| SMA SOLAR TECHNOLOGY AG Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20120126626 | DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM A PLURALITY OF STRINGS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES TO A POWER GRID - In a device for supplying electrical energy from a plurality of strings of photovoltaic modules to a power grid that includes a connection terminal for each string of the plurality of strings, wherein each connection terminal includes an over-current protection component including a power switch for selectively disconnecting the respective string. The device further includes a central insulation monitoring unit providing an insulation status of the entire plurality of strings, and the power switch of each over-current protection component includes an all-pole disconnecting power switch that can be opened and closed by a controller via a motor in response to the insulation status provided by the central insulation monitoring unit to select and selectively disconnect a string having an insulation failure. The device is further configured to supply electrical energy from the remaining strings of the plurality of strings having no insulation failure. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120113702 | DC/DC CONVERTER WITH AUXILIARY CONVERTER FOR EARTH CURRENT COMPENSATION - A DC/DC converter for converting an input DC voltage between input lines into an output DC voltage between output lines includes: an AC current forward path connected via switching electric components to at least one of the output lines and at least one of the output lines; an AC current backflow path connected via same electric connections to at least one of the input lines and at least one of the output lines; and an auxiliary converter for compensating a sum of currents flowing via all forward and backflow paths, the auxiliary converter connecting one end of an compensation current path via two pulsed switches alternately to two lines at one side, the other end of the compensation path being connected to at least one line at the other side of the converter. The input lines are galvanically separated from the output lines by capacitances in all current paths. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120112800 | Method of and Driver Circuit for Operating a Semiconductor Power Switch - To operate a semiconductor power switch having a control electrode and a reference electrode in response to first and second switching commands, a control voltage between a first electric pole and a second electric pole is provided. Upon each first switching command, the control electrode is coupled to the first electric pole, and the reference electrode is coupled to the second electric pole; and upon each second switching command, the control electrode is coupled to the second electric pole, and the reference electrode is coupled to the first electric pole. Upon each switching command, continuously transitioning an electric potential of the one of the control and reference electrodes during a first transition period, and continuously transitioning an electric potential of the respective other of the control and reference electrodes during a second transition period occurs, wherein the first transition period beginning before and ending after the second transition period. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120101751 | Evaluation Method - A method for determining a power reduction due to ageing of a photovoltaic module includes measuring a variable associated with a performance of the module in one or more time periods within a given year, each time period defining a class, and constructing curves of discrete values, each power curve constructed from the measured electric variable at a plurality of times of a day within each class, and the curves constructed for a plurality of years. The method includes determining energy values based on the constructed curves for at least one class for each of the plurality of years, and determining a power reduction of the photovoltaic module with respect to one or several previous years by calculating a difference between the energy output values of a given class in a particular year and the energy output values of the given class in a year previous to the particular year. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120081938 | DISCHARGING A CAPACITANCE PROVIDED AT THE OUTPUT OF AN INVERTER - A method and device to discharge a filter capacitance at the output of an inverter for feeding electrical power from a generation unit into a grid via a grid connect switch is disclosed. The grid connect switch has a generation unit side and a grid side, and via AC grid terminals on the grid side of the grid connect switch, the filter capacitance is connected to at least one of the AC grid terminals. A voltage applied across the filter capacitance is rectified independent of a polarity thereof, and a rectified voltage of a fixed polarity is provided, and a DC voltage link of a power supply unit for supplying power to circuitry of the inverter is charged with this rectified voltage. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120074953 | WIRING TESTING DEVICE - A wiring testing device configured to test the wiring correctness of an inverter is disclosed. The inverter is configured to be connected to a low-voltage three-phase system with a neutral conductor serving as a reference point for grid-side conductor voltages. The wiring testing device includes a test circuit configured to measure the grid-side conductor voltages and determine an average value from the sum of the instantaneous values of the grid-side conductor voltages, and a display unit configured to display an error message if the average value exceeds a threshold voltage for a defined time period. The wiring testing device further includes a capacitor connected between a phase of the three-phase system and the neutral conductor configured to generate a voltage imbalance if the neutral conductor connection is missing, wherein the test circuit is configured to measure the conductor voltages and determine the voltage imbalance. