PV Inverter-Based Test Triggering for Photovoltaic Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current photovoltaic power station testing technologies are limited by environmental conditions, requiring dedicated monitoring apparatuses that increase operation and maintenance costs, and often necessitate manual triggering of tests, which can be inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize photovoltaic inverters to provide working parameter values to a control center, allowing it to determine suitable testing conditions without the need for additional monitoring equipment, enabling automatic and continuous testing based on preset thresholds and user instructions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If environmental monitoring apparatus is deployed to monitor environmental status and trigger testing, then testing accuracy is improved, but operation and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting accuracyVSAvoidoperation and maintenance costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The photovoltaic inverter is made to serve multiple functions: it not only converts direct current to alternating current but also monitors environmental parameters and triggers testing automatically. This eliminates the need for separate environmental monitoring apparatus while maintaining testing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The photovoltaic inverter monitors its own working parameters and environmental conditions, and automatically triggers testing when conditions are suitable. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external monitoring devices and manual intervention, reducing operation and maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If environmental monitoring apparatus is deployed to enable automatic testing triggering, then testing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The photovoltaic inverter is designed to perform multiple functions including power conversion, environmental monitoring, and automatic testing triggering. This multi-functionality improves testing efficiency by enabling automatic triggering while avoiding the need for additional monitoring devices that would increase system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If testing is performed under specific environmental conditions only, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting accuracyVSAvoidtesting frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors environmental parameters and working parameters, providing feedback to the control center. When conditions meet the preset thresholds, testing is automatically triggered. This feedback mechanism ensures testing accuracy is maintained while maximizing testing frequency by automatically identifying suitable testing opportunities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control center presets environmental parameter thresholds and working parameter thresholds in advance. When monitored parameters reach these pre-set conditions, testing is automatically triggered without manual intervention. This preliminary setup enables the system to proactively identify and execute testing at optimal moments, improving both accuracy and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces operation and maintenance costs by eliminating the need for dedicated monitoring apparatuses and automating the testing process, ensuring efficient and timely assessment of photovoltaic units regardless of environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the photovoltaic panel can receive solar irradiation and convert received luminous energy into electric energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3958460B1Method and apparatus for determining test conditions and photovoltaic system
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP3958460B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3958460B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3958460B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

A detection condition determining method, an apparatus, and a photovoltaic system are provided. The method includes: A control center obtains a working parameter value of a target photovoltaic unit in a first time length closest to a current time point (S301), where the working parameter value of the target photovoltaic unit may be provided for the control center by a photovoltaic inverter coupled to the target photovoltaic unit. The control center detects the target photovoltaic unit if the control center determines, based on the working parameter value, that an environmental parameter value of the target photovoltaic unit meets an environmental parameter threshold (S302). Using the method helps reduce operation and maintenance costs of a photovoltaic power station.