1649 results about "Photovoltaic system" patented technology

A string over-voltage protection system and method for arrays of photovoltaic panels. The system and method includes a device for use in a photovoltaic array power system. The device includes a voltage converter. The voltage converter is adapted to be coupled to a photovoltaic panel in a string of photovoltaic panels. The device also includes a string over-voltage protection circuit. The string over-voltage protection circuit is coupled to the voltage converter. The string over-voltage protection circuit senses a string voltage and determines if a string over-voltage condition exists. Additionally, the string over-voltage protection circuit is configured to disable the voltage converter in the event of a string over-voltage condition.

A power conversion system includes a number of photovoltaic arrays, a number of inverters, a transformer, and processor. The processor is structured to control the number of inverters and operate the power conversion system to provide maximum efficiency of power conversion by the number of photovoltaic arrays, the number of inverters and the transformer, and to maximize power output from the number of photovoltaic arrays.

A power converter system advantageously employs a modular, bi-directionally symmetrical power converter assembly in a readily customizable configuration to interconnect a direct current power source to a three-phase alternating power grid. Connections external to the power converter assembly are selected to optimize the power converter system for a specific application, such as interconnecting a photovoltaic array to the three-phase electrical power grid. The electrical interconnections of various elements including isolation transformers, voltage sensors, and control switches are optimized to improve efficiency and reliability.

A photovoltaic system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules and a DC motor connected to a three-phase generator driven by a shaft. The three-phase generator is connected to a power mains. The electric power supplied to the DC motor by the plurality of photovoltaic modules is repeatedly measured and adjusted, by changing an external excitation current of the DC motor, to the peak power attainable at the current ambient temperature and the current incident solar radiation intensity. The peak power is preferably determined by incrementally changing the excitation current in predetermined time intervals, until the supplied electric power produces a power level which can be regarded as the peak power.

The present invention discloses a portable solar tarp or a field portable battery charger employing a solar tarp, utilizing flexible solar panels, solar fabric, or solar film. Around the perimeter of the solar tarp is a series of attachment points for straps. The attachment points can be grommets, loops, buckles, hooks, buttons, or grab loops and lines, and to which connected various straps (webbing, line, cord, or cable). The present invention further discloses a versatile, adjustable strapping system utilizing straps, buckles, and hooks. The present invention strapping system can attach almost any object to nearly any other object, such as back packs, luggage, vehicles, boats, permanent and portable shelters and buildings, mechanical equipment, and natural objects such as trees, rocks. The solar panel according to the present invention can have the photovoltaic cells wired individually, or in a single line, because when parts of the photovoltaic system is subjected to shade, or if due to space constraint, parts of the photovoltaic system is covered or folded away, the remaining photovoltaic cells with useable energy are still able to function at peak capacity, since the covered cells will not become an energy drain upon the remaining cells. Further, the photovoltaic system is able to harness all available energy, regardless of the required or desired voltage and / or amperage for the system, thus converting any and all available energy into a useable current to either recharge batteries, or power a load.

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic system and methods of making same. The photovoltaic system has a plurality of layers attached to each other to form a unitary structure. More specifically, the photovoltaic system includes: a base, flexible membrane layer; a photovoltaic layer having at least one photovoltaic cell associated therewith; a semi-rigid layer for supporting the photovoltaic layer and imparting rigidity thereto; and a top, transparent, protective layer for protecting the base, flexible membrane layer, the semi-rigid layer and the photovoltaic layer from exposure to the environment. The photovoltaic layer and the semi-rigid layer are disposed between the base, flexible membrane layer and the top, protective layer. Additional layers of adhesive may be disposed between the various layers to facilitate bonding thereof.

System, methods and apparatus for coupling photovoltaic arrays are disclosed. The apparatus may include a first input adapted to couple to a neutral line of a first photovoltaic array; a second input adapted to couple to a neutral line of a second photovoltaic array; a contactor configured to switchably couple the neutral line of a first photovoltaic array to the a neutral line of a second photovoltaic array, the contactor being remotely controllable.

