Power converter for a solar panel

• US 8,669,675 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Beacon Power (RGA Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Capp, F. William, Driscoll, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ BORROTO, ALFONSO
• Application Number:
  US13/785,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 136/244, 307/82, 320/101
• US Class Current: 307/82
• 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. A solar power generation system comprising:

a plurality of solar modules for generating a solar module output power (SOP) having a solar module output voltage (SOV) and a solar module output current (SOI);

a plurality of DC-to-DC power converters,

wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to only one respective solar module of the plurality of solar modules,

wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is configured and arranged to convert the SOP for each solar module to a converted solar module output power (COP) having a converted output voltage (COV) that is higher than the SOV and a converted output current (COI) that is lower than the SOI,

wherein a plurality of outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected to supply the COP to a load, and

wherein each of the DC-to-DC power converters is configured to prohibit output of the COP in the absence of a control signal from a control system.

2. The solar power generating system of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a DC-to-AC inverter.

3. The solar power generating system of claim 2, wherein the DC-to-AC inverter is disposed between the outputs of the DC-to-DC converters and the load.

4. The solar power generating system of claim 1, wherein the SOV is approximately 48V and the COV is at least 200V.

5. The solar power generation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected in series to supply the COP to the load.

6. A solar power generation system comprising:

a plurality of solar modules for generating a solar module output power (SOP) having a solar module output voltage (SOV) and a solar module output current (SOI);

a plurality of DC-to-DC power converters,

wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to only one respective solar module of the plurality of solar modules,

wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is configured and arranged to convert the SOP for each said solar module to a converted solar module output power (COP) having a converted output voltage (COV) that is higher than the SOV and a converted output current (COI) that is lower than the SOI,

wherein the plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected in series to supply the COP to the load.

7. The solar power generation system of claim 6, wherein each of the DC-to-DC power converters is configured to prohibit output of COP from the DC-to-DC power converter in the absence of a control signal from a control system.

8. The solar power generating system of claim 6, wherein the control system includes a DC-to-AC inverter.

9. The solar power generating system of claim 8, wherein the DC-to-AC inverter is disposed between the outputs of the DC-to-DC converters and the load.

10. The solar power generating system of claim 6, wherein the SOV is approximately 48V and the COV is at least 200V.

11. A method for generating solar power, the method comprising:

generating, by a plurality of solar modules, a solar module output power (SOP) having a solar module output voltage (SOV) and a solar module output current (SOI);

converting, by a plurality of DC-to-DC converters, the SOP to a converted output power (COP) having converted output voltage (COV) that is higher than the SOV and a converted output current (COI) that is lower than the SOI,

wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to only one solar module of the plurality of solar modules,

wherein a plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected to supply the COP to a load; and

wherein, in the absence of a control signal from a control system, prohibiting output of the COP from the DC-to-DC power converter, and

wherein, in the presence of the control signal, outputting the COP.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising connecting the plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters in series to supply power output to the load.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the control system includes a DC-to-AC inverter.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the DC-to-AC inverter is disposed between the outputs of the DC-to-DC converters and the load.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the SOV is approximately 48V and the COV is at least 200V.

16. A method for generating solar power, the method comprising:

generating, by a plurality of solar modules, a solar module output power (SOP) having a solar module output voltage (SOV) and a solar module output current (SOI);

converting, by a plurality of DC-to-DC converters, the SOP to a converted output power (COP) having converted output voltage (COV) that is higher than the SOV and a converted output current (COI) that is lower than the SOI,

wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to only one solar module of the plurality of solar modules, and

wherein a plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected in series to supply the COP to a load.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, in the absence of a control signal, prohibiting output of the COP from the DC-to-DC power converter and, in the presence of the control signal, outputting the COP.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the control system includes a DC-to-AC inverter.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the DC-to-AC inverter is disposed between the outputs of the DC-to-DC converters and the load.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the SOV is approximately 48V and the COV is at least 200V.