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US 2021/0148833 A1Published application
Soiling Measurement Device for Photovoltaic Arrays
OwnerMichael Gostein, Stan Faullin +1inventors
InventorsMichael Gostein, Stan Faullin, William Stueve
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Abstract
In one respect, disclosed is a soiling measurement device for measuring the loss of light transmission to photovoltaic (PV) devices in a photovoltaic array arising from the accumulation of soiling particles, comprising a light source, a reference photodetector, a soiling collection window, a photodetector positioned underneath the soiling collection window, and a measurement and control system.
Claims14
A soiling measurement device for photovoltaic arrays comprising:
- a light source assembly, comprising
- a light source and
- a reference photodetector;
- a detector assembly, comprising
- a soiling collection window and
- a photodetector positioned beneath said soiling collection window;
- and
- a controller;
- wherein said reference photodetector is configured to measure at least a portion of light emitted by said light source, and
- wherein said photodetector is configured to measure at least a portion of light emitted by said light source and transmitted through said soiling collection window, and
- wherein said controller is configured to determine a fractional transmission loss of light through said soiling collection window relative to a clean or reference state, arising at least from accumulation of soiling particles on said soiling collection window, based at least upon measurements of said reference photodetector, measurements of said photodetector, and a calibration value.
8 more elements
A method for measuring a soiling loss characteristic of a photovoltaic array, comprising:
- generating a beam of light from a light source,
- directing at least a portion of said beam to a reference photodetector,
- directing at least a portion of said beam to a photodetector underneath a soiling collection window,
- allowing said soiling collection window to accumulate soiling particles,
- measuring a signal from said reference photodetector and a signal from said photodetector, and
- determining a fractional transmission loss of light through said soiling collection window relative to a clean or reference state, arising at least from accumulation of said soiling particles on said soiling collection window, based at least upon measurements of said reference photodetector, measurements of said photodetector, and a calibration value.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.