Power converter for a solar panel

• US 8,102,144 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Beacon Power Corporation (RGA Labs, Inc.)
• Inventors: Capp, F. William, Driscoll, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boateng, Alexis
• Application Number:
  US10/556,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20070103108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,798 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/140, 320/119, 136/244, 136/243, 136/252, 136/251, 307/11, 307/43, 307/45, 307/54, 307/58, 307/82
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• 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 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0077 Plural converter units whose outputs are connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A solar array power generation system includes a solar array electrically connected to a control system. The solar array has a plurality of solar modules, each module having at least one DC/DC converter for converting the raw panel output to an optimized high voltage, low current output. In a further embodiment, each DC/DC converter requires a signal to enable power output of the solar modules.

Claims

1. A solar power generation system comprising:

a solar device for generating a low voltage, high current output, the solar device including a solar array having a plurality of solar modules, each module being a plurality of solar cells; and

a plurality of DC-to-DC power converters, each DC-to-DC power converter being directly coupled to the raw power output of a respective solar module, each DC-to-DC power converter being configured and arranged to convert the raw power output for each said solar module to a high voltage and low current output, wherein the plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected to supply power output to a load.

2. A power generation system as recited in claim 1, wherein the high voltage is between approximately 200 and 600 VDC.

3. A power generation system as recited in claim 1, wherein each power converter includes maximum power point tracking (MPPT).

4. A power generation system comprising:

a solar array having a plurality of solar modules, each solar module having at least one cell; and

a control unit coupled to each solar module for controlling the plurality of solar modules to maximize an output of each solar module independently, each control unit comprising;

a plurality of DC-to-DC power converters, each DC-to-DC power converter being directly coupled to the raw power output of each solar module, each DC-to-DC power converter configured and arranged to maximize a power output of the respective solar module.

5. A power generation system as recited in claim 4, wherein each solar module has a plurality of cells and the respective DC-to-DC power converter is directly connected to a respective diode in electrical communication with the cells of the solar module.

6. The power generation system of claim 4, further comprising:

means coupled to the at least one control unit for preventing a power output from the at least one control unit unless an activation signal is received by the means.

7. The power generation system as recited in claim 6, wherein the means comprises a central inverter having a DC-to-AC inverter.

8. A solar module array connected to a utility grid comprising:

a plurality of solar modules;

a single low voltage to high voltage DC-to-DC converter directly coupled to each solar module for controlling a raw power output by each respective module so that a separate variable regulator or galvanic isolation is not necessary; and

a single DC-to-AC inverter connected for receiving and preparing the power outputs from the DC-to-DC converters for use by a load, the single DC-to-AC inverter being configured to maintain galvanic isolation from the utility grid.

9. A solar module array as recited in claim 8, further comprising a storage device disposed between the single DC-to-AC inverter and the plurality of solar modules for providing temporary power.

10. A solar module array as recited in claim 9, wherein the storage device is selected from the group consisting of a flywheel energy storage system, a capacitor, an ultra capacitor, a battery, an advanced battery and a fuel cell.

11. A solar module array as recited in claim 8, wherein the low voltage is approximately 48V and the high voltage is at least 200V.

12. A solar module array as recited in claim 8, wherein the low voltage to high voltage DC-to-DC converter requires an enabling signal in order to produce the power output.

13. A solar module array as recited in claim 8, wherein each solar module includes 32 cells divided into 2 groups.

14. A solar module array as recited in claim 13, wherein the single low voltage to high voltage DC-to-DC converter is coupled to each group.

20. The solar module array of claim 8 wherein each DC-to-DC converter is directly coupled to a respective diode in each solar module.

15. A power generation system comprising:

a plurality of solar modules for generating a low voltage, high current output; and

a plurality of DC-to-DC power converters, each DC-to-DC power converter directly coupled to a raw output of a respective solar module, each DC-to-DC power converter being configured and arranged to convert the low voltage, high current output to a high voltage, low current converted output,

wherein the outputs of the plurality of converters are connected to supply power output to a load and each converter includes maximum power point tracking (MPPT).

16. A power generation system as recited in claim 15, further comprising an energy storage device disposed between the plurality of solar modules and a load for providing temporary power to the load.

17. A power generation system as recited in claim 15, wherein the high voltage, low current converted output is connected to a utility grid and

further comprising a single DC-to-AC inverter connected for receiving and preparing the high voltage, low current converted output from the DC-to-DC converters for use by a load, the single DC-to-AC inverter being configured to maintain galvanic isolation from the utility grid.

18. A power generation system as recited in claim 15, wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is mounted on the respective solar module.

19. A power generation system as recited in claim 18, wherein each DC-to-DC power converter prevents the high voltage, low current converted output unless an activation signal is received thereby.