SNOAAA8 April   2025 LM74610-Q1

 

  1.   1
  2.   Abstract
  3.   Trademarks
  4. 1Introduction
    1. 1.1 What is MLPE
    2. 1.2 Why, When, Where Needs MLPE
    3. 1.3 What is Solar Power Optimizer
    4. 1.4 Solar Power Optimizer Working Principle
    5. 1.5 Output Bypass Function of Solar Power Optimizer
  5. 2Traditional Designs of the Bypass Circuit
    1. 2.1 Design 1 - Using P-N Junction Diode or Schottky Diode
    2. 2.2 Design 2 - Using MOSFET
  6. 3New Design of the Bypass Circuit
    1. 3.1 Requirements on Bypass Circuit
    2. 3.2 Using Ideal Diode Controller LM746x0-Q1
    3. 3.3 Challenges of Using Ideal Diode Controller
    4. 3.4 Working Principle of LM746x0-Q1 Reverse Voltage Range Extension
  7. 4Bench Test and Result
  8. 5Summary
  9. 6References

1 Introduction

The output characteristics of solar Photovoltaic (PV) cells vary greatly depending on the light radiation intensity and ambient temperature. One basic requirement of PV system is making PV cells to always deliver the maximum power to use solar energy more efficiently. Hence, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) circuits and algorithms are used for solar power optimization to dynamically keep the output voltage and output current of the PV panel at this expected maximum power point when the PV panel environment changes.

The conventional widely used method for solar power optimization is performed at the PV string level. In fact, each PV string usually consists of multiple PV modules (also called PV panels, each PV module consist of multiple PV cells) in series. Solar power optimization performed at the PV string level only achieves global string MPPT but not module level MPPT. Also, each PV module possibly does not work in the MPP and still has energy loss, even the PV string works in the MPP. To solve this issue, Module-level Power Electronics (MLPE) technology was raised and commercialized for years.