Detection and prevention of hot spots in a solar panel
AssigneeArray Converter, Inc.
InventorKent Kernahan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic module compares the output voltage of a solar panel to an expected value and controls the power demand from the solar panel such that the output voltage does not vary from the expected value by more than a predetermined value. The predetermined value may be determined by correcting a room temperature value for the temperature dependence of the photodiodes comprising the solar panel and manufacturing tolerance.
Claims21
A method for controlling the operation of a solar panel by an electronic module, wherein the electronic module includes means for measuring a value of the temperature of the solar panel and means for measuring a value of the voltage across the solar panel and means for configuring the electronic module to demand more or less current from the solar panel, comprising:
- determining a value of the temperature of the solar panel;
- determining an expected output voltage of the solar panel as a function of the value of the temperature;
- 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 without the use of a bypass diode;
- wherein the negative difference value is determined by adjusting a maximum power point voltage condition by subtracting a tolerance value and by subtracting a temperature correction factor characteristic of the solar panel.
An electronic module configured to control operations of a solar panel, comprising:
- a processor;
- a temperature sensing circuit coupled to the processor and configured for measuring the temperature of the solar panel;
- a voltage sensing circuit coupled to the processor and configured for measuring a value of the voltage across the solar panel;
- and
- a current regulating circuit coupled to the processor and configured to demand more or less current from the solar panel,
- wherein the processor is 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 value of the temperature;
- determining an instant output voltage of the solar panel;
- comparing the instant output voltage of the solar panel to the expected output voltage of the solar panel;
- and
- configuring the electronic module so that a current drawn from the solar panel prevents the instant output voltage from exceeding a negative difference value of the expected output voltage without the use of a bypass diode;
- wherein the processor is configured to determine the negative difference value by adjusting a maximum power point voltage condition by subtracting a tolerance value and by subtracting a temperature correction factor characteristic of the solar panel.
A solar panel system, comprising:
- a solar panel;
- and
- an electronic module configured to control the operation of the solar panel, comprising:
- a processor;
- a temperature sensing circuit coupled to the processor and configured for measuring the temperature of the solar panel;
- a voltage sensing circuit coupled to the processor and configured for measuring a value of the voltage across the solar panel;
- and
- a current regulating circuit coupled to the processor and configured to demand more or less current from the solar panel,
- wherein the processor is 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 value of the temperature;
- determining an instant output voltage of the solar panel;
- comparing the instant output voltage of the solar panel to the expected output voltage of the solar panel;
- and
- configuring the electronic module so that a current drawn from the solar panel prevents the instant output voltage from exceeding a negative difference value of the expected output voltage without the use of a bypass diode;
- wherein the processor is configured to determine the negative difference value by adjusting a maximum power point voltage condition by subtracting a tolerance value and by subtracting a temperature correction factor characteristic of the solar panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.