System and method for solar panel array analysis
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorAndrew Foss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring performance of one or more solar panels in a photovoltaic array. The system and method includes a number of sensors are configured to measure an output of individual solar panels. A telemetry gateway collects data from the sensors and transmits the collected data to a monitoring system. The monitoring system includes an event signature recognizer; a trend analyzer; and a symmetry analyzer. The monitoring system detects events, trends and solar panel array asymmetry. Additionally, the monitoring system displays realtime graphs, proposed corrective actions, and alerts via a user interface.
Claims19
A solar panel array for use in a solar cell power system, the solar panel array comprising:
- a number of solar panels configured in a plurality of strings;
- a number of sensors configured to measure an output of each of the solar panels;
- a plurality of inverters connected to solar panels in the solar array, each inverter coupled to its own string of the plurality of strings, wherein each string can operate at its own voltage,
- wherein the sensors are further configured to measure output power of at least one of the inverters of the plurality of inverters;
- a telemetry gateway configured to collect data from the sensors and transmit the collected data;
- and
- a monitoring system configured to receive the collected data, the monitoring system comprising:
- an event signature recognizer,
- a trend analyzer, and
- a symmetry analyzer,
- wherein the monitoring system is configured to detect events, trends and solar panel array asymmetry and to display operator system status information via a user interface.
A device for use in a solar cell power system, the device comprising:
- an event signature recognizer;
- a trend analyzer;
- and
- a symmetry analyzer;
- wherein the device is configured to receive data from a telemetry device located at a solar cell site via a network connection, the device further configured to use the data to detect events, trends and solar panel array asymmetry and to display operator system status information via a user interface,
- the telemetry device associated with:
- a number of solar panels configured in a plurality of strings;
- a number of sensors configured to measure an output of each of the solar panels;
- and
- a plurality of inverters connected to solar panels in the solar array, each inverter coupled to its own string of the plurality of strings, wherein each string can operate at its own voltage,
- wherein the sensors are further configured to measure output power of at least one of the inverters of the plurality of inverters.
A method for monitoring solar cell performance in a photovoltaic array, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a telemetry device, data corresponding to a monitored voltage of at least one solar panel in the photovoltaic array at a monitoring system, the monitoring system comprising:
- an event signature recognizer,
- a trend analyzer, and
- a symmetry analyzer;
- and
- providing results to a user of at least one event signature analysis, trend analysis and symmetry analysis
- the telemetry device associated with:
- a number of solar panels configured in a plurality of strings;
- a number of sensors configured to measure an output of each of the solar panels;
- and
- a plurality of inverters connected to solar panels in the solar array, each inverter coupled to its own string of the plurality of strings, wherein each string can operate at its own voltage,
- wherein the sensors are further configured to measure output power of at least one of the inverters of the plurality of inverters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.