Application of varistor-posistor structure for protection from overvoltages of photovoltaic cells of solar arrays

Abstract

The problems of reducing the cost of ensuring the safe operation of solar cells by using low-cost elements of solid-state electronics to protect against overvoltage photovoltaic cells of solar arrays are considered. The results of experimental studies of the use of a varistor-posistor structure based on a metal oxide varistor and PPTC fuses of the PolySwitch type being in thermal contact to prevent overvoltages in series connections of photovoltaic cells are presented. General schemes for using the considered solid-state structure to limit the indicated constant overvoltages are given and justified. The requirements to the parameters of this structure are determined and experimentally verified. It is shown that such a device makes it possible to limit the long-term constant overvoltages that occur in photovoltaic arrays at the level of photovoltaic cells in the case of their malfunction or shadowing, which can lead to fire hazard and other “abnormal” situations during the operation of solar electric energy sources.