Abstract:
A device safely switches a photovoltaic system and has a circuit breaker with input terminals and output terminals. The circuit breaker is configured as a switching module that includes a module housing and a switch contact arranged inside the housing for isolating at least one current path between one of the input terminals and one of the output terminals. A modular current sensor is provided which is to be mounted on the module housing of the circuit breaker.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation application, under 35 U.S.C. §120, of copending international application No. PCT/EP2013/002034, filed Jul. 11, 2013, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German patent application No. DE 20 2012 007 257.9, filed Jul. 26, 2012; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The invention relates to an apparatus for the safe switching of a photovoltaic system (PV system) that contains an isolating switch having input connectors for connecting to a number of mutually connected photovoltaic modules (PV modules) and the isolating switch having output connectors for connecting an inverter. 
         [0003]    Published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 10 2011 008 140 A1 (corresponding to U.S. patent publication No. 2013/0170084) discloses a method and an apparatus for the safe switching of a photovoltaic system in the event of an electric arc occurring on the direct current side. The known apparatus contains an inverter and an electric arc sensor that is connected to a control unit for power guidance and is positioned on the direct current-side of the inverter. In the event of an electric arc being detected by a sensor, the control unit initiates an adjustment of the power guidance. In the case of the electric arc being classified as a series electric arc the control unit initiates a direct current-side isolation by an isolating switch that is connected in series upstream of the transformer and in the case of the electric arc being classified as a parallel electric arc the control unit initiates a direct current-side short circuit of the transformer by a short circuit switch that is connected in parallel to the transformer. 
         [0004]    Published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 10 2009 022 508 A1 (corresponding to U.S. patent publication No. 2010/0326809) discloses a switching system for a photovoltaic system. A switching mechanism, for opening contact points, and also a bypass are provided in the supply lines that are routed to two connectors, the bypass being arranged between the two connectors and upstream of the switching mechanism and the bypass itself containing a switching mechanism for closing contact points. The switching mechanisms are coupled to one another in such a manner that as the switching system is actuated initially the contact points of the switching mechanism in the two supply lines are opened and subsequently the contact points of the switching mechanism in the bypass are closed with a time delay. The known switching system is used in particular during operations of a fire brigade for the purpose of switching the photovoltaic system to zero current or a de-energized state in order to prevent injury as a result of electric shocks or electric arcs in the event of extinguishing agents being used. 
         [0005]    It is known from published, European patent application EP 2 315 328 A2 (corresponding to U.S. patent publication No. 2011/0090607) to provide a protective device in each of a number of strings having series-connected photovoltaic modules of a photovoltaic system both in the positive current path and also in the negative current path and the protective device contains an over current protector, an arc fault protector, a reverse current protector and/or a ground fault protector. 
         [0006]    International patent disclosure WO 2005/098458 A1 discloses a current sensor for detecting current changes that have a particularly steep rising edge and the current sensor contains a ferro-magnetic coupling element and a sensor winding, which surrounds the coupling element with a number of secondary windings, and also an exciter winding that is conveying current. The known current sensor is used to detect current changes that occur as a result of electric arc faults. 
         [0007]    In order to evaluate rapid current changes as a result of electric arc faults, it is known from published, non-prosecuted German patent application DE 10 2007 013 712 A1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,834,614) to generate a time-differentiated sensor signal, which has a sensor-dependent frequency band width, using in turn a current sensor from a sensor winding and an exciter winding that is wound with the sensor winding around a common coupling element. An evaluation signal that is generated from the sensor signal is compared with a threshold value, wherein a standardized signal is generated and the pulse duration of the standardized signal is extended to a predetermined time value. 
         [0008]    German utility model DE 20 2009 004 198 U1 discloses an isolating device for interrupting the direct current supply between a photovoltaic generator and an inverter. The isolating device contains a current-conveying mechanical switch and a semi-conductor electronic unit that is connected in parallel thereto. In the event of the mechanical switch opening as a result of an electric arc fault, the electric arc voltage that is generated by way of the switch switches the semi-conductor electronic unit to conduct current, the semi-conductor electronic unit does not conduct current when the mechanical switch is closed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The object of the invention is to provide a particularly suitable apparatus for the safe switching of a photovoltaic system. 
         [0010]    The apparatus in accordance with the invention contains an isolating switch having input connectors for connecting to a number of mutually connected photovoltaic modules of a photovoltaic system and having output connectors for connecting in particular to an inverter. The isolating switch is embodied as a switching module and contains a module housing having within the housing at least one switching contact for interrupting the current path between one of the input connectors and one of the output connectors. Furthermore, a modular current sensor is provided that is configured so as to be mounted on the module housing of the isolating switch. The current sensor can be arranged both in the positive current path and also in the negative current path. 
         [0011]    The current sensor is preferably provided and configured so as to detect in a contact-free or galvanic manner the current that is flowing along the current path. It is particularly preferred that the current sensor is a so-called direct-display current sensor having an annular core and a measuring winding or a Hall sensor. An essential element of the current sensor is the annular core. The annular core can be embodied in accordance with a type of Rogowski coil, in particular for detecting the rate of current change (di/dt) or as a ferro-magnetic annular core or as a slotted annular core that has an air gap for the Hall sensor. The Hall sensor or a measuring winding around the annular core or around part of the annular core is used to pick up an induced current or rapid current changes, such as are generated by way of example as a result of electric arc faults in the corresponding current path of the isolating switch. 
         [0012]    The current sensor contains a sensor housing having a through-going opening and the current sensor or rather the annular core of the current sensor is arranged in relation to the through-going opening within the housing in a coaxial manner. In other words, the current sensor or rather the annular core of the current sensor is arranged within the housing in the region of the through-going opening in such a manner that the through-going opening and the opening of the current sensor or rather the annular core of the current sensor are in alignment with one another. 
         [0013]    This embodiment of the current sensor renders it possible to attach or mount the current sensor on the isolating switch in a simple manner such that a cable that is conveying the current that is to be detected can be routed through the through-going opening in the sensor housing and the annular core directly, in other words without any bends and without the cable making contact with a printed circuit board or the like at the corresponding input connection or output connection (input terminal or output terminal) of the isolating switch. 
         [0014]    The current sensor is therefore embodied in an advantageous manner as a modular component that is mechanically connected to the module housing of the isolating switch in such a manner that the through-going opening in the sensor housing and the annular core and also the input connector or output connector of the isolating switch are in alignment with one another so that the cable that is conveying the current can be routed in the normal manner to the corresponding connector of the isolating switch and can be contacted at the connector. 
         [0015]    A device for evaluating the detected current and in particular for detecting electric arc faults is provided within the housing, in other words within the module housing of the isolating switch or of the sensor housing. For this purpose, the evaluating device is configured and provided in terms of switching and/or programming technology so as, by using the detected current or rather characteristics in particular rapid current changes that occur as a result of an electric arc fault, to detect in the current signal an electric arc fault that occurs in the photovoltaic system and where necessary to trigger the isolating switch. 
         [0016]    The isolating switch is triggered in a suitable manner by way of a switching mechanism that is arranged in the module housing of the isolating switch and preferably can also be manually actuated, the switching mechanism acting upon at least one contact point in the corresponding current path of the isolating switch and opens the contact point in the event of the isolating switch being triggered. The switching mechanism is connected in an expedient manner by way of a drive to the device for evaluating the detected current. This drive is used in a suitable manner also for triggering the isolating switch remotely. 
         [0017]    The modular isolating switch or rather the module housing of the modular isolating switch is configured so as to be coupled to a remote triggering module and/or an under-voltage module. Whereas the remote triggering module and/or the under-voltage module are configured and provided so as to be mounted laterally on the modular isolating switch and also in so doing are embodied in particular also so as to be mounted on a profile rail. The modular current sensor or rather the sensor housing of the modular current sensor is provided and configured so as to be mounted on a housing face (front face or rear face) of the isolating switch, the housing face being parallel to the profile rail. Whereas therefore the remote triggering module or under-voltage module is mounted laterally on the isolating switch, the current sensor is mounted on the front face or rear face of the isolating switch. 
         [0018]    In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the isolating switch having the attached modular current sensor and the remote triggering module and also the under-voltage module are assembled in a modular manner to form a so-called fire brigade switch with integrated arc fault detection. As a consequence, the duration of assembly times and the number of components are reduced since additional profile rails, cabling, terminals and the like and also an additional cabling of the overvoltage protector and respectively an overvoltage triggering unit and/or of the remote triggering unit are not required. In fact, the modular construction renders it possible in a simple manner to provide an internal coupling of the respective additional modules and also a direct coupling to the isolating switch that is mounted or can be mounted by way of example on a profile rail. Furthermore, the modular construction renders it possible with respect to the additional modules at least with respect to their housing that like parts, their functions, in particular triggering functions, are coupled or can be coupled internally to the triggering mechanism of the isolating switch, the like parts having a similar outer form and merely a different construction of the internal housing. 
         [0019]    The apparatus is suitable in general also for other direct current systems and in this respect likewise for the safe switching of the systems. The apparatus contains in turn an isolating switch having input connectors and output connectors, wherein the isolating switch contains a switching contact for isolating at least one current path between one of the input connectors and one of the output connectors, and wherein a current sensor is provided for mounting on the isolating switch. The preferably direct-display current sensor contains in particular an annular core for the contact-free detection of the current that is flowing by way of the current path or rather by way of the positive cable or the negative cable or to detect current changes. 
         [0020]    Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0021]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a device for the safe switching of a photovoltaic system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0022]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for the safe switching of a photovoltaic system having an isolating switch and a modular current sensor according to the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic, perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 1  with the current sensor module mounted on the isolating switch and with a connector cable routed by way of the current sensor module to the isolating switch and also with a remote triggering module mounted on the isolating switch; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a modular apparatus in accordance with  FIG. 4  as a fire brigade switch with an additionally coupled module for triggering the under-voltage. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Parts that correspond with one another are provided in all the figures with like reference numerals. Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown an apparatus  1  for the safe switching of a photovoltaic system  2  and an inverter  3 . The photovoltaic system  2  contains a number of parallel connected strings S 1  to S n  each having a number of series connected photovoltaic modules  4 . The parallel connected strings S 1  to S n  are connected by way of a common positive cable  5  to a first input (input connector) E 1  and by way of a negative cable  6  to a second input (input connector) E 2  of the apparatus  1 . The apparatus  1  is connected on an output side by way of a first output (output connector) A 1  and a second output (output connector) A 2  to the inverter  3 . The inverter  3  is connected for this purpose on the direct current side by way of a first connection cable  7  to the first output connector A 1  and by way of a second connection cable  8  to the second output connector A 2 . 
         [0029]    The apparatus  1  is modular and contains an isolating switch  9 , referred to herein under as a switching module, and also a modular current sensor  10 . The output connectors A 1  and A 2  are allocated to the isolating switch  9 . The modular current sensor  10  contains an annular core  11  through which the connection cable  8  is routed to the output connector A 2  of the isolating switch  9 . 
         [0030]    The current sensor  10  contains in the exemplary embodiment a measuring winding or coil  12  having a number of windings wound around a part region of the annular core  11 . The winding  12  is connected to a device  13  for evaluating the current and in particular for detecting an arc fault. The device  13  is in turn connected to a drive  14  that is coupled directly or indirectly to the switching contacts  15 ,  16  of the isolating switch  9 . The switching contacts  15  are arranged in a current path  17  that is connected or rather allocated to the positive pole (+) of the photovoltaic system  2  and the current path runs between the input connector E 1  of the isolating switch  9  and the output connector A 1  of the isolating switch. The other switching contacts  16  are similarly connected in a current path  18  that is connected to the negative pole (−) of the photovoltaic system  2  and the current path runs between the second input connector E 2  of the isolating switch  9  and the second output connector A 2  of the isolating switch. The isolating switch  9  is embodied as a direct current isolator (DC-isolator) having the switching contacts  15  or  16  respectively that isolate both the positive current path  17  and also the negative current path  18 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the modular apparatus  1  in a perspective view and a cross sectional view respectively. It is evident that the isolating switch  1  contains a module housing  19 . The modular current sensor  10  together with a sensor housing  21  of the modular current sensor is arranged and mounted—preferably in a detachable manner—on a front face  20  of the module housing  19 . The sensor housing  21  contains a through-going opening  22  that is aligned with the output connector A 2  of the isolating switch  9 . The current-conveying connection cable  8  is routed through the through-going opening  22  of the modular current sensor  10  directly, in other words without bends, windings or further contact points to the output connector A 2  of the isolating switch  9  and contacts the output connector by way of example in a clamped or screwed manner. The sensor housing  21  of the current sensor  10  contains a further through-going opening  23  that is in turn aligned with the output connector A 1  of the isolating switch  9 . 
         [0032]    The annular core  11  having the measuring winding  12  is arranged within the sensor housing  21  in a coaxial manner with respect to the through-going opening  22  of the modular current sensor  10  or rather the sensor housing  21  of the current sensor. The annular core  11  is arranged in such a manner that the surrounded through-going opening of the annular core and the through-going opening  22  of the sensor housing  21  are aligned with a contact point  24  of a connection terminal  25  in order to contact the current-conveying connection cable  8  and thus the output connector A 2 . 
