Device for distributed maximum power tracking for solar arrays
First Claim
1. A system for providing electrical power from solar cells, the system comprising:
- a plurality of solar units, each of the solar units having only one pair of output connections to provide output, each of the solar units comprising;
a solar generator having at least one solar cell, anda DC/DC converter coupled to the solar generator to receive electricity provided by the solar generator in entirety, wherein the DC/DC converter is controlled to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point;
wherein the output connections of the plurality of solar units are connected in series.
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Abstract
The present invention is a system for providing power from solar cells whereby each cell or cell array is allowed to produce its maximum available power and converted by an operatively connected DC/DC converter. Each cell or cell array has its own DC/DC converter. In one form the system for providing power from solar cells includes one or more solar generators wherein each of said solar generators has one to nine solar cells; a maximum power tracker operatively associated with each solar generator, each of said maximum power tracker includes a buck type DC/DC converter without an output inductor, each of said maximum power trackers are operatively connected in series with each other; an inductor operatively connected to the series connected maximum power trackers; and means for providing electrical power from the inductor to load means, wherein each of said maximum power trackers is controlled so that the operatively associated solar generator operates at its maximum power point to extract maximum available power.
246 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for providing electrical power from solar cells, the system comprising:
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a plurality of solar units, each of the solar units having only one pair of output connections to provide output, each of the solar units comprising; a solar generator having at least one solar cell, and a DC/DC converter coupled to the solar generator to receive electricity provided by the solar generator in entirety, wherein the DC/DC converter is controlled to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point; wherein the output connections of the plurality of solar units are connected in series. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of solar units, each of the solar units comprising a solar generator having at least one solar cell to generate electrical power, and a maximum power tracker coupled with the solar generator to operate the solar generator at a maximum power point, the maximum power tracker having a DC/DC converter without an output inductor, wherein all outputs of the maximum power trackers are connected to each other in series; an inductor coupled with the plurality of solar units in series to provide the electrical power to a load. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus, comprising:
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a solar generator to generate electricity; and a converter coupled between the solar generator and a series connection of solar generators, the converter having at least a first switch, the solar generator to generate a first current to provide electricity to the series connection of solar generators via the first switch of the converter, the converter to allow a second current larger than the first current to flow through the series connection of solar generators. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification