Solar systems that include one or more shade-tolerant wiring schemes
The present invention provides shade tolerant wiring solutions for solar systems. Elements are grouped and wired in parallel within a group such that the total current of a group is substantially the same among multiple groups. Such a wiring scheme can be applied to solar targets (e.g., solar cells), solar , and solar modules.
1 . A photovoltaic solar system, comprising a plurality of solar electrically coupled in series, wherein at least one of the solar has an aperture comprising a plurality of subapertures that independently focus incident light onto at least one solar cell, said solar cells of said subapertures are arranged in at least two groups of solar cells coupled in series, wherein each solar cell group comprises at least two solar cells electrically coupled in parallel.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said solar cell groups comprises first and second solar cells electrically coupled in parallel, wherein the first and second solar cells are positioned diagonally adjacent each other.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said solar cell groups comprises at least three solar cells electrically coupled in parallel, wherein each of said three solar cells is positioned at least diagonally adjacent to at least one of the other solar cells of said at least three solar cells.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said solar cell groups comprises at least four solar cells electrically coupled in parallel, wherein each of said four solar cells is positioned at least diagonally adjacent to at least one of the other solar cells of said at least four solar cells.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein there is a one to one correspondence between each subaperture and each solar cell.
6 . A solar, photovoltaic system comprising at least one photovoltaic submodule, wherein the at least one submodule comprises:
a. a first group of photovoltaic cells comprising at least two photovoltaic cells wired in parallel;
b. a second group of photovoltaic cells comprising at least two photovoltaic cells wired in parallel, wherein the at least two photovoltaic cells of the second group are different than the at least two photovoltaic cells of the first group, and wherein the first group and second group are wired in series.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first group of photovoltaic cells comprises four photovoltaic cells wired in parallel and the second group of photovoltaic cells comprises four photovoltaic cells wired in parallel.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the system is a solar, photovoltaic concentrator system and wherein the are photovoltaic concentrator .
9 . A solar system comprising a plurality of solar electrically coupled in series, wherein at least one solar submodule comprises a plurality of solar cells that independently capture incident light, wherein said at least one submodule comprises a first row of solar cells comprising at least first through fourth solar cells and a second row comprising at least fifth through eighth solar cells, wherein said solar cells exist in at least two groups coupled in series, wherein the first and second groups each comprises at least two solar cells from the first row and at least two solar cells from the second row, wherein each of said at least two solar cells from the first row and each of said at least two solar cells from the second row are electrically coupled in parallel with each other.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein each group of solar cells comprises at least two solar cells that are diagonally adjacent to each other.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is a solar concentrator system and the plurality of independently capture and concentrate incident light onto solar cells.
12 . A photovoltaic solar system, comprising a plurality of solar modules electrically coupled in series, wherein at least one solar module comprises a plurality of solar that independently capture incident light, said solar arranged in at least two groups coupled in series, wherein each submodule group comprises at least two electrically coupled in parallel.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the groups comprises first and second electrically coupled in parallel, wherein the first and second are positioned diagonally adjacent each other.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein said at least one group comprises at least three electrically coupled in parallel, wherein each of said three is positioned at least diagonally adjacent to at least one of the other of said at least three .
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the system is a solar concentrator system and the plurality of independently capture and concentrate incident light onto a target.
16 . A solar system comprising a plurality of solar electrically coupled in series, wherein at least one solar submodule comprises a plurality of targets that independently capture incident light, wherein said at least one submodule comprises a first row of targets comprising at least first through fourth targets and a second row comprising at least fifth through eighth targets, wherein said targets exist in at least two groups coupled in series, wherein the first and second groups each comprises at least two targets from the first row and at least two targets from the second row, wherein each of said at least two targets from the first row and each of said at least two targets from the second row are electrically coupled in parallel with each other.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the system is a solar concentrator system and the plurality of independently capture and concentrate incident light onto targets.
18 . A solar concentrator system, comprising a plurality of solar concentrator modules electrically coupled in series, wherein at least one module comprises first and second electrically coupled groups, each group comprising a plurality of electrically coupled to each other in parallel, wherein each submodule within each group is structurally positioned within a module such that each submodule is diagonally adjacent to at least one other submodule of the group.
19 . A method of making a solar system comprising the steps of:
a) providing a plurality of solar modules, wherein at least one solar module comprises a plurality of solar , wherein each submodule has an aperture comprising a plurality of subapertures, wherein each subaperture has an area that captures incident light and directs said light onto at least one solar cell;
b) identifying two or more subaperture groups in a manner such that the sum of the subaperture areas within each group is substantially equal among the subaperture groups;
c) electrically coupling the solar cells associated with a subaperture group in parallel; and
d) electrically coupling the submodule groups in series.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of electrically coupling the solar modules in series.
21 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of electrically coupling the solar modules in parallel.
22 . A solar system comprising a plurality of solar modules, wherein at least one solar module comprises two or more submodule groups, wherein each submodule group comprises a plurality of solar , wherein each submodule has an aperture having an area that captures incident light, wherein the sum of the submodule aperture areas within each group is substantially equal among the submodule groups, wherein the with a submodule group are electrically coupled in parallel, and wherein the submodule groups are electrically coupled in series.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the solar modules are electrically coupled in series.
24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the system is a solar concentrator system and each of the submodule apertures captures and concentrates incident light onto a target.
25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the target comprises one or more solar cells.
26 . The system of claim 22 , wherein each submodule within each group is structurally positioned within a module such that each submodule is diagonally adjacent to at least one other submodule of the group.