WO2009033676A2

WO2009033676A2 - Connection module, accumulator module, and assembly formed thereof for a pre-accumulator of a photovoltaic system

Info

Publication number: WO2009033676A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/007468
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Wimmer
Original assignee: Hawi Energietechnik Ag
Priority date: 2007-09-11
Filing date: 2008-09-11
Publication date: 2009-03-19
Also published as: WO2009033676A3; EP2037537A1; EP2191539A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection module (12) for a pre-accumulator (10) of a photovoltaic system having the following characteristics: a terminal (16) for connecting a power line of a photovoltaic surface element thereto, at least one electric component (30a, 30b) connected to the terminal (16) in an electrically conductive manner, a housing (20) surrounding the at least one electric component (30a, 30b) and being configured in the shape of a plate such that the extension of the housing (20) is lower many times in a thickness direction than an extension of the housing (20) in a direction transversely thereto, and an electric line (32) between the terminal and a connection element (34) for the electrically conductive connection of the connection module (12) to a further module (12, 14).

Description

Connection module, current collection module and assembly formed therefrom for a pre-collector of a photovoltaic system

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a connection module and a current collecting module for a pre-collector of a photovoltaic system and an assembly for combining the current of individual photovoltaic surface elements.

Photovoltaic surface elements or photovoltaic modules of photovoltaic systems supply the power generated by them via respective so-called string lines. The strands of the individual photovoltaic surface elements are usually combined by means of so-called pre-collector to a manifold. Several collection lines are bundled by so-called group collectors. Each of the group collectors is followed by a photovoltaic inverter. The photovoltaic inverter feeds the electricity generated by the photovoltaic system into a power grid, for example, the public power grid.

The Vorsammler usually have an evaluation for diagnostics of the operation of the photovoltaic surface elements. For this purpose, the entire evaluation of the precollector is arranged on a single board. Often the problem arises that the collector indicates a malfunction of a single photovoltaic panel. For the user, however, it may not be clear whether the photoelectric surface element is actually the cause of the malfunction or whether instead the associated evaluation electronics is faulty. In order to clarify this, a complex error analysis is usually necessary. Underlying task

It is an object of the invention to solve the aforementioned problems and in particular to provide a pre-collector for a photovoltaic system, with the error analysis in the operation of the photovoltaic system is facilitated.

Inventive solution

The object is achieved according to the invention with a connection module for a pre-collector of a photovoltaic system according to claim 1, a current collection module for a pre-collector, a photovoltaic system according to claim 9 and a construction group ^¬ group according to claim 13. Advantageous embodiments of the solution according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The object is achieved according to the invention with a connection module for a pre ^¬ collector of a photovoltaic system. The connection module according to the invention comprises: a connection terminal for connecting a power line of a photovoltaic surface element, at least one electrical component conductively connected to the connection terminal, a housing which encloses the at least one electrical component and is plate-shaped such that the extent of the housing in a thickness direction is several times smaller than an extension of the housing in a direction transverse thereto, and an electrical line connection between the terminal ^¬ terminal and a connecting element for electrically conductive connection of the connection module with another module.

In an advantageous embodiment, the extent of the housing in the thickness direction is at least three times, in particular five times smaller than the extent of the housing in a direction transverse thereto. The aforementioned object is also achieved with a current collecting module for a pre-collector of a photovoltaic system. The current collecting module according to the invention comprises: a collecting terminal for connecting thereto a collecting line for guiding the total current of a plurality of the aforementioned connection modules, an electrical line connection between the collecting terminal and a connecting element for electrically conductive connection of the current collecting module with one of the connection modules, and a housing, which at least the line connection encloses and is plate-shaped such that the expansion of the housing in a thickness direction is several times less than an extension of the housing in a direction transverse thereto.

According to the invention, an assembly, in particular a pre-collector for bringing together the flow of individual photovoltaic surface elements is further provided. The module according to the invention comprises at least two of the aforementioned connection modules and one of the aforementioned current collection modules. In other words, the invention proposes in particular a modular construction of a pre-collector of a photovoltaic system.

