Passive unipolar referencing for non-isolated inverters
US9287802B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 2012 |
| Grant date | Mar 15, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/56
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Systems and methods for referencing a photovoltaic array are disclosed. An exemplary method includes converting DC power with an inverter from a photovoltaic array to AC power at a line frequency and placing the entire photovoltaic array above ground potential or below ground potential. The AC power is transformed with a transformer and an integrity-check signal is generated to vary a voltage of the photovoltaic array to perform an integrity check. A star point of the transformer is pinned to ground at the line frequency so the integrity-check signal is applied to the DC-side of the inverter and a limited level of fault current is allowed to flow from ground to the star point of the transformer to facilitate a detection of ground faults.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.