KR20200064465A - Photovoltaic panel failure detection system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates a system which determines a failure of a photovoltaic panel (PV panel) included in a photovoltaic system operated by using a bidirectional inverter and facilitates maintenance of the system by detecting an accurate location, and a method thereof. The system comprises: a flow control unit applying a current to a PV panel of a PV system from a system; a monitoring unit monitoring an EL video of the PV panel to which the current is applied; and a detection unit diagnosing the failure of the PV panel through the EL video.

Description

Photovoltaic panel failure detection system and method{PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL FAILURE DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD}

The present invention relates to a system and method for determining whether a photovoltaic panel (PV panel) included in a photovoltaic system in operation using a bi-directional inverter has failed and detecting an accurate location to facilitate maintenance of the system.

Solar power generation consists of solar panels, structures, and power converters. When sunlight is split into a solar cell in which a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor are bonded, holes and electrons are generated in the solar cell by the energy of the sunlight. At this time, holes are gathered toward the P-type semiconductor and electrons are gathered toward the N-type semiconductor, and when a potential difference occurs, current flows.

The advantages of photovoltaic power generation are that there is no pollution, power can be generated only as needed at the required location, and maintenance is easy. On the other hand, the amount of electricity production depends on the amount of sunshine, the installation location is limited, and the initial investment cost and the power generation cost are high.

Recently, as interest in power generation using eco-friendly energy has increased, so has interest in solar power generation naturally. The photovoltaic power generation system is configured by connecting a plurality of arrays in series with a plurality of photovoltaic panels in parallel so as to form an appropriate voltage. Such a connection method can stably increase the voltage, but has a disadvantage that when one of the solar panels included in the array fails, the energy of the panels connected thereafter cannot be used. In order to detect such a failure, the generation of the corresponding array is stopped and the generation is stopped at the time of detection because it is detected through EL, which is measured when an electric current is passed, and in this detection, a person is input to directly connect and disconnect the array. There is a disadvantage that it takes a long time and consumes manpower because it requires a measurement process.

Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a system and method for detecting a failed solar panel while minimizing losses that may occur in failure detection of a solar power system to overcome the above problems and limitations.

Solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above problems is a flow control unit for applying a current to the photovoltaic (PV) panel of the solar power system in the system; An observation unit that observes an EL image of the photovoltaic (PV) panel to which a current is applied; And a detector configured to diagnose whether the photovoltaic (PV) panel has failed through the EL image.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the detection unit may provide location information of a fault-occurring photovoltaic (PV) panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the detection unit may perform image registration processing on the image of the PV panel obtained from the observation unit, so that the location of the failure panel may be displayed on the entire image of the PV panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation unit may change the observation position of the camera up, down, left, and right to observe the entire area of the PV panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation unit may include a drone that flies over the PV panel and acquires an EL image of the PV panel to which current is applied.

A method for detecting a failure of a solar panel according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem includes applying a current to a photovoltaic (PV) panel of a solar power system; Observing an EL image of the photovoltaic (PV) panel to which a current is applied; And diagnosing the failure of the photovoltaic (PV) panel through the EL image. It may include.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, providing location information of a fault-generated photovoltaic (PV) panel; It may further include.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the information providing step, the image of the PV panel obtained in the observation step is image-matched to display the location of the fault panel on the entire image of the PV panel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the observation step, the entire position of the PV panel may be observed by changing the observation position of the camera up, down, left, and right.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation step may acquire an EL image of a PV panel to which current is applied while flying over the PV panel with a drone.

The present invention has the advantage that it is possible to detect a failure panel of the solar power system without additional manpower input to the solar power system.

In addition, the present invention can detect a failed solar panel while minimizing power generation loss of the solar power system.

In addition, the present invention can display and present accurate location information of a failed solar panel.

Meanwhile, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and various effects may be included within a range obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

1 illustrates a solar power generation system included in a solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an example of a solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an example of a solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart of a method of detecting a solar panel failure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a'solar panel failure detection system and method' according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are provided so that those skilled in the art can easily understand the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereby. In addition, matters expressed in the accompanying drawings may be different from those actually implemented in schematic drawings to easily describe embodiments of the present invention.

