Photovoltaic power generation system

• US 20030075211A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Mimura, Toshihiko, Matsushita, Masaaki, Takabayashi, Akiharu, Makita, Hidehisa, Itoyama, Shigenori, Mukai, Takaaki
• Granted Patent: US 6,812,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2080/012 Concrete
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/11 using shaped bodies, e.g. concrete elements, foamed elements or moulded box-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/337 avoiding disconnection due to reactive fault currents
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• 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 cell array having an exposed electroactive portion is connected to a system power supply through an insulation transformer, a ground-fault interrupter is provided between the solar cell array and the system power supply, and a ground-fault detector is provided at the grounded line of the solar cell array. A set current value at which the ground-fault detector judges a ground-fault is larger than an amount of a set current value at which the ground-fault interrupter interrupts a circuit. The insulation transformer is provided between the solar cell array and the system power supply. Owing to such structure, the present invention aims at the simplification of environment-resistive coating having a large ratio of cost of the solar cell, and the simplification of insulating coating of members that connect the solar cells in series and parallel, and provides a photovoltaic power generation system which does not stop by the leakage current of the electroactive portion in connection with such simplification of the environment-resistive coating and insulating coating.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic power generation system comprising:

a solar cell array having a plurality of solar cells electrically connected to each other with a wiring member;

a power conditioner for converting an output from the solar cell array into AC power;

an insulation transformer provided between the solar cell array and a power system;

a ground-fault interrupter provided between the power conditioner and the system power supply; and

a ground-fault detector for detecting a ground-fault of the solar cell array,

wherein a part of at least one of an electroactive portion of the plurality of solar cells and an electroactive portion of the wiring member is exposes to the outside, wherein a line of the solar cell array is grounded, wherein the ground-fault detector is provided at the grounded line, and wherein a set current value at which the ground-fault detector judges a ground-fault is larger than a set current value at which the ground-fault interrupter interrupts.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, when a leakage current Ir [A] flows in a current route from the electroactive portion to the ground, formed while the solar cell array operates in a moist state, the set current value of the ground-fault detector is larger than Ir, and the set current value of the ground-fault interrupter is smaller than Ir.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a positive electrode terminal of the solar cell array is grounded.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein a negative electrode terminal of the solar cell array is grounded.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the line is ground so that a ratio of an absolute value of a voltage between a positive electrode terminal of the solar cell array and the ground to an absolute value of a voltage between a negative electrode terminal of the solar cell array and the ground may becomes approximately 2:

1.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the solar cells comprises a photoelectric conversion layer, a collecting electrode arranged on a side of a light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion layer, a surface wiring member and a coating member, and has an exposed portion, which is not coated with the coating member, in a part of the collecting electrode or the surface wiring member.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the coating member is composed of a resin and formed by coating.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein a part of at least one of an electrode, arranged on a side of light-receiving surfaces of the plurality of solar cells, and the wiring member is not put in a solar cell envelope.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell array is installed on a supporting member.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the supporting member is a concrete stand.