Safety switch for photovoltaic systems
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first electrical conductor coupled to a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector designed to be connectable to a first power source;
a second electrical conductor coupled to a second electrical connector, the second electrical connector designed to be connectable to a second power source;
a switching element forming a series connection between the first power source and the second power source via the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor; and
a controller coupled to a control terminal of the switching element, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching element, in response to a sensor measurement indicative of a potentially unsafe condition, to disconnect the series connection between the first power source and the second power source by disconnecting the first electrical conductor from the second electrical conductor.
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Abstract
Various implementations described herein are directed to a methods and apparatuses for disconnecting, by a device, elements at certain parts of an electrical system. The method may include measuring operational parameters at certain locations within the system and/or receiving messages from control devices indicating a potentially unsafe condition, disconnecting and/or short-circuiting system elements in response, and reconnection the system elements when it is safe to do so. Certain embodiments relate to methods and apparatuses for providing operational power to safety switches during different modes of system operation.
1213 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first electrical conductor coupled to a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector designed to be connectable to a first power source; a second electrical conductor coupled to a second electrical connector, the second electrical connector designed to be connectable to a second power source; a switching element forming a series connection between the first power source and the second power source via the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor; and a controller coupled to a control terminal of the switching element, wherein the controller is configured to control the switching element, in response to a sensor measurement indicative of a potentially unsafe condition, to disconnect the series connection between the first power source and the second power source by disconnecting the first electrical conductor from the second electrical conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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detecting, by a controller, a sensor measurement indicative of a potentially unsafe condition at a power generation installation comprising a plurality of power sources and one or more safety switches, wherein each of the one or more safety switches is connected in series between two power sources of the plurality of power sources; controlling, by the controller, the one or more safety switches to disconnect from the two power sources connected in series thereto; receiving, by the controller, a sensor measurement indicating that the potentially unsafe condition is no longer present; and controlling, by the controller, the one or more safety switches to reconnect to the two power sources connected in series thereto. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a transistor including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal; a diode coupled in parallel to the transistor; a resistor coupled in parallel to the transistor; and a power circuit coupled in parallel to the transistor, wherein the power circuit is configured to receive as input a voltage across the first terminal of the transistor and the second terminal of the transistor and to output a voltage to the third terminal of the transistor, wherein the power circuit comprises a direct current to direct current converter, and wherein the first terminal of the transistor is coupled to a first terminal of a first photovoltaic generator and the second terminal of the transistor is coupled to a second terminal of a second photovoltaic generator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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a first terminal configured to be coupled to a first power device terminal; a second terminal configured to be coupled to a first electrical power source; a third terminal configured to be coupled to a second power device terminal; a fourth terminal configured to be coupled to a second electrical power source; a switching element coupled in series between the second terminal and the fourth terminal; and a controller configured to control a state of the switching element, wherein the controller is configured to disconnect the first electrical power source from the second electrical power source in response to a sensor measurement indicative of a potentially unsafe condition. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification