IMPLEMENTATION OF FIRE SAFETY SHUTDOWN FOR SOLAR PANELS WITH HIGH RELIABILITY

摘要

System and method for restricting output power from multiple serially coupled DC power sources, such as a solar cell array, controlled by power balancing circuitry, thereby enabling power restriction in the event of an emergency. Output bypass circuitry allows the output voltage to be selectively restricted, and though power for switching between states would be needed, use of bi-stable bypass circuitry would avoid a need for power to remain in a state of bypass operation. Additionally, with the serially coupled DC power sources controlled by power balancing circuitry, use of solid-state current switching elements ensures continued output power restriction due to the clamping action of the body diodes upon the output voltage.

主权项

1. An apparatus including circuitry for restricting output power from a DC power source, comprising:
a plurality of electrodes, including power and ground electrodes and one or more intermediate electrodes between said power and ground electrodes, for conveying voltage and current from a plurality of serially coupled DC power sources via said power and ground electrodes; current switching circuitry coupled between said power and ground electrodes and to said one or more intermediate electrodes; and output switching circuitry coupled between said power and ground electrodes and responsive to at least one power control signal by switching between high and low impedance states providing high and low impedance current paths, respectively, between said power and ground electrodes.