Photovoltaic Panel Segmented Strings for Power Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic plants experience a significant decrease in effective power delivery due to temperature increases and aging, leading to voltage and current losses, which affects overall efficiency and requires more panels to maintain peak performance.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a photovoltaic panel design where individual strings are not connected in series, allowing for independent connection of input and output cables, enabling a peak power booster configuration that raises voltage and current, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing the number of panels needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional photovoltaic panels connect strings in series, then voltage is increased, but effective power decreases at high temperatures due to voltage drop and current loss
Solution Approach 1:
The photovoltaic panel is divided into multiple independent strings that are not connected in series within the same panel. Each string has its own free positive and negative terminals, allowing independent connection to cables. This segmentation prevents cumulative voltage drop and current loss that occurs in traditional series-connected panels, especially at high temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary configuration where each string's output is independently connected to the load or inverter through separate cable connections. This intermediary approach allows voltage and current to be restored along transmission lines by tapping from different strings, compensating for losses in each individual string.
2Power
If more panels are installed to maintain peak power, then power output is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the panel into independent strings with independent cable connections, the system can more efficiently utilize the output of each string. This allows the existing panel infrastructure to deliver peak power without requiring additional panels, as losses are minimized and voltage/current can be restored along transmission lines.
3Ease of manufacture
If series connections are used in existing panels, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different voltage requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is manufactured with segmented, independent strings that are not series-connected within the panel. Each string maintains free terminals that can be independently connected to cables with different specifications. This segmentation provides adaptability to various voltage and current requirements while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple, as it mainly involves creating separate string connections rather than complex series interconnections.
Solution Approach 2:
The independent string configuration makes each panel more universal and adaptable to different system requirements. The same panel can be configured to work with different cable specifications, voltage requirements, and load conditions by selectively connecting the free terminals of individual strings, eliminating the need for multiple specialized panel types.
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 effectively boosts peak power output, maintains efficiency at high temperatures, and allows for faster inverter startup, reducing the need for additional panels and extending the life of existing plants by optimizing voltage and current distribution.
Implementation Method 1
A photovoltaic cell performs a direct conversion of electromagnetic radiation energy of light through photovoltaic effect, i.e. the appearance of an electric potential difference across it when it, in an unpolarized state, is exposed to the interaction with electromagnetic radiation of light, particularly sunlight.
Data Source
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Figure 7~8
AI summary
Photovoltaic panel (1) including a plurality of strings (11; ...; 16) including photovoltaic cells (31; ...; 310) electrically connected in series with each other through connecting busbars (7); each one of which strings has two poles, respectively a positive (+) one and a negative (-) one, respectively provided by free terminals of said busbars by opposite parts on said strings and including insertion means (9) for cables for the electric connection of the panel to utilizing devices. Each one of the strings is electrically disconnected from the other strings. The insertion means (9) for input and output connection cables provide a connection (111, 112; ...; 161, 162) with each one of the poles of each one of said strings; the strings may be electrically connected to loads independently of each other.