Modular Solar Inverter with Integrated Liquid Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
High power solar inverters face challenges in cost-effective transportation, installation, and maintenance, and are often inadequate for hostile environments due to complex cooling systems and integration requirements.
Innovation Solution
A modular solar inverter design with a chassis housing a cooling module, DC module, inverter module, and AC module, featuring external disconnection switches and a fluid coolant system for efficient heat management, allowing for easy operation and maintenance without interior access, and enhanced safety and security in hostile conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid cooling is used for high power solar inverters, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cooling module directly with the inverter module, merging the power conversion function and cooling function into a single integrated unit. The cooling module includes a heat exchanger that is thermally coupled to the inverter module's heat-generating components, allowing cooling to be provided without requiring separate external cooling infrastructure. This integration reduces overall system complexity while maintaining effective cooling for high power inverters.
2Ease of operation
If external disconnection switches are provided on the chassis, then ease of operation and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces external disconnection switches as intermediary components mounted on the chassis exterior. These switches serve as mediators between the operator and the internal electrical circuits, allowing safe disconnection of DC and AC modules without requiring direct access to internal components. The switches are strategically positioned on the chassis to provide ergonomic operation while maintaining electrical isolation, thus improving safety and ease of operation with minimal added complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If modular design is implemented, then ease of transportation and maintenance are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the solar inverter into distinct modular units: a DC module, an inverter module with integrated cooling, and an AC module. Each module is designed as a self-contained unit with its own housing and connection interfaces. The inverter module serves as the central unit that receives the DC module and AC module in a snap-fit manner, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly. This segmentation enables independent transportation, installation, and maintenance of individual modules, reducing overall system handling complexity despite the modular structure.
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
The modular design simplifies transportation, installation, and maintenance while providing effective cooling and safety in harsh environments, reducing costs and improving performance for high power solar inverters.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling liquid is directed around heat producing parts of the inverter and the liquid is heated, thereby extracting heat from the inverter circuitry
Implementation Method 2
The cooling module is configured to pump a fluid coolant around the solar inverter in order to cool one or more elements of the DC module, the inverter module and/or the AC module
Data Source
AI summary
A solar inverter is provided having a cooling module, a DC module, an inverter module and an AC module provided side-by-side within a chassis. The DC module includes an input accessible from a first side of the chassis and a disconnection switch on a second side of the chassis, with the input being configured to be connected to a DC solar power source. The AC module includes an output accessible from the first side of the chassis and a disconnection switch provided on the second side of the chassis. The cooling module is configured to pump a liquid coolant around the solar inverter in order to cool elements of the DC module, the inverter module and/or the AC module.