Apparatus and method for determining an order of power devices in power generation systems

#Photovoltaic (PV) installations may include a large number of components and wide variety of devices. A PV installation may include one or more arrays of PV generators (such as solar modules, solar cells, solar panels), one or more inverter(s), communication devices, and PV power devices such as DC/DC converters, DC-AC microinverters, combiner boxes, and Maximum-Power-Point-Tracking (MPT) devices. Some installations may further include batteries. Some of the electronic modules may be integrated with the PV modules and may provide other functions such as monitoring of performance and/or protection against theft. In case of the system experiencing power loss or in case of a potentially unsafe condition, it may be desirable for a system maintenance operator to physically locate a particular device (such as solar panel, DC-DC converter or micro-inverter) that may be potentially responsible for the power loss or potentially unsafe condition.

#Operators and monitoring bodies of PV installations might not always have access to a map which indicates the location of each PV module, identified by a serial number. In such cases, troubleshooting problems may be time consuming, since locating a specific module, such as a malfunctioning module, may be difficult. In other instances, a map of the installation may be obtained by significant manual effort, such as a maintenance worker walking through the installation and copying ID numbers off modules, denoting their location on a map. When performed manually, human error may also cause inaccurate information to be recorded in the maps.

#There is a need for an automatic or semi-automatic method of generating physical maps of PV installations, to save work and reduce errors, while allowing system monitoring personnel to obtain the benefits of having a map which indicates the locations and ID numbers of PV modules.

#These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and drawings. The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example, and not limited by, the accompanying figures. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a method for generating a photovoltaic (PV) installation map, according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

#FIG. 2A is a flow diagram of a method for fitting measured locations to a map, according to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

#In the following description of various illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

#Monitoring of PV installations may include data collected by a central control system which monitors the power output by the PV installation and identifies potentially problematic operating conditions or safety hazards. When the installation experiences power loss, it may be desirable to ascertain whether it is due to environmental conditions or from malfunctions and/or poor maintenance of the components of the PV installation. Furthermore, it may be desirable to easily physically locate the particular module (such as solar panel, DC-DC converter or micro-inverter, combiner box) that may be responsible for the power loss. A map of the PV installation which displays the physical location of the various PV modules or devices (identified by ID numbers, for example) comprising the installation may assist in rapid location of the desired module and fast resolution of the problem. For example, in case of a decrease in the power output by a PV panel, a power device coupled to the panel may send information to a centralized control unit reporting the loss of power. The information may be transmitted using power line communications, wireless communication, acoustic communication or other protocols, and may include the ID number of the PV device. When the low power output persists, a maintenance worker may need to physically go to the underperforming panel and investigate the reason behind the low power.

#A Physical Identification Map (PIM) may refer to a physical map indicating the location of modules within a photovoltaic (PV) installation, including attaching identifying information such as serial or ID numbers to some or all of the modules displayed in the map. A Non-Identifying Map (NIM) may refer to a map that describes the location of modules but does not identify a specific module at each location.