Advanced renewable energy harvesting

摘要

The power of DC electrical sources is combined onto a DC buss, such that each source behaves independently from any other source attached to the buss. In one embodiment, a converter module is attached to each of a plurality of solar photovoltaic panels and its output is attached in a parallel manner to a common buss that forms the input to a DC AC inverter. The converter module includes a Maximum Power Point Tracking component that matches the output impedance of the panels to the input impedance of the converter module. The converter also includes a communication component that provides parametric data and identification to a central inverter. Data generated by each converter module is transmitted over the power line or by wireless means and is collected at the inverter and forwarded to a data collection and reporting system.

主权项

1. A system for harvesting maximum power from a plurality of energy sources comprising:
a DC buss for transmitting DC to a load, wherein said DC buss operates at a DC buss voltage set by said load; a plurality of energy receiving components each configured for outputting direct current (DC) from energy received from at least one energy source independently from each other, wherein each energy receiving component from among said plurality of energy receiving components further comprises a converter component comprising:
a boost converter for upconverting said DC from said energy receiving component to said DC buss voltage; wherein each of said at least one converter component is connected to said DC buss in parallel with others of said at least one converter component; and wherein said boost converter in each respective converter component operates said converter component as an independent power producer by converting a variable DC voltage and current received from said energy receiving components to an output power at a voltage determined by the DC buss as set by the load.