Solar Photovoltaic Systems
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Accused Products
Abstract
We describe a photovoltaic (PV) power generation system comprising at least two PV panels and a power conditioning unit. The dc power outputs of the PV panels are connected in parallel to a dc power input of the power conditioning unit. The power conditioning unit comprises a dc-to-dc converter having an input coupled to the dc power input and an output coupled to a dc link of the unit, a dc-to-ac converter having an input coupled to the dc link and an ac mains power supply output, and an energy storage capacitor coupled to the dc link. The power conditioning unit is configured to perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) responsive to a level of power flowing into the dc power input, and the level of power flowing into said dc power input is sensed at the dc link. In preferred implementations the energy storage capacitor is a non-electrolytic capacitor.
116 Citations
38 Claims
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1-32. -32. (canceled)
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33. A method generating an ac mains power supply from a plurality of photovoltaic panels, the method comprising:
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connecting dc power outputs from said photovoltaic panels in parallel to the input of a power conditioning unit; converting said flow of dc power into a said ac mains power supply using said power supply using said power conditioning unit, wherein said converting comprises converting said input flow of dc power units into an intermediate flow of dc power on a dc link of said power conditioning unit coupled to an energy storage capacitor, and converting said intermediate flow of dc power to said ac mains power supply; and tracking substantially a maximum power point of said common input flow of dc power. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A system for generating an ac mains power supply from a plurality of photovoltaic panels, the system comprising:
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means for connecting dc power outputs from said photovoltaic panels in parallel to the input of a power conditioning unit to provide a common flow of dc power; means for converting said flow of dc power into a said ac mains power supply using said power conditioning unit, wherein said converting comprises converting said input flow of dc power into an intermediate flow of dc power on a dc link of said power conditioning unit coupled to an energy storage capacitor; means for converting said intermediate flow of dc power to said ac mains power supply; and means for tracking substantially a maximum power point of said common input flow of dc power. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification