Distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources

• US 8,659,188 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Adest, Meir, Handelsman, Lior, Galin, Yoav, Fishelov, Amir, Sella, Guy, Binder, Yaron
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US13/743,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20130193945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 307/117
• US Class Current: 307/117
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 5/00 Systems for regulating electric variables by detecting deviations in the electric input to the system and thereby controlling a device within the system to obtain a regulated output
• 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: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/26 involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources
• 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 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A method for maintaining reliability of a distributed power system including a power converter having input terminals and output terminals. Input power is received at the input terminals. The input power is converted to an output power at the output terminals. A temperature is measured in or in the environment of the power converter. The power conversion of the input power to the output power may be controlled to maximize the input power by setting at the input terminals the input voltage or the input current according to predetermined criteria. One of the predetermined criteria is configured to reduce the input power based on the temperature signal responsive to the temperature. The adjustment of input power reduces the input voltage and/or input current thereby lowering the temperature of the power converter.

Claims

1. An apparatus including:

a plurality of sensor interfaces configured to receive a plurality of respective sensor signals indicative of a temperature of a power converter and indicative of electrical power input to the power converter; and

controller circuitry configured to adjust the electrical power input to the power converter based on the temperature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuitry is configured to adjust the electrical power input to the power converter by reducing the electrical power input to the power converter based on the temperature.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuitry is configured to adjust the electrical power input to the power converter by temperature derating the electrical power input to the power converter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuitry is configured to adjust the electrical power input to the power converter by reducing at least one of voltage and current of the electrical power input to the power converter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuitry is configured to adjust the electrical power input to the power converter based on the electrical power being generated from one or more solar cells.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuitry is configured to adjust the electrical power input to the power converter by maximizing the electrical power input to the power converter based on the temperature.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller circuitry is configured to adjust the electrical power input to the power converter by maximizing the electrical power input to the power converter using a maximum power point tracking algorithm and reducing the maximized electrical power based on the temperature.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the power converter, wherein the control circuitry further controls power conversion by the power converter.

9. A method including:

receiving, from a plurality of sensors, a plurality of respective sensor signals indicative of a temperature of a power converter and indicative of electrical power input to the power converter; and

adjusting the electrical power input to the power converter based on the temperature.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the electrical power input to the power converter by reducing the electrical power input to the power converter based on the temperature.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the electrical power input to the power converter by temperature derating the electrical power input to the power converter.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the electrical power input to the power converter by reducing at least one of voltage and current of the electrical power input to the power converter.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the electrical power input to the power converter based on the electrical power being generated from one or more solar cells.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the electrical power input to the power converter by maximizing the electrical power input to the power converter based on the temperature.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising adjusting the electrical power input to the power converter by maximizing the electrical power input to the power converter using a maximum power point tracking algorithm and reducing the maximized electrical power according to a temperature derating based on the temperature.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising controlling power conversion by the power converter.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

reducing temperature stress of electronic components within the power converter by temperature derating the electrical power input to the power converter.