Power converter for a solar panel
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 thither embodiment, each DC/DC converter requires a signal to enable power output of the solar modules.
1. A method comprising:
monitoring, by a photovoltaic module, for a control signal;
operating, in absence of the control signal, the photovoltaic module in a default mode of operation; and
operating, in response to receiving the control signal, the photovoltaic module in a normal mode of operation;
wherein the default mode of operation comprises outputting substantially no power, and wherein the normal mode of operation comprises drawing input power from a photovoltaic power source and providing output power.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the default mode of operation comprises outputting a safe voltage.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising tracking, in the normal mode of operation, maximum power at an input of a power converter of the photovoltaic module.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising converting, in the normal mode of operation, an input voltage to an output voltage that is higher than the input voltage.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising operating in a backup mode of operation, wherein the backup mode of operation comprises providing, in case of a grid outage, backup power to a load.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by an inverter, the output power provided by the photovoltaic module; and
converting the output power to an AC power.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising providing, by the inverter, the control signal.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising drawing, by the inverter, stored power from an energy storage device connected to the inverter.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
after drawing, by the inverter, the stored power from the energy storage device, drawing backup power from the photovoltaic module.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiving the control signal comprises:
receiving the control signal from the inverter.
11. A system comprising:
a photovoltaic array comprising a plurality of photovoltaic modules, wherein a photovoltaic module of the plurality of photovoltaic modules is configured to:
monitor for a control signal;
operate, in absence of the control signal, in a default mode of operation; and
operate, in response to receiving the control signal, in a normal mode of operation;
wherein in the default mode of operation, the photovoltaic module is configured to output substantially no power, and wherein in the normal mode of operation, the photovoltaic module is configured to draw input power from a photovoltaic power source and provide output power.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the photovoltaic module is configured to, in the default mode of operation, output a safe voltage.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the photovoltaic module is configured to, in the normal mode of operation, carry out Maximum Power Point Tracking.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the photovoltaic module is configured to, in the normal mode of operation, convert an input voltage to an output voltage that is higher than the input voltage.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the photovoltaic module is configured to operate in a backup mode of operation and wherein in the backup mode of operation, the photovoltaic module is configured to provide, in case of a grid outage, backup power to a load.
16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising an inverter configured to:
receive the output power provided by the photovoltaic module; and
convert the output power to an AC power.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the inverter is configured to receive an inverter input voltage and to create an output AC voltage having an amplitude that is lower than the inverter input voltage.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the inverter is configured to provide the control signal.
19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising an energy storage device connected to the inverter, wherein the inverter is configured to:
draw stored power from the energy storage device; and
draw backup power from the photovoltaic module.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.
21. The system of claim 16 , further comprising an energy storage device connected to the inverter, wherein the inverter is configured to:
draw stored power from the energy storage device; and
provide the stored power to a load.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the inverter is configured to provide the stored power to the load in response to a grid outage.
23. The system of claim 21 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.
24. The system of claim 21 , wherein the inverter is configured to draw interim power from the energy storage device until the photovoltaic array can provide power to the load.
25. The system of claim 11 , wherein the photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of solar cells.
26. The system of claim 11 , wherein the photovoltaic module comprises a DC/DC converter.
27. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of photovoltaic modules are connected in parallel.