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US 8,618,456 B2Granted
Inverter for a three-phase AC photovoltaic system
AssigneeWestern Gas and Electric Company
InventorsBrian Hinman, Hossein Kazemi, Wayne Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various methods and apparatus are described for a photovoltaic system. In an embodiment, pluralities of three-phase Alternating Current (AC) inverter circuits electrically connect into a common three phase AC output. Each of those inverters receives a bipolar DC voltage supplied from its own set of Concentrated PhotoVoltaic (CPV) modules.
Claims19
An inverter apparatus for converting power from a bipolar photovoltaic source to 3-phase AC power, comprising:
- a bipolar DC input port, a DC capacitive energy storage element, a single-stage DC to 3-phase power converter, AC line isolation contactors, a 3-phase AC output port and a control circuit;
- wherein the bipolar DC input port is configured to accept two monopolar photovoltaic source circuits, where a first conductor of each of said monopolar photovoltaic source circuits is coupled to earth ground and where a second conductor of each of said monopolar photovoltaic source circuits are collectively of opposite polarities and coupled across a DC capacitive energy storage bus;
- wherein the DC capacitive energy storage element further comprises film type capacitors;
- wherein the DC capacitive energy storage element is coupled to an input of the single-stage DC to 3-phase power converter;
- wherein the AC line isolation contactors are configured to make or break a coupling between an output of the single-stage DC to 3-phase power converter and the 3-phase AC output port under control of the control circuit;
- and
- wherein the 3-phase AC output port is connected to an electrical utility grid.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.