Rapid shutdown solid state circuit for photovoltaic energy generation systems
First Claim
1. A rapid shutdown solid state circuit for a photovoltaic power generation system, the rapid shutdown solid state circuit comprising:
- a pair of high voltage power transistors configured so that when the rapid shutdown solid state circuit is integrated in the photovoltaic power generation system, the pair of high voltage power transistors is connected between a photovoltaic array and a pair of high voltage lines comprising a positive conductive power line and a negative conductive power line that supply power generated by the photovoltaic array to a DC to AC inverter, each transistor of the pair of high voltage power transistors being disposed along a respective conductive power line of the pair of high voltage lines, wherein the pair of high voltage power transistors are disposed closer to the photovoltaic array than the DC to AC inverter;
a control circuit configured so that when the photovoltaic power generation system operates under normal conditions, the control circuit maintains the pair of high voltage power transistors in the on state so that power produced by the photovoltaic array can be transmitted to the DC to AC inverter through the positive and negative conductive power lines, the control circuit being further configured so that upon receiving a rapid shutdown command, the control circuit turns off the pair of high voltage power transistors to thereby electrically disconnect the photovoltaic array from the positive and negative conductive power lines to prevent further flow of power from the photovoltaic array to the positive and negative conductive power lines; and
a discharge circuit coupled to discharge the positive and negative conductive power lines when activated, wherein when the rapid shutdown solid state circuit is integrated in the photovoltaic power generation system, the pair of high voltage transistors are connected between the photovoltaic array and the discharge circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solid state circuit for performing rapid shutdown of a photovoltaic power generation system includes a pair of high voltage power transistors connected between a photovoltaic array and a pair of high voltage lines that function to supply power generated by the photovoltaic array to a DC to AC inverter. The solid state circuit further includes a control circuit configured so that when the photovoltaic power generation system operates under normal conditions, the control circuit maintains the pair of high voltage power transistors in the on state so that power produced by the photovoltaic array can be transmitted to the DC to AC inverter through the pair of high voltage lines. The control circuit is further configured so that upon receiving a rapid shutdown command, the control circuit turns off the pair of high voltage power transistors to thereby electrically disconnect the photovoltaic array from the pair of power lines.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rapid shutdown solid state circuit for a photovoltaic power generation system, the rapid shutdown solid state circuit comprising:
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a pair of high voltage power transistors configured so that when the rapid shutdown solid state circuit is integrated in the photovoltaic power generation system, the pair of high voltage power transistors is connected between a photovoltaic array and a pair of high voltage lines comprising a positive conductive power line and a negative conductive power line that supply power generated by the photovoltaic array to a DC to AC inverter, each transistor of the pair of high voltage power transistors being disposed along a respective conductive power line of the pair of high voltage lines, wherein the pair of high voltage power transistors are disposed closer to the photovoltaic array than the DC to AC inverter; a control circuit configured so that when the photovoltaic power generation system operates under normal conditions, the control circuit maintains the pair of high voltage power transistors in the on state so that power produced by the photovoltaic array can be transmitted to the DC to AC inverter through the positive and negative conductive power lines, the control circuit being further configured so that upon receiving a rapid shutdown command, the control circuit turns off the pair of high voltage power transistors to thereby electrically disconnect the photovoltaic array from the positive and negative conductive power lines to prevent further flow of power from the photovoltaic array to the positive and negative conductive power lines; and a discharge circuit coupled to discharge the positive and negative conductive power lines when activated, wherein when the rapid shutdown solid state circuit is integrated in the photovoltaic power generation system, the pair of high voltage transistors are connected between the photovoltaic array and the discharge circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A photovoltaic power generation system comprising:
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a photovoltaic array; a DC to AC inverter; and a rapid shutdown solid state circuit connected between the photovoltaic array and a pair of high voltage lines comprising a positive conductive power line and a negative conductive power line that supply power generated by the photovoltaic array to the DC to AC inverter, the rapid shutdown solid state circuit comprising; a pair of high voltage power transistors connected between the photovoltaic array and the positive and negative conductive power lines, each transistor of the pair of high voltage power transistors being disposed along a respective conductive power line of the pair of high voltage lines, wherein the pair of high voltage power transistors are disposed closer to the photovoltaic array than the DC to AC inverter; a control circuit configured so that when the photovoltaic power generation system operates under normal conditions, the control circuit maintains the pair of high voltage power transistors in the on state so that power produced by the photovoltaic array can be transmitted to the DC to AC inverter through the positive and negative conductive power lines, the control circuit being further configured so that upon receiving a rapid shutdown command, the control circuit turns off the pair of high voltage power transistors to thereby electrically disconnect the photovoltaic array from the positive and negative conductive power lines to prevent further flow of power from the photovoltaic array to the positive and negative conductive power lines; and a discharge circuit coupled to discharge the pair of high voltage lines when activated, wherein when the rapid shutdown solid state circuit is integrated in the photovoltaic power generation system, the pair of high voltage transistors are connected between the photovoltaic array and the discharge circuit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a rapid shutdown solid state circuit for a photovoltaic power generation system, the method comprising:
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converting a high voltage provided by a photovoltaic array to a lower voltage for powering the rapid shutdown solid state circuit, the rapid shutdown solid state circuit including a pair of high voltage power transistors configured so that when the rapid shutdown solid state circuit is integrated in a photovoltaic power generation system, the pair of high voltage power transistors are coupled between the photovoltaic array and a pair of high voltage lines, the pair of high voltage lines comprising a positive conductive power line and a negative conductive power line that supply power generated by the photovoltaic array to a DC to AC inverter, each transistor of the pair of high voltage power transistors being disposed along a respective conductive power line of the pair of high voltage lines, wherein the pair of high voltage power transistors are disposed closer to the photovoltaic array than the DC to AC inverter; receiving a rapid shutdown command; turning off the pair of high voltage power transistors in response to the rapid shutdown command to thereby electrically disconnect the photovoltaic array from the positive and negative conductive power lines to prevent further flow of power from the photovoltaic array to the positive and negative conductive power lines; and activating a discharge circuit to discharge the positive and negative conductive power lines. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification