Voltage clamping for a utility-scale PV array

Layout of the conductor material in the dc bus of a photovoltaic (PV) array to lower first cost and ohmic losses is reviewed. Six PV materials are characterized for their voltage swings from maximum power point to open circuit. A voltage-clamping shunt switch is proposed and experimentally verified to reduce the range of operating voltage in a utility-scale PV array, further improving its operating economy by reducing installed cost and ohmic losses.