Solar Array Impairment Detection via Power Profile Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Detecting impairments in solar arrays is cumbersome and time-consuming due to the need for physical inspections, often resulting in undetected issues that can reduce efficiency and lead to equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with an impairment detection module that compares power production profiles to reference profiles to identify impairments, allowing for automated detection and potential correction of issues such as obstructions or faulty components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical inspection of each solar panel is performed to detect impairments, then detection accuracy is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual physical inspection with an automated electronic monitoring system that continuously collects power production data from solar panels and compares it against expected performance profiles. This substitution of mechanical inspection with electronic data analysis dramatically reduces inspection time while maintaining detection accuracy through automated anomaly identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of solar panel performance through power production profiles and expected performance models. By comparing actual power output data against these profile copies, the system can detect impairments without physical contact or interruption to panel operation, enabling continuous monitoring with minimal time loss.
2Reliability
If physical inspection and repair of solar panels is performed, then impairment detection and correction is achieved, but solar array downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system performs preliminary detection of impairments by continuously analyzing power production data and comparing it to expected profiles before significant performance degradation occurs. This early warning capability allows for planned maintenance scheduling that minimizes disruption to solar array operations, maintaining productivity while ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring where power production data is constantly collected, analyzed, and compared against performance profiles. This real-time feedback loop enables the detection of impairments while the array remains operational, allowing maintenance to be scheduled during non-critical periods rather than causing unplanned downtime.
3Reliability
If comprehensive monitoring of all solar panels is implemented, then impairment detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system employs universal power production profiles and performance models that can be applied across multiple solar panels and arrays. This multi-functional approach allows the same monitoring methodology and analysis tools to detect various types of impairments (obstructions, panel failures, inverter issues) across the entire solar array, reducing overall system complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the solar array into individual monitoring units, each with its own power production profile. By dividing the large-scale monitoring task into smaller, manageable panel-level segments, the system can detect impairments locally without requiring complex centralized analysis of the entire array, simplifying the overall monitoring architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
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.