INTEGRATION OF MICROINVERTER WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE

• US 20150144181A1
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enphase Energy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enphase Energy Incorporated
• Inventors: Morris, William, Little, Kristine, Chapman, Patrick, Gilchrist, Phil, Mulligan, William
• Granted Patent: US 10,008,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/251
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02013 comprising output lead wires elements
• 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: H05K 3/301 by means of a mounting structure H05K3/325 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/04 on conductive chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/142 Spacers not being card guides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Various technologies for integrating a microinverter with a photovoltaic module are disclosed. An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) module includes a photovoltaic module having a frame and a junction box including a direct current (DC) output connector, and a microinverter having a housing coupled to the frame and a DC input connector electrically mated with the DC output connector of the photovoltaic module.

Claims

1. An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) module comprising:

a photovoltaic module having a frame and a junction box including a direct current (DC) output connector; and

a microinverter having a housing coupled to the frame and a DC input connector electrically mated with the DC output connector of the photovoltaic module.

2. The ACPV module of claim 1, wherein the housing of the microinverter is elongated and includes a plurality of mounting tabs secured to the frame of photovoltaic module.

3. The ACPV module of claim 2, wherein (i) the DC output connector of the junction box extends upwardly from a substrate of the photovoltaic module, and (ii) the DC input connector of the microinverter extends downwardly from the housing of the microinverter toward the substrate.

4. The ACPV module of claim 1, wherein (i) the frame of the photovoltaic module includes a pair of side rails extending inwardly from the frame to define an opening of the frame, (ii) each of the side rails includes a track defined therein, (iii) the housing of the microinverter includes a pair of slide guides, and (iv) each slide guide is received in a corresponding track of the side rails of the frame of the photovoltaic module.

5. The ACPV module of claim 4, wherein (i) a backplate of the microinverter is aligned with the frame of the photovoltaic module when the DC input connector of the microinverter is electrically mated with the DC output connector of the junction box of the photovoltaic module, and (ii) an alternating current (AC) cable connector of the microinverter protrudes from the backplate.

6. The ACPV module of claim 1, further comprising a support bracket coupled to a first frame member and a second frame member of the frame of the photovoltaic module, the first and second frame members defining a corner of the frame, wherein the housing of the microinverter is secured to the support bracket.

7. The ACPV module of claim 6, wherein (i) the housing of the microinverter includes a plurality of mounting flanges extending outwardly therefrom, (ii) the support bracket includes a plurality of retainers, and (iii) at least one of the mounting flanges cooperates with one of the plurality of retainers to secure the housing to the support bracket.

8. An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) module comprising:

a photovoltaic module including a solar cell array and an electrical terminal extending from a back substrate, the electrical terminal being electrically connected to the solar cell array; and

a microinverter having a housing secured to the photovoltaic module and including a connection chamber, the electrical terminal of the photovoltaic module being received in the connection chamber and electrically connected to a direct current (DC) input terminal of the microinverter.

9. The ACPV module of claim 8, wherein the photovoltaic module is frameless.

10. The ACPV module of claim 8, wherein the housing of the microinverter includes (i) a base, (ii) a cover coupled to the base, and (iii) a gasket positioned between the base and the cover.

11. The ACPV module of claim 8, wherein (i) the photovoltaic module includes a frame, and (ii) the housing of the microinverter is secured to the frame of the photovoltaic module toward a corner of the frame.

12. The ACPV module of claim 8, wherein (i) the photovoltaic module includes a frame, and (ii) the housing of the microinverter is secured to the frame of the photovoltaic module so that the microinverter is centered between two corners of the frame.

13. The ACPV module of claim 8, wherein (i) the photovoltaic module includes a frame, (ii) the housing of the microinverter includes a plurality of mounting flanges extending outwardly therefrom, and (iii) the plurality of mounting flanges are secured to the frame of the photovoltaic module.

14. The ACPV module of claim 13, wherein the microinverter is secured to the frame of the photovoltaic module via the plurality of mounting flanges in a configuration such that the microinverter applies a substantially zero net force to the back substrate of the photovoltaic module.

15. An alternating current photovoltaic (ACPV) module comprising:

a photovoltaic module having a junction box; and

a microinverter having a housing secured to the photovoltaic module,

wherein the microinverter is directly electrically connected to the junction box of the photovoltaic module via a connector-less direct current (DC) wire assembly.

16. The ACPV module of claim 15, wherein the photovoltaic module is frameless.

17. The ACPV module of claim 16, wherein the connector-less DC wire assembly is positioned in a flexible conduit.

18. The ACPV module of claim 15, wherein (i) the photovoltaic module includes a frame, and (ii) the housing of the microinverter is secured to the frame of the photovoltaic module.

19. The ACPV module of claim 18, wherein the housing of the microinverter is secured to the frame of the photovoltaic module toward a corner of the frame.

20. The ACPV module of claim 15, wherein (i) the photovoltaic module includes a frame, and (ii) the connector-less DC wire assembly is positioned in a flexible conduit.