5218results about "Photovoltaic monitoring" patented technology

A system and method for monitoring photovoltaic power generation systems or arrays, both on a local (site) level and from a central location. The system includes panel and string combiner sentries or intelligent devices, in bidirectional communication with a master device on the site to facilitate installation and troubleshooting of faults in the array, including performance monitoring and diagnostic data collection.

The invention relates generally to systems, devices and methods for the efficient use of utilities, more particularly to the distribution and provision of electricity supply at appropriate voltages, monitoring and usage by end devices, and to facilitating consumers in changing their energy usage behaviour, and to adopt and easily install appropriate sustainable, energy efficient or renewable technologies. Said end devices typically including traditional electric, electronic and lighting appliances requiring AC or DC power provision or low voltage DC power via AC / DC converters.

Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically or remotely rendering a solar array safe during an emergency or maintenance. A watchdog unit is disclosed for monitoring a signal from a central controller. If the signal is lost, interrupted, or becomes irregular, or if a shutdown signal is received, then the watchdog unit can shutdown one or more solar modules. Shutting down a solar module can mean disconnecting it from a power bus of the solar array or lowering the solar module voltage to a safe level.

A conventional hill climbing method is not capable of tracking a maximum power when a shadow covers a part of a solar cell panel and a plurality of maximal values is thereby developed. The invention provides a photovoltaic power generation system control method that controls a photovoltaic output setting value to be an appropriate value by following up a variation in the solar irradiation, including a genetic algorithm process of employing the photovoltaic output setting value as a gene and the output power as an evaluation value thereof; randomly extracting a plurality of genes and repeating storage, selection and crossover / mutation of the output powers which are the evaluation values of the genes, so as to converge a difference between a maximum and minimum values of the output voltages into a predetermined range; and a hill climbing process of setting the photovoltaic output setting value corresponding to the greatest value of the converged output voltages, and a greater and a lower value than the photovoltaic output setting value by a predetermined amount, so as to select the greatest output power among these values; and repeating such steps to track the maximum output power.

An apparatus for detecting an impairment of a solar array. The apparatus comprises an impairment detection module for performing a comparison of a power production profile and at least one reference profile, wherein the power production profile and the at least one reference profile are for at least one of the solar array, at least one solar subarray of the solar array, or at least one solar panel of the solar array. The apparatus determines, based on the comparison, whether the impairment exists.

A system and method for monitoring photovoltaic power generation systems or arrays, both on a local (site) level and from a central location. The system includes panel and string combiner sentries or intelligent devices, in bidirectional communication with a master device on the site to facilitate installation and troubleshooting of faults in the array, including performance monitoring and diagnostic data collection.

A system, method, and apparatus for managing an application of power from photovoltaic arrays to power conversion components. The method may include arranging a first array and a second array in series, coupling a positive terminal of a first array to the power conversion component, coupling a negative terminal of a second array to the power conversion component, and modulating an amount of current flowing between a negative terminal of the first array and a positive terminal of the second array so as to ramp up a level of current flowing through the arrays as the arrays are brought online with the power conversion component. A voltage of any terminal on either of the arrays may be limited so that the voltage on any of the terminals does not reach a restricted level.

Fluid delivery systems and related structures and processes are provided, such as for use with water, treated water, and / or a cleaning solution, for any of cleaning, cooling or any combination thereof, for one or more solar panels in a power generation environment. Enhanced coatings are provided for the incident surface of solar panels, such as to avoid build up of dirt, scale, or other contaminants, and / or to improve cleaning performance. Reclamation, filtration, and reuse structures are preferably provided for the delivered fluid, and seal structures may preferably be implemented between adjoining panels, to minimize loss of the delivered water or cleaning solution. The fluid delivery system may preferably be linked to an automated control system, such as but not limited to integrated DMPPT modules and related systems.

A protective circuit for electrical connection to solar cells of a solar cell module is provided with a protective circuit that has a controlled electronic circuit arrangement. In this way, only minimal heating of the protective circuit for electrical connection of solar cells of a solar cell module occurs in operation. The controlled electronic circuit arrangement can have a trigger circuit and a switching arrangement which can be triggered by the trigger circuit, the switching arrangement being connected parallel to at least one solar cell, and in the case of shading of the solar cells, is at least temporarily activated by the trigger circuit so that a current bypass for the shaded solar cell is achieved.

