PV shutdown system with mid-circuit interrupter

1. A photovoltaic (PV) shutdown system for a PV power generation system, comprising:

a mid-circuit interrupter (MCI) controller; and

at least one MCI with two terminals, wherein the two terminals of the at least one MCI are arranged for connection with the MCI controller, a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) system, and a PV string, the PV string includes a plurality of PV modules connected in series, and the MCI controller is arranged to turn on the at least one MCI by providing supply power and turn off the at least one MCI by terminating the supply power, wherein the at least one MCI comprises:

a switch power supply circuit;

a slave controller;

a switch component;

a switch check circuit for detecting working status of the at least one MCI; and

a second communication component for communicating with the MCI controller.

2. The PV shutdown system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one MCI is arranged to detect working status of the at least one MCI after receiving an instruction from the MCI controller and transmit a detection result to the MCI controller.

3. The PV shutdown system according to claim 1 , wherein the MCI controller comprises:

an MCI power supply circuit for supplying power to the at least one MCI;

a master controller; and

a first communication component for communicating with the at least one MCI.

4. The PV shutdown system according to claim 3 , wherein the MCI controller further comprises:

an upward communication component for communicating with an upper controller.

5. The PV shutdown system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one MCI further comprises:

a temperature sensor for detecting temperature of the switch component.

6. The PV shutdown system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one MCI further comprises:

an indicator for generating a sound and/or light signal when the at least one MCI malfunctions.

7. The PV shutdown system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one MCI further comprises:

an energy storage circuit, wherein the energy storage circuit is arranged to supply power to the slave controller, the switch check circuit, and/or the second communication component for a predetermined period of time after the MCI controller stops supplying power to the at least one MCI.

8. The PV shutdown system according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one MCI is arranged to detect working status of the at least one MCI and send a detection result to the MCI controller using power supplied by the energy storage circuit.

9. The PV shutdown system according to claim 1 , wherein the MCI controller is arranged to adjust a current supplied to the at least one MCI to maintain the current at a preset level.

10. A method for a photovoltaic (PV) shutdown system, comprising:

supplying power to a mid-circuit interrupter (MCI) by an MCI controller to turn on the MCI or stopping supplying power to the MCI to turn off the MCI;

in response to supplying power to the MCI or stopping supplying power to the MCI, waiting for a predetermined period of time; and

after the predetermined period of time elapses, sending an instruction to the MCI, the instruction directing the MCI to detect working status of the MCI, wherein the method further comprising:

after the MCI controller stops supplying power to the MCI, using an internal power supply at the MCI to detect temperature at the MCI.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

after the MCI receiving the instruction, detecting the working status of the MCI; and

transmitting a detection result to the MCI controller.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

after receiving the detection result from the MCI, determining whether the working status of the MCI matches the instruction.

13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

after the MCI controller stops supplying power to the MCI, using an internal power supply at the MCI to detect the working status of the MCI and send a detection result to the MCI controller.

14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

generating a sound signal and/or a light signal when the MCI malfunctions.

15. A photovoltaic (PV) power generation system, comprising:

a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) system;

a mid-circuit interrupter (MCI) with two terminals;

an MCI controller; and

a PV string, the PV string including a plurality of PV modules connected in series,

wherein the two terminals of the MCI are connected with the MCI controller, the MPPT system, and the PV string,

the MCI controller is arranged to turn on the MCI by providing supply power and turn off the MCI by terminating the supply power, and

the MCI is arranged to detect working status of the MCI after receiving an instruction from the MCI controller and transmit a detection result to the MCI controller.

16. The PV power generation system according to claim 15 , wherein the MCI comprises:

an energy storage circuit, wherein the energy storage circuit is arranged to supply power to the MCI after the MCI controller stops supplying power to the MCI.

17. The PV power generation system according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a warning system including:

a proximity sensor; and

a warning signal generator, wherein the warning signal generator generates a sound signal and/or a light signal when it is detected a person approaches one of the plurality of PV modules through the proximity sensor.