Solar power generation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12199562-B2
Application number	US-202318106481-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2023
Priority date	Feb 22, 2022
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

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 module groups. The first shutoff device cuts off connections between the plurality of solar cell module groups connected to a first electric path, in response to a first control signal. The second shutoff device cuts off connections between the plurality of solar cell module groups connected to a second electric path, in response to a second control signal output from the first shutoff device by a communication system different from power line communication. A first switching unit of the first shutoff device 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 module groups connected in series, each of the solar cell module groups including one or more 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 to a first electric path that interconnects in series a first subset of the plurality of solar cell module groups, the first subset comprising one or more of said plurality of solar cell module groups included in the string; and
a second shutoff device connected to a second electric path that interconnects in series a second subset of the plurality of solar cell module groups, the second subset comprising one or more of said plurality of solar cell module groups included in the string other than the solar cell module groups included in the first subset,
wherein each of the solar cell module groups in the string has an open circuit voltage equal to or less than a predetermined open circuit voltage,
the first shutoff device cuts off connections between the solar cell module groups in the first subset in response to a first control signal from the inverter,
the second shutoff device cuts off connections between the solar cell module groups in the second subset in response to a second control signal output from the first shutoff device by a communication system different from power line communication, via a communication line that interconnects the first shutoff device and the second shutoff device,
the first shutoff device is driven by power generated by one or more of the solar cell modules in the first subset,
the first shutoff device includes a first switching unit connected to an anode side terminal of the first subset,
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, and
the first switching unit includes a second open and close unit connected in series with the first semiconductor switching device.

2. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first shutoff device outputs the second control signal to the second shutoff device after cutting off the connections between the plurality of solar cell module groups connected to the first electric path in response to the first control signal from the inverter.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of solar cell module groups in the string includes a plurality of solar cell modules connected in series.

7. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first shutoff device includes a bypass diode connected in parallel with any one of the plurality of solar cell module groups.

8. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the second shutoff device includes a bypass diode connected in parallel with any one of the plurality of solar cell module groups.

9. A solar power generation system, comprising:
a string including a plurality of solar cell module groups connected in series, each of the solar cell module groups including one or more 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 to a first electric path that interconnects in series a first subset of the plurality of solar cell module groups, the first subset comprising one or more of said plurality of solar cell module groups included in the string; and
a second shutoff device connected to a second electric path that interconnects in series a second subset of the plurality of solar cell module groups, the second subset comprising one or more of said plurality of solar cell module groups included in the string other than the solar cell module groups included in the first subset,
wherein each of the solar cell module groups in the string has an open circuit voltage equal to or less than a predetermined open circuit voltage,
the first shutoff device cuts off connections between the solar cell module groups in the first subset in response to a first control signal from the inverter,
the second shutoff device cuts off connections between the solar cell module groups in the second subset in response to a second control signal output from the first shutoff device by a communication system different from power line communication, via a communication line that interconnects the first shutoff device and the second shutoff device,
the first shutoff device is driven by power generated by one or more of the solar cell modules in the first subset,
the first shutoff device includes a first switching unit connected to an anode side terminal of the first subset,
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 second switching unit connected to a cathode side terminal of the first subset of the plurality of solar cell module groups,
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.

10. The solar power generation system according to claim 9 , wherein the second switching unit includes a fourth open and close unit connected in series with the second semiconductor switching device.

11. The solar power generation system according to claim 9 , wherein the first switching unit and the second switching unit are configured to be turned ON/OFF independently of each other.

12. A solar power generation system, comprising:
a string including a plurality of solar cell module groups connected in series, each of the solar cell module groups including one or more 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 to a first electric path that interconnects in series a first subset of the plurality of solar cell module groups, the first subset comprising one or more of said plurality of solar cell module groups included in the string; and
a second shutoff device connected to a second electric path that interconnects in series a second subset of the plurality of solar cell module groups, the second subset comprising one or more of said plurality of solar cell module groups included in the string other than the solar cell module groups included in the first subset,
wherein each of the solar cell module groups in the string has an open circuit voltage equal to or less than a predetermined open circuit voltage,
the first shutoff de

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

• H02S40/32

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

• H02M3/335

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title

• H02J3/381 Primary

  Dispersed generators · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title