Photovoltaic cell module assembly for generator - has parallel connected modules formed of differing numbers of cells with diodes preventing reverse current flow from higher voltage modules

摘要

The photovoltaic array consists of three modules (1,2,3) formed of photovoltaic cells (4). In each of the modules the cells (4) are connected in series and the modules (1,2,3) are interconnected in parallel to supply a load connected to the output (5) of a system constituting the generator. The cells of each module have an equal area, but differ in number, and thus the voltage from each module (1,2,3) varies. The modules (1,2,3) for which the nominal voltage output is less than that of the other module (1) have a diode in series the cells (4) of those modules (2,3). The diode prevents the higher voltage module (1) from supplying current to the lower voltage modules (2,3). The arrangement allows the output for each module to be optimised by permitting the use of differing numbers of cells.