Monitoring of Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources
First Claim
1. A monitoring system for distributed DC power installation, comprising:
- a plurality of power sources;
a plurality of monitoring modules, each monitoring module associated with one of the power sources and collecting performance data of the associated power source;
a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter associated with one of the monitoring modules and transmitting the performance data;
a plurality of controllers, each associated with one of the transmitters and controlling transmission events according to elapsed time from timer initialization.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring system and method for monitoring performance of individual powers sources in a distributed power source system. A monitoring module is coupled to each of the power sources, or to each string of serially connected power sources, to monitor and collect data regarding current, voltage, temperature and other environmental factors at the power source. The collected data is transmitted over a power line to a central analysis station for analysis. Data collected from each source indicates malfunction or degradation at the source. Comparison of data collected from adjacent sources filters for environmental factors impacting neighboring sources such as cloudy days for a solar panel. Comparison of data collected from the same source at different times indicates soiling or degradation of the source with time or periodic events such as a moving shade from an adjacent building.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A monitoring system for distributed DC power installation, comprising:
-
a plurality of power sources; a plurality of monitoring modules, each monitoring module associated with one of the power sources and collecting performance data of the associated power source; a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter associated with one of the monitoring modules and transmitting the performance data; a plurality of controllers, each associated with one of the transmitters and controlling transmission events according to elapsed time from timer initialization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for monitoring distributed power harvesting systems including DC power sources, the method comprising:
-
individually monitoring power generation at each of the DC power sources and, when power generation passes a threshold at one of the DC power sources, performing the steps; initializing a timer for the power source; collecting performance data for the power source; monitoring passage of time period of the timer and, when the time period reached a setup time, transmitting the collected performance data to a central analysis station. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21-36. -36. (canceled)
Specification