Maximizing power in a photovoltaic distributed power system
AssigneeSolaredge Technologies Ltd.
InventorIlan Yoscovich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power harvesting system including multiple parallel-connected photovoltaic strings, each photovoltaic string includes a series-connection of photovoltaic panels. Multiple voltage-compensation circuits may be connected in series respectively with the photovoltaic strings. The voltage-compensation circuits may be configured to provide respective compensation voltages to the photovoltaic strings to maximize power harvested from the photovoltaic strings. The voltage-compensation circuits may be include respective inputs which may be connected to a source of power and respective outputs which may be connected in series with the photovoltaic strings.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a plurality of parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings, each compensated photovoltaic string including:
- a photovoltaic string having a series-connection of photovoltaic cells;
- and
- a voltage-compensation circuit, wherein the voltage-compensation circuit is configured to produce an output power having an adjustable compensation voltage at a voltage output such that a total voltage of the compensated photovoltaic string is a first value;
- a central controller connected to each voltage-compensation circuit and configured to control the adjustable compensation voltage of each voltage-compensation circuit;
- and
- a sensor connected to a output of the plurality of the parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings and to the central controller, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a parameter at the output and provide the sensed parameter to the central controller,
- wherein the central controller is configured to control the adjustable compensation voltages based on the sensed parameter and a maximum power from the plurality of parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings.
A method comprising:
- connecting an output of a plurality of parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings to a sensor, wherein each compensated photovoltaic string of the plurality of parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings comprises one or more photovoltaic cells connected in series with a voltage-compensation circuit;
- adjusting an output compensation voltage produced on an output of each voltage-compensation circuit based on an optimal total voltage of the corresponding compensated photovoltaic string;
- sensing a parameter at the output of the plurality of the parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings;
- and
- controlling the output compensation voltage produced on the output of each voltage-compensation circuit based on a maximum power from the parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings and based on the sensed parameter.
A controller comprising:
- a first connection, the first connection connected to a plurality of voltage compensation circuits of respective compensated photovoltaic strings, each compensated photovoltaic string comprising:
- a photovoltaic string having a series-connection of photovoltaic cells;
- and
- a voltage-compensation circuit configured to produce an output power having an adjustable compensation voltage at a voltage output;
- and
- a second connection connected to a sensor, the sensor connected to an output of the plurality of the parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings, wherein the sensor is configured to sense a parameter at the output and provide the sensed parameter to the controller,
- wherein the controller is configured to control the adjustable compensation voltage at the voltage output of each voltage-compensation circuit based on a maximum power from the plurality of parallel-connected compensated photovoltaic strings and based on the sensed parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.