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120068687 | Method for Determining a Spatial Arrangement of Photovoltaic Module Groups in a Photovoltaic Installation - A method for determining a spatial arrangement of photovoltaic module groups in a photovoltaic installation includes measuring a sequence of values of an illumination-dependent electrical characteristic variable of different photovoltaic module groups while the photovoltaic installation is subject to light incidence with an incidence intensity which varies over time and spatially. The relative spatial arrangement of the photovoltaic module groups with respect to one another is then determined by comparing sequences of measured values associated with different photovoltaic module groups. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120039101 | Method of and Apparatus for Connecting a Photovoltaic Device to an AC Power Grid - A method of connecting a photovoltaic device to an AC power grid through an inverter includes monitoring a DC voltage at an input of an inverter, and activating the inverter when the monitored DC voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method further includes synchronizing an output voltage of the inverter with a grid voltage, connecting an output of the inverter to the AC power grid upon synchronization if the monitored DC voltage exceeds a second predetermined threshold, and deactivating the inverter if a detected power being fed through the inverter falls below a predetermined power threshold while maintaining the connection between the output of the inverter and the AC power grid. Lastly, the method includes disconnecting the output of the deactivated inverter from the grid if the monitored DC voltage falls below a third predetermined threshold. Further, an apparatus that performs such functionality is also provided. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120026660 | Anti-Theft Device for Inverters - Antitheft device for an inverter assembly including an inverter having a housing with a rear panel, a mounting plate to which the inverter is attached and a locking pin connected at one end to the mounting plate and extending through a hole in the rear panel of the inverter housing when the inverter is in a mounted position, wherein the locking pin includes an opening at the other end through which a U-lock can be inserted. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120026648 | DEVICE FOR HOLDING AT LEAST ONE SWITCH IN AN ENCLOSURE, E.G. A SWITCH CABINET - A device for holding at least one switch within an enclosure includes a frame configured to surround at least a portion of the switch. The frame includes a bridge portion extending along a back portion of the switch, and lateral arms extending along respective side portions of the switch. The lateral arms include fastening equipment configured to provide an adjustable retention of the switch in the enclosure. The device may be included in a switch cabinet. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120014020 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THE ISOLATION OF AN IT-GRID - For monitoring the isolation of an IT-grid with respect to ground, an inverter connecting a direct current side with an alternating current side of the IT-grid and a photovoltaic device on the direct current side of the IT-grid, at least one isolation resistance of the direct current side with respect to ground is monitored for falling below a resistance threshold value while the inverter is running, and additionally a leakage current via the inverter towards ground is monitored for exceeding a current threshold value. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120002450 | BIDIRECTIONAL INVERTER FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN A DIRECT CURRENT SOURCE AND AN ALTERNATING CURRENT GRID - A bidirectional inverter is disclosed, the inverter including DC terminals and being connectable to a grid via grid AC terminals. The inverter includes a first subinverter and a second subinverter, both subinverters being connected in parallel to the DC terminals, and being connected in parallel to the grid AC terminals by subinverter AC terminals. Each subinverter includes a full bridge and a switchable freewheel path, both being configured to drive current between the grid AC terminals in a driving direction, and configured to block a current between the grid AC terminals in a blocking direction opposite the driving direction. The driving direction of the first subinverter is the blocking direction of the second subinverter. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120001491 | Device and Method for Generating Alternating Current - A solar power plant includes at least one photovoltaic module for generating power to be fed in a multi-phase grid. At least one inverter is provided for converting a direct voltage generated by the at least one photovoltaic module into an alternating mains voltage. A mains transformer is coupled to receive the alternating mains voltage from the inverter. The inverter is coupled to a primary side of the mains transformer. A direct voltage source coupled between an output of the at least one inverter and an input of the mains transformer such that a potential of the at least one photovoltaic module is displaced and that a bias voltage is set which is different from zero volts. