Monitoring of distributed power harvesting systems using DC power sources

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A monitoring system for distributed DC power installation, comprising:
a plurality of power sources, each of the power sources connected to a shared power line; a plurality of monitoring modules, each monitoring module associated with one of the power sources and collecting performance data of the associated power source and each monitoring module comprises a timer; a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter associated with one of the monitoring modules and transmitting the performance data of the associated monitoring module over the shared power line; and a plurality of controllers, each associated with one of the transmitters, initializing the timer of the associated monitoring module whenever the associated power source starts to generate power, and controlling the associated transmitter to transmit the performance data when elapsed time from initialization of the timer reaches a transmission time of the associated transmitter.