Testing of a photovoltaic panel

• US 10,461,687 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Adest, Meir, Sella, Guy, Handelsman, Lior, Galin, Yoav, Fishelov, Amir, Gazit, Meir, Glovinsky, Tzachi, Binder, Yaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Application Number:
  US15/357,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20170214363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/02 Measuring real or complex resistance, reactance, impedance, or other two-pole characteristics derived therefrom, e.g. time constant by measuring phase angle only G01R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• 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: H02M 3/10 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode H02M3/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/48 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/10 Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing H01L22/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A method for testing a photovoltaic panel connected to an electronic module. The electronic module includes an input attached to the photovoltaic panel and a power output. The method activates a bypass to the electronic module. The bypass provides a low impedance path between the input and the output of the electronic module. A current is injected into the electronic module thereby compensating for the presence of the electronic module during the testing. The current may be previously determined by measuring a circuit parameter of the electronic module. The circuit parameter may be impedance, inductance, resistance or capacitance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

activating a bypass link between an input of an electronic module and an output of the electronic module;

performing a flash test on a photovoltaic panel while the bypass link is activated, wherein the photovoltaic panel is connected to the input of the electronic module; and

deactivating the bypass link between the input of the electronic module and the output of the electronic module responsive to a determination that the flash test is complete.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bypass link comprises at least one switch and at least one fuse, and wherein de-activating the bypass link comprises blowing a fuse of the at least one fuse.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bypass link comprises a switch, and wherein de-activating the bypass link comprises removing a magnetic field to the switch.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the bypass link between the input of the electronic module and the output of the electronic module creates a low impedance path between the input of the electronic module and the output of the electronic module.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising creating the low impedance path with the bypass link with a solid state switch.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising creating the low impedance path with the bypass link with one of a reed switch, a reed relay switch, or a solid state switch.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the bypass link comprises a switch, and wherein activating the bypass link comprises applying a magnetic field to the switch.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the bypass link between the input of the electronic module and the output of the electronic module creates an open circuit impedance between the input of the electronic module and the output of the electronic module.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing, with the electronic module, one of DC to DC conversion, DC to AC conversion or maximum power point tracking.

10. A device comprising:

an electronic module comprising at least one input configured to be attached to an output of a photovoltaic panel, and at least one power output;

a bypass link operatively attached to the at least one input of the electronic module and the at least one power output of the electronic module, the bypass link configured to be deactivated subsequent to a completion of a flash test on the photovoltaic panel; and

a flash test module configured to perform the flash test on the photovoltaic panel.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the bypass link is configured to be activated during the performing of the flash test.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the bypass link includes a bypass component selected from the group consisting of:

at least one switch and at least one fuse, the bypass component connecting the at least one power output and the at least one input of the electronic module.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the bypass link is configured to be activated by an application of a magnetic field to a switch of the at least one switch.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the bypass link is configured to be de-activated by one of a removal of a magnetic field to a switch of the at least one switch or a blowing of a fuse of the at least one fuse.

15. A method, comprising:

bypassing one or more components of a photovoltaic module using a bypass circuit;

flash testing photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic module while the one or more components are bypassed; and

reconnecting the one or more components by switching in the one or more components and switching out the bypass circuit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the photovoltaic module comprises a first plurality of terminals, the bypass circuit comprises a bypass module that comprises a second plurality of terminals, and wherein during the bypassing, at least some of the first plurality of terminals are electrically coupled with the second plurality of terminals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the bypass module further comprises a third plurality of terminals, and wherein the reconnecting comprises disconnecting the second plurality of terminals from the at least some of the first plurality of terminals and electrically coupling the third plurality of terminals with the first plurality of terminals.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled to the photovoltaic module.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the reconnecting comprises electronically coupling the one or more components with the photovoltaic cells.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the bypass circuit comprises at least one switch that is in a first state during the bypassing and a second state during the reconnecting.