Solar generation system

• US 20010035180A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kodama, Hirokazu, Nakata, Hirofumi, Nishida, Kiyoshi, Kimura, Fumiya, Takebayashi, Tsukasa
• Granted Patent: US 6,448,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/572
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

A solar generation system includes a standard solar cell string and a substandard solar cell string. A DC voltage output from the substandard solar cell string is boosted by a booster unit to the level of the DC voltage output from the standard solar cell string, and the DC voltage from the standard solar cell string and the boosted DC voltage are applied to a DC/AC inverter, whereby an AC power is obtained, which is supplied to a utility power supply.

Claims

1. A solar generation system boosting a DC voltage output from a solar cell and supplying the boosted DC voltage to an inverter apparatus converting the boosted DC voltage to an AC power, comprising:

a standard solar cell string having a standard number of solar cell modules connected in series;

a substandard solar cell string having solar cell modules smaller in number than said standard number connected in series;

a boosting circuit for boosting a DC voltage output from said substandard solar cell string to a DC voltage output from said standard solar cell string; and

an input connecting circuit supplying the DC voltage boosted by said boosting circuit and the DC voltage output from said standard solar cell string to said inverter apparatus.

2. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, wherein

said boosting circuit boosts the DC voltage output from said substandard solar cell string by a boosting voltage ratio determined by the ratio between said standard number and the number smaller than said standard number.

3. The solar generation system according to

claim 2

, further comprising

a switch for manually switching the boosting voltage ratio of said boosting circuit.

4. The solar generation system according to

claim 2

, further comprising

a control circuit controlling said boosting circuit by setting said boosting voltage ratio by pulse width modulation.

5. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, comprising

a plurality of said substandard solar cell strings;

wherein

said boosting circuit is provided for each of said plurality of substandard solar cell strings, and boosts the DC voltage output from the corresponding substandard solar cell string.

6. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, wherein

said boosting circuit is provided detachable between said substandard solar cell string and said input connecting circuit.

7. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, wherein

a power supply voltage is supplied from said standard solar cell string to said boosting circuit.

8. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, wherein

said input connecting circuit includes

a backflow preventing circuit preventing backflow of a current from said boosting circuit to said substandard solar cell string,

an input connecting and disconnecting circuit for connecting or disconnecting said substandard solar cell string to and from said boosting circuit, and

a lightning surge preventing circuit for preventing entrance of lightning surge from said substandard solar cell string to said boosting circuit.

9. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, further comprising

a voltage control circuit for performing control to keep constant the boosting ratio, when output voltage from said boosting circuit is lower than an upper limit set voltage.

10. The solar generation system according to

claim 9

, wherein

said voltage control circuit performs control to keep constant an upper limit voltage, when the output voltage from said boosting circuit is higher than the upper limit set voltage.

11. The solar generation system according to

claim 9

, wherein

said voltage control circuit changes said boosting ratio.

12. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, wherein

said input connecting circuit includes

a trip signal generating circuit for generating a trip signal in response to an output voltage being an overvoltage, and

an opening/closing circuit responsive to the trip signal from said trip signal generating circuit for opening connection between said substandard solar cell string and said input connecting circuit.

13. The solar generation system according to

claim 12

, wherein

said trip signal generating circuit generates the trip signal when said boosting circuit is short-circuited, so that connection between said substandard solar cell string and said input connecting circuit is opened by said opening/closing circuit.

14. The solar generation system according to

claim 13

, wherein

said trip signal generating circuit outputs the trip signal when it is detected that a short-circuit current flows to said boosting circuit and temperature is increased.

15. The solar generation system according to

claim 13

, wherein

said trip signal generating circuit generates the trip signal when output voltage of said boosting circuit exceeds a predetermined input voltage range.

16. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, wherein

said boosting circuit includes a fuse for intercepting short-circuit current from an output side.

17. The solar generation system according to

claim 16

, wherein

said fuse is connected in series with said boosting circuit, and opens a flow path of said short-circuit current in accordance with magnitude of said short-circuit current.

18. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, further comprising

a box to be placed outdoors, accommodating at least said input connecting circuit,

said box including a drainage path guiding rain water to a lower portion when the rain water penetrates, and a discharge outlet discharging the rain water guided to the lower portion to the outside.

19. The solar generation system according to

claim 18

, further comprising

a radiator placed outside said box, for externally generation of heat from said boosting circuit and said backflow preventing circuit.

20. The solar generation system according to

claim 19

, further comprising

a metal plate covering the radiator of said box and supporting said box on a wall surface.

21. The solar generation system according to

claim 20

, wherein

said box has a lid portion that can be opened/closed, and said input connecting circuit is operated by opening said lid.

22. The solar generation system according to

claim 1

, further comprising

an indicator turned on when said boosting circuit is driven and turned off when operation of said boosting circuit is stopped.