POWER CONVERTER FOR A SOLAR PANEL

• US 20120056483A1
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Beacon Power Corporation (RGA Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Driscoll, William J., CAPP, F. WILLIAM
• Granted Patent: US 9,438,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/82
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0077 Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A solar array power generation system includes a solar array electrically connected to a control system. The solar array has a plurality of solar modules, each module having at least one DC/DC converter for converting the raw panel output to an optimized high voltage, low current output. In a further embodiment, each DC/DC converter requires a signal to enable power output of the solar modules.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A plurality of DC-to-DC power converters, each of the DC-to-DC power converters being configured for direct coupling to the output of a different solar module among a plurality of solar modules wherein each of the solar modules includes a plurality of solar cells, each of the DC-to-DC power converters providing an output.

21. The converters of claim 20 wherein each of the DC-to-DC power converters includes maximum power point tracking (MPPT).

22. The converters of claim 20 wherein the converters are connected to a DC-to-AC inverter.

23. A power generation system, comprising:

a solar array including a plurality of solar modules, each of the solar modules including a plurality of solar cells; and

a DC-to-DC power converter coupled to each solar module for controlling that solar module to maximize a power output of that solar module.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the DC-to-DC power converters are coupled to a DC-to-AC inverter.