Testing of a Photovoltaic Panel

• US 20190326854A1
• Filed: 06/06/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Adest, Meir, Sella, Guy, Handelsman, Lior, Galin, Yoav, Fishelov, Amir, Gazit, Meir, Glovinsky, Tzachi, Binder, Yaron
• Granted Patent: US 11,264,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/02 Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant by measuring phase angle only G01R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0048 Circuits or arrangements for reducing losses using snubbers H02M1/34
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/10 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode H02M3/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/30 Electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/00 Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/10 Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing H01L22/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A method for testing a photovoltaic panel connected to an electronic module. The electronic module includes an input attached to the photovoltaic panel and a power output. The method activates a bypass to the electronic module. The bypass provides a low impedance path between the input and the output of the electronic module. A current is injected into the electronic module thereby compensating for the presence of the electronic module during the testing. The current may be previously determined by measuring a circuit parameter of the electronic module. The circuit parameter may be impedance, inductance, resistance or capacitance.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a photovoltaic panel;

a power converter, wherein an output of the photovoltaic panel is electrically connected to an input of the power converter; and

a bypass link connected between the output of the photovoltaic panel and an output of the power converter, the bypass link comprising a switch,

wherein when the switch is activated, the bypass link provides a low impedance path between the output of the photovoltaic panel and the output of the power converter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power converter comprises a DC-DC converter, a DC-AC inverter, a buck-boost converter, power conditioning electronics, sensing electronics, monitoring electronics, or a maximum power point tracking converter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch is a solid state switch.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power converter is configured to convert power received from the output of the photovoltaic panel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to be activated based on a malfunction in the power converter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the bypass link further comprises one or more other switches serially connected to the switch.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the bypass link is activated in response to a communication signal.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a power converter configured to perform power conversion from an input of the power converter to an output of the power converter; and

a bypass link electrically coupled between the input of the power converter and the output of the power converter, the bypass link comprising a switch, wherein the switch comprises an activated state and a deactivated state,

wherein when the switch is activated, the bypass link provides a low impedance path between an output of a photovoltaic panel and the output of the power converter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power converter comprises a DC-DC converter, a DC-AC inverter, a buck-boost converter, power conditioning electronics, sensing electronics, monitoring electronics, or a maximum power point tracking converter.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the switch is activated responsive to an electronic malfunction in the power converter.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power converter is connected to the photovoltaic panel.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the switch is a solid state switch.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bypass link further comprises one or more other switches serially connected to the switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the bypass link is activated in response to a communication signal.

15. A method comprising:

harvesting power from a photovoltaic panel;

converting the harvested power from an input of a power converter to an output of the power converter; and

bypassing the power converter by activating a switch of a bypass link, wherein the bypass link is electrically coupled between the input of the power converter and the output of the power converter, and wherein the activating the switch provides a low impedance path between the input of the photovoltaic panel and the output of the power converter.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the switch is activated responsive to an electronic malfunction of the power converter.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the activating the switch comprises:

receiving, by the power converter, a communication signal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising deactivating the switch.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the deactivating is responsive to a communication signal.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the converting comprises a DC-DC conversion, a DC-AC conversion, a buck-boost conversion, power conditioning, sensing, monitoring, or a maximum power point tracking conversion.