Chapter 1: Introducing the SolarEdge Power
Harvesting System
TheSolarEdgepowerharvestingsolutionisdesignedtomaximizethepoweroutputfromanytypeof
solarPhotovoltaic(PV)installationwhilereducingtheaveragecostperwatt.Thefollowingsections
describeeachofthesystem’scomponents.
Figure 1: The SolarEdge power harvesting system components
Power Optimiser
ThepoweroptimisersareDC-DCconvertersconnectedtoPVmodulesinordertomaximizepower
harvestingbyperformingindependentMaximumPowerPointTracking(MPPT)atthemodulelevel.
Thepoweroptimisersregulatethestringvoltageataconstantlevel,regardlessofstringlengthand
environmentalconditions.
Thepoweroptimisersincludeasafetyvoltagefunctionthatautomaticallyreducestheoutputofeach
poweroptimiserto1Vdcinthefollowingcases:
l Duringfaultconditions
l Thepoweroptimisersaredisconnectedfromtheinverter
l TheinverterON/OFFswitchisturnedOFF
l ThesafetyswitchontheConnectionUnitisturnedOFF
l TheinverterACbreakeristurnedOFF
l TheRapidShutdown(PVRSS)isinitiatedbyoneofthefollowingmethods:
o
InverterACbreakeristurnedOFF,orACtotheinverterisdisconnectedbyanothermethod
(intentionallyorasresultofafault)
o
InverterON/OFFswitchisturnedOFF
o
TheConnectionUnitisturnedOFF
EachpoweroptimiseralsotransmitsmoduleperformancedataovertheDCpowerlinetotheinverter.
Twotypesofpoweroptimisersareavailable:
l ModuleAdd-onpoweroptimiser–connectedtooneormoremodules
l Smartmodules-thepoweroptimiserisembeddedintoamodule
-Three Phase Inverter with Synergy Technology Installation MAN-01-00402-1.4
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Chapter 1: Introducing the SolarEdge Power Harvesting System