Solar power generation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12107537-B2
Application number	US-202318138738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2023
Priority date	May 2, 2022
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A solar power generation system includes a string, an inverter, and a plurality of shut-off devices. The string includes a plurality of solar cell module groups. The plurality of shut-off devices is configured to cut off a connection between the plurality of solar cell module groups in response to a control signal from the inverter. The plurality of solar cell module groups includes a first group, a second group connected to the first group, and a third group connected to the second group. The plurality of shut-off devices includes a first shut-off device. The first shut-off device includes a first switching unit connected to an anode-side terminal of the second group. The first switching unit includes a first open-close unit and a first semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the first open-close unit. The first semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the first open-close unit is operated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A solar power generation system, comprising:
a string including a plurality of solar cell module groups connected in series with each other, the plurality of solar cell module groups each including one or a plurality of solar cell modules connected in series with each other;
an inverter connected to the string, the inverter being configured to convert DC power output from the string to AC power and including a control unit configured to output a control signal; and
a plurality of shut-off devices configured to cut off electrical connections between the plurality of solar cell module groups in response to the control signal from the inverter,
wherein the plurality of solar cell module groups each have an open circuit voltage equal to or less than a predetermined open circuit voltage,
the plurality of solar cell module groups includes a first group, a second group connected to the first group, and a third group connected to the second group,
the plurality of shut-off devices includes a first shut-off device configured to be driven by power generated by one or a plurality of solar cell modules of the first group connected in series,
the first shut-off device includes a first switching unit connected to one of an anode-side terminal and a cathode-side terminal of the second group,
the first switching unit includes a first open-close unit and a first semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the first open-close unit,
the control unit is configured to output the control signal such that the first semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the first open-close unit is operated,
the plurality of solar cell module groups further includes a fourth group connected to the third group, and a fifth group connected to the fourth group,
the plurality of shut-off devices further includes a second shut-off device configured to be driven by power generated by one or a plurality of solar cell modules of the fourth group connected in series,
the second shut-off device includes a third switching unit connected to one of an anode-side terminal and a cathode-side terminal of the fourth group,
the third switching unit includes a fifth open-close unit and a third semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the fifth open-close unit,
the control unit is configured to output the control signal such that the third semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the fifth open-close unit is operated,
the second shut-off device includes a fourth switching unit connected to the other of said anode-side terminal and said cathode-side terminal of the fourth group,
the fourth switching unit includes a seventh open-close unit and a fourth semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the seventh open-close unit, and
the control unit is configured to output the control signal such that the fourth semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the seventh open-close unit is operated.

2. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first switching unit includes a second open-close unit connected in series with the first semiconductor switching device.

3. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first shut-off device includes a second switching unit connected to the other of said anode-side terminal and said cathode-side terminal of the second group,
the second switching unit includes a third open-close unit and a second semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the third open-close unit, and
the control unit is configured to output the control signal such that the second semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the third open-close unit is operated.

4. The solar power generation system according to claim 3 , wherein the second switching unit includes a fourth open-close unit connected in series with the second semiconductor switching device.

5. The solar power generation system according to claim 3 , wherein the first shut-off device is configured in a manner that allows opening and closing of the first switching unit and the second switching unit to be controlled independently of each other.

6. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first shut-off device further includes a first bypass device connected in parallel with the second group.

7. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the third switching unit includes a sixth open-close unit connected in series with the third semiconductor switching device.

8. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the fourth switching unit includes an eighth open-close unit connected in series with the fourth semiconductor switching device.

9. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the second shut-off device is configured in a manner that allows opening and closing of the third switching unit and the fourth switching unit to be controlled independently of each other.

10. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the second shut-off device further includes a second bypass device connected in parallel with the fourth group.

11. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the open circuit voltage of each of the plurality of solar cell module groups in the string is 165 V or less.

12. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the inverter is configured to output the control signal to the plurality of shut-off devices by power line communication.

13. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the inverter is configured to output the control signal to the plurality of shut-off devices by wireless communication.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Takeyama Takahiro
• Ogura Ryo
• Baik Jeongho
• Nakaichi Jun
• Uchida Tsuyoshi
• Endo Tomoko
• Martin Erica

Classifications

• H02S40/30

  Electrical components · CPC title

• H02H3/05

  with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements {(for logic circuits H03K19/003)} · CPC title

• H02S40/32

  comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules · CPC title

• H02H7/20

  for electronic equipment (for converters H02H7/10; for electric measuring instruments G01R1/36; for DC voltage or current semiconductor regulators G05F1/569; for amplifiers H03F1/52; for electronic switching circuits H03K17/08) · CPC title

• H02S40/36 Primary

  characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection · CPC title