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20110308318 | INSOLATION SENSOR FOR SOLAR LIGHT INTENSITY - An insolation sensor is disclosed and is used to determine a solar light intensity as a basis for evaluating electric power generated by solar modules exposed to the solar light intensity. The insolation sensor includes an outer surface including a light entrance window, and at least one photo sensor configured to measure the solar light intensity. The at least one photo sensor is arranged behind the light entrance window. The insolation sensor further includes a detector device configured to detect precipitation and/or a resulting deposit on the surface which both affects the insolation sensor and the solar modules. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20110307199 | METHOD OF RECOGNIZING AND ASSESSING SHADOWING EVENTS - For recognizing shadowing events affecting a photovoltaic module, electric power produced by the module is recorded. For each position of the sun on a present day an expected value of the electric power is defined. Further, an ideal power course of the electric power over the present day is determined by fitting a curve that corresponds to cloudless sun without shadow casting obstacles to peak values of the electric power recorded for same positions of the sun during a plurality of previous days. For all positions of the sun at which the electric power produced on the present day falls short of the ideal power course a shadowing probability of not less than zero is defined whose magnitude depends on the level of accord of the electric power produced on the present day with the expected value at the position of the sun. | 12-15-2011 |
| 20110298292 | PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM FOR FEEDING THREE-PHASE CURRENT INTO A POWER GRID - The invention relates to a photovoltaic system for feeding three-phase current to a power grid that includes several monophase or three-phase photovoltaic inverters that can be connected to the power grid at the output end and are each fitted with a disconnecting device at the output end. The system includes several photovoltaic generators that are connected to the input end of the photovoltaic inverters. A central control and monitoring unit is connected between the photovoltaic inverters and the power grid. The control and monitoring unit has a grid monitoring device at the feeding point to the grid to measure one or more grid parameters. At least one communication link is provided between the individual photovoltaic inverters or the individual disconnecting devices and the connected central control and monitoring unit such that the connecting devices can disconnect the individual photovoltaic inverters from the power grid by means of a control instruction signal of the communication link. The central control and monitoring unit includes a load unbalance recognition component and a load unbalance regulation component, wherein the regulation includes limiting the power variation between the individual phases to a predetermined value. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110267863 | TRANSFORMERLESS INVERTER COMPRISING A DC/DC CONVERTER - A transformerless inverter that serves to feed electricity from a DC current source into an AC power grid, has an inverter bridge and a DC/DC converter connected upstream of the inverter bridge. The DC/DC converter converts an input DC voltage that is present between two input lines of the inverter into a DC link voltage present between two input lines of the inverter bridge. The inverter bridge converts the DC link voltage present at the input lines thereof into an output AC voltage. The DC/DC converter includes at least one resonant circuit that has a resonance inductance and a resonance capacitance and is connected on its input side via at least two clocked switches to one of the two input lines of the inverter or an intermediate potential line carrying a potential in between. The input lines of the inverter and the input lines of the inverter bridge are galvanically isolated from one another by a capacitive method. The resonant circuit may be undivided and is connected alternately to the two input lines of the inverter bridge. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110231159 | FORWARDING OPERATION DATA RELATED TO THE PRESENT OPERATION OF A PLURALITY OF INVERTER UNITS TO A MONITORING UNIT - For forwarding operation data related to the present operation of a plurality of inverter units which feed electric power from power generators into a power grid to a monitoring unit, the inverter units and a plurality of intermediate data handling units are connected to the central monitoring unit in a communication network of logical tree architecture. The tree architecture branches towards the inverter units, and several inverter units are connected to each intermediate unit. The operation data from each inverter unit are forwarded to that intermediate unit to which the inverter unit is connected; and, in each intermediate unit connected between the inverter units from which the operation data are forwarded and the monitoring unit, operation data of the same type forwarded from the inverter units connected to the intermediate unit are merged to reduce their data volume, and only the merged operation data are forwarded towards the monitoring unit. