Abstract: An outdoor photovoltaic generator is provided that has a plurality of straight, parallel rows of rectangular photovoltaic modules that are located on a substructure, each of which comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells. The photovoltaic cells are arranged on each photovoltaic module such that, in the event of a shading extending parallel to an edge of the photovoltaic module, the energy conversion and transport function of the remaining, unshaded photovoltaic cells or photovoltaic cell regions of the photovoltaic module is maintained. The substructure provides equal inclination of the photovoltaic modules with respect to south. The rows with respect to the east-west direction are installed rotated at an angle between 10° and 40° toward the northeast or toward the northwest. In exchange for acceptance of a reduction in the total output of photovoltaically produced energy as seen over the course of the day, the arrangement permits a displacement of the maximum output to a time of day other than 12:00 noon.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preparing connection of a photovoltaic system (Q1) as a first energy source to a power grid (13) by way of a motor generator set (5, 6, 7) is presented. The DC motor (5) is coupled to a three-phase generator (7) by way of a shaft (6), wherein the three-phase generator (7) can be connected to the power grid (13). It has been observed that connecting this type of apparatus to the small or varying power output of the photovoltaic system (Q1) can be difficult and time-consuming. To enable a clean and quick connection, the DC motor (5) is powered with electric DC current from a second DC current source (Q2), wherein the operation of the three-phase generator (7) is matched to the conditions in the power grid (13) with the help of the second DC current source (Q2), and wherein the photovoltaic system (Q1) is connected to the DC motor (5) and the second DC current source (Q2) is disconnected from the DC motor (5) only after a complete match has been attained.

Abstract: A housing having three side walls and a cover is provided, wherein an opening for introducing a pipe is formed in one of the side walls. The side walls are arranged in a U-shape, with the opening being provided in the side wall forming the first side thereof, and with a pipe section that aligns with the opening being connectable to the second side forming the opposite side wall thereof. The cross-section of the pipe section, in particular its diameter, is larger or smaller than the cross-section of the pipe. As a result, the pipe and the pipe section can be slid one inside the other.

Abstract: A method for operating a photovoltaic system provides, with the turning off of the otherwise adjusted regulation to the maximum power point MPP, to make a selective mismatching at the inverter, in order to cause a battery current, which is added to the system current. As a result, an additional energy source to maintain a minimum feed power is achieved during a rapidly changing cloud pattern.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for carrying out the method are proposed for identifying defective photovoltaic modules. Two clamp-on ammeters are provided which are connected to a test data acquisition unit for simultaneous measurement of two DC currents. The position of the clamp-on ammeters at the time of the measurement is determined with a position registration means, and measured data and position data are transmitted via an antenna to a data processing center or recorded in a data memory element for further processing.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system comprises a plurality of photovoltaic modules which are electrically connected to a string or to multiple parallel-connected strings and form a PV generator. The first string end forms the negative pole of the photovoltaic generator, and the second string end forms the positive pole. A voltage reduction device is provided with the aid of which the potential of the negative pole is lowered to ground. Advantages with regard to the insulation class of the connecting cable used are also provided.

Abstract: In large-scale photovoltaic systems, it is not appropriate to use a conventional insulation monitor, since its test pulse is damped too much by the number and length of the feed lines. According to an embodiment of the invention, a remedy is provided here in that the photovoltaic system is subdivided through circuit design into multiple subsystems that are electrically insulated from one another, and the test pulse is transmitted to the connecting line associated with the applicable subsystem in sequential order. According to a second embodiment, the behavior of the current of the test pulse through the connecting lines is sensed by current sensors and evaluated in an analysis unit.

Abstract: A photovoltaic generator is provided that has at least one string of multiple series-connected photovoltaic modules, each of which has a plurality of series-connected photovoltaic cells. One quarter to one half of all photovoltaic modules of the at least one string can be short-circuited by means of a switch. Activation of the switch takes place when a predefined voltage value across the string is exceeded. The shorting switch is only present in some of the arrays making up the photovoltaic generator, which reduces cabling costs. Because of the parallel connection of the arrays, the voltage of the arrays without shorting switches is drawn down to a lower voltage that is safe for the inverter.

Abstract: A method and a device for carrying out the method are disclosed in order to aid in the search for faulty photovoltaic modules. In a photovoltaic system comprising multiple PV units electrically connected in parallel, each PV unit is assigned its own fixed current sensor. Furthermore, each PV unit can be removed from the parallel circuit by a switching device.

Abstract: A measuring method for determining an output drop of a PV unit is provided. The PV unit is arranged within a photovoltaic system comprising a plurality of electrically parallel-connected PV units. Each PV unit can be removed from the parallel circuit by a switching device. Further, a total current measuring device for measuring the total current through all PV units of the parallel circuit is provided. The defective PV unit is determined in an evaluation unit by the connection and disconnection of a disconnect switch.

Abstract: A lightweight support includes a corrugated base body having an elongated rectangular configuration defining an upper longitudinal rim and a lower longitudinal rim. The base body is composed of a first layer made of metal, a second layer which is made of rigid foam and applied onto the first layer, and a third layer which is made of metal and applied onto the second layer. Stabilization rails are attached to the base body in order to maintain integrity of the lightweight support when subject to stress. The stabilization rails can hereby be placed on or at or integrated in the upper and lower longitudinal rims, respectively.

Abstract: A base frame for a parking lot roof equipped with photovoltaic modules is proposed, wherein two mirror-symmetrically constructed halves are provided, with each half having an inner arc constructed of three inner struts and an outer arc constructed of three outer struts, which are connected with each other by cross struts. The structure is light-weight and can be easily manufactured.

Abstract: A mounting support for mounting at least one photovoltaic module having a glass pane on a top side of an, in particular, uneven roof panel includes an elongated strip which can be rolled up and/or unrolled in a roll-up/unroll direction. At least two attachment means for the photovoltaic module are disposed on the strip with a modular dimension. The bottom side of the support is provided in the region of the attachment means with a protruding padding to compensate for uneven roof areas. The top side of the attachment means is provided with a supporting location or surface for edges of the photovoltaic module. The mounting support can be packaged as a roll and attached in a simple and effective manner on uneven and rough roof shingles.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes an inverter, a photovoltaic generator with a plurality of serially connected photovoltaic modules, said photovoltaic generator connected to the inverter by an electrical supply line, a controllable fuse interconnected in the electrical supply line between the inverter and the photovoltaic generator and having a signal input, and a voltage-dependent resistor connected between the signal input of the controllable fuse and the electrical supply line and generating a control signal which triggers the controllable fuse responsive to the control signal and interrupts the electrical supply line. The controllable fuse can be used to disconnect the electrical connection of the photovoltaic system to the inverter when a switch short-circuiting one or more modules of the photovoltaic generator malfunctions. The arrangement permits operation of photovoltaic system at an operating voltage of close to 1000 V, thereby allowing use of thinner cables.

Abstract: A clamp for attaching rectangular photovoltaic modules on a module rail is constructed so that the upper edge of a first module can be installed at a greater height than the lower edge of a second module. The upper edge of the first module rests on a first supporting surface and the lower edge of the second module rests on a second supporting surface, with the both supporting surfaces disposed on a base and having the same slope. The edges of the modules are affixed on the supporting surfaces by way of a bracket (5). The design of the clamp prevents formation of hollow spaces through which melt water can enter, but from which it cannot drain.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for setting up synchronization, with a power grid, of an inverter having a photovoltaic generator as a primary energy source is disclosed. The inverter is supplied with the energy from an additional energy source connected in parallel with input terminals of the inverter, wherein the additional energy source is a DC energy source operated independent from the primary energy source. The frequency, phase relationship and output voltage of the inverter supplied from the additional DC energy source are matched to the frequency, phase relationship and output voltage of the power grid, whereafter the primary energy source is connected to the inverter. With this method, an inverter dimensioned for a permissible open-circuit voltage can also be used under operating conditions, without requiring modifications of the circuitry of the primary energy source.

Abstract: A ground vehicle for feeding photovoltaic modules to an automatic assembly machine is disclosed, wherein the automatic assembly machine is movable on previously installed PV modules and the PV modules that still need to be installed are fed to the automatic assembly machine above a supporting structure. The ground vehicle has six vertically movable rams arranged in spaced-apart relationship in pairs in the direction of travel, with the PV modules to be installed located above the rams. Timing of the vertical ram motion is controlled so that a retracted ram of a ram pair is always extended before the other ram of the ram pair is lowered.

Abstract: A supporting structure for an open-space photovoltaic system with several ground supports arranged in at least two mutually parallel rows oriented in essentially North-South direction and installed vertically in the ground, with beams supported on free ends of the ground supports located at the same location along a row, and with module rails attached to the beams for attachment of fastening means for photovoltaic modules. The module rails are secured on or between two corresponding adjacent beams in essentially North-South direction. The free ends of the ground supports are positioned at the same height above terrain ground, so that the beams and the module rails extend essentially plane-parallel to the terrain ground. This arrangement reduces material consumption, and only a small surface area of the supporting structure is effectively exposed to wind gusts. Each row of ground supports includes ground supports with both rigid and flexible flexural characteristics.

Abstract: In a method for forecasting shadowing of a photovoltaic (PV) system due to cloud formation or movement, part of the firmament is imaged with fisheye optics onto the input optics of a digital camera. Pixel groups associated with luminous intensity ranges are formed. The spatial arrangement of the groups is analyzed to forecast shadowing of a photovoltaic system. A line extending from the PV system to the sun is formed and is continuously tracked. A reference line located inside a region around the line is formed. Passage of clouds across a reference line is analyzed. The result of the analysis is used to increase the electric power from the PV system to a minimum value through supply of additional backup energy or to reduce the electric power consumption by disconnecting users to ensure that key users do not experience a drop in supplied power below a minimum value.

Abstract: A method for operating a photovoltaic system with a plurality of photovoltaic modules and with a DC motor connected to the photovoltaic modules is proposed. The motor shaft of the DC motor is coupled to a generator shaft of a three-phase generator, wherein the three-phase generator can be connected to a power grid. The motor shaft of a second DC motor can also be connected with the generator shaft, and the electric energy produced by the photovoltaic modules is initially only used for driving a single DC motor and is during the subsequent operation divided between those DC motors. A battery is provided which can be connected with the second DC motor instead of the PV system by changing the excitation of the second DC motor such that it's motor voltage corresponds to the open-circuit voltage of the battery.