Energy conversion system with fault detection and interruption

A photovoltaic energy conversion system comprising:

• a bipolar photovoltaic array including a first PV array and a second PV array, the first PV array configured to apply, relative to a potential of ground, a positive potential at a first rail and the second PV array configured to apply, relative to the potential of ground, a negative potential at a second rail;
• an inverter configured to convert the voltage between the positive and negative potentials that are applied to the first and second rails to an alternating current;
• a first DC contactor coupled to the first rail so as to enable the first PV array to be decoupled from the inverter, and a second DC contactor coupled to the second rail so as to enable the second PV array to be decoupled from the inverter;
• a PV tie coupled between the first and second PV arrays, the PV tie configured to couple and decouple the first and second PV arrays;
• and
• a fault detector coupled to the first and second DC contactors and the PV tie, the fault detector and interrupter configured to detect a condition that requires interruption of the photovoltaic energy conversion system and open the PV tie and the first and second DC contactors to uncouple two PV arrays of the bipolar photovoltaic array and decouple the bipolar photovoltaic array from the inverter.