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Solar photovoltaic systems

  • US 8,674,668 B2
  • Filed: 11/16/2010
  • Issued: 03/18/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A photovoltaic power generation system, the system comprising:

  • at least two photovoltaic panels each having a dc power output;

    a power conditioning unit having a dc power input and an ac mains power supply output for delivering ac power to an ac mains power supply;

    wherein said dc power outputs of said at least two photovoltaic panels are connected in parallel with one another to said dc power input of said power conditioning unit;

    wherein said power conditioning unit comprises;

    a dc-to-dc converter having an input coupled to said dc power input and having an output coupled to a dc link of said power conditioning unit;

    a dc-to-ac converter having an input coupled to said dc link and having an output coupled to said ac mains power supply output; and

    an energy storage capacitor coupled to said dc link;

    wherein said power conditioning unit is configured to perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) responsive to a level of power flowing into said dc power input, wherein said level of power flowing into said dc power input is sensed at said dc link;

    wherein said power conditioning unit comprises an MPPT controller coupled to control said dc-to-ac converter to perform said maximum power point tracking (MPPT);

    wherein said controller has a sense input coupled to said energy storage capacitor to sense at said energy storage capacitor a signal responsive to the level of power flowing into said dc power input of said power conditioning unit, and wherein said controller is configured to perform said MPPT by controlling said dc-to-ac converter to control power injected into said ac mains power supply responsive to said level of power flowing into said dc power input of said power conditioning unit sensed at said dc link andwherein said ac mains power supply output is a three phase output, and wherein said power conditioning unit comprises one said dc-to-ac converter per phase, each coupled to said dc link.

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