Patent · US Active

Method of and apparatus for connecting a photovoltaic device to an AC power grid

US8482936B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

8References

24Claims

0Family size

Assignee

SMA Solar Technology AG · DE

Inventors

Andreas Falk · Kassel, DE
Joachim Laschinski · Berlin, DE
Oliver Arend · Kassel, DE
Peter Simon · New York, US
Wolfgang Reichenbaecher · Staufenberg, DE
Frank Greizer · Kaufungen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Oct 14, 2011
Grant date	Jul 9, 2013
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 14, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02E10/56
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

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 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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.