# US 9,520,722 B2 · Solar power generation management apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,722 B2 - Document ID: US9520722B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/036,682 - Filed: 2014-11-14 - Published: 2016-10-20 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-15 - Assignees: Epsel Co., Ltd.; Epsem Co., Ltd. - Applicants: EPSEL Co., Ltd.; EPSEM Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Masumi Nasuno; Hideichi Azuma; Manabu Fujii - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520722B2 ## CPC - H02S 50/00: Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification - G01R 21/133: by using digital technique - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02J 3/466: Scheduling or selectively controlling the operation of the generators or sources, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a demand - H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence) - H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics - Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV] - Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02P 80/20: using renewable energy - Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - 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) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A solar power generation management apparatus which manages a solar power generation system includes: an output sensor that senses respective output current values or output voltage values of a plurality of unit power generation modules; and a calculator that receives sensing information from the output sensor and displays it on a display (50). The calculator acquires the sensing information of the output sensor and simultaneously displays a plurality of display frames (212) corresponding to the plurality of unit power generation modules on the display. Furthermore, it sets a color level of information displayed in the display frame (212) correspondingly to a level of the sensing information. As a result, operating situations of the plurality of unit power generation modules can be visually monitored based on the color levels in the display frames on the display, which enables maintenance timing of solar panels to be visually recognized. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A solar power generation management apparatus which manages a solar power generation system using a plurality of solar panels, comprising: an output sensor that senses respective output current values or output voltage values of a plurality of unit power generation modules, taking any of a single solar panel and a panel group composed of a predetermined number of solar panels as a unit power generation module; a switching device that switches output lines of the unit power generation modules so as to connect them to any of a power selling-side line and a power storage-side line; and a calculator that is connected to the output sensor and receives sensing information from the output sensor to display an operating situation of the solar power generation system on a display, wherein the calculator has sensing information acquisition means that acquires the sensing information of the output sensor, has switching control means that controls the switching device using the sensing information, has display management means that simultaneously displays a plurality of display frames corresponding to the plurality of unit power generation modules on the display, has display color setting means that sets a color level of information displayed in the display frame correspondingly to a level of the sensing information acquired by the sensing information acquisition means, and enables operating situations of the plurality of unit power generation modules to be visually monitored based on the color levels in the plurality of display frames on the display, and the switching control means refers to a power selling upper limit value of the power selling-side line and selects a part of the unit power generation modules out of the plurality of unit power generation modules to connect them to the power selling-side line such that a total output of the plurality of unit power generation modules is approximated to the power selling upper limit value, and meanwhile, controls the switching device so as to perform switching such that a remaining part of the unit power generation modules is connected to the power storage-side line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculator includes abnormality condition setting means that sets an abnormality condition for sensing abnormality of the unit power generation module, and abnormality determination means that determines whether or not the sensing information satisfies the abnormality condition, and when the abnormality condition is satisfied, displays abnormality information in the display frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator is capable of setting different conditions for the individual unit power generation modules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2, 3) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses the sensing information of the unit power generation module adjacent to a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses past sensing information of a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses the sensing information of the unit power generation module adjacent to a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses past sensing information of a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses past sensing information of a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses past sensing information of a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a connection box that collects output lines of the plurality of unit power generation modules, wherein the output sensor that senses the output current values or the output voltage values of the output lines is integrally contained in the connection box. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display management means in the calculator displays the plurality of display frames on the display in a state where they coincide with an arrangement layout of the unit power generation modules at a site. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a wireless communication terminal that connects the output sensor and the calculator through wireless communication. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein output of the part of the unit power generation modules is supplied to a common power conditioner via the power selling-side line, and output of the remaining part of the unit power generation modules is supplied to a common battery via the power storage-side line. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the calculator includes abnormality condition setting means that sets an abnormality condition for sensing abnormality of the unit power generation module, and abnormality determination means that determines whether or not the sensing information satisfies the abnormality condition, and when the abnormality condition is satisfied, displays abnormality information in the display frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator is capable of setting different conditions for the individual unit power generation modules. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses the sensing information of the unit power generation module adjacent to a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses past sensing information of a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses the sensing information of the unit power generation module adjacent to a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses past sensing information of a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The solar power generation management apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the abnormality condition setting means of the calculator uses past sensing information of a specific unit power generation module as the abnormality condition of the specific unit power generation module.