Distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources

• US 8,384,243 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Adest, Meir, Handelsman, Lior, Galin, Yoav, Fishelov, Amir, Sella, Guy, Binder, Yaron
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN, HAL IRA
• Application Number:
  US13/186,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20110273016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 307/43
• US Class Current: 307/43
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 5/00 Systems for regulating electric variables by detecting deviations in the electric input to the system and thereby controlling a device within the system to obtain a regulated output
• 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: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• 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: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/44 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A method for maintaining reliability of a distributed power system including a power converter having input terminals and output terminals. Input power is received at the input terminals. The input power is converted to an output power at the output terminals. A temperature is measured in or in the environment of the power converter. A temperature signal is input responsive to the temperature. The power conversion is controlled by adjusting the input power based on the temperature signal. The power conversion of the input power to the output power may be controlled to maximize the input power by setting at the input terminals the input voltage or the input current according to predetermined criteria. One of the predetermined criteria is configured to reduce the input power based on the temperature signal responsive to the temperature. The adjustment of input power reduces the input voltage and/or input current thereby lowering the temperature of the power converter.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

input terminals;

output terminals;

a power converter, wherein said power converter is operative to convert input power at said input terminals to an output power at said output terminals; and

a controller adapted for controlling the power conversion of said power converter, and configured to receive a temperature signal from a temperature sensor, and based on said temperature signal, adjust said input power at said input terminals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input terminals are adapted for connecting to a photovoltaic panel, and wherein said power converter is operative to convert said input power received from said photovoltaic panel at said input terminals to said output power at said output terminals.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the controller is configured to set at least one of input voltage and input current at said input terminals with a control loop according to one or more predetermined criteria.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said one or more predetermined criteria include at least one temperature criterion based on said temperature signal as input from said temperature sensor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said input terminals are adapted for receiving said input power from a photovoltaic panel, wherein said power converter is operative to convert said input power received from said photovoltaic panel at said input terminals to said output power at said output terminals, and wherein said one or more predetermined criteria provide for maximizing said input power based on said temperature signal as input from said temperature sensor.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a load including load input terminals and load output terminals, said load input terminals configured for receiving the output power from said power converter.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said load is an inverter or a direct current (DC) to DC power converter.

8. The power converter of claim 1, further comprising the temperature sensor, adapted for measuring the temperature in an environment of the power converter.

9. The power converter of claim 1, wherein the temperature signal indicates a temperature of a solar panel configured to provide the input power to the input terminals.

10. A method:

comprising

receiving input power at input terminals of a power converter;

converting said input power at said input terminals to an output power at output terminals of the power converter;

receiving a measurement of temperature in or in the environment of the power converter; and

adjusting said input power at said input terminals based on said measurement of temperature.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving the input power at the input terminals from the photovoltaic panel.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

wherein said adjusting includes setting at said input terminals at least one of an input voltage and an input current according to one or more predetermined criteria.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said one or more predetermined criteria is configured to reduce said input power based on said measurement of the temperature.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said adjusting includes reducing an input voltage or an input current at said input terminals thereby lowering said temperature.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said adjusting does not include ceasing completely said converting of said input power to said output power.

16. An apparatus including:

a microcontroller; and

a memory storing software, that when executed by the microcontroller, configures the apparatus to;

control a power converter to convert input power at input terminals of the power converter to output power at output terminals of the power converter;

receive a measurement of temperature from a temperature sensor; and

adjust the input power based on the measurement of temperature.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the measurement of temperature includes a temperature of a solar panel configured to provide the input power at the input terminals;

and

wherein the adjusting includes maximum power point tracking of the solar panel.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising the solar panel.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the measurement of temperature includes a temperature of the power converter;

and wherein the adjusting includes reducing the input power based on said measurement of the temperature.