JP6420622B2 - Management unit that transmits and receives state values indicating the state of the solar cell module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a management unit that transmits a state value indicating a state of a solar cell module to a management server.

  Since the solar power generation system generates power using a large number of solar cell modules, it takes a lot of time and effort when each of the solar cell modules is inspected by maintenance personnel. Therefore, the sensor unit connected to the solar cell module measures the generated current, generated voltage, etc. of the solar cell module, transmits the measurement result to a remotely located management server, and performs abnormality diagnosis in the management server An abnormality diagnosis system is known (see, for example, JP 2010-123880 A (Cited Document 1) and JP 2012-119632 A (Patent Document 2)). As described in Patent Document 2, power for operating a conventional sensor unit is supplied from a solar cell module.

JP 2010-123880 A JP 2012-119632 A

  However, when the operation power supply is received from the solar cell module, the supply of the operation power is interrupted when the solar cell module fails, and the state value of the solar cell module cannot be transmitted to the management server. There is.

  In a large-scale photovoltaic power generation system including a large number of solar cell modules (referred to as “mega solar system”), the status value of each solar cell module is directly transmitted from the sensor unit to the management server. Rather, the communication master unit that is wirelessly connected to the sensor unit aggregates status values from a plurality of sensor units (communication slave units), and transmits the aggregated status value to the management server from the communication device. is there. This type of communication base unit is sometimes called a “management unit”. The management unit is communicably connected to each of the sensor units and the management server, and is configured to transmit measurement information from each sensor unit to the management server. This management unit is often wirelessly connected to each sensor unit with a short-range wireless standard such as Zigbee (registered trademark, the same shall apply hereinafter). In many cases, the sensor unit is disposed in the vicinity of the solar cell module to be monitored.

  Thus, it is possible to supply electric power from the solar cell module to the management unit arranged in the vicinity of the solar cell module. However, if power is supplied from the solar cell module, it becomes impossible to transmit the state values measured for all of the sensor units connected to the management unit when the solar cell module fails. In this case, since the state value cannot be acquired by the management server, it becomes difficult to specify the cause of the failure or to specify the failed solar cell module.

  In addition, since the solar cell module is installed on a frame made by combining metal frames in a lattice shape, the radio wave environment is often inferior in the vicinity of the solar cell module. Therefore, when the management unit is arranged near the solar cell module in order to receive power supply from the solar cell module, there is a problem that the communication quality when the state value is transmitted and received deteriorates.

  Because of such problems, it is desirable to supply power to the management unit from a power supply source other than the solar cell module. However, installing a power feeding device for each management unit is inefficient.

  Accordingly, the disclosure of the present specification is one of the purposes to provide a management unit that can transmit the state value of the solar cell module using power supplied from a power supply source other than the solar cell module. To do. In addition, an object of the disclosure of this specification is to enable efficient power supply to the management unit. Other objects of the present invention will be clarified through the description of the entire specification.

  A management unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a line power receiving unit that receives power from a power feeding device via a line for performing communication, and a receiving unit that receives a state value indicating a state of at least one solar cell module. And a transmitter that transmits the state value via the line.

  The management unit according to the embodiment transmits the state value of the solar cell module using the power other than the generated power of the solar cell module, that is, the power supplied from the power supply device via the line for performing communication. be able to. Therefore, even if the solar cell module fails, the state value related to the failed solar cell module can be transmitted using the power received by the line power receiving unit.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the line power reception unit is configured to receive power from the power feeding device in accordance with PoE defined in the IEEE 802.3af standard or the IEEE 802.3af standard. In PoE, power can be supplied to a PoE power receiving device connected to a power supply apparatus via a LAN cable. Therefore, a single power feeder can be shared by a plurality of management units by supplying power using PoE. This eliminates the need to provide a separate power supply device for each management unit.

  The management unit according to an embodiment of the present invention further includes a PV power receiving unit that receives the generated power from one of the at least one solar cell modules. According to the embodiment, the power generated by the solar cell module can also be used. In the case of receiving power supply in conformity with PoE, the PoE power receiving device needs to be arranged within a predetermined distance (approximately 100 m) from the power feeding apparatus. Therefore, when the power supply method to the management unit is limited to the method using PoE, the arrangement of the management unit is restricted by the distance from the power supply apparatus. If the management unit is configured so that it can also receive power from the solar cell module, even if the management unit has to be placed far away from the PoE power supply device (PoE power transmission device), the power from the solar cell module A status value can be sent. Thus, the freedom degree of the layout of a solar power generation system can be improved by comprising a management unit so that both the electric power from a PoE power transmission device and the electric power from a solar cell module can be utilized.

