INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic power generation system including a plurality of integrated photovoltaic modules whose outputs are connected in parallel to a bus, at least one of the integrated photovoltaic modules comprising:
- a photovoltaic panel configured to generate a first DC voltage at its output; and
a dc transformer configured to receive the first DC voltage and output a second DC voltage, the dc transformer including;
a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding;
switching circuitry coupled between the output of the photovoltaic panel and the primary winding of the transformer, the switching circuitry configured to convert the first DC voltage to a first AC voltage at the primary winding of the transformer; and
rectifier circuitry coupled between the secondary winding and the bus and configured to convert a second AC voltage across the secondary winding to the second DC voltage at the bus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed embodiments increase the power generated by a photovoltaic (PV) array, when the PV panels within the PV array are not uniformly illuminated or oriented or when PV panels are mismatched (e.g., have varying performance characteristics) and/or operate at non-uniform temperatures. It also provides simpler interconnection and wiring of the elements (e.g., PV panels) of the array. A dc-dc converter comprised of a DC transformer is coupled to each PV panel in a photovoltaic array to generate an increased dc voltage from a lower dc voltage produced by the PV panel. The outputs of the dc-dc converters are connected in parallel to a dc bus, which distributes the resulting voltage. As a result, the energy generated by the PV array is increased, the costs of system design and installation are reduced, and it becomes feasible to install PV arrays in new locations such as on gabled or non-planar roofs.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic power generation system including a plurality of integrated photovoltaic modules whose outputs are connected in parallel to a bus, at least one of the integrated photovoltaic modules comprising:
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a photovoltaic panel configured to generate a first DC voltage at its output; and a dc transformer configured to receive the first DC voltage and output a second DC voltage, the dc transformer including; a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding; switching circuitry coupled between the output of the photovoltaic panel and the primary winding of the transformer, the switching circuitry configured to convert the first DC voltage to a first AC voltage at the primary winding of the transformer; and rectifier circuitry coupled between the secondary winding and the bus and configured to convert a second AC voltage across the secondary winding to the second DC voltage at the bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A photovoltaic power generation system comprising:
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a first integrated photovoltaic module including a first photovoltaic panel configured to generate a first dc voltage at its output, the output of the first photovoltaic panel coupled to a first dc transformer configured to receive the first dc voltage and generate an output dc voltage; a second integrated photovoltaic module including a second photovoltaic panel configured to generate a second dc voltage at its output, the output of the second photovoltaic panel coupled to a second dc transformer configured to receive the second dc voltage and generate said output dc voltage, and wherein the outputs of the first integrated photovoltaic module and the second integrated photovoltaic module are coupled in parallel to a dc bus. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification