Solar power generation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12184229-B2
Application number	US-202318106491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2023
Priority date	Feb 22, 2022
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

A solar power generation system includes a string, an inverter, a first shutoff device, and a second shutoff device′. The string includes a plurality of solar cell modules connected in series. The first shutoff device cuts off the string and the inverter in response to a first control signal from the inverter. The second shutoff device cuts off a solar cell module group including one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules and either another solar cell module or the inverter in response to a second control signal from the first shutoff device. The second shutoff device includes a first switching unit that includes a first open and close unit and a first semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the first open and close unit. The first semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the first open and 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 modules connected in series;
an inverter connected to the string and configured to convert DC power output from the string to AC power;
a first shutoff device connected between the string and the inverter, the first shutoff device configured to cut off the string and the inverter in response to a first control signal from the inverter; and
a second shutoff device connected to an electric path connecting a solar cell module group and either another solar cell module or the inverter, the solar cell module group including one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules connected in series in the string, the second shutoff device configured to cut off the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter in response to a second control signal from the first shutoff device, wherein
the second shutoff device is driven by power generated by the one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules connected in series in the solar cell module group,
the second shutoff device includes a first switching unit connected to an electric path connecting an anode side terminal of the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter,
the first switching unit includes a first open and close unit and a first semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the first open and close unit,
the first semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the first open and close unit is operated,
the first shutoff device includes a third switching unit connected to an anode side terminal of the string and an anode side terminal of the inverter,
the third switching unit includes a fifth open and close unit and a third semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the fifth open and close unit,
the third semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the fifth open and close unit is operated,
the first shutoff device includes a fourth switching unit connected to a cathode side terminal of the string and a cathode side terminal of the inverter,
the fourth switching unit includes a seventh open and close unit and a fourth semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the seventh open and close unit,
the fourth semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the seventh open and close unit is operated, and
the third switching unit and the fourth switching unit are configured to be turned ON/OFF independently of each other.

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

3. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein
the second shutoff device includes a second switching unit connected to an electric path connecting a cathode side terminal of the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter,
the second switching unit includes a third open and close unit and a second semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the third open and close unit, and
the second semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the third open and close unit is operated.

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

5. The solar power generation system according to claim 3 , wherein
the first switching unit and the second switching unit are configured to be turned ON/OFF simultaneously.

6. The solar power generation system according to claim 3 , wherein
the first switching unit and the second switching unit are configured to be turned ON/OFF independently of each other.

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

8. A solar power generation system comprising:
a string including a plurality of solar cell modules connected in series;
an inverter connected to the string and configured to convert DC power output from the string to AC power;
a first shutoff device connected between the string and the inverter, the first shutoff device configured to cut off the string and the inverter in response to a first control signal from the inverter; and
a second shutoff device connected to an electric path connecting a solar cell module group and either another solar cell module or the inverter, the solar cell module group including one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules connected in series in the string, the second shutoff device configured to cut off the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter in response to a second control signal from the first shutoff device,
wherein
the second shutoff device is driven by power generated by the one or more among the plurality of solar cell modules connected in series in the solar cell module group,
the second shutoff device includes a first switching unit connected to an electric path connecting an anode side terminal of the solar cell module group and either the another solar cell module or the inverter,
the first switching unit includes a first open and close unit and a first semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the first open and close unit,
the first semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the first open and close unit is operated,
the first shutoff device includes a third switching unit connected to an anode side terminal of the string and an anode side terminal of the inverter,
the third switching unit includes a fifth open and close unit and a third semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the fifth open and close unit,
the third semiconductor switching device is turned ON state before the fifth open and close unit is operated,
the first shutoff device includes a fourth switching unit connected to a cathode side terminal of the string and a cathode side terminal of the inverter,
the fourth switching unit includes a seventh open and close unit and a fourth semiconductor switching device connected in parallel with the seventh open and close unit,
the fourth semiconductor switching device is turned ON before the seventh open and close unit is operated, and
the fourth switching unit includes an eighth open and close unit connected in series with the fourth semiconductor switching device.

9. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein
the second shutoff device includes a bypass device connected in parallel with the solar cell module group and configured to form an electric path bypassing the solar cell module group.

10. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first shutoff device is driven by power supplied from a commercial power supply.

11. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein
the inverter outputs the first control signal to the first shutoff device by power line communication.

12. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein
the inverter outputs the first control signal to the first shutoff device by wireless communication.

13. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first shutoff device outputs the second control signal to the second shutoff device by power line communication, upon receipt of the first control signal from the inverter.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H02J2101/24

  Photovoltaics · CPC title

• H02J13/34

  the equipment being switches, relays or circuit breakers · CPC title

• H02S40/32

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

• H02S50/00 Primary

  Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification · CPC title

• H02J3/001

  Arrangements for handling faults or abnormalities, e.g. emergencies or contingencies · CPC title