Photovoltaic power generation system free of bypass diodes
A photovoltaic power generation system that includes a solar panel that is free of bypass diodes is described herein. The solar panel includes a plurality of photovoltaic sub-modules, wherein at least two of photovoltaic sub-modules in the plurality of photovoltaic sub-modules are electrically connected in parallel. A photovoltaic sub-module includes a plurality of groups of electrically connected photovoltaic cells, wherein at least two of the groups are electrically connected in series. A photovoltaic group includes a plurality of strings of photovoltaic cells, wherein a string of photovoltaic cells comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series. The strings of photovoltaic cells are electrically connected in parallel, and the photovoltaic cells are microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells.
1. Apparatus comprising at least one photovoltaic sub-module, wherein:
the at least one photovoltaic sub-module is free of any bypass diodes;
the at least one photovoltaic sub-module comprises a first, a second, a third, and a fourth series-connected string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells, each said cell having a size no greater than two centimeters in height and two centimeters in width;
the first and second said strings are connected to each other in parallel, thereby to form a first group;
the third and fourth said strings are connected to each other in parallel, thereby to form a second group; and
the first group is electrically coupled in series with the second group.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 outputting between 500 volts and 2000 volts.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 being less than 30 centimeters in length and less than 30 centimeters in width.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one photovoltaic cell from amongst the plurality of photovoltaic cells has both positive and negative electrical contacts on a back side of the at least one photovoltaic cell.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of microsystem-enabled cells comprise at least one of InGaP cells or InGaAs cells.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of microsystem-enabled cells comprise GaAs cells.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of microsystem-enabled cells comprise at least one of Ge cells and Si cells.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of multi junction cells respectively comprise the plurality of photovoltaic cells.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a solar panel.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the solar panel is free of any bypass diodes.
11. Apparatus comprising at least one photovoltaic sub-module, wherein:
the at least one photovoltaic sub-module is free of any bypass diodes;
the at least one photovoltaic sub-module comprises a first and a second series-connected string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells, each said cell having a size no greater than two centimeters in height and two centimeters in width; and
the at least one photovoltaic sub-module further comprises a power management integrated circuit that is electrically connected to the first string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells and the second string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells, wherein the power management integrated circuit outputs a predefined amount of electric power based at least in part upon voltages output by the first string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells and the second string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells and is dynamically adjustable based on external operating conditions or system operation commands.
12. A solar panel comprising one or more photovoltaic sub-modules, wherein:
each photovoltaic sub-module comprises a plurality of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells in electrical connection with one another;
each microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cell is of a size no greater than two centimeters in height and two centimeters in width;
the solar panel is free of any bypass diodes; and
the solar panel is non-planar.
13. A solar panel comprising:
a first photovoltaic sub-module, the first photovoltaic sub-module comprising a first plurality of photovoltaic cells; and
a second photovoltaic sub-module, the second photovoltaic sub-module comprising a second plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the first photovoltaic sub-module and the second photovoltaic sub-module are electrically connected in parallel, and wherein the solar panel is free of any bypass diodes, wherein:
each of the first and second photovoltaic sub-modules comprises a string of series-connected photovoltaic cells;
the solar panel has an output voltage that is a sum of individual cell voltages added together by series connection; and
the sum of individual cell voltages provides a total output voltage in the range from 200 volts to 600 volts.
14. The solar panel of claim 13 , wherein the first photovoltaic sub-module is less than 30 centimeters in length and less than 30 centimeters in height.
15. The solar panel of claim 13 , wherein the first photovoltaic sub-module comprises:
a first group of photovoltaic cells, wherein the first group of photovoltaic cells comprises:
a first string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells; and
a second string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells, wherein cells in the first string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells are electrically connected in series, wherein cells in the second string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells are electrically connected in series, and wherein the first string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells and the second string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells are electrically connected in parallel.
16. The solar panel of claim 15 , wherein a plurality of multi junction photovoltaic cells comprises the first string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells and the second string of microsystem-enabled photovoltaic cells.