Grid tie solar system and a method
First Claim
1. A grid tie system for a solar array including a plurality of solar panel strings, each of the solar panel strings including a plurality of solar panels connected in series for generating a DC power output comprising:
- a DC bus for receiving the DC power output from the solar panels;
a plurality of disconnect boxes spaced along a length of the DC bus, each of the disconnect boxes disposed between the DC bus and an associated one of the solar panel strings to provide selective electrical communication therebetween;
a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters has an input in electrical communication with the DC bus and an output for converting the DC power output to an AC power output, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and includes a maximum power point tracker to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, the input of each of the inverters being directly connected to the DC bus by wiring;
an electrical transformer in communication with an electrical grid and the inverters to receive the AC power output from the inverters and step-up a voltage of the AC power output to match a voltage of the grid, wherein the transformer includes a separate impedance balanced primary winding for each of the inverters; and
a controller in communication with the inverters for selectively toggling the inverters between the active state and the inactive state while maintaining at least one of the inverters in the active state to maximize the AC power output and reduce power losses within the grid tie system, the controller responding to the DC power output of the solar panels exceeding a collective capacity of the inverters operating in the active state to toggle another one of the inverters in the inactive state to the active state, the maximum power point tracker of the another one inverter determining a maximum power point for operation of the another one inverter to regulate an operating voltage of the DC bus while all others of the inverters in the active state each operate at an associated maximum current point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A grid tie system includes a plurality of solar panels, a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters is in electrical communication with at least one of the solar panels to convert a direct current to an alternating current, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and at least one of the inverters includes a tracking component to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, and a controller in communication with at least one of the inverters for selectively toggling the at least one of the inverters between the active state and the inactive state.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A grid tie system for a solar array including a plurality of solar panel strings, each of the solar panel strings including a plurality of solar panels connected in series for generating a DC power output comprising:
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a DC bus for receiving the DC power output from the solar panels; a plurality of disconnect boxes spaced along a length of the DC bus, each of the disconnect boxes disposed between the DC bus and an associated one of the solar panel strings to provide selective electrical communication therebetween; a plurality of inverters, wherein each of the inverters has an input in electrical communication with the DC bus and an output for converting the DC power output to an AC power output, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and includes a maximum power point tracker to track a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, the input of each of the inverters being directly connected to the DC bus by wiring; an electrical transformer in communication with an electrical grid and the inverters to receive the AC power output from the inverters and step-up a voltage of the AC power output to match a voltage of the grid, wherein the transformer includes a separate impedance balanced primary winding for each of the inverters; and a controller in communication with the inverters for selectively toggling the inverters between the active state and the inactive state while maintaining at least one of the inverters in the active state to maximize the AC power output and reduce power losses within the grid tie system, the controller responding to the DC power output of the solar panels exceeding a collective capacity of the inverters operating in the active state to toggle another one of the inverters in the inactive state to the active state, the maximum power point tracker of the another one inverter determining a maximum power point for operation of the another one inverter to regulate an operating voltage of the DC bus while all others of the inverters in the active state each operate at an associated maximum current point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A grid tie system comprising:
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a solar array including a plurality of panel strings in parallel electrical communication with each other, wherein each of the panel strings includes a plurality of solar panels connected in series; a direct current bus in electrical communication with each of the panel strings for receiving a direct current power output from the solar panels; a plurality of disconnect boxes spaced along a length of the direct current bus, each of the disconnect boxes disposed between the direct current bus and an associated one of the panel strings to provide selective electrical communication therebetween; a plurality of inverters each with an input in electrical communication with the direct current bus to receive the direct current power output generated by the solar array and to convert the direct current power output to an alternating current power output, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and includes a maximum power point tracker that tracks a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, the input of each one of the inverters being directly connected to the DC bus by wiring; an electrical transformer in communication with an electrical grid and the inverters to receive the alternating current power output from inverters and step-up a voltage of the alternating current power output to match a voltage of the grid, wherein the transformer includes a separate impedance balanced primary winding for each of the inverters; and a controller in communication with each of the inverters to receive a feedback signal from each of the inverters and to toggle the inverters between the active state and the inactive state while maintaining at least one of the inverters in the active state based upon an analysis of each of the feedback signals, wherein each of the feedback signals includes information about an operational characteristic of an associated one of the inverters, the controller responding to the direct current power output of the solar panels exceeding a collective capacity of the inverters operating in the active state to toggle another one of the inverters in the inactive state to the active state, the maximum power point tracker of the another one inverter determining a maximum power point for operation of the another one inverter to regulate an operating voltage of the direct current bus while all others of the inverters in the active state each operate at an associated maximum current point. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a grid tie system, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of solar panels connected to a DC bus and generating a DC power output from the solar panels to the DC bus, the solar panels being connected in series in a plurality solar panel strings; providing a plurality of disconnect boxes spaced along a length of the DC bus, each of the disconnect boxes disposed between the DC bus and an associated one of the solar panel strings to provide selective electrical communication therebetween; providing a plurality of inverters, each of the inverters being in electrical communication with the DC bus to receive the DC power output and to convert the DC power output to an AC power output, wherein each of the inverters has an active state and an inactive state and includes a maximum power point tracker that tracks a maximum power point of at least one of the solar panels, an input of each of the inverters being directly connected to the DC bus by wiring; providing a transformer that includes a separate impedance balanced primary winding for each of the inverters; generating a feedback signal including information about an operational characteristic of the inverters; analyzing the feedback signal; and toggling the inverters between the active state and the inactive state in response to the analysis of the feedback signal while at least one of the inverters in the active state, the controller responding to the DC power output of the solar panels exceeding a collective capacity of the inverters operating in the active state to toggle another one of the inverters in the inactive state to the active state, the maximum power point tracker of the another one inverter determining a maximum power point for operation of the another one inverter to regulate an operating voltage of the DC bus while all others of the inverters in the active state each operate at an associated maximum current point. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification