Apparatus, system, and method of diagnosing individual photovoltaic cells
First Claim
1. An apparatus for diagnosing an under-performing photovoltaic element, the photovoltaic element functioning to convert solar energy to electricity and including a face receiving the solar energy, the apparatus comprising:
- a by-pass diode electrically connected in parallel with the photovoltaic element, the by-pass diode operating between first and second states, the first operating state of the by-pass diode corresponding to a functional condition of the photovoltaic element, and the second operating state of the by-pass diode corresponding to a dysfunctional condition of the photovoltaic element; and
an indicator electrically coupled to the by-pass diode, the indicator including first and second modes, the first mode of the indicator signifying the first operating state of the by-pass diode, and the second mode of the indicator signifying the second operating state of the by-pass diode.
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Abstract
An apparatus, system and method of evaluating performance of a photovoltaic array that includes a plurality of photovoltaic elements. The function of each of the photovoltaic elements is to convert solar energy to electricity. The method includes diagnosing independently the functioning of individual photovoltaic elements, and identifying under-performing individual photovoltaic elements within the photovoltaic array. The diagnosing includes a separate diagnostic circuit for each of the individual photovoltaic elements, and the identifying includes analyzing contemporary and historical measurements of the individual photovoltaic elements.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An apparatus for diagnosing an under-performing photovoltaic element, the photovoltaic element functioning to convert solar energy to electricity and including a face receiving the solar energy, the apparatus comprising:
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a by-pass diode electrically connected in parallel with the photovoltaic element, the by-pass diode operating between first and second states, the first operating state of the by-pass diode corresponding to a functional condition of the photovoltaic element, and the second operating state of the by-pass diode corresponding to a dysfunctional condition of the photovoltaic element; and
an indicator electrically coupled to the by-pass diode, the indicator including first and second modes, the first mode of the indicator signifying the first operating state of the by-pass diode, and the second mode of the indicator signifying the second operating state of the by-pass diode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for diagnosing an under-performing photovoltaic element, the photovoltaic element functioning to convert solar energy to electricity, the apparatus comprising:
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an electricity sensing device connected to the photovoltaic element, the electricity sensing device detecting a voltage condition of the photovoltaic element; and
an indicator electrically coupled to the device, the indicator including first and second modes, the first mode of the indicator signifying a functioning state of the photovoltaic element, and the second mode of the indicator signifying a functioning state of the photovoltaic element having not been achieved. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A photovoltaic module for mounting on a structure, the photovoltaic module comprising:
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first and second module faces and an edge that extends between the first and second module faces, the first module face receiving solar energy and the second module face being adapted to generally confront the structure;
a plurality of photovoltaic cells being commonly supported by a base, each of the photovoltaic cells converting the solar energy to electricity; and
a device connected to one of the plurality of photovoltaic cells and operating between first and second states, the first operating state of the device corresponding to a functional condition of the at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, and the second operating state of the device corresponding to a dysfunctional condition of the at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic cells. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A system for diagnosing a photovoltaic array, the photovoltaic array including a plurality of photovoltaic elements functioning to convert solar energy to electricity, the system comprising:
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a first by-pass diode electrically connected in parallel with a first one of the plurality of photovoltaic elements, the first by-pass diode operating between first and second states, the first operating state of the first by-pass diode corresponding to a functional condition of the first photovoltaic element, and the second operating state of the first by-pass diode corresponding to a dysfunctional condition of the first photovoltaic element;
a first diagnostic circuit electrically coupled to the first by-pass diode, the first diagnostic circuit including first and second modes, the first mode of the first diagnostic circuit signifying the first operating state of the first by-pass diode, and the second mode of the first diagnostic circuit signifying the second operating state of the first by-pass diode;
a second by-pass diode electrically connected in parallel with a second one of the plurality of photovoltaic elements, the second by-pass diode operating between first and second states, the first operating state of the second by-pass diode corresponding to a functional condition of the second photovoltaic element, and the second operating state of the second by-pass diode corresponding to a dysfunctional condition of the second photovoltaic element; and
a second diagnostic circuit electrically coupled to the second by-pass diode, the second diagnostic circuit including first and second modes, the first mode of the second diagnostic circuit signifying the first operating state of the second by-pass diode, and the second mode of the second diagnostic circuit signifying the second operating state of the second by-pass diode. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of evaluating performance of a photovoltaic array including a plurality of photovoltaic elements, each of the photovoltaic elements functioning to convert solar energy to electricity, the method comprising:
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diagnosing independently the functioning of individual photovoltaic elements, the diagnosing including a separate diagnostic circuit for each of the individual photovoltaic elements; and
identifying under-performing individual photovoltaic elements within the photovoltaic array, the identifying including analyzing contemporary and historical measurements of the individual photovoltaic elements. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method of monitoring individual performance of each of a plurality of photovoltaic elements, each of the plurality of photovoltaic elements function to convert solar energy to electricity, the method comprising:
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evaluating individually a status of each of the plurality of photovoltaic elements;
communicating the status of each of the plurality of photovoltaic elements; and
analyzing performance of each of the plurality of photovoltaic elements. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification