Autonomous detection of rapid shutdown condition
AssigneeLunar Energy, Inc.
InventorMark Holveck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rapid shutdown system includes a PV (photovoltaic) generator. It further includes a DC (Direct Current)-DC converter receiving power from the PV generator and outputting power. The DC-DC converter outputs power at a high voltage state or a low voltage state. It further includes a DC bus coupled to the DC-DC converter to receive the power outputted by the DC-DC converter. The DC bus is coupled to a system comprising a load. The DC-DC converter transitions from the high voltage state to the low voltage state based at least in part on an output current of the DC-DC converter transitioning below a threshold.
Claims20
A rapid shutdown system comprising:
- a PV (photovoltaic) generator;
- a DC (Direct Current)-DC converter receiving power from the PV generator and outputting power, wherein the DC-DC converter is one of a plurality of DC-DC converters connected in series;
- and
- a DC bus coupled to the DC-DC converter to receive the power outputted by the DC-DC converter;
- wherein the DC bus is coupled to a system comprising a load;
- and
- wherein each DC-DC converter in the plurality of series-connected DC-DC converters:
- outputs power at a high voltage state or a low voltage state;
- and
- is configured to autonomously transition from operating in the high voltage state to the low voltage state responsive to local detection of:
- an output current of a given DC-DC converter transitioning below a threshold current;
- and
- a local output voltage of the given DC-DC converter, measured relative to terminals of the given DC-DC converter, reaching a voltage limit.
A method, comprising:
- receiving power from a PV (photovoltaic) generator and outputting power by a DC (Direct Current)-DC converter, wherein the DC-DC converter is one of a plurality of DC-DC converters connected in series;
- wherein a DC bus is coupled to the DC-DC converter to receive the power outputted by the DC-DC converter, and wherein the DC bus is coupled to a system comprising a load;
- and
- wherein each DC-DC converter in the plurality of series-connected DC-DC converters:
- outputs power at a high voltage state or a low voltage state;
- and
- is configured to autonomously transition from operating in the high voltage state to the low voltage state responsive to local detection of:
- an output current of a given DC-DC converter transitioning below a threshold current;
- and
- a local output voltage of the given DC-DC converter, measured relative to terminals of the given DC-DC converter, reaching a voltage limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.