Remote access energy meter system and method

• US 20080143554A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carbon 612 Corporation (Clear Skies Solar, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Carbon 612 Corporation (Clear Skies Solar, Inc.)
• Inventors: Green, Ezra, Dockweiler, Robert, O'Connor, William
• Application Number:
  US12/070,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/00 Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor G01R7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A remote energy meter system and method is provided having a meter server and a client module located remotely from the meter server. The meter server communicates with the client via a wireless communications link to recover energy production parameter values. The remote energy meter system preferably provides real-time and automated monitoring of, at least, energy production and system failure parameters.

Claims

1. A remote energy meter system for detecting energy production parameters of an energy generation facility comprising:

a client module operably connected to the energy generation facility for collecting data representative of the energy production parameters;

a backup power management system for providing an alternative or secondary power source for the client module; and

a server located remotely from the client module, wherein the server communicates with the client module to recover the energy production parameters.

2. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the client module is powered by a standard AC service provided by the energy generation facility.

3. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server receives real-time energy production parameters.

4. The remote energy meter system of claim 3, wherein the real-time energy productions parameters are selected from the group consisting of system production, status, and failures.

5. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the energy generation facility is a solar energy facility.

6. The remote energy meter system of claim 5, wherein the solar energy facility provides a plurality of photovoltaic arrays that convert solar energy into electricity.

7. The remote energy meter system of claim 6, wherein the photovoltaic arrays generate DC electricity.

8. The remote energy meter system of claim 7, wherein the DC electricity is converted to an AC output by one or more inverters.

9. The remote energy meter system of claim 8, wherein the AC output is comprised of a current and a voltage.

10. The remote energy meter system of claim 8, further comprising an AC meter that measures the AC output from the one or more inverters.

11. The remote energy meter system of claim 10, further comprising a DC voltmeter that measures the DC electricity generated by the photovoltaic arrays.

12. The remote energy meter system of claim 11, wherein the client module further comprises a data processor that processes data measured by the DC voltmeter and the AC meter.

13. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link selected from the group consisting of a wireless link, a cellular link, a microwave link, and a satellite link.

14. A method of remotely monitoring an energy generation installation comprising:

measuring operating parameters of a remote access energy meter system with a DC voltmeter and an AC meter;

storing the operating parameters in a non-volatile memory;

processing the operating parameters with a data processor;

generating a signal representative of the operating parameters; and

communicating the operating parameters from the remote access energy meter system to a server located remotely from the energy installation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the operating parameters are selected from the group consisting of AC input, DC input, AC output, output voltage and output current.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the operating parameters are communicated to the server via a communications link selected from the group consisting of a wireless link, a cellular link, a microwave link, and a satellite link.