Solar power generation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12328098-B2
Application number	US-202318218584-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2023
Priority date	Jul 29, 2022
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A solar power generation system includes a string, an inverter, a first shut-off device, and a second shut-off device. The string includes a plurality of solar cell module groups. The first shut-off device is connected to a first electric path. The second shut-off device is connected to a second electric path. The first shut-off device cuts off the connection between a plurality of solar cell module groups connected to the first electric path in response to a first control signal. The second shut-off device is driven by the power supplied from the first shut-off device, and cuts off the connection between a plurality of the solar cell module groups connected to the second electric path in response to a second control signal. The first shut-off device includes a first semiconductor switching device and a first open-close unit connected in series to the first semiconductor switching device.

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 solar cell module groups each 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 shut-off device connected to a first electric path connecting some of the plurality of solar cell module groups; and
a second shut-off device connected to a second electric path connecting others of the plurality of solar cell module groups different from the plurality of solar cell module groups connected by the first electric path,
wherein
each of the plurality of solar cell module groups in the string has an open circuit voltage equal to or less than a predetermined open circuit voltage,
the first shut-off device is connected to a power line that is connected to the second shut-off device and that cuts off the connection between said some of the plurality of solar cell module groups connected to the first electric path in response to a first control signal from the inverter,
the second shut-off device is driven by the power supplied from the first shut-off device via the power line and cuts off the connection between said others of the solar cell module groups connected to the second electric path in response to a second control signal from the first shut-off device,
the plurality of solar cell module groups in the string includes a first group, and
the first shut-off device includes
a first open-close unit connected to an anode-side terminal of the first group;
a first semiconductor switching device connected in series between the anode-side terminal of the first group and the first open-close unit; and
a first power supply unit configured to generate power to drive the first open-close unit, the first power supply unit having an anode-side terminal connected between the anode-side terminal of the first group and the first semiconductor switching device, and a cathode-side terminal connected to a cathode-side terminal of the first group,
the first semiconductor switching device being configured to enter an OFF state in a case where an amount of power generated by the first group falls below a predetermined threshold.

2. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first shut-off device includes a first bypass device, the first bypass device being connected at one end to the cathode-side terminal of the first group and being connected at another end between the first open-close unit and the first semiconductor switching device.

3. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first semiconductor switching device is a MOSFET device or an IGBT device.

4. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first shut-off device includes a second open-close unit connected to the cathode-side terminal of the first group.

5. The solar power generation system according to claim 4 , wherein the second open-close unit is driven by the power supplied from the first power supply unit.

6. The solar power generation system according to claim 4 , wherein the first shut-off device is configured to control the opening and closing of the first open-close unit and the second open-close unit independently of each other.

7. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of solar cell module groups in the string includes a second group, and
the second shut-off device includes a third open-close unit connected to an anode-side terminal of the second group and a second semiconductor switching device connected in series between the anode-side terminal of the second group and the third open-close unit, the second semiconductor switching device being configured to enter an OFF state when an amount of power generated by the second group falls below a predetermined threshold.

8. The solar power generation system according to claim 7 , wherein the second shut-off device includes a second bypass device, the second bypass device being connected at one end to the cathode-side terminal of the second group and being connected at another other end between the third open-close unit and the second semiconductor switching device.

9. The solar power generation system according to claim 7 , wherein the second semiconductor switching device is an MOSFET device or an IGBT device.

10. The solar power generation system according to claim 7 , wherein the second shut-off device includes a fourth open-close unit connected to the cathode-side terminal of the second group.

11. The solar power generation system according to claim 10 , wherein the second shut-off device is configured to control the opening and closing of the third open-close unit and the fourth open-close unit independently of each other.

12. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first shut-off device is configured to cut off the connection between the plurality of solar cell module groups connected to the first electric path in response to the first control signal from the inverter and then to output the second control signal to the second shut-off device.

13. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the first shut-off device outputs the second control signal to the second shut-off device by a communication system different from power line communication via a communication line connected to the first shut-off device and the second shut-off device.

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

15. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the inverter outputs the first control signal to the first shut-off device by power line communication.

16. The solar power generation system according to claim 1 , wherein the inverter outputs the first control signal to the first shut-off device by wireless communication.

17. 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.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Emanet Nahit
• Aksoy Oezguer
• Mihmanli Mustafa
• Takeyama Takahiro
• Ogura Ryo
• Baik Jeongho
• Nakaichi Jun
• Uchida Tsuyoshi
• Endo Tomoko
• Martin Erica

Classifications

• 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

• H02M1/36

  Means for starting or stopping converters · CPC title

• H02M7/48

  using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode · CPC title

• H02M3/33507

  with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence) · CPC title