On the other hand, each component represented below is only an example for implementing the present invention. Accordingly, other components may be used in other implementations of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In addition, each component may be implemented solely in the configuration of hardware or software, but may also be implemented in a combination of various hardware and software components that perform the same function. Also, two or more components may be implemented together by one hardware or software.

In addition, the expression'includes' certain components, as an expression of'open', simply refers to the existence of the components, and should not be understood as excluding additional components.

1 shows a solar power system included in a solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a solar power generation system included in a solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a flow control unit 110 and a solar power generation system 120.

The flow control unit 110 may control the current flow between the system and the solar power system 120. The flow control unit 110 may include a bidirectional inverter. The flow control unit 110 may control energy exchange between the system and the solar power system 120. The flow control unit 110 may supply electricity produced by the solar power generation system 120 to the system. The flow control unit 110 may supply the electricity produced by the solar power system 120 to the system by controlling three-phase conversion, frequency adjustment, and phase sink. The flow control unit 110 may allow electric current to be injected from the system to the solar power system 120. The flow control unit 110 may convert and supply a three-phase current of the system to the solar power system 120 as a direct current. The flow control unit 110 may detect the required amount of power of the system. The flow control unit 110 may detect whether the failure detection of the solar power system 120 is possible by sensing the amount of power required by the system. The flow control unit 110 detects the required strategic amount of the system and detects a PV panel failure of the photovoltaic system 120 when it is not necessary to supply power from the photovoltaic system 120 to the system. I can do it. The flow control unit 110 may allow a direct current to flow from the system to the PV panel to detect a photovoltaic (PV) panel failure of the solar power system 120. The direct current may be a current large enough to observe EL on the PV panel. The flow control unit 110 may determine whether to perform a failure detection by sensing the voltage of the DC link of the PV array. The flow control unit 110 may perform photovoltaic power generation when the voltage of the DC link is 380 V or more, and perform a failure detection by applying a current to the PV array when the voltage of the DC link is 200 V or less.

The solar power system 120 may include a PV panel. The photovoltaic power generation system 120 may include an array in which a plurality of the PV panels are connected in series. The photovoltaic power generation system 120 may include a plurality of the PV panel array.

The PV panel can produce electrical energy using sunlight. The PV panel may produce the electrical energy as direct current. The PV panel is a device capable of converting solar energy into electrical energy. In the PV panel, electrons and holes are generated when light of energy greater than the forbidden width is irradiated to a semiconductor junction region having a PN junction surface, so that the internal electric field formed in the junction region moves to N-type semiconductor and holes to P-type semiconductor. Causing electromotive force to occur. In the PV panel, an electrode attached to each of the N-type semiconductor and the P-type semiconductor becomes a negative electrode and a positive electrode, so that a direct current can be taken. The PV panel may include not only silicon, but also gallium arsenide, cadmium tellurium, cadmium sulfide, indium phosphorus, or a composite between these materials.

2 is an example of a solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of PV array (121, 122, 123) and the observation unit 130.

The solar power system 120 may include a PV panel. The photovoltaic power generation system 120 may include an array in which a plurality of the PV panels are connected in series. The photovoltaic power generation system 120 may include a plurality of the PV panel array. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the solar power system 120 may include a PV array 1 (121), PV array 2 (122), PV array 3 (123). The number of PV arrays is only an example, and is not limited thereto, and the number of PV arrays may be changed as necessary. Each PV array (121, 122, 123) may be PV panels are connected in series or in parallel. Each of the PV arrays 121, 122, and 123 may be serially connected to the PV panels when producing and providing electricity, and when the current for detecting a failure is applied through the flow control unit 110, each PV The panels can be connected in parallel.

