Distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources

• US 9,543,889 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2014
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Sella, Guy, Handelsman, Lior, Galin, Yoav, Fishelov, Amir, Adest, Meir
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez Borroto, Alfonso
• Application Number:
  US14/582,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20150155825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 307/52, 174/50, 174/564, 439/76.1, 439/492, 136/244, 361/641
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• 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 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 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A distributed power harvesting system including multiple direct current (DC) power sources with respective DC outputs adapted for interconnection into a interconnected DC power source output. A converter includes input terminals adapted for coupling to the interconnected DC power source output. A circuit loop sets the voltage and current at the input terminals of the converter according to predetermined criteria. A power conversion portion converts the power received at the input terminals to an output power at the output terminals. A power supplier is coupled to the output terminals. The power supplier includes a control part for maintaining the input to the power supplier at a predetermined value. The control part maintains the input voltage and/or input current to the power supplier at a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A junction box comprising:

a first chamber formed therein comprising a first separable side of a wall structure, a first separable portion of a first connector, and a second connector configured to receive direct current (DC) source power from at least one solar panel and to output the DC source power via the first separable portion of the first connector; and

a second chamber formed therein comprising a second separable portion of the first connector and a second separable side of the wall structure, wherein the second chamber is configured to receive the DC source power from the first separable portion of the first connector via the second separable portion of the first connector and is configured to output DC output power on an output connector, and wherein the second chamber with the second separable side of the wall structure and with the second separable portion of the first connector is removable, via the wall structure, from the first chamber with the first separable side of the wall structure and with the first separable portion of the first connector without the first chamber being disconnected from the at least one solar panel.

2. The junction box of claim 1, further comprising:

a circuit disposed in the second chamber, the circuit being configured to receive the DC source power from the second separable portion of the first connector and to output the DC output power on the output connector.

3. The junction box of claim 2, wherein the circuit comprises a bypass link, the bypass link being configured to pass the DC source power from the second separable portion of the first connector to the output connector.

4. The junction box of claim 2, wherein the circuit comprises a power converter, the power converter being configured to convert the DC source power received from the first separable portion of the first connector to converted DC power output on the output connector.

5. The junction box of claim 4, wherein the power converter comprises a circuit loop configured to set a voltage or a current at the first connector or at the second connector.

6. The junction box of claim 1, wherein the second connector is configured to receive first DC source power from a first solar panel and second DC source power from a second solar panel.

7. The junction box of claim 1, wherein the second connector is configured to receive first DC source power from a first solar panel connected to the first chamber and second DC source power from at least a second solar panel.

8. The junction box of claim 1, wherein the second connector is configured to receive at least a portion of the DC source power from one or more second junction boxes connected to the second connector.

9. The junction box of claim 1, further comprising a rubber gasket configured to hermetically seal the first chamber.

10. The junction box of claim 1, wherein the second chamber comprises a removable bypass link in a first configuration and a removable power converter in a second configuration.

21. The junction box of claim 1, wherein when the second chamber is removed via the wall structure from the first chamber without the first chamber being disconnected from the at least one solar panel, and wherein the first separable portion of the first connector is disposed in the first chamber.

22. The junction box of claim 1, wherein when the second chamber is removed via the wall structure from the first chamber without the first chamber being disconnected from the at least one solar panel, the second separable portion of the first connector is separated from the first separable portion of the first connector.

23. The junction box of claim 22, wherein the first separable portion of the first connector is disposed in the first chamber and the second separable portion of the first connector is disposed in the second chamber.

24. The junction box of claim 1, wherein the first and the second separable sides of the wall structure each extend continuously from a first end of the wall structure to a second end of the wall structure.

11. A method comprising:

forming a junction box to have;

a first chamber formed therein comprising a first separable side of a wall structure, a first separable portion of a first connector, and a second connector configured to receive direct current (DC) source power from at least one solar panel and to output the DC source power via the first separable portion of the first connector; and

a second chamber formed therein comprising a second separable portion of the first connector and a second separable side of the wall structure, wherein the second chamber is configured to receive the DC source power from the first separable portion of the first connector via the second separable portion of the first connector and is configured to output DC output power on an output connector, and wherein the second chamber with the second separable side of the wall structure and with the second separable portion of the first connector is removable, via the wall structure, from the first chamber with the first separable side of the wall structure and with the first separable portion of the first connector without the first chamber being disconnected from the at least one solar panel.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a circuit disposed in the second chamber, the circuit being configured to receive the DC source power from the second separable portion of the first connector and to pass the DC output power on the output connector.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the circuit comprises forming a bypass link, the bypass link being configured to pass the DC source power from the second separable portion of the first connector to the output connector.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the circuit comprises forming a power converter, the power converter being configured to convert the DC source power received from the first separable portion of the first connector to converted DC power output on the output connector.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming the power converter with a circuit loop configured to set a voltage or a current at the first connector or at the second connector.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

connecting a bypass link in the second chamber;

disconnecting the bypass link from the junction box; and

connecting a power converter in the second chamber.

17. A junction box having formed therein a first chamber and a second chamber, the junction box comprising:

a wall structure separating the first chamber and the second chamber with first and second separable sides, the first chamber comprising the first separable side of the wall structure and the second chamber comprising the second separable side of the wall structure;

a first connector disposed in the first chamber and configured to connect to at least one solar panel and to receive direct current (DC) source power from the at least one solar panel; and

a second connector coupled to the wall structure and comprising first and second separable portions respectively extending into the first and the second chambers, wherein the first separable portion of the second connector is configured to receive the DC source power from the first connector, wherein and the second separable portion of the second connector is configured to receive the DC source power from the first separable portion of the second connector and to input the DC source power into circuitry disposed in the second chamber,

wherein the second chamber, the circuitry, the second separable portion of the second connector, and the second separable side of the wall structure are configured to be removable as a single unit, via the wall structure, from the first chamber, the first separable portion of the second connector, and the first separable side of the wall structure without disconnecting the first chamber from the at least one solar panel.

18. The junction box of claim 17, wherein the circuitry comprises a bypass link configured to pass the DC source power from the second separable portion of the second connector to an output connector.

19. The junction box of claim 17, wherein the circuitry comprises a power converter, the power converter being configured to convert the DC source power received from the first separable portion of the second connector to converted DC source power on an output connector.

20. The junction box of claim 17, wherein the first connector is configured to receive at least a portion of the DC source power from one or more second junction boxes connected to the first connector.