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US 8,859,884 B2Granted
Solar photovoltaic module safety shutdown system
AssigneeHelios Focus LLC
InventorsRandy Richard Dunton, Geoffrey Nicholas Barnard Sutton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A PV system may be used in case of emergencies. Each individual photovoltaic module receives a signal to determine if it is allowed to be operational or must shut down. Modules by default are shut off and safe to handle, absent the signal and in the presence of light.
Claims11
A photovoltaic system comprising:
- a first photovoltaic module comprising a first module switch, the first photovoltaic module operatively coupled with a first circuit, the first circuit operatively coupled to an alternating current (AC) main panelboard;
- a second photovoltaic module comprising a second module switch, the at least second photovoltaic module operatively coupled with the first photovoltaic module through the first circuit;
- a second circuit operatively coupled with the first module switch and with the second module switch;
- a System-Monitor device operatively coupled with the first circuit, the second circuit, and the AC main panelboard, the System-Monitor device comprising a manual switch, the System-Monitor device configured to generate a System-On signal and to feed the System-On signal to the first module switch and to the second module switch through the second circuit when the manual switch is in an on state;
- wherein the first module switch is configured to disable the first photovoltaic module through one of shorting the first photovoltaic module and disconnecting the first photovoltaic module from the first circuit when the System-On signal is not received by the first module switch from the second circuit;
- wherein the second module switch is configured to disable the second photovoltaic module through one of shorting the first photovoltaic module and disconnecting the first photovoltaic module from the first circuit when the System-On signal is not received by the second module switch from the second circuit.
3 more elements
A photovoltaic system comprising:
- a first photovoltaic module comprising a first module switch, the first photovoltaic module operatively coupled with a first circuit, the first circuit operatively coupled to an alternating current (AC) main panelboard;
- a second photovoltaic module comprising a second module switch, the at least second photovoltaic module operatively coupled with the first photovoltaic module through the first circuit;
- a second circuit operatively coupled with the first module switch and with the second module switch;
- a System-Monitor device operatively coupled with the first circuit, the second circuit, and the AC main panelboard, the System-Monitor device comprising a sensor switch, the System-Monitor device configured to generate a System-On signal and to feed the System-On signal to the first module switch and to the second module switch through the second circuit when the sensor switch is in an on state;
- wherein the first module switch is configured to disable the first photovoltaic module through one of shorting the first photovoltaic module and disconnecting the first photovoltaic module from the first circuit when the System-On signal is not received by the first module switch from the second circuit;
- wherein the second module switch is configured to disable the second photovoltaic module through one of shorting the first photovoltaic module and disconnecting the first photovoltaic module from the first circuit when the System-On signal is not received by the second module switch from the second circuit.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.