4328results about "Photovoltaic monitoring" patented technology

Solar power systems and structures are mountable to a power distribution structure, e.g. a power pole or tower, which supports alternating current (AC) power transmission lines. An exemplary power generation structure is fixedly attached to and extends from the power distribution structure, and comprises a mounting rack. A solar array, comprising at least one solar panel, is affixed to the mounting rack. A DC to AC invertor is connected between the DC outputs of the solar array and the AC power transmission lines. The length of the solar array is generally in alignment with the power distribution structure, and the width of the solar array is greater than half the is circumference of the power distribution structure. The mounting rack and solar array may preferably be rotatable, such as based on any of location, time of day, or available light.

The invention relates to an installation of photovoltaic modules including a “control command” device, a set of photovoltaic modules, intended to transform the solar energy into electric current, having power terminals, each photovoltaic module including a breaker commanding the passage of a current across the power terminals, control means designed to control the breaker, communication means designed to allow communication between the control means of the breaker of the photovoltaic module and the “control command” device of the installation, where each photovoltaic module furthermore includes addressing means designed to identify in a unique manner a photovoltaic module and/or a group of photovoltaic modules and measurement means for measuring at least one operating parameter of the photovoltaic module.

The subject matter of the present invention is a method for monitoring a photovoltaic generator (1) for generating current with a number of solar cells connected between two external connections by repeated feeding of a current with a frequency spectrum into the generator current circuit, detecting thereby a respective frequency response in the frequency spectrum with the supplied current as the input variable and an electric variable of the generator as the output variable, and detecting a change in the frequency response for monitoring the photovoltaic generator (1) in the event of a change during repeated feeding.

A DC power-generation array system (30) is made up of an array (32) of power-generation cells (36) arranged as N strings (38) of M cells (36) each. The system (30) incorporates an integral control apparatus (34) having N string units (52) and a single process unit (54). Each string unit (52) is coupled to one of the strings (38), and is made up of monitor module (72) to measure a string current (I_S(X)) through that string (38), and a switching module (74) to switch that string (38) into and out of the array (32). The process unit (54) is made up of a processor (90) to evaluate the string currents (I_S(X), and a data I/O module (98) to provide a remote monitoring and control of the system (30). The system (30) also has an interface unit (92) to provide local monitoring and control of the system (30). The processor (90) causes the switching modules (74) to couple or decouple strings (38) from array (32) under automatic, remote, and/or local control.

A method of signaling between a photovoltaic module and an inverter module. The inverter module is connected to the photovoltaic module. In an initial mode of operation an initial code is modulated thereby producing an initial signal. The initial signal is transmitted from the inverter module to the photovoltaic module. The initial signal is received by the photovoltaic module. The operating mode is then changed to a normal mode of power conversion, and during the normal mode of operation a control signal is transmitted from the inverter to the photovoltaic module. A control code is demodulated and received from the control signal. The control code is compared with the initial code producing a comparison. The control command of the control signal is validated as a valid control command from the inverter module with the control command only acted upon when the comparison is a positive comparison.

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 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 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 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 photovoltaic power generator with safety shutdown system includes a plurality of solar panel strings, a combiner, and a plurality of solar safety switches electrically disposed between a plurality of DC outputs of the plurality of solar panels strings and a plurality of DC inputs of the combiner. Each solar safety switch is associated with one of the solar panel strings and includes a solid-state device and a close actuator. The solid-state device of each solar safety switch is connected between the positive and negative terminals of the DC output of its associated solar panel string. The close actuator in each solar safety switch controls whether its associated solid-state device is turned on or is turned off. During normal operating conditions, the close actuators prevent their respective solid-state devices from turning on. However, in the event of a fire, the close actuators cause their associated solid-state devices to turn on, thereby effectively short-circuiting the DC outputs of their associated solar panel strings and preventing the solar panel strings from producing high voltages.

The present invention generally relates to a system that can be used to form a photovoltaic device, or solar cell, using processing modules that are adapted to perform one or more steps in the solar cell formation process. The automated solar cell fab is generally an arrangement of automated processing modules and automation equipment that is used to form solar cell devices. The automated solar fab will thus generally comprise a substrate receiving module that is adapted to receive a substrate, one or more absorbing layer deposition cluster tools having at least one processing chamber that is adapted to deposit a silicon-containing layer on a surface of the substrate, one or more back contact deposition chambers, one or more material removal chambers, a solar cell encapsulation device, an autoclave module, an automated junction box attaching module, and one or more quality assurance modules that are adapted to test and qualify the completely formed solar cell device.

An array of solar powered photovoltaic modules is optimally oriented and operated to provide more electrical energy for uses such as powering an electrolyzer system for hydrogen production. The array is positioned with its light receiving surface at an optimal angle, preferably a continually changing angle determined by two-axis solar tracking, when continually measured solar irradiance indicates suitable sunlight, and at a horizontal position when measured solar irradiance indicates excessive atmospheric cloudiness.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting solar cell defects by applying a forward-biasing electric current through a silicon solar cell or a group of interconnected solar cells for a short duration and then analyzing the resulting thermal image of each cell with an infrared (IR) camera. The invention is particularly useful in assembling solar cell arrays or modules in which large numbers of cells are to be wired together. Automated module assemblers are disclosed in which the cells (or strings of cells) are tested for defects prior to final module assembly.

A computer processor implemented method of measuring, monitoring, comparing and diagnosing the power generated of at least two renewable power systems provided to at least two consumers and alerting at least one of consumers in the event of comparative underperformance, the method taking into account at least two diagnostic variables including weather and the renewable power system cover status (such as covered by snow), wherein the at least one data server determines comparative information for a predetermined geographic area based upon at least two diagnostic variables, and at least two normalized performances to provide a comparative value; and informing the consumer of the comparative value in the event of an underperforming comparative value.

Circuits integrated or integrable with a photovoltaic panel to provide built-in functionality to the photovoltaic panel including safety features such as arc detection and elimination, ground fault detection and elimination, reverse current protection, monitoring of the performance of the photovoltaic panel, transmission of the monitored parameters and theft prevention of the photovoltaic panel. The circuits may avoid power conversion, for instance DC/DC power conversion, may avoid performing maximum power tracking to include a minimum number of components and thereby increase overall reliability.

A testing system for optical and electrical monitoring of a production quality and/or for determining optical and electrical properties of solar cells, comprising a first conveyor device for conveying the solar cells to a test region, a second conveyor device for moving the solar cells through the test region, a third conveyor device for conveying the solar cells out of the test region, an optical checking device located in the test region for visual checking of the solar, and an electrical checking device also located in the test region for checking electrical functions of the solar cells, the electrical checking device including an illumination device for shining light on light-sensitive surfaces of the solar cells and also including an electrical contacting device for picking up voltages and/or currents and electrical contacts of the solar cells, the first, second and third conveyor devices including a common, linear conveyor belt system which passes through the test region and has a vacuum suction device for holding the solar cells on a surface of a conveyor belt system.

The present invention relates to a monitoring and controlling system and method for megawatt level battery energy storage power plant, which includes a central monitoring and controlling module and local monitoring and controlling modules, between the two modules adopts real time and non real time communication parallel network structure to communicate with each other. The central monitoring and controlling module is configured to read the data of the battery energy storage power plant through the communication network, and store and manage the data, determine the total power demand of the battery energy storage power plant, determine all the power demand values of the energy storage substation, and send to all the local monitoring and controlling modules, calculate all the power demand values of the energy storage units, and send to the energy storage units, and then send all the power demand values of the energy storage units, real time and non real time data to the central monitoring and controlling module for unified storage and management. The monitoring system and method meets the requirements of cluster real-time rapid control and thousands of transmission data monitoring, and ensures the healthy operation of the battery to battery energy storage power station more security and stability.