Photovoltaic System Protection
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of solar cells, wherein the plurality of solar cells comprisesa first set of one or more solar cells,a second set of one or more solar cells;
a first control element configured to substantially disable a subset of the first set of solar cells in response to the first set of solar cells generating electricity at more than a first threshold voltage; and
a second control element configured to substantially disable a subset of the second set of solar cells in response to the second set of solar cells generating electricity at more than a second threshold voltage, wherein the first and second threshold voltages are based at least on an operating limit of an inverter coupled to the plurality of solar cells.
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Abstract
A method includes measuring one or more performance metrics of a set of solar cells coupled to an inverter. Based at least on the performance metrics meeting a first criterion, a first subset of the set of solar cells are disabled, reducing a voltage, power, or current provided to the inverter. Based at least on the performance metrics meeting a second criterion, a second subset of the set of solar cells are disabled, further reducing a voltage, power, or current provided to the inverter.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of solar cells, wherein the plurality of solar cells comprises a first set of one or more solar cells, a second set of one or more solar cells; a first control element configured to substantially disable a subset of the first set of solar cells in response to the first set of solar cells generating electricity at more than a first threshold voltage; and a second control element configured to substantially disable a subset of the second set of solar cells in response to the second set of solar cells generating electricity at more than a second threshold voltage, wherein the first and second threshold voltages are based at least on an operating limit of an inverter coupled to the plurality of solar cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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measuring one or more performance metrics of a set of solar cells coupled to at least one inverter; based at least on the performance metrics meeting a first criterion, disabling a first subset of the set of solar cells; and based at least on the performance metrics meeting a second criterion, disabling a second subset of the set of solar cells. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A control system comprising:
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an input configured to receive one or more performance metrics of a set of solar cells coupled to at least one inverter; and a processor configured to evaluate the performance metrics, based at least on the performance metrics meeting a first criterion, disable a first subset of the set of solar cells, and based at least on the performance metrics meeting a second criterion, disable a second subset of the set of solar cells.
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Specification