POWER CONVERTER FOR A SOLAR PANEL

• US 20160248257A1
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Capp, F. William, Driscoll, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,135,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system comprising:

a plurality of solar units, each solar unit of the solar units comprising;

a solar generator having at least one solar cell to generate electric power;

only one pair of output connections to provide output; and

a DC/DC converter coupled between the solar generator and the pair of output connections to receive electricity provided by the solar generator in entirety and to provide the output via the pair of output connections, wherein the DC/DC converter is configured to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar units of the plurality of solar units;

a galvanically isolated output inverter; and

a set of wires configured to connect output connections of the solar units and the galvanically isolated output inverter in series;

wherein the DC/DC converter is configured to employ a switching frequency for transferring electricity from the solar generator to the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the galvanically isolated output inverter comprises an output inductor, wherein the set of wires is configured to connect the output connections of the solar units and the output inductor in series.

22. The system of claim 20 or 21,

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator is connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires;

and

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection.

23. The system of claim 20 or 21, wherein the DC/DC converter includes a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel and further connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires; and

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection.

24. The system of claim 20 or 21, wherein the DC/DC converter includes a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the switch is turned on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel and further connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires; and

wherein when the switch is turned off, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are electronically disconnected from the series connection.

25. The system of claim 20 or 21,

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator is connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires;

and

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection.

26. The system of claim 20 or 21, wherein the DC/DC converter includes a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel and further connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires; and

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection.

27. The system of claim 20 or 21, wherein the DC/DC converter includes a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the switch is turned on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel and further connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires; and

wherein when the switch is turned off, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are electronically disconnected from the series connection.

28. The system of claim 20, further comprising a controller configured to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar units of the plurality of solar units.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the DC/DC converter comprises the controller.

30. The system of claim 21, further comprising a controller configured to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar units of the plurality of solar units.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the DC/DC converter comprises the controller.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein the set of wires is configured to filter electricity received from the series connection of the solar units.

33. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is configured to filter electricity received from the series connection of the solar units.

34. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is configured for filtering.

35. The system of claim 20, wherein the system is configured for filtering electricity.

36. The system of claim 20 or 21, further comprising a central control system configured to generate a control signal, wherein each of the DC/DC power converters is configured to vary a respective DC/DC power converter'"'"'s mode of operation in response to receiving the control signal.

94. The system of claim 20, further comprising an energy storage device, wherein the set of wires is configured to connect the output connections of the solar units and the energy storage device.

37. A system comprising:

a plurality of solar units, each solar unit of the solar units comprising;

a solar generator having at least one solar cell to generate electric power;

only one pair of output connections to provide output; and

a DC/DC converter coupled between the solar generator and the pair of output connections to receive electricity provided by the solar generator in entirety and to provide the output via the pair of output connections, wherein the DC/DC converter is configured to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar units of the plurality of solar units;

an output inductor; and

a set of wires configured to connect output connections of the solar units and the output inductor in series;

wherein the DC/DC converter is configured to employ a switching frequency for transferring electricity from the solar generator to the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising a galvanically isolated output inverter, wherein the galvanically isolated output inverter comprises the output inductor.

39. The system of claim 37 or 38,

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator is connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires;

and

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection.

40. The system of claim 37 or 38, wherein the DC/DC converter includes a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel and further connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires; and

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection.

41. The system of claim 37 or 38, wherein the DC/DC converter includes a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the switch is turned on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel and further connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires; and

wherein when the switch is turned off, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are electronically disconnected from the series connection.

42. The system of claim 37 or 38,

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator is connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires;

and

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection.

43. The system of claim 37 or 38, wherein the DC/DC converter includes a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel and further connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires; and

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection.

44. The system of claim 37 or 38, wherein the DC/DC converter includes a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the switch is turned on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel and further connected in the series connection of the solar units established by the set of wires; and

wherein when the switch is turned off, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are electronically disconnected from the series connection.

45. The system of claim 37, further comprising a controller configured to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar units of the plurality of solar units.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the DC/DC converter comprises the controller.

47. The system of claim 38, further comprising a controller configured to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar units of the plurality of solar units.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the DC/DC converter comprises the controller.

