Remote access energy meter system and method

• US 7,336,201 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Endeavor Energy Incorporated (Nanolife Health, Inc. (f/k/a Endeavor IP, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Clear Skies Solar, Inc.
• Inventors: Green, Ezra, O'Connor, William, Dockweiler, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/177,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/870.28, 340/870.2, 375/222, 700/286
• 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 monitoring an energy generation facility comprising:

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

an energy production source that generates an input;

an inverter that converts the input generated by the energy production source into an output;

a meter that measures data of the output converted by the inverter;

a data processor that processes the data measured by the meter;

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

a remote interface that provides access to the client module from the server for monitoring the energy production parameters.

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

3. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the energy production parameters comprise system failure parameters.

4. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a wireless communications link.

5. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link comprising a cellular link.

6. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link comprising a microwave link.

7. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link comprising a satellite link.

8. The remote energy meter system of claim 1, wherein the client module further comprises a secondary power source.

9. An energy generation facility comprising:

a pluralitv of photovoltaic arrays that directly convert solar energy into DC electricity having a current and a voltage;

a client module operably connected to the plurality of photovoltaic arrays for collecting data representative of energy production parameters of the plurality of photovoltaic arrays;

an inverter that converts the DC electricity to AC electricity having a current and a voltage;

a plurality of external toroidal sensor coils that monitor the current of the AC electricity;

an AC meter that measures the current and the voltage of the AC electricity;

a data processor that processes the current and the voltage measured by the AC meter; and

a server located remotely from the plurality of photovoltaic arrays and client module, wherein the server communicates with the client module to recover the energy production parameters.

10. The energy generation facility of claim 9, wherein the server receives real-time energy production parameters.

11. The energy generation facility of claim 9, wherein the energy production parameters comprise system failure parameters.

12. The energy generation facility of claim 9, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a wireless communications link.

13. The energy generation facility of claim 9, wherein the server communicates with the client module via a communications link comprising a cellular link, a microwave link or a satellite link.

14. The energy generation facility of claim 9, wherein the client module further comprises a secondary power source.

15. A method of monitoring a solar energy facility comprising:

converting solar energy into DC electricity by a plurality of photovoltaic arrays;

collecting data representative of energy production parameters of the solar energy facility;

converting the DC electricity into AC electricity with an inverter, wherein the AC electricity has a current and a voltage;

measuring the current and the voltage of the AC electricity with a meter;

generating signals representative of the data; and

communicating the signals to a server located remotely from the solar energy facility.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication of the signals to the server is via a wireless communications link.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the collection of the data is done periodically.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising converting the signals into the data and processing the data via a microprocessor.