The invention concerns an inverter for solar panels which includes at least two inverter inputs to each of which a group of solar panels can be connected, and an inverter output to which a network can be connected. The inverter includes an inverter element with a direct voltage input and an alternating voltage output which converts the direct voltage which is connected to its direct voltage input into alternating voltage and sends it to the inverter output, an electronic control system which monitors the direct voltage which is connected to the direct voltage input of the inverter element and the network voltage and / or the network frequency of the network which is connected to the inverter output, and a switching system which is electrically arrayed between one of the at least two inverter inputs and the direct voltage input of the inverter element, wherein the at least two inverter inputs of the inverter are connected in series with the direct voltage input of the inverter element. The electronic control system is designed so that it triggers the switching system to disconnect the at least one inverter input of the inverter from the direct voltage input of the inverter element if the voltage which is connected to the direct voltage input of the inverter element exceeds an upper threshold value and / or the network voltage and / or the network frequency of the network which is connected to the inverter output lies outside a previously specified normal voltage or normal frequency range.The invention furthermore concerns a process to control an inverter for solar panels.

A interconnected arrangement of photovoltaic cells is readily and efficiently achieved by using a unique interconnecting strap. The strap comprises electrically conductive fingers which contact the top light incident surface of a first cell and extend to an interconnect region of the strap. The interconnect region may include through holes which allow electrical communication between top and bottom surfaces of the interconnect region. In one embodiment, the electrically conductive surface of the fingers is in electrical communication with an electrically conductive surface formed on the opposite side of the strap through the through holes of the interconnect region. The interconnection strap may comprise a laminating film to facilitate manufacture and assembly of the interconnected arrangement.

A system and method for monitoring performance of one or more solar panels in a photovoltaic array. The system and method includes a number of sensors are configured to measure an output of individual solar panels. A telemetry gateway collects data from the sensors and transmits the collected data to a monitoring system. The monitoring system includes an event signature recognizer; a trend analyzer; and a symmetry analyzer. The monitoring system detects events, trends and solar panel array asymmetry. Additionally, the monitoring system displays realtime graphs, proposed corrective actions, and alerts via a user interface.

The present invention relates generally to roofing or siding products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing or siding products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements joined to a roofing or siding substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it.

The invention relates to a series resonance DC / DC converter of a photovoltaic system, which comprises a single-pole converter (40), a series resonance circuit (50), a high-frequency isolation transformer (16) and a rapid uncontrollable rectifier (20), wherein the single-pole converter (40) is used for converting a direct voltage (26) of a photovoltaic array (10) into a single-pole pulse voltage; the series resonance circuit (50) is used for converting the single-pole pulse voltage into a sine voltage with a fixed frequency; the high-frequency isolation transformer (16) is used for boosting and isolating as well as protecting; and the rapid uncontrollable rectifier (20) is used for rectifying the high-frequency sine voltage into a stable direct current voltage (28). The converter (100) is only provided with two switching elements, has the advantages of simple control mode and no switching loss, and can be used for boosting and stabilizing the larger photovoltaic array so as to be convenient for synchronizing through a three-phase converter or charging a storage battery.

A method and modular assembly provide shade and generate electricity using photovoltaic cells. In the method, a kit includes a plurality of columns, a truss assembly, a rack, and a plurality of photovoltaic cells for converting solar energy into electricity. First, four columns are erected at a distance from one another to define an area. Then, the truss assembly is suspended between the columns. Thereafter, the rack is mounted to the truss assembly to form an open roof. To enclose the roof, the photovoltaic cells are arranged on the rack to block sunlight to shade the area, while converting the sunlight to electricity.

The invention discloses an intelligent solar cell component and a control method of an array thereof. An intelligent power electronic converter in which a microprocessor serves as a control core is arranged at a junction box of the traditional solar cell component and has a data communication function; system information such as a direct current (DC) bus voltage of a photovoltaic system, the maximal output power of other components in the same serial string and the like can be acquired through the communication function; the system information acquired through the communication function is higher than that of the maximal power point of the component; and the output voltage and the output current are automatically adjusted by a power weight matching method, so that the output energy of the component is maximized. By the method, each component can output the maximal electric energy.

