PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

• US 20090101191A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Padcon GmbH (hoch.rein GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Adensis Gmbh
• Inventors: Muller, Tim, BECK, BERNHARD
• Granted Patent: US 8,138,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• 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: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

The photovoltaic system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules which are connected to form a string or several strings connected in parallel, thereby forming a photovoltaic generator having a positive terminal and negative terminal. A DC constant voltage source connected to the photovoltaic generator to raise the potential of the positive terminal relative to ground potential. This reduces the flow of electrons out of the TCO layer of the modules, thereby reducing or completely eliminating cathode discharges which damage the modules.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic system comprising:

a photovoltaic generator comprising a plurality of photovoltaic modules electrically connected in form of at least one string, with a first terminal of the photovoltaic generator having a first potential of negative polarity and a second terminal of the photovoltaic generator having a second potential of positive polarity, and

a device comprising a DC voltage source having a negative terminal connected to ground and a positive terminal which is connected to one of the first or second terminal of the photovoltaic generator for raising the first or second potential relative to ground.

2. The photovoltaic system of claim 1, further comprising a potential-free inverter having a DC input terminals connected to the terminals of the photovoltaic generator in one-to-one correspondence.

3. The photovoltaic system of claim 1, wherein the DC voltage source is a constant voltage source having a predetermined output voltage.

4. The photovoltaic system of claim 3, wherein the predetermined output voltage is between 150V and 1500V.

5. The photovoltaic system of claim 1, further comprising a switch detecting a leakage current between the photovoltaic generator and ground potential, said switch disconnecting the DC voltage source from at least one of the photovoltaic system and the ground potential, if the leakage current is greater than a predetermined limit current.

6. The photovoltaic system of claim 5, further comprising

a current sensor connected between ground potential and the negative terminal of the DC voltage source and measuring the leakage current, and

a comparator having first and second inputs, with the first input receiving the predetermined limit current and the second input receiving the leakage current, said comparator outputting a disconnect signal if the leakage current is greater than a predetermined limit current, said disconnect signal causing the switch to disconnect the DC voltage source from at least one of the photovoltaic system and the ground potential.

7. The photovoltaic system of claim 6, wherein the comparator outputs an alarm signal if the leakage current is greater than a predetermined limit current.

8. The photovoltaic system of claim 1, wherein the constant voltage source applies a signal across the terminals of the photovoltaic generator.