49. The system of claim 37, wherein the set of wires is configured to filter electricity received from the series connection of the solar units.

50. The system of claim 37, wherein the system is configured to filter electricity received from the series connection of the solar units.

51. The system of claim 37, wherein the system is configured for filtering.

52. The system of claim 37, wherein the system is configured for filtering electricity.

53. The system of claim 37 or 38, further comprising a central control system configured to generate a control signal, wherein each of the DC/DC power converters is configured to vary a respective DC/DC power converter'"'"'s mode of operation in response to receiving the control signal.

95. The system of claim 37, further comprising an energy storage device, wherein the set of wires is configured to connect the output connections of the solar units and the energy storage device.

54. A method, comprising:

connecting outputs of a plurality of solar units in series to form a series connection, wherein each of the solar units comprises

a solar generator having at least one solar cell to generate electric power, and

a DC/DC converter coupled with the solar generator to receive the electric power generated by the solar generator in entirety and configured to output the electric power through the plurality of solar units connected in series,

wherein the DC/DC converter is configured to employ a switching frequency for transferring electric power from the solar generator to;

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched on, the solar generator is connected in the series connection in the plurality of solar units;

wherein when the DC/DC converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection; and

controlling the DC/DC converter of each of the solar units to operate a respective solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar units of the plurality of solar units that are connected in series.

55. The method of claim 54,

wherein each of the solar units has a controller;

and

the DC/DC converter is adjusted via the controller to operate the solar generator at the maximum power point, based on a voltage of the solar generator.

56. The method of claim 54,

wherein each of the solar units has a controller;

and

a switching frequency of the DC/DC converter is adjusted via the controller to operate the solar generator at the maximum power point, based on a voltage of the solar generator.

57. The method of claim 54,

wherein each of the solar units has a controller;

and

a duty cycle of the DC/DC converter is adjusted via the controller to operate the solar generator at the maximum power point, based on a voltage of the solar generator.

58. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

coupling a galvanically isolated inverter with the plurality of solar units in series to provide the electric power to a load.

59. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

coupling a galvanically isolated inverter comprising an inductor with the plurality of solar units in series to provide the electric power to a load.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

coupling the inductor with the plurality of solar units in series to provide the electric power to a load.

61. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

coupling an inductor with the plurality of solar units in series to provide the electric power to a load.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein the galvanically isolated inverter is a single galvanically isolated inverter shared by DC/DC converters of the solar units connected in series.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein the galvanically isolated inverter is a single galvanically isolated inverter shared by DC/DC converters of the solar units connected in series.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the inductor is a single inductor shared by DC/DC converters of the solar units connected in series.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein the inductor is a single inductor shared by DC/DC converters of the solar units connected in series.

66. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

connecting the plurality of solar units to the load including devices that use or store the electric power.

67. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

connecting the plurality of solar units to the load including devices that use or store the electric power.

68. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

connecting the plurality of solar units to the load including devices that use or store the electric power.

69. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

connecting the plurality of solar units to the load including devices that use or store the electric power.

70. The method of claim 54, wherein the DC/DC converter comprises a switch, and an energy storage capacitor coupled between the solar generator and the switch;

wherein when the switch is turned on, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are connected in parallel for the series connection in the plurality of solar units;

wherein when the switch is turned off, the solar generator and the energy storage capacitor are electronically disconnected from the series connection, and

wherein the method further comprises controlling the switch of the DC/DC converter of each of the solar units to operate the respective solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar units of the plurality of solar units that are connected in series.

71. The method of claim 54, further comprising varying a respective mode of operation of the DC/DC converter of each of the solar units in response to receiving a control signal from a central control system.

72. The method of claim 54, further comprising filtering electric power received from the series connection of the solar units.

96. The method of claim 54, further comprising coupling an energy storage device with the plurality of solar units to provide the electric power to a load.