  The management unit in an embodiment of the present invention further includes a switching circuit that supplies one of the power received by the line power receiving unit and the power received by the PV power receiving unit to the transmitting unit. Thereby, if one of the power from the line power receiving unit and the power from the PV power receiving unit can be received (that is, even if one cannot receive power due to a failure or the like), the state value can be transmitted.

  According to the disclosure of the present specification, it is possible to provide a management unit that can transmit the state value of the solar cell module using power supplied from a power supply source other than the solar cell module.

The block diagram which shows roughly the function of the photovoltaic power generation system provided with the management unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention The schematic diagram which shows roughly the function of the sensor unit provided in the photovoltaic power generation system of FIG. The schematic diagram which shows roughly the function of the management unit provided in the photovoltaic power generation system of FIG. The block diagram which shows roughly the function of the solar energy power generation system provided with the management unit which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows roughly the function of the management unit provided in the photovoltaic power generation system of FIG.

  Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In addition, the same referential mark is attached | subjected to the component which is common in several drawing through the said some drawing.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing functions of a photovoltaic power generation system provided with a management unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The solar power generation system shown in FIG. 1 includes an array 115 including a large number of solar cell modules 5, a power conditioner 120 that converts DC power from the array 115 into AC power, and a management unit 130.

  The array 115 has a plurality of strings 110 connected in parallel. Each of the plurality of strings 110 includes a plurality of solar cell modules 5 connected in series and a sensor unit 10 connected to one of the plurality of solar cell modules 5. The plurality of strings 110 are connected to the power conditioner 120 in parallel.

  The sensor unit 10 provided in the predetermined string 110 is arranged and arranged so as to measure at least one of current, voltage, and power output from the solar cell modules 5 included in the same string. Composed. A measurement value obtained by this measurement is transmitted from the antenna of the sensor unit 10 to the management unit 130. For example, the sensor unit 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of external terminals connected to the solar cell module 5. The external terminals include an external terminal 22a connected to the positive electrode 5a of the solar cell module 5 arranged on the upstream side of the sensor unit 10, and a solar cell on the downstream side of the predetermined solar cell module 5. The external terminal 23a connected to the negative electrode 5b of the module 5, the external terminal 23b connected to the positive electrode 5a of the solar cell module 5 to which the external terminal 23a is connected, and the downstream side of the sensor unit 10. And an external terminal 22b connected to the negative electrode 5b of the solar cell module 5.

  The management unit 130 is configured to be able to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of sensor units 10. In addition, the management unit 130 in one embodiment is communicably connected to the management server 140 via the communication line 150, and the status value of the solar cell module 5 received from the sensor unit 10 is transmitted to the management server 140. Can be sent.

  The management server 140 diagnoses whether each solar cell module has an abnormality based on the state value of each solar cell module 5 received from each sensor unit 10 via the management unit 130. Abnormality (failure) diagnosis can be executed using any known logic. For example, an example of abnormality determination logic is described in paragraph [0034] of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-123880. The abnormality diagnosis may be executed not by the management server 140 but by the sensor unit 10 or the management unit 130. In this case, the diagnosis result is transmitted to the management server 140, and the log of the diagnosis result is accumulated in the management server 140.

  The line 150 in one embodiment is an Ethernet (registered trademark, the same applies hereinafter) cable corresponding to PoE defined in the IEEE 802.3af standard or the IEEE 802.3af standard. The management unit 130 can send / receive various information to / from the management server 140 via the line 150. The state value of the solar cell module 5 is also transmitted to the management server 140 via this path 150. In addition, the management unit 130 is configured to receive power from the power supply device provided in the management server 130 via the line 150.

  Next, the function of the sensor unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the function of the sensor unit 10 provided in the photovoltaic power generation system of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a power supply unit 101, a microcomputer 102, a current sensor 103, and a wireless module 104. The power supply unit 101 is disposed between the external terminal 23a and the external terminal 23b, and includes, for example, a capacitor that is charged with electric power supplied from the solar cell module 5 via these terminals. The power supply unit 101 is electrically connected to electronic components provided in the sensor unit 10 such as the microcomputer 102 and the wireless module 104, and can supply power to these electronic components.

  The current sensor 103 is disposed between the external terminal 22a and the external terminal 23a, and is configured to measure a current flowing through the string 110. The current sensor 103 may be, for example, a known current sensor including a shunt resistor and an operational amplifier.

  As described above, the sensor unit 10 provided in the string 110 has the current, voltage, and power supplied from the solar cell module 5 constituting the string 110, and the temperature of the solar cell module 5 (this specification). , These may be collectively referred to as “state value”, “string state value”, or “solar cell module state value”). Although only the current sensor 103 is illustrated in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 10 can include a voltage sensor and a temperature sensor in addition to the current sensor 103. Since various known sensors can be used as the voltage sensor and the temperature sensor, detailed description thereof is omitted. The state value of the solar cell module 5 generated by the sensor unit 10 is not limited to the above-described measured values of current, voltage, power, and temperature. The state value of the solar cell module 5 that can be used in the present invention includes the solar cell module. Any measured value that can be used to determine 5 abnormalities or failures can be included.

