Power converter for a solar panel
View Patent ↗A solar array power generation system includes a solar array electrically connected to a control system. The solar array has a plurality of solar modules, each module having at least one DC/DC converter for converting the raw panel output to an optimized high voltage, low current output. In a further embodiment, each DC/DC converter requires a signal to enable power output of the solar modules.
1. A solar power generation system comprising:
a plurality of solar modules for generating a solar module output power (SOP) having a solar module output voltage (SOV) and a solar module output current (SOI);
a plurality of DC-to-DC power converters,
wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to only one respective solar module of the plurality of solar modules,
wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is configured and arranged to convert the SOP for each solar module to a converted solar module output power (COP) having a converted output voltage (COV) that is higher than the SOV and a converted output current (COI) that is lower than the SOI,
wherein a plurality of outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected to supply the COP to a load, and
wherein each of the DC-to-DC power converters is configured to prohibit output of the COP in the absence of a control signal from a control system.
2. The solar power generating system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a DC-to-AC inverter.
3. The solar power generating system of claim 2 , wherein the DC-to-AC inverter is disposed between the outputs of the DC-to-DC converters and the load.
4. The solar power generating system of claim 1 , wherein the SOV is approximately 48V and the COV is at least 200V.
5. The solar power generation system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected in series to supply the COP to the load.
6. A solar power generation system comprising:
a plurality of solar modules for generating a solar module output power (SOP) having a solar module output voltage (SOV) and a solar module output current (SOI);
a plurality of DC-to-DC power converters,
wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to only one respective solar module of the plurality of solar modules,
wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is configured and arranged to convert the SOP for each said solar module to a converted solar module output power (COP) having a converted output voltage (COV) that is higher than the SOV and a converted output current (COI) that is lower than the SOI,
wherein the plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected in series to supply the COP to the load.
7. The solar power generation system of claim 6 , wherein each of the DC-to-DC power converters is configured to prohibit output of COP from the DC-to-DC power converter in the absence of a control signal from a control system.
8. The solar power generating system of claim 6 , wherein the control system includes a DC-to-AC inverter.
9. The solar power generating system of claim 8 , wherein the DC-to-AC inverter is disposed between the outputs of the DC-to-DC converters and the load.
10. The solar power generating system of claim 6 , wherein the SOV is approximately 48V and the COV is at least 200V.
11. A method for generating solar power, the method comprising:
generating, by a plurality of solar modules, a solar module output power (SOP) having a solar module output voltage (SOV) and a solar module output current (SOI);
converting, by a plurality of DC-to-DC converters, the SOP to a converted output power (COP) having converted output voltage (COV) that is higher than the SOV and a converted output current (COI) that is lower than the SOI,
wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to only one solar module of the plurality of solar modules,
wherein a plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected to supply the COP to a load; and
wherein, in the absence of a control signal from a control system, prohibiting output of the COP from the DC-to-DC power converter, and
wherein, in the presence of the control signal, outputting the COP.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising connecting the plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters in series to supply power output to the load.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control system includes a DC-to-AC inverter.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the DC-to-AC inverter is disposed between the outputs of the DC-to-DC converters and the load.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the SOV is approximately 48V and the COV is at least 200V.
16. A method for generating solar power, the method comprising:
generating, by a plurality of solar modules, a solar module output power (SOP) having a solar module output voltage (SOV) and a solar module output current (SOI);
converting, by a plurality of DC-to-DC converters, the SOP to a converted output power (COP) having converted output voltage (COV) that is higher than the SOV and a converted output current (COI) that is lower than the SOI,
wherein each DC-to-DC power converter is coupled to only one solar module of the plurality of solar modules, and
wherein a plurality of the outputs of the DC-to-DC power converters are connected in series to supply the COP to a load.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising, in the absence of a control signal, prohibiting output of the COP from the DC-to-DC power converter and, in the presence of the control signal, outputting the COP.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the control system includes a DC-to-AC inverter.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the DC-to-AC inverter is disposed between the outputs of the DC-to-DC converters and the load.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the SOV is approximately 48V and the COV is at least 200V.