Photovoltaic String Wiring With Split Current Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic systems face challenges in designing and integrating photovoltaic power devices efficiently without incurring excessive wiring costs, often resulting in long, thick, and expensive cables.
Innovation Solution
A specialized wiring configuration for photovoltaic strings that divides the current into multiple portions, allowing for the use of thinner and cheaper cables by routing some current through photovoltaic generators and others through bypass paths, utilizing a circuit integrated with DC-DC converters, DC-AC inverters, or micro-inverters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional wiring configuration is used to connect photovoltaic power devices, then system reliability is maintained, but cabling costs increase and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single high-current path into multiple parallel current paths by dividing the photovoltaic string into subsets and connecting them through common rails. This segmentation allows each cable to carry lower current, enabling the use of thinner, cheaper cables while maintaining system reliability through redundant paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a two-dimensional wiring architecture with common rails arranged in different spatial dimensions (e.g., first and second common rails in different orientations). This dimensional approach allows current to flow through multiple spatial paths, reducing the current burden on any single cable and enabling cost-effective installation.
2Loss of energy
If thick cables are used to carry high current, then conduction losses are reduced, but cabling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the high current into multiple lower-current parallel paths through common rails, the patent reduces the current magnitude in each cable. This allows the use of thinner cables that are more cost-effective while maintaining acceptable conduction losses through the distributed parallel architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the current parameter distribution by transforming a single high-current path into multiple low-current paths. This parameter transformation allows the system to achieve acceptable energy loss performance with cheaper, thinner cables by altering how current is distributed across the wiring network.
3Productivity
If cables are pre-integrated during manufacturing, then installation speed increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-assembling and pre-wiring photovoltaic power devices with integrated cable connections during manufacturing. This preliminary wiring configuration establishes the multi-path current distribution architecture before field installation, enabling rapid deployment while the complexity is managed during the manufacturing process rather than during installation.
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 approach reduces conduction losses and cabling costs while maintaining high string efficiency, allowing for faster and easier installation by pre-integrating cables during manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a circuit may be utilized to reduce the cost of the system. For example, an illustrative PV power device may divide the current of a photovoltaic string into two or more portions, creating smaller current portions that allow for cables which may be thinner and cheaper
Data Source
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AI summary
Various implementations described herein are directed to employing photovoltaic strings including a photovoltaic power device with a specialized wiring configuration, which enables high string efficiency without incurring excessive wiring costs. Implementations may include a cable built into photovoltaic generators that carry one portion of the current, and other portions of the current may be carried by direct-current (DC) or alternating-current (AC) cables bypassing the photovoltaic generators.