The connection module according to the invention as well as the current collecting module according to the invention make it possible to create an assembly in the form of a pre-collector with which a fault analysis of the photovoltaic system is facilitated. The fact that the collector is made up of individual modules which are each connected to only a single or a few photovoltaic surface elements makes it easier to diagnose faults when a photovoltaic surface element malfunctions. To diagnose whether the cause of the fault is actually to be found in the photovoltaic surface elements or rather in the pre-collector, it is also possible under some circumstances for the connection module connected to the corresponding photovoltaic surface element to be easily replaced. If the malfunction of the photovoltaic surface element occurs even if the connection module is replaced, this can result Inferred that the malfunction is actually due to the photovoltaic surface element.

In an advantageous embodiment according to the invention, the connection element is designed as a part that can be attached to the connection module or the collection module, which part can be attached to an electrical contact in an advantageous manner on the respective module. This is an assembly of individual connection modules such that the electrically conductive connection between the modules is made possible without much effort. Alternatively, the connection element is advantageously designed as part of the connection module or of the collection module, in particular an integral part of the housing. The connection modules can be embodied such that they can be connected to one another by means of a plug connection directly or via the connection elements, which are preferably designed as a bridge connecting two modules, wherein the connecting element forms the electrically conductive connection when the connection modules are plugged together produces automatically. It is furthermore advantageous if the housing has an electrical contact point which is electrically conductively connected to the connection terminal or the collective terminal and to which a connection element of a further connection module can be electrically conductively connected. The ability to mount the connection modules together is thus also facilitated.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one electrical component comprises evaluation electronics which are designed to evaluate the characteristic of the current entering via the connection terminal and to generate a measuring current characterizing this characteristic. The transmitter is advantageously designed to determine the proper function of the photovoltaic surface element from the characteristic of the incoming current. Furthermore, the evaluation electronics can be set up to provide a measured value for an evaluation of the yield with regard to the quantity of the current produced by the photovoltaic surface element. From the measured characteristic of the incoming current, the proper functionality of the photovoltaic surface element to be checked or an error analysis to be made.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the evaluation electronics are coupled to the connecting element such that the measuring current can be passed on via a measuring current line. The measuring current line thus enables the central readout of the measurement currents generated in the individual connection modules, each of which characterizes a photovoltaic surface element assigned to the individual connection module.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the housing has a channel for guiding at least one measuring current line, via which the measuring current can be passed on. In an advantageous embodiment, the measuring current line is designed as a ribbon cable. The channel can thus be made correspondingly flat in cross section. By providing a separate measuring current line, the measuring current signals can be effectively shielded from the main current and thus read out with a correspondingly high accuracy.

Further, it is advantageous if the terminal and / or the electrical line connection is also enclosed by the housing / is. This reduces, for example, the risk of a short circuit between individual connection modules.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one electrical component comprises an overcurrent protection device or a current fuse and / or a device for preventing reverse currents, in particular a diode. Providing an overcurrent protection device in each of the connection modules ensures that when such an overcurrent occurs, only the power supply of a single connection module is interrupted and the remaining connection modules continue to be able to supply current properly. The means for preventing reverse currents may include, for example, a semiconductor diode or a tube diode.

As mentioned, it is furthermore advantageous if the connecting element is designed as a bridge element which merely establishes a connection to a single further module, in particular an adjacent module. In this case, assembling the individual connection modules is particularly easy.

In a further advantageous embodiment according to the invention, the current collecting module has a measuring device arranged in the housing, which is designed to measure the total current and to generate a measuring current characterizing the current intensity of the total current. This measuring device enables an evaluation of the yield of the photovoltaic system at the collector level. Advantageously, the housing of the current collecting module in this embodiment is twice as thick as the associated terminal modules. It is also advantageous if the housing also surrounds the collecting terminal.

In an advantageous embodiment of the assembly according to the invention, the modules are arranged side by side in such a way that the plate surfaces or large-area sides of the housing adjoin one another. In other words, the modules are cascaded side by side so that the assembly forms a composite and optionally continuous elongated body, the individual modules being "slices" of this elongated body.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the connecting elements of modules arranged next to one another are arranged offset to one another in a direction along the plate surfaces. This makes it possible to put the modules in Thickness particularly thin form, since the respective modules associated connecting elements are not mutually in the way.

