Photovoltaic panel circuitry
AssigneeSolaredge Technologies Ltd.
InventorsLiron Har-Shai, Alon Zohar, Ilan Yoscovitch, Yoav Galin, Lior Handlesman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a photovoltaic panel;
- a series string of one or more additional photovoltaic panels;
- a switch connecting the photovoltaic panel to the series string;
- a charge storage device configured to be charged by the series string with current bypassed around the switch and around the photovoltaic panel;
- a first controller configured to:
- receive operating power from power stored in the charge storage device, and
- monitor a status of the switch, and
- a second controller configured to:
- detect at least one malfunction, and
- in response to detecting the at least one malfunction, activate the switch to disconnect the photovoltaic panel from the series string.
A system comprising:
- a photovoltaic panel;
- a series string of a plurality of additional photovoltaic panels, wherein a first portion of the series string is coupled to the photovoltaic panel;
- a switch coupled to the photovoltaic panel and to a second portion of the series string;
- a charge storage device configured to store power received across the first portion and the second portion of the series string;
- a first controller configured to:
- receive operating power from power stored in the charge storage device, and
- monitor a status of the switch, and
- a second controller configured to:
- detect at least one malfunction, and
- in response to detecting the at least one malfunction, activate the switch to disconnect the photovoltaic panel from the second portion of the series string.
A system comprising:
- a photovoltaic panel;
- a series string of a plurality of additional photovoltaic panels, wherein a first portion of the series string is coupled to the photovoltaic panel;
- a switch coupled to the photovoltaic panel and to a second portion of the series string;
- a bypass circuit configured to provide isolation between the first portion and the second portion of the series string when the switch is a closed configuration, wherein the bypass circuit comprises a charge storage device;
- a first controller configured to:
- receive operating power from power stored in the charge storage device, and
- monitor a status of the switch, and
- a second controller configured to:
- detect at least one malfunction, and
- in response to detecting the at least one malfunction, activate the switch to disconnect the photovoltaic panel from the second portion of the series string.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.