Mitigation of arc flash hazard in photovoltaic power plants
US9240682B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/56
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Arc flash mitigation devices are employed to protect personnel during maintenance of photovoltaic inverters. During normal operation, an alternating current (AC) output of a photovoltaic inverter is coupled to a low voltage winding of a step up transformer through a bus-bar (e.g., an electrically conductive interconnect), which has higher current rating than a fuse. During maintenance, the bus-bar is replaced with the fuse. The fuse may be employed in conjunction with a switch. The switch may be a disconnect switch that places the bus-bar in parallel with the fuse during normal operation, and decouples the bus-bar from the fuse during maintenance. The switch may also be a transfer switch that places either the bus-bar or the fuse in series with the AC output of the photovoltaic inverter and the low voltage winding of the step up transformer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.