Solar cell module and photovoltaic power generation system including the same

• US 10,644,646 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trina Solar Limited
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Nam, Hyukjin, Kim, Jungguen, Jeon, Joonho, Cho, Jinyoung, Shin, Daehyun, Woo, Byungwook, Mun, Hyunrok
• Primary Examiner(s): Chern, Christina
• Application Number:
  US14/479,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20150214889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,069 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/33507 with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/5387 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/10 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

Discussed is a solar cell module including a solar cell panel, a frame fixed to an outer rim portion of the solar cell panel, an integral inverter including a terminal connected to the solar cell panel to receive direct current, an inverter member electrically connected to the terminal to convert the direct current into alternating current and an alternating current (AC) output cable configured to transmit the alternating current and a trunk cable connected to the AC output cable and fixed to the integral inverter, at least a portion of the trunk cable being located in a space inside the frame.

Claims

1. A solar cell module comprising:

a solar cell panel;

a frame fixed to an outer rim portion of the solar cell panel;

a case attached on a back surface of the solar cell panel, and located at a center of a side of the frame, the case having an inner space portion and an opening on a lower surface facing the back surface of the solar cell panel,

wherein the case houses;

a terminal directly connected to an output ribbon of the solar cell panel to receive a direct current through the opening,

an inverter member electrically connected to the terminal to convert the direct current into an alternating current, wherein the terminal and the inverter member are connected by a same circuit board without a DC cable, and the terminal and the inverter member are located on the same circuit board in the inner space portion, and

a single AC output cable configured to transmit AC output power and including a first connector; and

a trunk cable junction unit located on a corner of the frame, connected to the single AC output cable, and configured to transmit the alternating current to a neighboring solar cell module or a power grid,

wherein the trunk cable junction unit includes;

a second connector formed on a first side of the trunk cable junction unit and is attached to the single AC output cable,

a third connector formed on a second side of the trunk cable junction unit,

a trunk cable part attached to the first side of the trunk cable junction unit and transmitting the AC output power to the neighboring solar cell module or the power grid, and

a fourth connector located at an end of the trunk cable part, and

wherein the terminal and the single AC output cable of the case are exposed from the case, and the inverter member is electrically connected to the outside thereof only by the terminal and the single AC output cable.

2. The module according to claim 1, wherein the case includes a fastener located in a space inside the frame, the fastener being fastened to the frame, and

wherein at least a portion of the trunk cable part is located in an inner space of a frame portion provided with the fastener and an inner space of the fastener.

3. The module according to claim 2, wherein the inner space of the frame portion or the inner space of the fastener has a width equal to or greater than a diameter of the trunk cable part.

4. The module according to claim 1, wherein the case includes a fastener located in a space inside the frame, the fastener has one open side, and wherein the solar cell module further comprises a bracket member configured to cover the open side of the fastener such that the trunk cable part is located between the fastener and the bracket member.

5. The module according to claim 4, wherein the bracket member is separably fixed to the fastener.

6. The module according to claim 4, wherein the fastener has a holding recess and the bracket member has a latch configured to be caught by the holding recess, or the fastener and the bracket member are fixed to each other via a fastening member.

7. The module according to claim 1, wherein the single AC output cable protrudes from one side of the case, and

wherein the trunk cable part is located in an inner space of an upper portion of the frame to extend along the upper portion of the frame, one side of the trunk cable part is fixed to one side of the upper portion of the frame adjacent to the output cable protruding side of the case and the other side of the trunk cable part is fixed to the other side of the upper portion of the frame.

8. The module according to claim 1, wherein the second connector is detachably connected to the first connector, and the third connector is detachably connected to a fourth connector of the neighboring solar cell module and having a different structure from the second connector, and wherein the fourth connector of the solar cell module is located on an opposite corner from the corner of the frame having the trunk cable junction unit.

9. The module according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a cable holder configured to fix the trunk cable junction unit.

10. The module according to claim 9, wherein the cable holder takes the form of a loop fixed to the frame, is formed by bending a portion of the frame, or includes a cable insertion portion configured to allow the cable to be separable inserted thereinto.

19. The module according to claim 1, wherein the trunk cable part is fixed to the case, and at least a portion of the trunk cable part is located in a space inside the frame.

20. The module according to claim 1, wherein the single AC output cable and the trunk cable part extend from the same first side of the trunk cable junction unit in parallel.

11. A photovoltaic power generation system comprising:

a plurality of solar cell modules including a first solar cell module and a second solar cell module next to each other,

wherein each of the first and second solar cell modules includes;

a solar cell panel;

a case attached on a back surface of the solar cell panel, and located at a center of a side of a frame, the case having an inner space and an opening on a lower surface facing the back surface of the solar cell panel;

wherein the case houses;

a terminal directly connected to an output ribbon of the solar cell panel to receive a direct current through the opening,

an inverter member electrically connected to the terminal to convert the direct current into an alternating current, wherein the terminal and the inverter member are connected by a same circuit board without a DC cable, and the terminal and the inverter member are located on the same circuit board in the inner space portion, and

a single AC output cable configured to transmit AC output power and including a first cable part and a first connector located at an end of the first cable part; and

a trunk cable junction unit located on a corner of the frame, connected to the single AC output cable, and configured to transmit the alternating current to a neighboring solar cell module or a power grid,

wherein the trunk cable junction unit of the first solar cell module and the trunk cable junction unit of the second solar cell module are connected to each other via separable coupling connectors so as to connect the first solar cell module and the second solar cell module to each other,

wherein the trunk cable junction unit includes;

a second connector formed on a first side of the trunk cable junction unit and is attached to the single AC output cable,

a third connector formed on a second side of the trunk cable junction unit,

a trunk cable part attached to the first side of the trunk cable junction unit and transmitting the AC output power to the neighboring solar cell module or the power grid, and

fourth connector located at an end of the trunk cable part, and

wherein the terminal and the single AC output cable of the case are exposed from the case and the inverter member is electrically connected to the outside thereof only by the terminal and the single AC output cable.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second connector is configured to be connected to the first connector,

wherein the third connector having a different structure from the second connector,

wherein the third connector of the first solar cell module is connected to the fourth connector of the second solar cell module so as to connect the first solar cell module and the second solar cell module to each other, and

wherein the fourth connector of each of the first and second solar cell modules is located on an opposite corner from the corner of the frame having the trunk cable junction unit.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the third connector and the fourth connector are connected to each other above adjacent frame portions of the first solar cell module and the second solar cell module.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the trunk cable part extends from one side to an opposite side of the each of the first solar cell module and the second solar cell module.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the case includes a fastener located in the space inside the frame, the fastener being fastened to the frame, and

wherein at least a portion of the trunk cable part is located in an inner space of a frame portion provided with the fastener and an inner space of the fastener.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the inner space of the frame portion or the inner space of the fastener has a width equal to or greater than a diameter of the trunk cable.

17. The module according to claim 11, wherein the case includes a fastener located in a space inside the frame, the fastener has one open side, and wherein the photovoltaic power generation system further comprises a bracket member configured to cover the open side of the fastener such that the trunk cable part is located between the fastener and the bracket member.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the solar cell modules are connected to one another in parallel.