         [0033]    As is comparatively clear in  FIG. 3 , there are no bends in a connection end  26  of the connection cable, in other words the connection cable is routed directly through the through-going opening  22  and the annular core  11  of the current sensor  10  to the contact point  24 ,  25  and consequently to the output connector A 2 . 
         [0034]    The isolating switch  1  contains within the housing a switching mechanism  27  that acts on the contact point  16 , in other words on the movable contact of the contact point and the movable contact for its part cooperates with a fixed contact that is arranged on a contact bridge  28  in order to form the contact point  16 . The contact bridge  28  is electrically connected by way of a fail-safe element  29  to a circuit board  30 . The circuit board  30  supports or is electrically connected to the device  13  for evaluating the current and detecting an electric arc fault, the device for its part being connected by way of a connector  31  to the switching mechanism  27  or rather to the drive  14  that is actuated by the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism  27  is in addition coupled by way of a switching or actuating lever  32  that extends out of the module housing  19  and is manually actuated for manually actuating the switching mechanism and accordingly the isolating switch  9 . 
         [0035]    As is also evident in  FIG. 4  that illustrates a plan view of the apparatus  1  in accordance with  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  1  is provided additionally with a module  33 . For this purpose, the apparatus contains snap-in or latching elements  34  that correspond with corresponding snap-in or latching elements  35  of the module housing  19  of the isolating switch  9  for producing a detachable latching connection. The module  33  contains on the module face that lies opposite the latching elements  34  likewise latching recesses  35  for coupling a further module  36 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0036]    The module  33  is a remote trigger that is coupled internally to the drive  14  that acts on the switching mechanism  27  of the isolating switch  1 . The remote triggering module  33  thus renders it possible to trigger the isolating switch  1  by way of example from a central office or the like. 
         [0037]    The further module  36  is an under-voltage trigger that is coupled internally likewise to the drive  14  of the isolating switch  9 . The under-voltage module  36  has a voltage that is below a predetermined threshold value and where necessary, for example by generating a corresponding triggering signal, separates or opens the contact points  15 ,  16  of the isolating switch  1 . 
         [0038]    As is particularly evident in  FIG. 5 , the additional module  33 ,  36  or each additional module  33 ,  36  of the apparatus  1  are mounted on the side of the apparatus and can be arranged in series one adjacent to the other virtually in any user-defined number with different functionalities. In contrast thereto, the current sensor  10  is arranged or rather mounted on the front faces  20  of the isolating switch  9 . 
         [0039]    The current sensor  10  can extend in accordance with  FIG. 2  beyond the two adjacent output connectors A 1  and A 2  or also in accordance with  FIGS. 4 and 5  only in the region of one of the output connectors A 1 , A 2 . In addition, the current sensor  10  can be arranged on the opposite-lying front or rear face  20  of the isolating switch  10  in the region of the input connectors E 1 , E 2 , or E 1  and E 2  respectively. In the embodiment in accordance with  FIG. 2 , the current sensor  10  can also contain two annular cores  11 , in other words one annular core  11  for each current path  17 ,  18 . 
         [0040]    The current sensor  10  can be embodied fundamentally in accordance with a type of Rogowski coil, as a ferritic annular core having a measuring or coil winding  12  or as a direct-display current sensor. The current sensor can be embodied a slotted annular core having a Hall sensor arranged in the air gap formed thereby in lieu of the measuring winding  12 . 
         [0041]    The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:
     1  Apparatus     2  Photovoltaic system     3  Inverter     4  Photovoltaic module     5  Positive cable     6  Negative cable     7  Connection cable     8  Connection cable     9  Isolating switch     10  Current sensor     11  Annular core     12  Coil/Measuring winding     13  Device     14  Drive     15  Switching contact     16  Switching contact     17  Current path     18  Current path     19  Module housing     20  Front/Rear face     21  Sensor housing     22  Through-going opening     23  Through-going opening     24  Contact point     25  Connection terminal     26  Connection end     27  Switching mechanism     28  Contact bridge     29  Fail-safe element     30  Circuit board     31  Connector     32  Switching/Actuating lever     33  Remote triggering module     34  Latching element     35  Latching element     36  Under-voltage module   A 1,2  Output connector   E 1,2  Input connector   S 1 . . . n  String