초록 ▼

An active bypass diode circuit that mitigates the hazard of arc flash events in a Photovoltaic (PV) solar power array, and a PV solar power module that utilizes a plurality of said active bypass circuits are disclosed The active bypass circuit comprises a diode, a switch in parallel with the diode,

An active bypass diode circuit that mitigates the hazard of arc flash events in a Photovoltaic (PV) solar power array, and a PV solar power module that utilizes a plurality of said active bypass circuits are disclosed The active bypass circuit comprises a diode, a switch in parallel with the diode, a control circuit for opening and closing the switch, a circuit for detecting arc flash events, a power management circuit, a power supply circuit, and a capacitor. When an arc flash event is detected, all the switches are closed concurrently, reducing the voltage produced by the PV string to a level that is too low the sustain the arc, and thereby terminating the arc.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An active bypass diode circuit for photovoltaic solar power modules comprising: a diode having anode and cathode terminals, for bypassing at least one photovoltaic cell in a solar power module;a switch coupled in parallel with the diode;a control circuit for opening and closing the switch;a detec

1. An active bypass diode circuit for photovoltaic solar power modules comprising: a diode having anode and cathode terminals, for bypassing at least one photovoltaic cell in a solar power module;a switch coupled in parallel with the diode;a control circuit for opening and closing the switch;a detection circuit for detecting a voltage transient across the diode;a power management circuit for determining when to open the switch after the voltage transient;a capacitor for storing energy; anda power supply circuit disposed to receive power from at least one photovoltaic cell in the solar power module, and provide power to at least the capacitor, the control circuit, and the power management circuit. 2. The active bypass diode circuit of claim 1, wherein the switch is selected from the group consisting of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, an isolated-gate bipolar transistor, and a junction field-effect transistor. 3. The active bypass diode circuit of claim 2, wherein the diode is an integral part of the switch. 4. The active bypass diode circuit of claim 1, including a means for closing the switch in response to the anode-to-cathode voltage being relatively greater than a first predetermined threshold, and opening the switch in response to the anode-to-cathode voltage being relatively lesser than a second predetermined threshold. 5. The active bypass diode circuit of claim 1, including a means for closing the switch in response to the detection circuit detecting the voltage transient. 6. The active bypass diode circuit of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit includes a means for determining when the anode-to-cathode voltage is relatively greater than a third predetermined threshold. 7. The active bypass diode circuit of claim 1, wherein the detection circuit includes a means for determining when the anode-to-cathode voltage changes at a rate that is relatively greater than a fourth predetermined threshold. 8. The active bypass diode circuit of claim 1, wherein the power management circuit comprises a timer circuit for determining when to open the switch after the voltage transient. 9. The active bypass diode circuit of claim 1, wherein the power management circuit comprises a means for determining when the voltage across the capacitor is relatively lesser than a fifth predetermined threshold. 10. A photovoltaic solar power module, comprising: a positive power terminal and a negative power terminal for coupling the photovoltaic solar power module to a solar power array;a plurality of photovoltaic subunits serially connected between the positive power terminal and the negative power terminal, each photovoltaic subunit comprising: a plurality of serially-connected photovoltaic cells for converting light into electricity,a diode having anode and cathode terminals, the diode coupled in parallel with the plurality of serially-connected photovoltaic cells,a switch coupled in parallel with the diode, anda control circuit for opening and closing the switch;at least one detection circuit for detecting a voltage transient across at least one of the diodes;a power management circuit for determining when to open the switches after the voltage transient;an capacitor for storing energy; anda power supply circuit disposed to receive power from at least one of the serially-connected photovoltaic cells, and provide power to at least the capacitor, the control circuits in the plurality of photovoltaic subunits, and the power management circuit. 11. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, wherein the switch is selected from the group consisting of a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, an isolated-gate bipolar transistor, and a junction field-effect transistor. 12. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 11, wherein the diode is an integral part of the switch. 13. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, wherein the each photovoltaic subunit includes a means for closing the switch in response to the anode-to-cathode voltage being relatively greater than a first predetermined threshold, and opening the switch in response to the anode-to-cathode voltage being relatively lesser than a second predetermined threshold. 14. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, including a means for closing the switch in each photovoltaic subunit in response to at least one detection circuit detecting the start of the voltage transient. 15. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, wherein at least one detection circuit includes a means for determining when the anode-to-cathode voltage in at least one photovoltaic subunit is relatively greater than a third predetermined threshold. 16. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, wherein at least one detection circuit includes a means for determining when the anode-to-cathode voltage in at least one photovoltaic subunit changes at a rate that is relatively greater than a fourth predetermined threshold. 17. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, wherein at least one detection circuit includes a means for determining when the voltage between the positive power terminal and the negative power terminal is relatively greater than a third predetermined threshold. 18. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, wherein at least one detection circuit includes a means for determining when the voltage between the positive power terminal and the negative power terminal changes at a rate that is relatively greater than a fourth predetermined threshold. 19. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, wherein the power management circuit comprises a timer circuit for determining when to open the switch in each photovoltaic subunit after the voltage transient. 20. The photovoltaic solar power module of claim 10, wherein the power management circuit comprises a means for determining when the voltage across the capacitor is relatively lesser than a fifth predetermined threshold. 21. An active bypass diode circuit for photovoltaic solar power modules, comprising: a diode having anode and cathode terminals, for bypassing at least one photovoltaic cell in a solar power module;a switch coupled in parallel with the diode;a detection circuit for detecting a voltage transient across the diode;a control circuit for operating the switch, the control circuit closing the switch in response to the voltage transient across the diode;a power management circuit for determining when to open the switch after the voltage transient;a capacitor for storing energy; anda power supply circuit disposed to receive power from at least one photovoltaic cell in the solar power module, and provide power to at least the capacitor, the control circuit, and the power management circuit.