73. A method, comprising:

generating electricity in direct current (DC) using a solar generator; and

operating a converter coupled between the solar generator and a series connection of solar generators to allow the solar generator to supply a first current to the series connection of solar generators, wherein the converter is controlled to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar generators in the series connection of solar generators;

wherein the converter is configured to allow a second current larger than the first current to flow through the series connection of solar generators;

wherein when the converter is switched on, the solar generator provides the first current to the series connection of solar generators, and the second current is equal to or larger than the first current; and

wherein, when the converter is switched off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection of solar generators.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the solar generator has at least one solar cell;

and the converter has no inductor.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the solar generator has at least one solar cell.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein the converter is configured to employ a switching frequency to allow an output voltage of the converter that is substantially equal to an output voltage of the solar generator.

77. The method of claim 73, wherein when the converter is switched on, an output voltage of the converter is substantially equal to an output voltage of the solar generator.

78. The method of claim 73, operating a first switch of a converter, coupled between the solar generator and a series connection of solar generators, according to a duty cycle to allow the solar generator to supply a first current to the series connection of solar generators via the first switch of the converter, wherein the first switch is controlled to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point independent of other solar generators in the series connection of solar generators.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein when the first switch is turned on, an output voltage of the converter is substantially equal to an output voltage of the solar generator.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the converter is configured to allow a second current larger than the first current to flow through the series connection of solar generators, and the converter includes an energy storage capacitor coupled in parallel with the solar generator and coupled between the solar generator and the first switch.

81. The method of claim 80,

wherein when the first switch is turned on, the solar generator provides the first current to the series connection of solar generators, and the second current is equal to or larger than the first current;

and

wherein, when the first switch is turned off, the solar generator is electronically disconnected from the series connection of solar generators.

82. The method of claim 73, wherein the converter further comprises a controller to control switching the converter.

83. The method of claim 73, wherein the converter further comprises a controller to control the converter according to a duty cycle.

84. The method of claim 78, wherein the converter further comprises a controller to control the first switch.

85. The method of claim 78, wherein the converter further comprises a controller to control the first switch according to the duty cycle.

86. The method of claim 82, wherein the controller is to further control the converter according to at least one of:

a phase shift, and a synchronizing signal.

87. The method of claim 83, wherein the controller is to further control the converter according to at least one of:

a phase shift, and a synchronizing signal.

88. The method of claim 84, wherein the controller is to further control the first switch according to at least one of:

a phase shift, and a synchronizing signal.

89. The method of claim 85, wherein the controller is to further control the first switch according to at least one of:

a phase shift, and a synchronizing signal.

90. The method of claim 73, wherein the converter is a first converter and the solar generator is a first solar generator;

wherein the series connection of solar generators further comprises a second solar generator and a second converter connected to the first converter in series, the second solar generator being configured to provide electricity to the series connection of solar generators the second converter, the second converter being configured to allow the second current, larger than a current from the second solar generator, to flow through the series connection of solar generators; and

wherein the method further comprises;

operating the second converter separately from the first converter to separately maximize power output from the first solar generator and the power output from the second solar generator.

91. The method of claim 73, wherein the converter is a first converter and the solar generator is a first solar generator;

wherein the series connection of solar generators further comprises a second solar generator and a second converter connected to the first converter in series, the second solar generator to provide electricity to the series connection of solar generators the second converter, the second converter configured to allow the second current, larger than a current from the second solar generator, to flow through the series connection of solar generators; and

wherein the method further comprises;

operating the second converter according to a duty cycle separately from a duty cycle according to which a first switch of the first converter is operated to separately maximize power output from the first solar generator and the power output from the second solar generator.

92. The method of claim 73, wherein the converter is a first converter and the solar generator is a first solar generator;

and

wherein the series connection of solar generators further comprises a second solar generator and a second converter connected to the first converter in series, the second converter having at least a second switch, the second solar generator to provide electricity to the series connection of solar generators via the second switch of the second converter, the second converter configured to allow the second current, larger than a current from the second solar generator, to flow through the series connection of solar generators; and

wherein the method further comprises;

operating a second switch of the second converter according to a duty cycle separately from a duty cycle according to which a first switch of the first converter is operated to separately maximize power output from the first solar generator and the power output from the second solar generator.

93. The method of claim 73, further comprising varying a respective mode of operation of the converter in response to receiving a control signal from a central control system.

97. The method of claim 73, further comprising coupling an energy storage device with the series connection of solar generators.