  The microcomputer 102 according to the embodiment of the present invention diagnoses whether the string 110 is abnormal based on the state value of the string 110 received from various built-in sensors such as the current sensor 103. Abnormality (failure) diagnosis can be executed using any known logic. The microcomputer 102 can also perform various arithmetic processes such as calculating an average value and a peak value of the measured state values of the string 110. In the present specification, a calculated value obtained by performing an arbitrary calculation on the state value is also included in the “state value” as long as the operation state of the solar cell module can be indicated. In one embodiment, the average value or peak value of the state value of the solar cell module 5 and data indicating the presence or absence of failure of the solar cell module 5 diagnosed by the sensor unit 10 or the management unit are also included in the “state value”. .

  The wireless module 104 is configured to wirelessly transmit various types of information such as measured state values to other sensor units 10 and management units 130. The wireless module 104 is, for example, a wireless device that uses a short-range wireless standard such as Zigbee (trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark, the same applies hereinafter), or a wireless communication standard such as an IEEE802.11 wireless LAN or WiMAX. It is configured to communicate. The wireless module 104 includes an antenna that radiates electromagnetic waves having a frequency used in these communication standards. The wireless module 104 may directly wirelessly transmit information to the management unit 130 according to the distance to the management unit 130, or may first transmit the information to another sensor unit 10 in the vicinity, and the other sensor unit. 10 may be transmitted to the management unit 130 (that is, multi-hop communication may be performed by a plurality of sensor units 10).

  Next, the function of the management unit 130 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically showing functions of the management unit 130 provided in the photovoltaic power generation system of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the management unit 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a LAN connector 131, a power receiving unit 132, a DC / DC converter 133, a transmission / reception driver 134, a microcomputer 135, and a wireless module 136. . In FIG. 3, a power supply line for supplying power is indicated by a dotted line connecting the blocks, and a signal line for transmitting a signal is indicated by a solid line connecting the blocks.

  The LAN connector 131 is a connector for coupling the line 150 to the management unit 130, and is, for example, a known RJ45 connector. The LAN connector 131 in one embodiment includes, for example, a bridge diode, an insulation transformer for signal insulation, and a choke coil for smoothing. This bridge diode is provided in order to make the polarity of the voltage supplied from the straight cable and the cross cable of the line 150 uniform.

  In the power receiving unit 132 in one embodiment, the management unit 130 is a PoE power receiving device (PoE-PD) in response to a detection signal transmitted from the PoE power transmitting device (PoE-PSE or power feeding device) via the line 150. And the authentication result is notified to the PoE power transmission device. For example, the power receiving unit 132 has a detection resistor having a predetermined resistance value (for example, 25 kΩ), and when a voltage having a predetermined potential difference is applied to the line 150 by the PoE power transmission device, a current corresponding to the potential difference is generated. It is configured to flow through the line 150 via the LAN connector 131. The PoE power transmission device can detect that the management unit 130 is a PoE power receiving device (PoE-PD) by detecting this current. In addition, the power reception unit 132 according to the embodiment causes a predetermined current to flow through the line 150 in response to the detection signal for class detection from the PoE power transmission device. Thereby, the PoE power transmission device can detect the power consumption class of the management unit 130. In addition, the power receiving unit 132 in one embodiment has a load switch function. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the PoE power transmission device is provided in the management server 140, but the PoE power transmission device may be provided separately from the management server 140.

  The DC / DC converter 133 according to the embodiment is a step-down converter that converts a voltage supplied from the PoE power transmission device via the line 150 into a predetermined circuit drive voltage. The circuit drive voltage is provided in the management unit 130. Supply to each of the circuits. For example, the DC / DC converter 133 converts a 48v voltage from the PoE power transmission device into a 3.3v circuit drive voltage.

  In one embodiment, the transmission / reception driver 134 converts the MAC layer information from the microcomputer 135 into a transmission signal, transmits the transmission signal obtained by this conversion via the LAN connector 131, and also transmits via the LAN connector 131. The received signal is converted into MAC layer information, and the MAC layer information is provided to the microcomputer 135.

  The microcomputer 135 in one embodiment performs various controls for transmitting and receiving data via the line 150. For example, the microcomputer 135 manages the MAC address used in Ethernet.