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110221269 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INVERTERS - A power generation system for feeding power from generators into an AC grid, the system comprising a plurality of inverters connected to corresponding ones of the generators, and connected to the AC grid is disclosed. The plurality of inverters forms part of a data network, wherein one of the inverters forms a communication unit for receiving feed-in parameters from a grid control system and for controlling the plurality of inverters via the data network such that the power generation system feeds power to the AC grid in accordance with the feed-in parameters. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110199792 | Converter Comprising at least one Normally on Semiconductor Switch - A converter for converting a DC input voltage includes two input lines receiving the DC input voltage; at least one normally off semiconductor switch which is not conductive without application of a control voltage to its gate and which is provided in one of the input lines. The converter also includes electric circuitry connected between the input lines and including at least one normally on semiconductor switch which is conductive without application of a control voltage to its gate; and a controller. In operation of the converter, the controller operates the at least one normally on semiconductor switch of the electric circuitry by temporarily applying a first control voltage to its gate; and permanently applies a second control voltage to the gate of the at least one normally off semiconductor switch in the one input line. Any normally on semiconductor switch of the electric circuitry is spatially separated and thus thermally isolated from any normally off semiconductor switch. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110197946 | Lightning Protection for Power Inverters - An inverter includes two input lines for connecting the inverter to an AC power source, a buffer capacitance effective between the input lines, a grounded potential equalization busbar, an isolation monitoring device monitoring the electrical isolation of one of the two input lines with regard to the potential equalization busbar, and an overvoltage eliminating device having at least one overvoltage eliminator for draining overvoltages from the input lines to the potential equalization busbar. The at least one overvoltage eliminator is connected between that input line, whose electric isolation with regard to the potential equalization busbar is monitored, and the potential equalization busbar, without any fuse being connected in series with the at least one overvoltage eliminator. Any overvoltage eliminator of the overvoltage eliminating device, which is connected between the other of the two input lines and the potential equalization busbar, if present, is connected in series with a fuse. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110069451 | Inverter with Electrical and Electronic Components Arranged in a Sealed Housing - An inverter ( | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110062962 | Topology Surveying a Series of Capacitors - A topology for surveying the integrity of a plurality of capacitors connected in series between a pair of bus lines arranged to be connected to a DC-power source comprises a plurality of resistors connected in series between the pair of bus lines, the plurality of resistors being connected in parallel to the plurality of capacitors; and a comparator comparing the electric potential of an intermediate point between two capacitors of the plurality of capacitors with the electric potential of an intermediate point between two resistors of the plurality of resistors. The comparator provides a signal signaling a difference between these two electric potentials, which indicates a loss of integrity of one capacitor of the plurality of capacitors. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110031813 | Method and Circuit Arrangement for Connecting at Least One String of a Photovoltaic System to an Inverter - A circuit arrangement in combination with a first string of series-connected solar modules separated into a first substring and a second substring is provided, wherein each substring includes a first terminal and a second terminal, and further in combination with a solar inverter configured to supply electrical energy from the solar modules to an AC power grid. The arrangement includes a first switch configured to selectively couple the first terminal of the first substring to a first power cable of the inverter, and a second switching circuit configured to selectively couple the second terminal of the first substring to a first terminal of the second substring at a center point, thereby coupling the first and second substrings to form the at least one string. The arrangement further includes a third switch configured to selectively couple the second terminal of the second substring to a second power cable of the inverter, and a shared actuator configured to open the first switch, the second switching circuit, and the third switch if a current between the center point and a circuit ground exceeds a threshold value. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20100226160 | Power Generation System and Inverter for Feeding Power Into a Three-Phase Grid - A power generation system for feeding electrical power from a generation unit into a three-phase grid via three AC terminals is disclosed. The system includes a relay arrangement for disconnecting the system from the grid having at least three relays. Each of the three relays includes a control coil and two switching contacts operated by the corresponding control coil. Each of the AC terminals is connectable to the grid via a first and a second switching contact, each of which is assigned to a different one of the relays. Further disclosed are a relay arrangement and an inverter with a relay arrangement. