Photovoltaic module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9397609-B2
Application number	US-201213427139-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2012
Priority date	Apr 12, 2011
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

A photovoltaic module includes: a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cells; and a junction box including a capacitor unit attached to one face of the solar cell module and that to stores DC power supplied from the solar cell module, and a dc/dc converter unit to convert the level of the stored DC power and output the same. Thus, power may be easily supplied through the junction box.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A photovoltaic module comprising:
a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cell strings formed with some of a plurality of solar cells, a plurality of bus ribbons connecting adjacent solar cell strings, and a plurality of conductive lines electrically connecting the solar cell strings and a plurality of bypass diodes; and
a junction box on a rear surface of the solar cell module, the junction box comprising:
the plurality of bypass diodes;
a capacitor to store DC power supplied from the solar cell module, the capacitor detachable from the junction box;
a dc/dc converter to convert a level of stored DC power and output the same;
an overcurrent preventing circuit to limit a current based on a DC current supplied from the solar cell module;
a first current detector to detect a current supplied to the capacitor;
a voltage detector to detect a voltage at the capacitor; and
a controller to control the overcurrent preventing circuit to stop supplying the DC power when a voltage at the capacitor is greater than an allowable value,

wherein the plurality of conductive lines are connected with the plurality of bypass diodes and are extended to the rear surface of the solar cell module through corresponding openings penetrating a rear substrate of the solar cell module,
wherein the overcurrent preventing circuit comprises:
a first switching element and a second switching element between the plurality of bypass diodes and the capacitor, the first switching element and the second switching element connected in parallel; and
a resistor connected to the first switching element,
wherein the first switching element is turned on during an initial operation such that an input overcurrent is partially consumed in the resistor, and the second switching element is turned on after the initial operation,
wherein the controller outputs switching signals of the first switching element and the second switching element based on detected current from the first current detector or detected voltage from the voltage detector,
wherein when the detected current or the detected voltage is greater than a pre-set value, the controller controls the first switching element to be turned off and the second switching element to be turned on,
wherein when the detected current or the detected voltage is greater than the allowable value, the controller controls the first switching element and the second switching element to be turned off.

2. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bypass diodes bypass at least one solar cell in which a reverse voltage occurs among the plurality of solar cells.

3. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 , wherein the dc/dc converter comprises at least one of a flyback converter, a boost converter, a buck converter, and a forward converter.

4. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 , wherein the junction box further comprises:
a second current detection unit to detect a current supplied to the dc/dc converter unit.

5. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 , wherein the solar cell module further comprises:
first and second sealing members on upper and lower surfaces of the plurality of solar cells, respectively;
a rear substrate on a lower surface of the first sealing member; and
a front substrate on an upper surface of the second sealing member.

6. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 , wherein the solar cell module further comprises:
a solar cell string formed with some of the plurality of solar cells connected in a row, and a first conductive line electrically connecting the solar cell string and the junction box.

7. The photovoltaic module of claim 6 , wherein the solar cell module further comprises:
a bus ribbon connected to at least two solar cell strings; and
a second conductive line electrically connecting the bus ribbon and the junction box.

8. The photovoltaic module of claim 7 , wherein the junction box is closer to an end portion, to which the conductive line extends, between two end portions of the solar cell module.

9. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat releasing member between the solar cell module and the junction box.

10. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 , wherein the overcurrent preventing circuit is between the bypass diode unit and the capacitor.

11. The photovoltaic module of claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of conductive lines connects one of the plurality of solar cell strings and one of the plurality of bypass diodes, and
wherein a first end of one of the plurality of conductive lines is connected to one of the plurality of bus ribbons, and a second end of the one of the plurality of conductive lines is connected to one of the plurality of bypass diodes.

12. A photovoltaic module comprising:
a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cell strings formed with some of a plurality of solar cells, a plurality of bus ribbons connecting adjacent solar cell strings, and a plurality of conductive lines electrically connecting the solar cell strings and a plurality of bypass diodes; and
a junction box on a rear surface of the solar cell module, the junction box comprising:
the plurality of bypass diodes to bypass at least one solar cell in which a reverse voltage occurs among the plurality of solar cells;
a capacitor to store DC power supplied from the solar cell module, the capacitor detachable from the junction box;
a dc/dc converter to convert a level of the stored DC power and output the same;
an inverter unit to convert a level-converted DC power into AC power and output the same,
an overcurrent preventing circuit to limit a current based on a DC current supplied from the solar cell module;
a first current detector to detect a current supplied to the capacitor;
a voltage detector to detect a voltage at the capacitor; and
a controller to control the overcurrent preventing circuit to stop supplying the DC power when a voltage at the capacitor is greater than an allowable value,

wherein the plurality of conductive lines are connected with the plurality of bypass diodes and are extended to the rear surface of the solar cell module through corresponding openings penetrating a rear substrate the solar cell module,
wherein the overcurrent preventing circuit comprises:
a first switching element and a second switching element between the plurality of bypass diodes and the capacitor, the first switching element and the second switching element connected in parallel; and
a resistor connected to the first switching element,
wherein the first switching element is turned on during an initial operation such that an input overcurrent is partially consumed in the resistor, and the second switching element is turned on after the initial operation,
wherein the controller outputs switching signals of the first switching element and the second switching element based on detected current from the first current detector or detected voltage from the voltage detector,
wherein when the detected current or the detected voltage is greater than a pre-set value, the controller controls the first switching element to be turned off and the second switching element to be turned on,
wherein when the detected current or the detected voltage is greater than the allowable value, the controller controls the first switching element and the second switching element to be turned off.

13. The photovoltaic module of claim 12 , further comprising:
a second current detection unit to detect a current supplied to the do/dc converter unit,
wherein the controller controls the overcurrent preventing unit based on the detection of the second current

Assignees

• Lee Kiok
• Kim Myonghwan
• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Kiok
• Kim Myonghwan

Classifications

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title

• H10F19/80

  Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• H10F19/00

  Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules · CPC title

• H10F10/00

  Individual photovoltaic cells, e.g. solar cells (electrolytic light-sensitive devices, e.g. dye-sensitised solar cells, H01G9/20) · CPC title

• H10F77/937

  Busbar structures for modules · CPC title