A protective circuit for electrical connection to solar cells of a solar cell module is provided with a protective circuit that has a controlled electronic circuit arrangement. In this way, only minimal heating of the protective circuit for electrical connection of solar cells of a solar cell module occurs in operation. The controlled electronic circuit arrangement can have a trigger circuit and a switching arrangement which can be triggered by the trigger circuit, the switching arrangement being connected parallel to at least one solar cell, and in the case of shading of the solar cells, is at least temporarily activated by the trigger circuit so that a current bypass for the shaded solar cell is achieved.

Systems and methods are disclosed for automatically or remotely rendering a solar array safe during an emergency or maintenance. A watchdog unit is disclosed for monitoring a signal from a central controller. If the signal is lost, interrupted, or becomes irregular, or if a shutdown signal is received, then the watchdog unit can shutdown one or more solar modules. Shutting down a solar module can mean disconnecting it from a power bus of the solar array or lowering the solar module voltage to a safe level.

A system and method for automated shutdown, disconnect, or power reduction of solar panels. A system of solar panels includes one or more master management units (MMUs) and one or more local management units (LMUs). The MMUs are in communication with the LMUs with the MMUs and LMUs “handshaking” when the system is in operation. The MMUs are connected to one or more controllers which in turn are connected to emergency detection sensors. Upon a sensor detection of an emergency, the associated MMU is notified which in turn instructs associated LMUs to take appropriate action. In the event that communication with the MMUs has been cut off, the LMUs take the initiative to shutdown, disconnect, or reduce the output of associated string(s) of solar panels.

A solar panel monitoring device and method is disclosed. The solar panel monitoring smart device comprises at least one power source or input; at least one sensor connected to the input, where the at least one sensor is adapted to responsively generate monitoring information on the input with which it is associated; a processor for receiving the monitoring information regarding the input from each of the sensors, and adapted to forward the received monitoring information; and a transmission chip for receiving the monitoring information, packetizing the monitoring information, and transmitting to a remote location.

A method and apparatus for managing DC arc faults. At least a portion of the method is performed by a controller comprising at least one processor. In one embodiment, the method comprises analyzing a signature of a signal of a power converter and determining, based on analysis of the signature, whether an arc fault exists.

A solar photovoltaic panel is disclosed that includes a photovoltaic cell, a local management unit connected between the cell and a string bus, and a bypass device connected to the cell that is operable to bypass the local management unit when conducting a flash test. The panel preferably further includes a transient detector connected to the cell that is operable to sense an output from the cell having a predetermined transient rise time. The transient detector and the bypass device may be contained within a junction box integrated into the panel and may include the local management unit within the junction box. The transient detector may include a switch connected to a circuit that electrically bypasses the local management unit when the switch is turned on as a result of an output transient rise time less than the predetermined time, thus facilitating a flash test of the photovoltaic panel.

A system and method to optimize the overall power output of a photovoltaic solar array. The solar panels are connected to software adjustable power optimizing devices, which in turn are connected to a mesh network with individual router devices. The individual router devices will send and receive data packets by creating or detecting vibrations in a solid vibration conducting media (such as the solar power wiring) that connects the individual photovoltaic solar panels. Often at least one centralized control device is used to periodically request sensor data packets from the individual router devices and solar panels. The centralized control device will typically compute the proper adjustments for the individual adjustable power optimizing devices that will optimize the overall power output from the photovoltaic solar array. The control device will then send adjustment data packets back to the individual router devices through the mesh network, thus optimizing overall power output.

A method of evaluating energy harvesting potential includes receiving point-in-time illuminance data into a mobile device for incorporation into a building information model of a building. A site-specific light simulation model for the building is calibrated using the building information model incorporating the point-in-time illuminance data. The method also includes determining energy availability for energy harvesting in the building based on the calibrated site-specific light simulation model.

The present invention relates to a smart junction box for a solar cell module, and provides a smart junction box for a solar cell module which enables an operator to easily connect and separate ribbon cables using the operation of the levers of pressing units, thereby being able to improve the contact stability of ribbon cables, and which has a heat sink structure, thereby effectively emitting the heat generated by the ribbon cables and the diodes to the outside. For this purpose, the smart junction box for a solar cell module of the present invention includes bus bars for transmitting electricity flowing from ribbon cables; and pressing units for selectively fastening and separating the ribbon cables located on contact portions of the bus bars depending on whether both ends of the lever projected by the manipulation of an operator are inserted into recesses formed in a body.