Detection and Prevention of Hot Spots in a Solar Panel

A method for controlling the operation of a solar panel by an electronic controller, the method comprising:

• determining an initial temperature of the solar panel;
• determining an instant voltage of the solar panel;
• determining an instant current of the solar panel;
• determining a current versus voltage characteristic curve (“IV curve”) for the solar panel based at least in part on the initial temperature, the instant voltage, the instant current, and a thermal model of the solar panel;
• determining an expected voltage of the solar panel as a function of the value of the initial temperature of the solar panel;
• determining a minimum current value, the minimum current value corresponding to the greatest value of current drawn from the solar panel which will result in the output value of the voltage of the solar panel exceeding a negative difference value of the expected output voltage of the solar panel;
• determining a target voltage value that maximizes the power generated by the solar panel for the determined IV curve;
• configuring the electronic controller to drive the output voltage of the solar panel toward the target voltage value;
• determining a new instant current of the solar panel;
• and
• configuring the electronic controller to increase the output voltage of the solar panel if the new instant current is below the minimum current value.

An electric power generator system comprising:

• a solar panel;
• an electronic module configured to demand more or less current from the solar panel;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and the electronic module, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
• determining a temperature of the solar panel;
• determining an expected output voltage of the solar panel as a function of the temperature of the solar panel;
• determining an instant value of the output voltage of the solar panel;
• comparing the instant value of the output voltage of the solar panel to the expected value of the output voltage of the solar panel;
• and
• configuring the electronic module so that a value of current drawn from the solar panel prevents the instant value of the output voltage from exceeding a negative difference value of the expected output voltage.

An electric power generator system comprising:

• a solar panel;
• an electronic controller configured to control the operation of the solar panel;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and the electronic controller, the processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
• determining an initial temperature of the solar panel;
• determining an instant voltage of the solar panel;
• determining an instant current of the solar panel;
• determining a current versus voltage characteristic curve (“IV curve”) for the solar panel based at least in part on the initial temperature, the instant voltage, the instant current, and a thermal model of the solar panel;
• determining an expected voltage of the solar panel as a function of the value of the initial temperature of the solar panel;
• determining a minimum current value, the minimum current value corresponding to the greatest value of current drawn from the solar panel which will result in the output value of the voltage of the solar panel exceeding a negative difference value of the expected output voltage of the solar panel;
• determining a target voltage value that maximizes the power generated by the solar panel for the determined IV curve;
• configuring the electronic controller to drive the output voltage of the solar panel toward the target voltage value;
• determining a new instant current of the solar panel;
• and
• configuring the electronic controller to increase the output voltage of the solar panel if the new instant current is below the minimum current value.