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100135054 | INVERTER FOR FEEDING ELECTRIC ENERGY INTO A POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM - An inverter ( | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100135051 | THREE-PHASE INVERTER FOR CONVERTING DC POWER FROM A GENERATOR INTO THREE-PHASE AC POWER - A three-phase inverter for converting DC power from a generator into three-phase AC power comprises a transformer for transforming two single phase alternating voltages with a fixed phase offset present at corresponding two primary windings into a three-phase alternating voltage present at secondary windings of the transformer. An inverter circuitry for receiving a direct voltage of the generator between two input lines and for supplying the two single phase alternating voltages to the two primary windings of the transformer is included in the three-phase inverter and comprises a split DC link having a center point connected to both input lines via corresponding capacitors and connected to a first terminal of each primary winding of the transformer, and two inverter half-bridges connected to both input lines, wherein a center point of each half bridge is connected to a second terminal of a corresponding one of the primary windings of the transformer. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100127576 | Determination of the load capability of a DC voltage source which is connectable to an electric power grid via an inverter and a grid disconnect switch - A method for determining a load capability of a direct current (“DC”) voltage source connectable to an alternating current (“AC”) power grid having a predetermined frequency via an inverter and a grid disconnect switch includes controlling, while the grid disconnect switch is in an open position, the inverter so as to convert a DC input voltage to a test frequency different than the predetermined frequency of the AC power grid so as to increase a test load acting on the DC voltage source above an internal consumption of the inverter at the predetermined frequency. The DC input voltage is measured while the grid disconnect switch is in the open position. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100124087 | POWER CONVERTER START-UP CIRCUIT - A power converter arrangement configured to convert a direct voltage into an alternating voltage to be supplied to a grid includes a photovoltaic generator configured to generate the direct voltage, a voltage intermediate circuit, a main power converter connected in series with a bypass switch, a maximum power point controller configured to set a maximum power point voltage, and at least one voltage-limited additional circuit configured to be active during a start-up phase of the photovoltaic generator. The at least one voltage-limited additional circuit and the main power converter are configured as a voltage divider in parallel with the photovoltaic generator. The at least one voltage-limited additional circuit is configured as a capacitive voltage divider having a first capacitor and an intermediate circuit capacitor connected in series. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100085788 | Device for Feeding Electric Energy Into A Power Grid And DC Converter For Such A Device - The device is for feeding electricity into a power grid ( | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100020576 | Power Converter Circuitry - A power converter circuitry for converting a DC voltage generated by a generator with varying output power in the mean voltage range into an alternating voltage for feeding into a grid, with several series-connected power converters, which are connected in parallel with said generator, as well as with a controllable bridging switch for each power converter, said bridging switch lying in a direct voltage intermediate circuit and bridging the respective power converter in the closed condition, is intended to be used for a photovoltaic generator. This is achieved in that a resistance chopper is connected between each power converter and the generator, no input diode being provided in the current path from the generator to the power converter, and that each bridging switch is connected in parallel with the resistance chopper in the direct voltage intermediate circuit. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100008107 | DC/DC CONVERTER - A direct current-direct current (DC/DC) converter operated in the resonant mode of operation for converting a direct input voltage into a direct output voltage with a bridge circuit located on the input side and incorporating switching elements, with a resonance circuit incorporating a resonance inductance and a resonance capacitance as well as with a high-frequency transformer for galvanic separation is disclosed, the transformer incorporates at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding with at least two winding terminals each. The alternating current (AC) output of the bridge circuit is connected to the primary winding and a rectifier bridge with diodes to the secondary winding. A voltage boosting circuit array is connected downstream of the resonant circuit in such a manner that at least one additionally controllable switching element is contained, which is connected in parallel or in series to at least one additional diode or to at least one diode of the rectifier bridge on the secondary side, this array being connected in parallel to the high-frequency transformer so that the additional switching element short-circuits the resonance circuit in a triggered condition so that energy is stored in the resonance inductance and is delivered in the non-triggered condition. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100008105 | DC/DC CONVERTER - The object of the invention is a high-efficiency DC/DC converter, in particular for photovoltaic plants, incorporating a transformerless DC/DC converter operated in the resonant mode of operation for converting a unipolar direct input voltage with an associated positive pole (+) and with a negative pole (−). There is imposed a resonance circuit incorporating at least one resonance inductance and at least one resonance capacitance, each resonance capacitance being connected to a respective one of the rectifier circuit arrangements in such a manner that the bipolar direct output voltage is provided, a voltage boosting circuit arrangement being connected to each resonance capacitance and to the rectifier circuit arrangement. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20090316457 | INVERTER - On an inverter for feeding power of a direct voltage source, in particular of a photovoltaic generator (PVG), into an alternating voltage mains (N), with an asymmetrically clocked bridge circuit with at least two first switches (S | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090316323 | CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT WITH A RELAY INCORPORATING ONE FIELD COIL AS WELL AS SWITCH CONTACTS - The invention is directed to a circuit array with a relay (K | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090315404 | SOLAR POWER PLANT - A solar power plant with a plurality of photovoltaic modules for generating a power to be fed in a multi-phase grid, several photovoltaic strings, which are allocated to different phases, being connected to a primary side of a mains transformer and at least one inverter for converting the direct voltage generated by the photovoltaic modules into an alternating mains voltage conforming to the grid being provided and said mains transformer being provided with a neutral conductor and with a grounded terminal, is intended to be improved in such a manner that the life of the photovoltaic modules, in particular in case of thin-film modules, is increased, allowing for high conversion efficiency of the inverters at low wiring costs. This is achieved in that an additional direct voltage source is inserted between the neutral conductor and ground in such a manner that the potential of the photovoltaic strings is displaced and that a bias voltage is set, which is different from zero volt. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090291594 | PHOTOVOLTAIC INVERTER - A photovoltaic inverter with an inverter housing includes at least a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a wall. The first chamber has a higher Ingress Protection (IP) rating than the second chamber. The first chamber accommodates at least one electronic component part of the photovoltaic inverter. A surface of the wall facing the second chamber provides a plurality of fuse housings. Each of the fuse housings accommodates a fuse and being coupled to a plug connector electrically connected to the fuse. The plug connectors provide electrical connections to the first chamber. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090244938 | Switching apparatus for grounding an inverter - A switching apparatus for grounding an inverter ( | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090244936 | Three-phase inverter - The present invention relates to a three-phase inverter ( | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090236917 | Method for activating a multi-string inverter for photovoltaic plants - A method of activating a Multi-String inverter for photovoltaic generators ( | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090201706 | Apparatus for feeding electrical energy into a power grid and DC voltage converter for such an apparatus - The apparatus for feeding electrical energy into a power grid ( | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090171597 | Evaluation method - The invention is directed to an evaluation method for determining a power reduction due to ageing of at least one photovoltaic module at constant radiation intensity with a measurement of an electric variable that may change after a period of time such as cell current, cell voltage and/or cell power, without additional sensors for measuring the radiation intensity, with the following steps
| 07-02-2009 |
| 20090103340 | Inverter, more specifically for photovoltaic plants - On an inverter ( | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090097172 | Load breaker arrangement - The subject matter of the present invention is a load breaker arrangement ( | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090046492 | Inverter - An inverter ( | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090046491 | Inverter - An inverter ( | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090034304 | Inverter for grounded direct current source, more specifically for a photovoltaic generator - An inverter ( | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090027037 | Method for detecting an isolated network - The subject matter of the invention is a method for detecting an isolated network for an inverter ( | 01-29-2009 |