  The wireless module 136 in one embodiment is a wireless communication module configured to perform wireless communication with the sensor unit 10. The wireless module 136 is configured to perform wireless communication using a short-range wireless standard such as Zigbee (trademark) or Bluetooth (trademark), or a wireless communication standard such as an IEEE802.11 wireless LAN or WiMAX. Is done.

  In the photovoltaic power generation system configured as described above, the sensor unit 10 measures the state value of the solar cell module 5 (or the string 110), and wirelessly transmits the state value to the management unit 130. The management unit 130 transmits the received state value to the management server 140 via the line 150 according to the control of the microcomputer 135. The management server 140 diagnoses the presence or absence of a failure in the solar cell module 5 (or string 110) based on the received state value. Since the management unit 130 uses the power supplied from the PoE power transmission device via the line 150 to transmit the state value of the solar cell module, the management unit 130 (or a sensor wirelessly connected to the management unit 130) Even if the solar cell module 5 that is the monitoring target of the unit 10) fails, the state value of the solar cell module 5 can be transmitted.

  Further, since a plurality of management units 130 can be connected to the management server 140 via the line 150, a plurality of management units can be connected from a single power supply device (for example, PoE power transmission device) provided in the management server 140. Can be supplied with electric power. Thereby, it is not necessary to provide a power supply device for each of the plurality of management units 130.

  Next, with reference to FIG.4 and FIG.5, the management unit which concerns on other embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing functions of a photovoltaic power generation system provided with a management unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the power supply method to the management unit that transmits the state value from the sensor unit 10 to the management server 140 is different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, only one string 210 and management unit 230 are shown, but a plurality of strings 210 and management units 230 may be provided as in the embodiment of FIG.

  In the photovoltaic power generation system shown in FIG. 4, the state value of the solar cell module 5 (string 210) acquired by the sensor unit 10 is transmitted to the management unit 230. The function of the management unit 230 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, a power supply line for supplying power is indicated by a dotted line connecting the blocks, and a signal line for transmitting a signal is indicated by a solid line connecting the blocks. As shown in FIG. 5, the management unit 230 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a PV connector 231 and an OR circuit 232 in addition to the components of the management unit 130. The PV connector 231 includes a branch connector C1 provided on a cable that connects a positive electrode 5a of a predetermined solar cell module 5 and a negative electrode 5b of the solar cell module 5 downstream thereof, and the downstream solar cell. It is electrically connected to a branch connector C2 provided in a cable that connects the positive electrode 5a of the module 5 and the negative electrode 5b of the solar cell module 5 further downstream from the positive electrode 5a. The power generated by the solar cell module 5 is received via the connector C2. In this way, the electric power supplied from the solar cell module 5 is output from the PV connector 231 to the OR circuit 232.

  The OR circuit 232 receives the power supplied from the solar cell module from the PV connector 231, receives the power supplied from the PoE power transmission device from the power receiving unit 132, and receives either of the two powers to the DC / DC converter 133. Configured to output. The OR circuit 232 is, for example, a cathode common type diode OR circuit including a set of constant voltage diodes. In this case, the anode of one diode of the set of constant voltage diodes is connected to the power receiving unit 132, the anode of the other diode is connected to the PV connector 231, and the common cathode of these diodes is DC / DC. Connected to converter 133. The OR circuit 232 may be a semiconductor switch.

  Thus, the management unit 230 is configured to be able to use both the power from the PoE power transmission device and the power from the solar cell module 5. Thereby, since the management unit 230 can be arrange | positioned far from a PoE power transmission device, the freedom degree of the layout of a solar energy power generation system can be improved.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. The material, shape, and arrangement of each member described above are merely embodiments for carrying out the present invention, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

5 Solar cell module 10 Sensor unit 110, 210 String 115, 215 Array 120 Power conditioner 130, 230 Management unit 131 LAN connector 132 Power receiving unit 133 DC / DC converter 134 Transmission / reception driver 135 Microcomputer 136 Wireless module 140 Management server 150 Line 231 PV connector 232 OR circuit

Claims (4)

A line power receiving unit that receives power from the power feeding device via a line for communication;
A receiving unit for receiving a state value indicating a state of at least one solar cell module;
A transmitter that transmits the state value via the line;
A PV power receiving unit that receives the generated power from one of the at least one solar cell modules;
Management unit with   2. The management unit according to claim 1, wherein the line power receiving unit receives power from the power supply apparatus according to PoE defined in the IEEE 802.3af standard or the IEEE 802.3af standard. The management unit according to claim 1 , further comprising: a switching circuit that supplies one of the power received by the line power receiving unit and the power received by the PV power receiving unit to the transmitting unit. State value indicating the state of the solar cell module, management according to any one of claims 1 to claim 3, characterized in that those transmitted from the sensor unit connected to the solar cell module unit.

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