The present invention relates to a junction box, and more particularly to a junction box for use with a solar power module or a photovoltaic module.
Nowadays, the demands on renewable energy are gradually increased. The common renewable energy includes for example solar energy, wind power, tide energy, terrestrial heat, biomass energy, and the like. Among various renewable energy sources, solar energy is expected to replace fossil fuel as a new energy source because it provides clean energy without depletion. In addition, the process of maintaining the solar energy generator is very easy and the operating cost is low. The solar energy generator can be easily installed at homes, schools or business places. The site for installing the solar energy generator is not stringent and does not occupy much space. In addition, the solar energy generator is safe and quiet during operations. In the remote district, the size of the solar energy generator may be specially designed to generate required magnitude of power.
Generally, a solar power module or a photovoltaic module is used to covert solar energy into electric power. The solar power module or the photovoltaic module usually has plural solar cells or photovoltaic cells. The solar cells within the solar power module are connected with each other through slim-type conductive strips, which are also referred as conductive wires. The slim-type conductive strips are exited from the backside of the solar power module. Generally, the slim-type conductive strips are made of copper foil and extended out of the backside of the solar power module (e.g. a solar panel). As known, a junction box is used for electrically connecting the solar cells of the solar power module with each other or electrically connecting the solar power module with other components (e.g. a DC-to-AC converter) of the solar system. The junction box is installed on the backside of the solar panel. A power connecting mechanism is installed within the junction box to be connected with the slim-type conductive strips of the solar power module. Through the junction box, the current generated by the solar power module can be transmitted to the exterior. If the junction box is omitted, the solar power module fails to be normally operated.
Generally, if the light-receiving surface of the solar power module is sheltered or has a small shade, the output power is lowered by about 10% to 25%. The reduction of the output power may result in damage of the solar panel or limit the location of the solar panel. For solving the above drawbacks, a distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) technology has been disclosed. The DMPPT technology automatically adjusts a solar generator's output circuitry to compensate for power fluctuations resulting from varying solar intensity, shadowing, temperature change, panel mismatch, or ageing. The DMPPT technology can compensate each solar panel individually. The DMPPT technology is the most promising technique to improve the energy productivity of photovoltaic systems because it maximizes the power extracted from each panel regardless of adjacent module performance, even if a module has failed.
However, the power connecting mechanism of the current junction box fails to meet the requirements of the DMPPT technology. Moreover, since the power connecting mechanism of the current junction box has a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, a wiring mechanism should be installed within the junction box in order to transmit power to the power output terminal of the junction box through the power connecting mechanism. Through the wiring mechanism, the positive output terminal of the power connecting mechanism is electrically connected with the positive output terminal of the junction box, and the negative output terminal of the power connecting mechanism is electrically connected with the negative output terminal of the junction box. The additional wiring mechanism increases the complexity of the internal circuitry of the junction box and increases the fabricating cost of the junction box.
The present invention provides a junction box having a conductive element for distributing and connecting power, thereby reducing the wiring complexity and the fabricating cost.
The present invention also provides a junction box with a distributed maximum power point tracking (DMPPT) function, in which plural power converting units within the junction box are connected with each other in parallel or in series through at least one conductive element.
The present invention also provides a junction box which has simplified configurations and is easily assembled.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a junction box. The junction box includes a casing, plural wire-connecting elements, plural power converting units, a first conductive element and a second conductive element. The casing includes an entrance, a first power output terminal and a second power output terminal. The plural wire pairs are introduced into the casing through the entrance. The plural wire-connecting elements are disposed within the casing and connected with corresponding wire pairs. The plural power converting units are detachably connected with corresponding wire-connecting elements. The power converting units include respective first conductive parts and respective second conductive parts. The first conductive element is connected with the first conductive parts of the power converting units and the first power output terminal. The second conductive element is connected with the second conductive parts of the power converting units and the second power output terminal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a junction box. The junction box includes a casing, plural wire-connecting elements, plural wire-connecting elements, plural power converting units and at least one conductive element. The casing includes an entrance, a first power output terminal and a second power output terminal. The plural wire pairs are introduced into the casing through the entrance. The plural wire-connecting elements are disposed within the casing and connected with corresponding wire pairs. The plural power converting units are detachably connected with corresponding wire-connecting elements. The power converting units include respective first conductive parts and respective second conductive parts. The first conductive part of a first power converting unit is connected with the first power output terminal. The second conductive part of a last power converting unit is connected with the second power output terminal. A first terminal of the conductive element is connected with the second conductive part of a corresponding power converting unit. A second terminal of the conductive element is connected with the first conductive part of an adjacent power converting unit.
The above contents of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
The first conductive element 14 is electrically and structurally connected with the first conductive parts 122 of the power converting units 12 and the first power output terminal 16. The second conductive element 15 is electrically and structurally connected with the second conductive part 123 and the second power output terminal 17. Moreover, two supporting parts 13a and plural holding parts 13b are disposed within the casing 10 and arranged at the locations besides the first power output terminal 16 and the second power output terminal 17. The supporting parts 13a and the holding parts 13b are configured for supporting and fixing the first conductive element 14, the second conductive element 15 and the first conductive parts 122 and the second conductive part 123 of the power converting units 12. The two supporting parts 13a are respectively connected with the contact parts of the first power output terminal 16 and the second power output terminal 17. In addition, the two supporting parts 13a are respectively connected with the first conductive element 14 and the second conductive element 15. The two supporting parts 13a are configured for respectively supporting the first conductive element 14 and the second conductive element 15. The holding parts 13b are used for supporting and fixing the first conductive element 14 and the second conductive element 15. In this embodiment, the first power output terminal 16 and the second power output terminal 17 of the junction box 1 are respectively connected with a first power cord 3 and a second power cord 4.
In this embodiment, the plural first extension parts 142 of the first conductive element 14 and the plural second extension parts 152 of the second conductive element 15 have respective perforations 142a and 152a. The junction box 1 further comprises plural fastening elements 18 (see
In this embodiment, the power converting units 12 comprises the first power converting unit 12a, the second power converting unit 12b and the last power converting unit 12c. The at least one conductive element 19 comprises a first conductive element 19a and a second conductive element 19b. The first conductive element 19a is connected with the second conductive part 123 of the first power converting unit 12a and the first conductive part 122 of the second power converting unit 12b. The second conductive element 19b is connected with the second conductive part 123 of the second power converting unit 12b and the first conductive part 122 of the last power converting unit 12c. In such way, the power converting units 12 are connected with each in series through the at least one conductive element 19.
From the above description, the junction box of the present invention has a simplified configuration and is cost-effective. Moreover, the junction box is easily installed and maintained. Through the conductive elements, the power converting units may be electrically connected with the first power output terminal and the second power output terminal in parallel or in series. The power converted by the power converting units is then distributed and outputted to the loads. Moreover, since the power converting units are directly installed within the junction box, the space between a solar power module or a photovoltaic module and the load will be reduced. Moreover, the junction box can be applied to a solar power module or a photovoltaic module while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100105174 | Feb 2011 | TW | national |