Patent ID: 8648497
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: H02M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for converting DC power from solar photovoltaic sources to AC polyphase power and comprising a plurality of DC-to-DC power converter sections and a DC-to-AC power converter section each having an input and an output and where photovoltaic sources are connected to inputs of the DC-to-DC power converter sections and where the outputs of all DC-to-DC power converter sections are connected in parallel at and to the input of the DC-to-AC power converter section and where each DC-to-DC power converter section seeks and tracks the maximum power point voltage of a photovoltaic source connected at the input of each DC-to-DC converter section and where the output current of each DC-to-DC converter section is regulated as a current source over a range of voltages set by the DC-to-AC converter section and where the output of the DC-to-AC converter section is connected to and sources power into a polyphase electric utility grid where a DC-to-DC power converter section is used based on a typical, non-isolated boost converter topology but with an added inductor and freewheeling diode to provide more continuous output current and is further described as having plus and minus input and output terminals where the minus input and output terminals are electrically common and where there is a capacitor across said input terminals and where one end of a first inductor is connected to the plus input terminal and the other end of the first inductor is connected to the anode of a first rectifier and to a first semiconductor switch and where the remaining side of the first semiconductor switch is connected to the minus input terminal and where the cathode of the first rectifier is connected to the cathode of a second rectifier and to one end of a second inductor and where the other end of the second inductor is connected to the positive output terminal and where the anode of the second rectifier is connected to the minus output terminal.