Maximum power sensor for photovoltaic system
First Claim
1. A PV system including a maximum power level sensor, the system comprising:
- a PV array comprising at least one power PV cell;
at least one reference PV cell; and
a thermistor network in parallel with said at least one reference PV cell, said thermistor network comprising at least one negative temperature coefficient thermistor, at least one parallel resistor in parallel with said thermistor, and at least one series resistor in series with said thermistor and said parallel resistor, said thermistor being positioned in or on said PV array.
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Abstract
A maximum power level sensor and method for reliably providing instantaneous estimates of maximum power level for a photovoltaic system including one or more photovoltaic cells under prevailing conditions of irradiance, array temperature and spectrum of sunlight. The maximum power level sensor produces a reference voltage signal which is proportional to the maximum power level of the photovoltaic system. The maximum power level sensor comprises a reference circuit including at least one reference photovoltaic cell and a thermistor network in parallel with the reference cell. The thermistor network comprises at least one negative temperature coefficient thermistor, at least one resistor in parallel with the thermistor, and at least one resistor in series with the thermistor and the parallel resistor. The thermistor is positioned in or on the photovoltaic array. The reference cell is preferably constructed of materials which are similar to those of the photovoltaic cells in the photovoltaic system.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A PV system including a maximum power level sensor, the system comprising:
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a PV array comprising at least one power PV cell;
at least one reference PV cell; and
a thermistor network in parallel with said at least one reference PV cell, said thermistor network comprising at least one negative temperature coefficient thermistor, at least one parallel resistor in parallel with said thermistor, and at least one series resistor in series with said thermistor and said parallel resistor, said thermistor being positioned in or on said PV array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for estimating the maximum power level of a PV system comprising a PV array comprising at least one power PV cell, the method comprising:
sensing a reference voltage across a thermistor network in parallel with a reference PV cell, said thermistor network comprising at least one negative temperature coefficient thermistor, at least one parallel resistor in parallel with said thermistor, and at least one series resistor in series with said thermistor and said parallel resistor, said thermistor being positioned in or on said PV array, said reference PV cell being subjected to conditions which are substantially similar to conditions to which said at least one power PV cell in said PV array is being subjected. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
Specification