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US 11,894,805 B2Granted
Device for reducing the open circuit voltage of a solar system
AssigneeEnphase Energy, Inc.
InventorsSteven M. Kraft, Kevin Fischer, Greg Beardsworth, Zachary S. Judkins, Keith Johnston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices for reducing the open circuit voltages of solar systems are described. In one embodiment, a solar system includes a string of a plurality of solar modules having an open circuit voltage. The solar system also includes a device for reducing the open circuit voltage of the string of the plurality of solar modules during an open circuit configuration.
Claims12
A solar module system coupled to a system load, the solar module system comprising:
- a string of a plurality of solar modules electrically coupled in series, wherein the string is configured to provide power to the system load, wherein the string has a string open circuit voltage when the string is not providing power to the system load and an operating voltage when the string is providing power to the system load;
- and
- a module decoupling device including a controller, a voltage measurement device, and a system relay that is coupled across two or more solar modules of the string, wherein the controller is configured to control the system relay to change from a first configuration for electrically coupling the two or more solar modules to the string to a second configuration for electrically decoupling the two or more solar modules from the string, when the voltage measurement device measures a predetermined voltage at an arrangement of points within the system relay, such that the string has a reduced open circuit voltage below the string open circuit voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.