A photovoltaic (PV) module framing and coupling system enables the attachment of PV modules to a roof or other mounting surface without requiring the use of separate structural support members which attach directly to and span between multiple PV modules in a formed PV array. The apparatus provides a parallel coupling for securely interlocking the outside surfaces of parallel frame members together in a side to side arrangement to form an array with improved structural load distribution. The coupling may attach to a slot in the frame at substantially any position along the length of the frame thereby enabling the interconnection of adjacent PV modules along both an x and y axis. The apparatus may further provide a rotating portion and locking portion, mounting brackets for direct connection to a mounting surface, grounding teeth, and a twist-lock engagement means for interlocking and aligning PV modules in the array.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for identifying PV system and solar irradiance sensor orientation and tilt based on energy production, energy received, simulated energy production, estimated energy received, production skew, and energy received skew. The present invention relates to systems and methods for detecting orientation and tilt of a PV system based on energy production and simulated energy production; for detecting the orientation and tilt of a solar irradiance sensor based on solar irradiance observation and simulated solar irradiance observation; for detecting orientation of a PV system based on energy production and energy production skew; and for detecting orientation of a solar irradiance sensor based on solar irradiance observation and solar irradiance observation skew.

In one aspect, a hybrid airship including an outer shell, a plurality of helium filled gas envelopes, and an all-electric propulsion system may have the shape of a delta-wing. In some embodiments, the hybrid airship may be launched using buoyancy lift alone and aerodynamic lift may be provided by the all-electric propulsion system. In one aspect, a photovoltaic array and a high energy density power storage system may be combined to power the propulsion system making the propulsion system regenerative. The delta-wing shape can provide a surface area large enough to accommodate very large circular or elliptical transmission devices. By continuously recharging the power storage system, the hybrid airship in accordance with some embodiments can stay aloft at an operational altitude of at least about 85,000 ft for months or even years. The hybrid airship may function as an airborne military communications relay platform.

A junction box for a photovoltaic system includes a housing having a base and a cover removably attached thereto, and a plurality of guide channels extending from an exterior surface of the housing to an interior portion thereof. The guide channels are sized and shaped to receive a plurality of conductive foil strips from a solar panel array. When the strips are fed into the guide channels, they are guided to and properly positioned within corresponding receptacles. Each receptacle is sized and shaped to receive a buss bar, and each strip is connected to a corresponding buss bar by a low insertion connector. When the cover is fully engaged with the base, bosses extending from the cover press against the connectors, creating a spring tension and pinch and retain the associated strip. As a result, a reliable physical and electrical connection between the strips and the buss bars is achieved. A heat sink having a plurality of fins protrude outwardly from the housing to dissipate heat externally.

A interconnected arrangement of photovoltaic cells is readily and efficiently achieved by using a unique interconnecting strap. The strap comprises electrically conductive fingers which contact the top light incident surface of a first cell and extend to an interconnect region of the strap. The interconnect region may include through holes which allow electrical communication between top and bottom surfaces of the interconnect region. In one embodiment, the electrically conductive surface of the fingers is in electrical communication with an electrically conductive surface formed on the opposite side of the strap through the through holes of the interconnect region. The interconnection strap may comprise a laminating film to facilitate manufacture and assembly of the interconnected arrangement.

In one aspect, a hybrid airship including an outer shell, a plurality of helium filled gas envelopes, and an all-electric propulsion system may have the shape of a delta-wing. In some embodiments, the hybrid airship may be launched using buoyancy lift alone and aerodynamic lift may be provided by the all-electric propulsion system. In one aspect, a photovoltaic array and a high energy density power storage system may be combined to power the propulsion system making the propulsion system regenerative. The delta-wing shape can provide a surface area large enough to accommodate very large circular or elliptical transmission devices. By continuously recharging the power storage system, the hybrid airship in accordance with some embodiments can stay aloft at an operational altitude of at least about 85,000 ft for months or even years. The hybrid airship may function as an airborne military communications relay platform.

