# US 12,003,215 B2 · Arc detection and prevention in a power generation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,215 B2 - Document ID: US12003215B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/732,772 - Filed: 2022-04-29 - Published: 2022-08-18 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-09 - Assignees: Solaredge Technologies Ltd. - Applicants: Solaredge Technologies Ltd. - Inventors: Ilan Yoscovich; Guy Sella; Meir Gazit; Yoav Galin; David Braginsky; Lior Handelsman; Meir Adest - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003215B2 ## CPC - H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification - G01R 31/1227: {of components, parts or materials (G01R31/1209, G01R31/1218, G01R31/18 take precedence; circuits therefor G01R31/14; testing vessels of electrodes G01R31/16)} - H02H 1/0015: {Using arc detectors} - H02H 7/20: for electronic equipment (for converters H02H7/10; for electric measuring instruments G01R1/36; for DC voltage or current semiconductor regulators G05F1/569; for amplifiers H03F1/52; for electronic switching circuits H03K17/08) - H10F 77/955: {for photovoltaic devices} - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A method for arc detection in a system including a photovoltaic panel and a load connectible to the photovoltaic panel with a DC power line. The method measures power delivered to the load thereby producing a first measurement result of the power delivered to the load. Power produced by the photovoltaic panel is also measured, thereby producing a second measurement result of power produced by the photovoltaic panel. The first measurement result is compared with the second measurement result thereby producing a differential power measurement result. Upon the differential power measurement result being more than a threshold value, an alarm condition may also be set. The second measurement result may be modulated and transmitted over the DC power line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a first photovoltaic string configured to produce a first string power, wherein the first photovoltaic string comprises a first plurality of photovoltaic panels; a circuit configured to measure the first string power; a load connected to the first photovoltaic string and configured to receive the first string power from the first photovoltaic string; a controller connected to the load and configured to: transmit a first signal to the first photovoltaic string, wherein the first signal comprises an instruction to continue power production by the first photovoltaic string; measure a total power delivered to the load; receive the measured first string power; compare the total power delivered to the load and the measured first string power to produce a power difference; and cease, based on the power difference being greater than a threshold value, transmission of the first signal to the first photovoltaic string to stop the power production of the first string power. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to determine the first string power by adding a first panel power of a first one of the first plurality of photovoltaic panels and a second panel power of a second one of the first plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a second photovoltaic string configured to produce a second string power to the load, wherein the second photovoltaic string comprises a second plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to transmit a plurality of signals, wherein the plurality of signals comprises the first signal and a second signal, wherein the second signal comprises an instruction to continue power production by the second photovoltaic string, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the plurality of signals by power line communications, wherein the first signal has a first frequency corresponding to the first photovoltaic string, and wherein the second signal has a second frequency corresponding to the second photovoltaic string. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the second signal to instruct the second photovoltaic string to continue the power production of the second string power after transmission of the first signal has been ceased to stop the power production of the first string power. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the second signal periodically. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the first signal to the first photovoltaic string by wireless communications. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: transmitting, using a controller, a first signal to a first plurality of photovoltaic panels, wherein the first signal comprises an instruction to continue power production by the first plurality of photovoltaic panels; measuring, using the controller, power delivered to a load; receiving, using the controller, a string power produced by the first plurality of photovoltaic panels; comparing, using the controller, the power delivered to the load and the received string power to produce a power difference; and ceasing, using the controller and based on a determination that the power difference is greater than a threshold value, transmission of the first signal to the first plurality of photovoltaic panels to stop power production by the first plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising measuring the string power by adding a first panel power of a first one of the first plurality of photovoltaic panels and a second panel power of a second one of the first plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting, using the controller, a second signal, wherein the second signal comprises an instruction to continue power production by a second plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the first signal and the second signal by power line communications, wherein the first signal has a first frequency corresponding to the first plurality of photovoltaic panels, and wherein the second signal has a second frequency corresponding to the second plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting, using the controller, the second signal to instruct the second plurality of photovoltaic panels to continue the power production by the second plurality of photovoltaic panels after ceasing transmission of the first signal to stop the power production by the first plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting, using the controller, the first signal to the first plurality of photovoltaic panels by wireless communications. ### Claim 14 An apparatus comprising: a controller configured to: transmit a first signal to a first plurality of photovoltaic panels, wherein the first signal comprises an instruction to continue power production by the first plurality of photovoltaic panels; measure power delivered to a load; receive a string power produced by the first plurality of photovoltaic panels; compare the power delivered to the load and the received string power to produce a power difference; and cease, based on a determination that the power difference is greater than a threshold value, transmission of the first signal to the first plurality of photovoltaic panels to stop power production by the first plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the received string power is determined by adding a first panel power of a first one of the first plurality of photovoltaic panels and a second panel power of a second one of the first plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a second signal, wherein the second signal comprises an instruction to continue power production by a second plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the first signal and the second signal by power line communications, wherein the first signal has a first frequency corresponding to the first plurality of photovoltaic panels, and wherein the second signal has a second frequency corresponding to the second plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the second signal to instruct the second plurality of photovoltaic panels to continue the power production by the second plurality of photovoltaic panels after transmission of the first signal has been ceased to stop the power production by the first plurality of photovoltaic panels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the second signal periodically. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the first signal to the first plurality of photovoltaic panels by wireless communications.