Monitoring of Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources

• US 20150100257A1
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Adest, Meir, Handelsman, Lior, Galin, Yoav, Fishelov, Amir, Sella, Guy
• Granted Patent: US 9,644,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/125 Utility meter reading systems specially adapted for determining the environmental impact of user behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/14 Displaying of utility usage with respect to time, e.g. for monitoring evolution of usage or with respect to weather conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/30 Remote utility meter reading systems specially adapted for metering the generated energy or power
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/35 Monitoring the performance of renewable electricity generating systems, e.g. of solar panels
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/26 involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources maximum power point systems in particular G05F1/67
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/70 : Smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the energy generation sector
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/123 : the energy generation units being or involving renewable energy sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/30 : State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 : Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

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.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. An apparatus, comprising:

a power source connected to a power line;

a monitoring module comprising a timer, wherein the monitoring module is configured to collect performance data of the power source;

a transmitter configured to transmit the performance data over the power line; and

a controller configured to control the transmitter to transmit the performance data when an elapsed time period from initialization of the timer reaches a transmission time period of the transmitter.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the power line is shared with other power sources.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the monitoring module further comprises a randomizer configured to include random time increments in the transmission time period of the power source.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a current measurement module configured to collect current data of the power source; and

a voltage measurement module configured to collect voltage data of the power source.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature data of the power source.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the monitoring module further comprises an arc detection module configured to detect arcing at the power source.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a memory configured to store the performance data accumulated since the initialization of the timer.

44. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a communication module configured to transmit the performance data over the power line to a communication translator.

45. A method, comprising:

monitoring power generation of a power source;

when power generation of the power source passes a threshold, initializing a timer and collecting performance data of the power source;

monitoring an elapsed time period of the timer from initialization of the timer;

determining whether the elapsed time period of the timer has reached a transmission time period of the power source; and

in response to determining that the elapsed time has reached the transmission time period of the power source, transmitting the collected performance data over a power line.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

generating a random time increment; and

determining the transmission time period by adding the random time increment to a periodic transmission time of the power source.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein transmitting the collected performance data over a power line comprises:

transmitting, to a communication translator in communication with a plurality of power sources, the collected performance data over a power line shared with the plurality of power sources.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein collecting performance data further comprises storing the performance data in memory, and wherein transmitting the collected performance data comprises transmitting the collected performance data accumulated since a previous transmission of performance data.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein collecting performance data comprises measuring at least one of output voltage and output current.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein transmitting the collected performance data over a power line comprises:

transmitting the collected performance data with a unique identifier of the power source over the power line.

51. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

detecting for wideband noise; and

in response to detecting wideband noise above a threshold, transmitting an interrupt message.

52. A system, comprising:

a plurality of panel units connected to a communication line, wherein each panel unit comprises;

a power source;

a monitoring module configured to collect performance data of the power source;

a transmitter configured to transmit the performance data over the communication line; and

a controller configured to control the transmitter to transmit the performance data using the communication line; and

a communication translator configured to receive the performance data from each of the plurality of panel units over the communication line, wherein the controller of each panel unit is configured to avoid transmission collisions with controllers of other panel units.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the monitoring module comprises a timer, and wherein the controller is configured to transmit the performance data based on an elapsed time period of the timer and a transmission time period associated with the panel unit of the controller.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the monitoring module further comprises a randomizer configured to include random time increments in the transmission time period.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the communication line comprises a power line.

56. The system of claim 52, further comprising:

a central analysis station configured to detect for faults, wherein the communication translator is configured to transmit the performance data to the central analysis station.