Method for distributed power harvesting using DC power sources
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- coupling each of a plurality of power sources to a respective one of a plurality of direct current (DC) power converters;
coupling the plurality of DC power converters in series, to thereby form a serial string;
coupling the serial string to an input of a direct-current to alternating-current (DC/AC) inverter; and
fixing a voltage level at the input of said DC/AC inverter to a predetermined fixed constant value, thereby forcing current flowing through the serial string to vary according to power provided by the power sources so as to maintain the voltage level at the fixed constant value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.
490 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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coupling each of a plurality of power sources to a respective one of a plurality of direct current (DC) power converters; coupling the plurality of DC power converters in series, to thereby form a serial string; coupling the serial string to an input of a direct-current to alternating-current (DC/AC) inverter; and fixing a voltage level at the input of said DC/AC inverter to a predetermined fixed constant value, thereby forcing current flowing through the serial string to vary according to power provided by the power sources so as to maintain the voltage level at the fixed constant value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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coupling each one of a plurality of DC power sources to a respective one of a plurality of direct current (DC) power converters; coupling the plurality of DC power converters in series, thereby forming a serial string; coupling the serial string to an input of a load, wherein the load includes a plurality of components; maintaining the input of the load at a fixed predetermined constant voltage, the fixed predetermined constant voltage being a safe operating voltage for the plurality of components within the load; and varying a current output from the serial string to the input of the load according to the power drawn from the plurality of DC power sources. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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coupling each one of a plurality of solar panels to a respective one of a plurality of direct-current to direct-current (DC/DC) converters; coupling the plurality of DC/DC converters in series to form a serial string; coupling the serial string to an input of a direct-current to alternating-current (DC/AC) inverter; operating the DC/AC inverter to maintain a fixed constant voltage at the input of the DC/AC inverter; and operating each DC/DC converter to individually maximize power drawn from the respective coupled solar panel and to output the drawn maximized power to the string by varying a voltage or a current from the respective coupled solar panel to the DC/DC converter according to a predetermined criterion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification