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US 8,179,147 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for detection and control of dc arc faults
AssigneeEnphase Energy, Inc.
InventorsMarv Dargatz, Martin Fornage
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing DC arc faults. At least a portion of the method is performed by a controller comprising at least one processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises analyzing a signature of a signal of a power converter and determining, based on analysis of the signature, whether an arc fault exists.
Claims17
A method for managing arc faults, at least a portion of the method being performed by a controller comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:
- analyzing a signature of a signal of a power converter;
- and
- determining, based on analysis of the signature, whether an arc fault exists, wherein analyzing the signature comprises (i) analyzing the signature to identify a potential arc fault, wherein the signature is based on a current of the power converter;
- and (ii) comparing, upon identifying the potential arc fault, the signature with a second signature for determining an arc fault signature match that identifies the arc fault, wherein the second signature is based on a voltage of the power converter;
- and
- determining polarity of a DC current of the power converter;
- and
- differentiating between a series arc and a parallel arc based on the polarity.
5 more elements
An apparatus for managing arc faults, comprising:
- a waveform processing module, adapted for coupling to a power conversion circuit, for analyzing a signature of a signal of the power conversion circuit and determining, based on analysis of the signature, whether an arc fault exists, wherein analyzing the signature comprises (i) analyzing the signature to identify a potential arc fault, wherein the signature is based on a current of the power conversion circuit;
- and (ii) comparing, upon identifying the potential arc fault, the signature with a second signature for determining an arc fault signature match that identifies the arc fault, wherein the second signature is based on a voltage of the power conversion circuit;
- and wherein the waveform processing module further determines polarity of a DC current of the power conversion circuit;
- and differentiates between a series arc and a parallel arc based on the polarity.
1 more element
A system for managing arc faults, comprising:
- a photovoltaic (PV) module;
- a power converter coupled to the PV module, wherein the power converter comprises a waveform processing module coupled to a power conversion circuit, for analyzing a signature of a signal of the power conversion circuit, the waveform processing module for analyzing a signature of a signal of the power converter and determining, based on analysis of the signature, whether an arc fault exists, wherein analyzing the signature comprises (i) analyzing the signature to identify a potential arc fault, wherein the signature is based on a current of the power conversion circuit;
- and (ii) comparing, upon identifying the potential arc fault, the signature with a second signature for determining an arc fault signature match that identifies the arc fault, wherein the second signature is based on a voltage of the power conversion circuit;
- and wherein the waveform processing module further determines polarity of a DC current of the power conversion circuit;
- and differentiates between a series arc and a parallel arc based on the polarity.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.