Systems and methods to balance solar panels in a multi-panel system

• US 7,602,080 B1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Original Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc
• Inventors: Arditi, Shmuel, Hadar, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/411,317
• Time in Patent Office: 202 Days
• Field of Search: 307/19, 307/20, 307 64- 66, 136/244, 136/243, 136/251, 136/206
• US Class Current: 307/20
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/26 involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources maximum power point systems in particular G05F1/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

Systems and methods to balance currents among a plurality of photovoltaic units connected in series. In aspect, a management unit is coupled between a photovoltaic energy production unit and a string of energy production units. The management unit has an energy storage element (e.g., a capacitor) connected to the photovoltaic energy production unit. The management unit further has a switch to selectively couple to the energy storage element and the photovoltaic energy production unit to the string. The management unit allows the current in the string to be larger than the current in the photovoltaic energy production unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a photovoltaic energy production unit to generate electricity; and

a management unit coupled between the photovoltaic energy production unit and a series connection of energy production units, the management unit having at least a first switch, the photovoltaic energy production unit to generate a first current to provide electricity to the series connection of energy production units via the first switch of the management unit, the management unit to allow a second current larger than the first current to flow through the series connection of energy production units.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the management unit further comprises an energy storage unit connected to the photovoltaic energy production unit;

wherein, when the first switch is turned on, the energy production unit provides the first current to the series connection of energy production units, the energy storage unit provides a third current, and the second current is equal to or larger than a sum of the first current and the third current; and

wherein, when the first switch is turned off, the energy production unit and the energy storage unit are electronically disconnected from the series connection of energy production units, and the management unit provides at least one path for the series connection of energy production units.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the energy storage unit comprises a capacitor coupled in parallel with the energy production unit;

and when the first switch is turned on, an output voltage of the local management unit is substantially equal to an output voltage of the energy production unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one path includes at least one of:

a diode;

a second switch, wherein the management unit turns off the second switch when the first switch is turned on; and

a synchronous rectifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the management unit further comprises a controller to control the first switch according to a duty cycle.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is to further control the first switch according to at least one of:

a phase shift, and a synchronization pulse.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to control the first switch based on one of:

at least one operating parameter associated with the energy production unit;

at least one operating parameter of a separate energy production unit; and

a control signal received from a remote unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one operating parameter associated with the energy production unit includes one of:

a current, a voltage, and a temperature; and

the duty cycle is based on a maximum power point of the energy production unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the management unit is a first management unit and the photovoltaic energy production unit is a first photovoltaic energy production unit;

and the apparatus further comprises;

a second management unit and a second photovoltaic energy production unit, the second management unit connected to the first management unit in series, the second management unit having at least a second switch, the second photovoltaic energy production unit to provide electricity to the series connection of energy production units via the second switch of the second management unit, the second management unit to allow the second current, larger than a current from the second photovoltaic energy production unit, to flow through the series connection of energy production units.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy production unit is at least one solar cell of a solar panel;

and the management unit has no inductor and is integrated on the solar panel.

11. A method, comprising:

providing a management unit to couple a solar energy production unit to a series connection of energy production units, the management unit having a first switch and an energy storage unit coupled to the solar energy production unit; and

determining at least one parameter to control the first switch;

wherein, when the first switch is turned on, the solar energy production unit provides a first current to the series connection of energy production units and the energy storage unit provides a second current, a third current in the series connection of energy production units being equal to or larger than a sum of the first current and the second current; and

wherein, when the first switch is turned off, the solar energy production unit and the energy storage unit are disconnected from the series connection of energy production units, and the management unit provides at least one path for the series connection of energy production units.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining comprises:

computing a duty cycle to control the first switch based on at least one operating parameter of the solar energy production unit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one operating parameter includes an operating voltage of the solar energy production unit;

and the method further comprises;

receiving operating voltages of a plurality of solar energy production units connected in series via a plurality of management units; and

identifying a first voltage among the operating voltages;

wherein the duty cycle is computed according to a function of the first voltage and the operating voltage of the solar energy production unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the solar energy production unit is a first solar energy production unit of the plurality of solar energy production units;

and

wherein, when a second solar energy production unit of the plurality of solar energy production units provides a highest power among the plurality of solar energy production units, the first voltage is an operating voltage of the second solar energy production unit, and the duty cycle is based at least in part on a ratio between the operating voltages of the first and second solar energy production units.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

adjusting the duty cycle until a decrease in the operating voltage of the second solar energy production unit is detected; and

undoing an adjustment to the duty cycle that causes the decrease.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

adjusting the duty cycle until a decrease in the operating voltage of the second solar energy production unit is detected; and

in response to the decrease, decreasing a duty cycle for a local management unit coupled to the second solar energy production unit to increase the operating voltage of the second solar energy production unit.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying a voltage of the solar energy production unit at a maximum power point based on the at least one operating parameter; and

adjusting the duty cycle to change an operating voltage of the solar energy production unit towards the voltage at the maximum power point.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the solar energy production unit is a first solar energy production unit of the plurality of solar energy production units;

and the method further comprises;

receiving operating parameters of a plurality of solar energy production units connected in series;

identifying a first maximum power point voltage of the first solar energy production unit based on the at least one operating parameter;

identifying a second solar energy production unit having an operating voltage highest among the plurality of solar energy production units;

identifying a second maximum power point voltage of the second solar energy production unit;

computing a target voltage based on the first maximum power point voltage and the second maximum power point voltage; and

adjusting the duty cycle to drive an operating voltage of the first solar energy production unit towards the target voltage.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

adjusting the duty cycle to increase the first current.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

adjusting the duty cycle to change an operating voltage of the solar energy production unit to increase an output power of a string of solar energy production units, the string including the solar energy production unit.