As an alternative to bridge-shaped connecting elements, it is also advantageous if the connecting elements of the individual modules together form an integral cross member, which produces an electrically conductive connection between the current collecting module and the individual connection modules. In this embodiment, the electrical connection between all the modules is particularly fast to manufacture and separate again.

Brief description of the drawings

Hereinafter, embodiments of an assembly according to the invention in the form of a pre-collector will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached schematic drawings. It shows:

1 is a three-dimensional representation of an embodiment according to the invention of an assembly in the form of a pre-collector with a plurality of connection modules and a current collection module,

2 shows the section II - II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows the section IM - III in Fig. 1 and

4 shows the section IV - IV in Fig. 1st

Detailed description of the advantageous embodiment

A presently modular designed assembly 10 forms a pre-collector for a photovoltaic system, which serves to string lines 11 individual (not shown) photovoltaic surface elements to a manifold 13 together to be supplied. Several buses 13 are bundled by what are commonly called group collectors (not shown). To the group collectors, a photovoltaic inverter (not shown) can connect. The photovoltaic inverter is usually connected directly to a power supply (not shown).

The assembly 10 has a plurality of connection modules 12 and a current collection module 14. The connection modules 12 each have two connection terminals 16 for connecting thereto a strand line 11 or a strand of a photovoltaic surface element. The connection modules 12 can also be designed with only one connection terminal 16 each. In the illustration of FIG. 1, the terminals 16 are not directly visible. The connection terminals 16 are located within a respective housing 20 of the connection modules 12 directly below respective connection openings or bores 26 for insertion of a connection tool (in the present case in the form of a screwdriver) in the housings 20.

Fig. 2 shows the current collecting module 14 of the assembly 10 in a state in which a side part of a housing 22 of the current collecting module 14 is removed. The housing 22 of the current collecting module 14 has a collecting terminal 18 with a connection opening or bore 24, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the connecting terminals 16. The collecting terminal 18 serves to connect the collecting line 13 thereto. The collecting line 13 in turn serves to guide the Total current of several connection modules 12. The connection terminals 16 of the connection modules 12 are designed analogously to the collective terminal 18, only smaller dimensions.

The respective housings 20 and 22 of the connection modules 12 and the current collecting module 14 are plate-shaped, wherein the extension of the housings in the thickness direction of these "plates" is several times smaller than the extent transverse thereto. The housings 20 and 22 are designed such that the modules 12 and 14 with their large-area sides or plate surfaces adjacent to each other can be arranged side by side, as shown in Fig. 1. The resulting assembly 10 then forms a composite and presently contiguous elongate body.

The housings 20 of the connection modules 12 each enclose an electronic unit 28. The electronics 28 comprise a plurality of components and, as shown by way of example in FIG. 4, an electrical component 30a in the form of an overcurrent protection device and / or an electrical component 30b in the form of a diode exhibit. In the present case, the electronics 28 also comprise evaluation electronics which are designed to evaluate the characteristic of the current entering via the connection terminal 16 and to generate a measuring current characterizing the characteristic.

The electronics 28 are each arranged in a rear part of the housing 20 according to FIG. 1 or a left-hand part in the illustration according to FIG. 4. The location of the arrangement of the electronics 28 in the housing 20 of the connection modules 12 is analogous to the location of the arrangement of a measuring device 29 in the housing 22 of the current collecting module 14 (see Fig. 2) configured.

The housings 20 and 22 also each have a channel 33 for guiding an electrical line 32 or a plurality of electrical lines 32, which connect the terminals 16 and 18 to the electronics 28 and the measuring device 29, respectively. In this case, the electrical leads 32 are inserted into the channel 33, in particular in the form of stamped sheet metal, which is recessed in the housing 20 or 22 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the connection module 12 and the current collecting modules 14 (which are thus designed in the form of a plate) lie next to each other when arranged as an assembly 10 in the form of a series or stratification and thereby with their large-area sides or Plate surfaces together at. The individual modules 12 and 14 are connected by means of electrical connecting elements 34 in the form of bridges (see Fig. 1, in Fig. 3, these bridges are not shown) connected to each other such that in operation via these connecting elements 34 of the connection modules 12 on the Terminals 16 provided electrical power to the current collection module 14 can be passed. For this purpose, the connecting elements 34 each have two connection plug contacts which are not further illustrated, one of which is plugged into a single current collecting module 14 or connection module 12 and electrically connected to contacts 36 (see FIG. 3) in the individual modules 12 and 14, respectively is contacted.

