Time averaged modulated diode apparatus for photovoltaic application
AssigneeXandex, Inc.
InventorSteven P. Weir
Life of this patent
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Abstract
DC-DC converters are described that employ a time-averaged modulated bypass diode to facilitate the efficient harvest of power in photovoltaic systems.
Claims24
A photovoltaic (PV) system, comprising a plurality of PV modules connected in series, selected ones of the PV modules having an associated energy storage circuit in parallel therewith, and a switched bypass current path in parallel with the associated energy storage circuit, the PV system further comprising control circuitry associated with each selected PV module programmed to control the switched bypass current path associated with each selected PV module independent of the control circuitry associated with any other selected PV module with reference to a local PV module current through the associated selected PV module, an aggregate system current through the switched bypass current path, and a local PV module voltage across the energy storage circuit, such that an averaged product of the local PV module current and the local PV module voltage for each selected PV module is maximized.
A DC-DC converter for use with a photovoltaic (PV) module, the DC-DC converter comprising an energy storage circuit configured for connection in parallel with the PV module, and a switched bypass current path in parallel with the energy storage circuit, the DC-DC converter further comprising control circuitry programmed to control the switched bypass current path independent of external control circuitry associated with another PV module in a PV system of which the PV module is a part with reference to a PV module current through the PV module, an aggregate system current through the switched bypass current path, and a PV module voltage across the energy storage circuit, such that an averaged product of the PV module current and the PV module voltage is maximized.
A DC-DC converter for use with a photovoltaic (PV) module, the DC-DC converter having a Buck regulator topology including an energy storage circuit and a switch, the DC-DC converter further comprising control circuitry programmed to control the switch independent of external control circuitry associated with another PV module in a PV system of which the PV module is a part and with reference to an aggregate system current such that an average power delivered by the PV module to an output node of the energy storage circuit is maximized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.