High-Voltage Photovoltaic Modules Without Galvanic Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Photovoltaic power plants face high costs due to expensive metallic cables and inefficient transformers, and they suffer from significant power losses and high current requirements in high-voltage electrical networks.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a photovoltaic power plant design with high-breakdown-voltage photovoltaic modules directly connected to inverters without galvanic isolation, reducing the cross-section area of cables and eliminating the need for transformers by using series-connected inverters and integrating an encapsulation layer with air-filled protrusions to enhance electrical insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If photovoltaic modules with low breakdown voltage are used, then the manufacturing cost is lower, but the system requires expensive metallic cables with large cross-section area to handle high currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter by using photovoltaic modules with high breakdown voltage (greater than or equal to 20 kV) instead of conventional low-voltage modules. This parameter change enables direct connection to high-voltage electrical networks without requiring large-cross-section metallic cables, thereby reducing cable metal usage by at least 20% while maintaining electrical strength requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical transformation system (transformer) with a direct electrical connection system. By using high-breakdown-voltage modules that can operate directly at high voltage, the mechanical transformer component is eliminated, substituting a purely electrical solution that reduces both equipment complexity and metallic material usage
2Loss of energy
If a transformer is used to connect the inverter to the high-voltage electrical network, then voltage transformation is achieved, but the system becomes more expensive and bulky with reduced power efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the transformer component from the photovoltaic power plant system. By using photovoltaic modules with breakdown voltage greater than or equal to 20 kV that can directly connect to high-voltage networks, the transformer is completely eliminated, reducing device complexity, removing bulky equipment, and eliminating associated energy losses while improving overall power efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses high-breakdown-voltage photovoltaic modules as an intermediary that enables direct connection between the inverter and high-voltage electrical network without requiring a transformer. These specialized modules act as the mediating element that bridges the voltage gap, allowing direct high-voltage operation and eliminating the need for intermediate transformation equipment
3Device complexity
If photovoltaic modules with high breakdown voltage are used, then direct connection to high-voltage network is possible, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter of photovoltaic modules from conventional low voltage to high breakdown voltage (≥20 kV). This parameter change simplifies the overall system configuration by enabling direct high-voltage connection, eliminating transformers and complex cable systems, which offsets the increased module manufacturing cost through reduced auxiliary equipment costs and installation complexity
4Reliability
If galvanic isolation is implemented between the network and photovoltaic modules, then safety is improved, but the system efficiency decreases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the galvanic isolation component from the system by using photovoltaic modules with breakdown voltage greater than or equal to 20 kV that can directly connect to high-voltage networks without isolation transformers or galvanic decoupling devices. This extraction maintains safety through the inherent high breakdown voltage protection while improving power efficiency and reducing system complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design decreases cable metal usage by at least 20% and improves power efficiency by reducing current flow and eliminating transformer losses, while maintaining or increasing breakdown voltage without increasing weight.
Implementation Method 1
integrating an encapsulation layer with air-filled protrusions to enhance electrical insulation
Implementation Method 2
Photovoltaic power plant comprises at least a first field of photovoltaic modules directly connected to a first inverter
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a photovoltaic plant intended to be linked to a single-phase or multiphase electrical network of which at least one effective voltage of a phase is greater than or equal to 3 kV. The photovoltaic plant comprises at least one first field of photovoltaic modules linked to a first inverter and a second field of photovoltaic modules linked to a second inverter, the first and second inverters being connected in series, the first inverter being linked to the electrical network, each photovoltaic module of the first field of photovoltaic modules having a breakdown voltage greater than or equal to 20 kV. There is no galvanic isolation between the network and the first and second fields of photovoltaic modules.