The individual modules 12 and 14 furthermore each have a channel 38 extending transversely through the associated plate-shaped housing 20 or 22 for a measuring current line 40 (see FIG. 3). The measuring current line 40 leads through all modules 12 and 14 as an additional component and is contacted to the individual module 12 or 14 by means of a stamped-clamp connection (not shown). During operation, a measuring current can be passed on to a not further illustrated evaluation device for the associated photovoltaic system via the measuring current line 40.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 module

11 string line

12 connection module

13 manifold

14 current collecting module

16 connection terminal

18 terminal

20 housing

22 housing

24 connection hole

26 connection hole

28 transmitter

29 measuring equipment

30a electrical component

30b electrical component

32 electrical line

33 channel for electric cable

34 connecting element

36 contact

38 channel for measuring current line

40 measuring current line

Claims

claims

1. connection module (12) for a pre-collector (10) of a photovoltaic system with:

a connection terminal (16) for connecting thereto a power line of a photovoltaic surface element,

- At least one with the terminal (16) electrically conductively connected electrical component (30 a, 30 b), - a housing (20) which surrounds the at least one electrical component (30 a, 30 b) and is formed plate-shaped, that the extension of the housing (20) in a thickness direction is several times smaller than an extension of the housing (20) in a direction across it, as well as

- An electrical line (32) between the terminal and a connection element (34) for electrically conductive connection of the connection module

(12) with a further module (12, 14).

2. Connection module according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element (34) is designed as an attachable to the terminal module (12) part.

3. Connection module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the housing (20) with the terminal (16) electrically conductively connected electrical contact (36), to which a connecting element (34) of another connection module (12) electrically conductive can be coupled, in particular can be plugged.

4. Connection module according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the connecting element (34) is designed as a bridge, which merely establishes a connection to a single further module (12, 14).

5. Connection module according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one electrical component (30a, 30b) comprises an evaluation, which is designed to evaluate the characteristic of the incoming terminal via the terminal (16) current and a characteristic to generate a characteristic measuring current.

6. Connection module according to claim 5, characterized in that the transmitter is so coupled to a measuring current line (40), that the measuring current via the measuring current line (40) to another module (12, 14) can be passed.

7. Connection module according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the housing (20) has a channel (38) for guiding at least one measuring current line (40), via which the measuring current can be passed.

8. Connection module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one electrical component (30a, 30b) comprises an overcurrent protection device and / or a device for preventing reverse currents, in particular a diode.

9. current collecting module (14) for a pre-collector of a photovoltaic system with:

- a collecting terminal (18) for connecting thereto a collecting line for guiding the total current of a plurality of connection modules (12) according to one of the preceding claims,

- An electrical line (32) between the collecting terminal (18) and a connecting element (34) for electrically conductive connection of Stromomsammeimoduls (14) with one of the connection modules (12), and - a housing (22), which at least the conduit (32 ) and is formed plate-shaped, that the expansion of the housing (22) in one Thickness direction is several times less than an extension of the housing (22) in a direction transverse thereto.

10. current collecting module according to claim 9, characterized in that the connecting element (34) is designed as a on the current collecting module (14) attachable part.

11. current collecting module according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the connecting element (34) is designed as a bridge, which merely connects to a single further connection module (14).

12. Current collecting module according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by a in the housing (22) arranged measuring device (29) which is adapted to measure the total current and to generate a current strength of the total current measuring current.

13. current collecting module according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the housing (22) has a channel (38) for guiding at least one measuring current line (40) through which the measuring current can be passed.

14 assembly (10), in particular pre-collector, for merging the flow of individual photovoltaic surface elements with at least two connection modules (12) according to one of claims 1 to 8, and a current collection module (14) according to any one of claims 9 to 12.

15. An assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the modules (12, 14) plate-shaped housing (20, 22) which are arranged side by side such that their large-scale sides adjacent to each other.

16. An assembly according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the connecting elements (34) arranged side by side

Modules (12, 14) are arranged side by side in the direction of the large-area sides.