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US 9,312,697 B2Granted
System and method for addressing solar energy production capacity loss due to field buildup between cells and glass and frame assembly
AssigneeTigo Energy, Inc.
InventorsRon Hadar, Shmuel Arditi, Dan Kikinis
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Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for removing charge buildup/leakage from solar modules. A discharge controller may be coupled between a solar module and a string bus of a solar array. The discharge controller may be configured to disconnect the solar module from the string bus, and to connect a grounded frame to solar cells of the solar module. Since the grounded frame of the solar module may be grounded, connecting the grounded frame and the solar cells allows charge buildup/leakage to discharge into ground.
Claims14
A solar generation unit, comprising:
- a solar module having
- a frame pole for connecting to ground,
- a positive pole,
- a negative pole, and
- solar cells disposed within the frame and connected between the positive pole and the negative pole;
- and
- a discharge controller coupled with the solar module, the discharge controller having
- a positive output terminal,
- a negative output terminal, and
- at least one switch having a first state and a second state;
- wherein when in the first state, the at least one switch
- causes a short circuit between the positive pole of the solar module and the positive output terminal,
- causes a short circuit between the negative pole of the solar module and the negative output terminal, and
- disconnects the frame of the solar module from the positive pole of the solar module and the negative pole of the solar module;
- wherein when in the first state, the solar cells connected between the positive pole and the negative pole are further connected via the short circuit between the positive pole of the solar module and the positive output terminal and via the short circuit between the negative pole of the solar module and the negative output terminal to output electricity to outside of the solar generation unit through the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal of the discharge controller;
- wherein when in the second state, the at least one switch
- disconnects the positive pole and the negative pole of the solar module from both the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal;
- and
- causes a short circuit among the positive pole of the solar module, the negative pole of the solar module, and the frame of the solar module to remove charge buildup;
- wherein when in the second state, the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal do not output electricity from the solar cells.
17 more elements
A solar generation unit, comprising:
- a solar module having
- a frame pole for connecting to ground,
- a positive pole,
- a negative pole, and
- solar cells disposed within the frame and connected between the positive pole and the negative pole;
- and
- a discharge controller coupled with the solar module, the discharge controller having
- a positive output terminal,
- a negative output terminal,
- at least one switch having a first state and a second state, and
- a voltage provider;
- wherein when in the first state, the at least one switch
- causes a short circuit between the positive pole of the solar module and the positive output terminal,
- causes a short circuit between the negative pole of the solar module and the negative output terminal, and
- disconnects the frame of the solar module from the positive pole of the solar module and the negative pole of the solar module;
- wherein when in the first state, the solar cells connected between the positive pole and the negative pole are further connected via the short circuit between the positive pole of the solar module and the positive output terminal and via the short circuit between the negative pole of the solar module and the negative output terminal to output electricity to outside of the solar generation unit through the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal of the discharge controller;
- and
- wherein when in the second state, the at least one switch
- disconnects the positive pole and the negative pole of the solar module from both the positive output terminal and the negative output terminal;
- causes a short circuit between the positive pole of the solar module and the negative pole of the solar module, and
- connects the voltage provider between the frame of the solar module and the positive and negative poles of the solar module to apply a voltage potential between the frame and the solar cells of the solar module to remove charge buildup.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.