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Title: System and method for design and optimization of grid connected photovoltaic power plant with multiple photovoltaic module technologies

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1244216
; ; ; ; ;

A system and method of using one or more DC-DC/DC-AC converters and/or alternative devices allows strings of multiple module technologies to coexist within the same PV power plant. A computing (optimization) framework estimates the percentage allocation of PV power plant capacity to selected PV module technologies. The framework and its supporting components considers irradiation, temperature, spectral profiles, cost and other practical constraints to achieve the lowest levelized cost of electricity, maximum output and minimum system cost. The system and method can function using any device enabling distributed maximum power point tracking at the module, string or combiner level.

Research Organization:
GE Global Research, Niskayuna, New York (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
EE0000572
Assignee:
General Electric Company (Niskayuna, NY)
Patent Number(s):
9,300,140
Application Number:
13/535,617
OSTI ID:
1244216
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2012 Jun 28
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (8)

Cascaded DC-DC converter connection of photovoltaic modules
  • Walker, G. R.; Sernia, P. C.
  • PESC 2002 - Power Electronics Specialists Conference, 2002 IEEE 33rd Annual IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference. Proceedings (Cat. No.02CH37289) https://doi.org/10.1109/PSEC.2002.1023842
conference January 2002
Intelligent PV Module for Grid-Connected PV Systems journal June 2006
Interleaved dc-dc Converters for Photovoltaic Modules conference May 2007
Highly efficient solar power systems patent August 2011
Multi-cellular photovoltaic panel system with DC-DC conversion replicated for groups of cells in series of each panel and photovoltaic panel structure patent October 2011
Photovoltaic DC/DC Micro-Converter patent-application January 2010
Power Shuffling Solar String Equalization System patent-application December 2012
Smart photovoltaic cells and modules patent-application March 2014

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