Patents by Inventor Gerd Bettenwort

Gerd Bettenwort has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8212409
    Abstract: A method of activating a Multi-String inverter for photovoltaic generators (1a, 1b) of a photovoltaic plant (6), the Multi-String inverter incorporating on the input side a separate DC-DC converter (2a, 2b) for each generator string (photovoltaic generator) (1a, 1b) and each output of the DC-DC converters (2a, 2b) being connected in parallel and to an input of a DC-AC converter (3) and the DC-AC converter (3) being connected with an alternating current mains (4) for feeding into the mains aims at improving efficiency. This is achieved in that one or several electrical variables, namely input current, input voltage and/or input power are measured at each DC-DC converter (2a, 2b) and at least one of the DC-DC converters (2a, 2b) changing its operating condition as a function of this measurement when a limit value and/or a range is exceeded in such a manner that its power loss is reduced so that the energy yield of the photovoltaic plant (6) is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Gerd Bettenwort, Ralf Juchem, Matthias Victor, Tobias Müller
  • Publication number: 20090236917
    Abstract: A method of activating a Multi-String inverter for photovoltaic generators (1a, 1b) of a photovoltaic plant (6), the Multi-String inverter incorporating on the input side a separate DC-DC converter (2a, 2b) for each generator string (photovoltaic generator) (1a, 1b) and each output of the DC-DC converters (2a, 2b) being connected in parallel and to an input of a DC-AC converter (3) and the DC-AC converter (3) being connected with an alternating current mains (4) for feeding into the mains aims at improving efficiency. This is achieved in that one or several electrical variables, namely input current, input voltage and/or input power are measured at each DC-DC converter (2a, 2b) and at least one of the DC-DC converters (2a, 2b) changing its operating condition as a is function of this measurement when a limit value and/or a range is exceeded in such a manner that its power loss is reduced so that the energy yield of the photovoltaic plant (6) is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Gerd Bettenwort, Ralf Juchem, Matthias Victor, Tobias Muller
  • Patent number: 7564013
    Abstract: A method of matching the power of a photovoltaic system producing electric energy by which a working point at which the system produces maximum power is set by changing the working point in an MPP matching process and by comparing the system power, which changes as a result thereof, is intended to be suited both for stationary characteristic curves and for non stationary generator characteristic curves and to be easy to carry out so that the best working point is always set, even when the system is subjected to external interfering factors. This is achieved in that one or several additional control steps or control cycles are performed in order to track during the matching process a power point changing under external impact for a working point of even higher power to be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: SMASolar Technology AG
    Inventors: Gerald Leonhardt, Christian Kühnel, Joachim Ralf Laschinski, Sven Bremicker, Oliver Arend, Gerd Bettenwort, Wolfgang Kurt Reichenbächer
  • Patent number: 7471073
    Abstract: A method of finding a power maximum of a photovoltaic generator using an MPP regulator of a photovoltaic current converter by means of which a maximum generator power is set at an operating point of the generator's characteristic curve is intended to supply improved efficiency when the generator is partially shadowed. This is achieved by switching the MPP regulator off in order to next load and/or unload the generator to allow a new operating point of the generator's characteristic curve to set and by next switching the MPP regulator on again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: SMA Technologie AG
    Inventors: Gerd Bettenwort, Christian Kühnel, Oliver Arend, Joachim Ralf Laschinski, Gerald Alexander Leonhardt, Wolfgang Kurt Reichenbächer
  • Publication number: 20080290252
    Abstract: A method of matching the power of a photovoltaic system producing electric energy by which a working point at which the system produces maximum power is set by changing the working point in an MPP matching process and by comparing the system power, which changes as a result thereof, is intended to be suited both for stationary characteristic curves and for non stationary generator characteristic curves and to be easy to carry out so that the best working point is always set, even when the system is subjected to external interfering factors. This is achieved in that one or several additional control steps or control cycles are performed in order to track during the matching process a power point changing under external impact for a working point of even higher power to be set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: SMA Technologie AG
    Inventors: Gerald Leonhardt, Christian Kuhnel, Joachim Laschinski, Sven Bremicker, Oliver Arend, Gerd Bettenwort, Wolfgang Kurt Reichenbacher
  • Publication number: 20070027644
    Abstract: A method of finding a power maximum of a photovoltaic generator using an MPP regulator of a photovoltaic current converter by means of which a maximum generator power is set at an operating point of the generator's characteristic curve is intended to supply improved efficiency when the generator is partially shadowed. This is achieved by switching the MPP regulator off in order to next load and/or unload the generator to allow a new operating point of the generator's characteristic curve to set and by next switching the MPP regulator on again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: Gerd Bettenwort, Christian Kuhnel, Oliver Arend, Joachim Laschinski, Gerald Leonhardt, Wolfgang Reichenbacher