioned in series between the solar panel and the protection switch to enable the control block to receive power from the solar panel even when the protection switch has disconnected the solar panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A solar panel protection and control system comprising:
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a measurement block to measure the parameters of a solar panel; a protection switch to connect or disconnect said solar panel to other solar panels, the measurement block positioned in series between the solar panel and the protection switch to enable the measurement block to measure the parameters of the solar panel even when the protection switch has disconnected the solar panel; a bypass block to bypass said solar panel when said protection switch is disconnected; a communication block to communicate with an external control unit; and a control block to control said measurement block, said protection switch and said communication block, whereby said solar panel can be bypassed under predetermined situations or under command of said external control unit, the control block positioned in series between the solar panel and the protection switch to enable the control block to receive power from the solar panel even when the protection switch has disconnected the solar panel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method to measure the maximum power point of a solar panel using the Maximum Power Law, the method comprising:
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(a) decreasing the voltage of said solar panel by a predetermined value; (b) measuring the voltage and current of said solar panel, and calculating the gradient of the voltage-current curve of said solar panel, the measuring being performed even when a protection switch has disconnected the solar panel; (c) going back to step (a) if the measured gradient is less than the negative ratio of the current to voltage of said solar panel, otherwise going to step (d); and (d) finishing the measurement, whereby said solar panel can output maximum power when working at the last measured voltage and current.
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21. A method to achieve the maximum power point of a solar panel array formed by at least one solar panel, the method comprising:
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(a) measuring the maximum power point of each of said solar panel using the Maximum Power Law, the measuring being performed even when a protection switch has disconnected the solar panel; (b) calculating the total output power of said solar panel array for every possible configuration of said solar panel array; (c) configuring said solar panel array to the configuration with the maximum output power; and (d) repeating from step (a), whereby said solar panel array can work at the maximum power point.
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Specification