A solar photovoltaic panel disposed in a matrix for use, wherein the solar photovoltaic panel comprises a plurality of antennas configured to communicate with antennas placed on adjoining solar photovoltaic panels, a receptor configured to receive a search command via the plurality of antennas, a transmitter configured to transmit a search command from the antennas excluding the antenna having received the search command in response to the received search command, and a responder configured to create a response signal including the panel ID of its own solar photovoltaic panel and transmit the response signal from the antenna having received the search command when no response signal to the search command transmitted from the transmitter is received, and when a response signal to the search command transmitted from the transmitter is received, transmit the response signal with the addition of information from the antenna having received the search command.

A light-weight photovoltaic system made from a plurality of substantially rectangular photovoltaic modules consisting of a lightweight support board and a photovoltaic panel disposed in abutting relationship in rows and columns on a substrate and connected to each other by a dovetailing arrangement between frames connecting the support board to the panel with clamping strips holding down the photovoltaic panel on the frame and of at least one tension wire extending along one of the rows and columns at attached to a substructure for retaining the system thereon.

An inverter is devised to avoid high-frequency voltages at input terminals and to allow good efficiency thanks to its simple and cost-optimized circuit layout. This is achieved by a method of converting a direct current voltage, more specifically from a photovoltaic source of direct current voltage, into an alternating current voltage at a frequency through a bridge circuit comprising switching elements (V1-V4) and free-wheeling elements (D1-D4), said switching elements (V1-V4) being on the one side gated at the frequency and on the other side clocked at a high clock rate, a direct current voltage circuit, an alternating current voltage circuit and a plurality of free-wheeling phases being provided. It is provided that, during the free-wheeling phases, the alternating current voltage circuit is decoupled from the direct current voltage circuit by means of a switching element disposed in the direct current voltage circuit, a free-wheeling current flowing through one of the free-wheeling elements (D1) in the bridge circuit when in the decoupled state.

A whole-life-cycle power output classification prediction system for photovoltaic systems. The power output classification prediction system comprises a basic information storage module, a database module, a prediction model judgment module, a prediction data pre-processing module and a prediction modeling module. The system selects different prediction models to carry out training and predication according to acquired data types and operation time of the photovoltaic system, is a modularized and multi-type photovoltaic system output power prediction system, can be suitable for output power prediction requirements of a majority of photovoltaic systems at present, can carry out customization according to the scale of the photovoltaic system, user requirements, etc., can both meet economic requirements and reliability requirements, and has good adaptability and transportability. The prediction method can update automatically. The prediction system can carry out automatic operation management. And relatively high prediction precision and stability are achieved.

The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. One aspect of the invention is a photovoltaic array including a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module, each comprising a set of linearly arranged features extending from its lateral edge, and an electrical element on its surface, wherein the lateral distance between the electrical element and the center of the linearly-arranged feature closest to the lateral edge is different in the first photovoltaic module than in the second.

An inflatable endurance unmanned vehicle includes an inflatable hull with at least one inflatable wing extending therefrom. The inflatable wing has at least one spar movable between an extended position and a retracted position. Photovoltaic arrays are used to power the vehicle during daytime operation and power an electrolyzer. A fuel cell powers the vehicle during nighttime operation.

An inflatable endurance unmanned vehicle includes an inflatable hull with at least one inflatable wing extending therefrom. The inflatable wing has at least one spar movable between an extended position and a retracted position. Photovoltaic arrays are used to power the vehicle during daytime operation and power an electrolyzer. A fuel cell powers the vehicle during nighttime operation.

A photovoltaic array includes a plurality of generally planar cells, arranged in panels, a light collecting body having a solar energy collecting surface adapted to be oriented for receiving solar energy in a nominal direction which defines a nominal light source direction. The panels are spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the nominal light source direction and each has an active surface oriented on the body at an angle of less than 90 DEG relative to the nominal light source direction. The light collecting body is transmissive for redirecting light received on the light collecting surface onto the active surfaces of the panels.