AUTOMATIC GENERATION AND ANALYSIS OF SOLAR CELL IV CURVES

摘要

A photovoltaic system includes multiple strings of solar panels and a device presenting a DC load to the strings of solar panels. Output currents of the strings of solar panels may be sensed and provided to a computer that generates current-voltage (IV) curves of the strings of solar panels. Output voltages of the string of solar panels may be sensed at the string or at the device presenting the DC load. The DC load may be varied. Output currents of the strings of solar panels responsive to the variation of the DC load are sensed to generate IV curves of the strings of solar panels. IV curves may be compared and analyzed to evaluate performance of and detect problems with a string of solar panels.

主权项

1. A method of evaluating performance of solar panels, the method comprising:
selectively providing power to a first current sensor in a plurality of current sensors, wherein the plurality of current sensors comprises Hall Effect field sensors; sensing, using the first current sensor while providing power to the first current sensor, current generated by a first string of solar panels in a plurality of strings of solar panels to generate a sensed current; selectively providing power to a second current sensor in the plurality of current sensors instead of providing power to the first current sensor; sensing, using the second current sensor while providing power to the second current sensor, current generated by a second string of solar panels in the plurality of strings of solar panels; and evaluating a performance of the first string of solar panels using the sensed current.