The PV panel can produce electrical energy using sunlight. The PV panel may produce the electrical energy as direct current. The PV panel is a device capable of converting solar energy into electrical energy. In the PV panel, electrons and holes are generated when light of energy greater than the forbidden width is irradiated to a semiconductor junction region having a PN junction surface, so that the internal electric field formed in the junction region moves to N-type semiconductor and holes to P-type semiconductor. Causing electromotive force to occur. In the PV panel, an electrode attached to each of the N-type semiconductor and the P-type semiconductor becomes a negative electrode and a positive electrode, so that a direct current can be taken. The PV panel may include not only silicon, but also gallium arsenide, cadmium tellurium, cadmium sulfide, indium phosphorus, or a composite between these materials.

The observation unit 130 may acquire and provide an image of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123. The observation unit 130 may observe the EL (electronic luminance) of the PV array (121, 122, 123) through the image of the plurality of PV array (121, 122, 123). The observation unit 130 may acquire an image of the entire region of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123. The observation unit 130 may rotate or move up, down, left, and right to acquire the entire image of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123. The observer 130 may be in a low position to avoid shading while the PV array is performing photovoltaic power generation, and may move to a high position for image acquisition when a failure is detected.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation unit 130 is fixed to a specific position and rotates to change the shooting position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation unit 130 may move along the rails installed on the upper portions of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123 to change the shooting position.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation unit 130 may include a drone flying over the PV panel and acquiring an EL image of the PV panel to which current is applied. Using the drone, an image of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123 may be captured by moving to a position where an image is required above the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123.

3 is an example of a solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, in the solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the observation unit 130 photographs the images of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123, the image is used. It may include a detection unit 140 for detecting a faulty PV panel, and providing location information of the faulty PV panel.

The detection unit 140 may detect a failed PV panel in which a failure has occurred among the plurality of PV panels included in the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123 in the image. The detection unit 140 may detect a faulty PV panel using EL of the PV panel. When the EL of the PV panel is out of the normal range, the detection unit 140 may determine and detect a faulty PV panel.

The detection unit 140 may provide location information of the faulty PV panel. The detection unit 140 may display the location of the faulty PV panel in the form of coordinates in the entire PV panel. That is, a specific position in the entire PV panel is used as an origin, and the number of panels up, down, left, and right from the origin can be displayed as coordinate values. The origin may be a predetermined position. The origin can be changed according to the user's settings.

The detection unit 140 may provide the location of the faulty PV panel as an image. The detection unit 140 analyzes the EL of the at least one PV array (121, 122, 123) when a current is applied to the at least one PV array (121, 122, 123) through the flow control unit 110, the failure PV Panels can be detected. The detection unit 140 may provide the location of the faulty PV panel. The detection unit 140 may provide an image of the EL. The detection unit 140 may provide an image of an EL of the entire PV array. In the above image, it is possible to compare the ELs of all the PV panels to determine the location of the faulty PV panel. The detection unit 140 may generate images of all PV panels by matching images of some PV panels photographed by the observation unit 130 being rotated or moved. The detection unit 140 may provide an EL observation image of all PV panels made by matching images. An EL observation image of the entire PV panel can identify a faulty PV panel and a location of the faulty PV panel. The detection unit 140 may display and provide the location of the faulty PV panel on the image of the entire PV panel.

The detection unit 140 may simultaneously provide an image in which the location of the faulty PV panel is displayed and coordinates that indicate the location of the faulty PV panel.

4 is a flowchart of a method of detecting a solar panel failure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a method for detecting a failure of a solar panel according to an embodiment of the present invention may include applying a current to a photovoltaic (PV) panel of a solar power system (S410 ).

In step S410, the flow control unit 110 may control the current flow between the system and the solar power system 120. The flow control unit 110 may control energy exchange between the system and the solar power system 120. The flow control unit 110 may supply electricity produced by the solar power generation system 120 to the system. The flow control unit 110 may supply the electricity produced by the solar power system 120 to the system by controlling three-phase conversion, frequency adjustment, and phase sink. The flow control unit 110 may allow electric current to be injected from the system to the solar power system 120. The flow control unit 110 may convert and supply a three-phase current of the system to the solar power system 120 as a direct current. The flow control unit 110 may detect the required amount of power of the system. The flow control unit 110 may detect whether the failure detection of the solar power system 120 is possible by sensing the required amount of power in the system. The flow control unit 110 detects a required strategic amount of the system and detects a PV panel failure of the photovoltaic system 120 when it is not necessary to supply power from the photovoltaic system 120 to the system. I can do it. The flow control unit 110 may allow a direct current to flow from the system to the PV panel to detect a photovoltaic (PV) panel failure of the solar power system 120. The direct current may be a current large enough to observe EL on the PV panel. The flow control unit 110 may determine whether to perform a failure detection by sensing the voltage of the DC link of the PV array. The flow control unit 110 may perform photovoltaic power generation when the voltage of the DC link is 380 V or more, and perform a failure detection by applying a current to the PV array when the voltage of the DC link is 200 V or less.

In step S410, the solar power system 120 may include a PV panel. The photovoltaic power generation system 120 may include an array in which a plurality of the PV panels are connected in series. The photovoltaic power generation system 120 may include a plurality of the PV panel array.

In step S410, the PV panel may produce electrical energy using sunlight. The PV panel may produce the electrical energy as direct current. The PV panel is a device capable of converting solar energy into electrical energy. In the PV panel, electrons and holes are generated when light of energy greater than the forbidden width is irradiated to a semiconductor junction region having a PN junction surface, so that the internal electric field formed in the junction region moves to N-type semiconductor and holes to P-type semiconductor. Causing electromotive force to occur. In the PV panel, an electrode attached to each of the N-type semiconductor and the P-type semiconductor becomes a negative electrode and a positive electrode, so that a direct current can be taken. The PV panel may include not only silicon, but also gallium arsenide, cadmium tellurium, cadmium sulfide, indium phosphorus, or a composite between these materials.

In step S410, the solar power system 120 may include a PV panel. The photovoltaic power generation system 120 may include an array in which a plurality of the PV panels are connected in series. The photovoltaic power generation system 120 may include a plurality of the PV panel array. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the solar power system 120 may include a PV array 1 (121), PV array 2 (122), PV array 3 (123). The number of PV arrays is only an example, and is not limited thereto, and the number of PV arrays may be changed as necessary. Each PV array (121, 122, 123) may be PV panels are connected in series. Each of the PV arrays 121, 122, and 123 may be serially connected to the PV panels when producing and providing electricity, and when the current for detecting a failure is applied through the flow control unit 110, each PV The panels can be connected in parallel.

In step S410, the PV panel may produce electrical energy using sunlight. The PV panel may produce the electrical energy as direct current. The PV panel is a device capable of converting solar energy into electrical energy. In the PV panel, electrons and holes are generated when light of energy greater than the forbidden width is irradiated to a semiconductor junction region having a PN junction surface, so that the internal electric field formed in the junction region moves to N-type semiconductor and holes to P-type semiconductor. Causing electromotive force to occur. In the PV panel, an electrode attached to each of the N-type semiconductor and the P-type semiconductor becomes a negative electrode and a positive electrode, so that a direct current can be taken. The PV panel may include not only silicon, but also gallium arsenide, cadmium tellurium, cadmium sulfide, indium phosphorus, or a composite between these materials.

In step S410, the method of detecting a solar panel failure according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the step of observing an EL image of the photovoltaic (PV) panel to which a current is applied (S420).

In step S420, the observation unit 130 may acquire and provide an image of the plurality of PV array (121, 122, 123). The observation unit 130 may observe the EL (electronic luminance) of the PV array (121, 122, 123) through the image of the plurality of PV array (121, 122, 123). The observation unit 130 may acquire an image of the entire region of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123. The observation unit 130 may rotate or move up, down, left, and right to acquire the entire image of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123. The observer 130 may be in a low position to avoid shading while the PV array is performing photovoltaic power generation, and may move to a high position for image acquisition when a failure is detected.

In step S420, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation unit 130 may be fixed to a specific position and rotate to change the shooting position.

In step S420, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation unit 130 may move along the rails installed on the upper portions of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123 to change the shooting position.

In step S420, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the observation unit 130 may include a drone that flies over the PV panel and acquires an EL image of the PV panel to which current is applied. Using the drone, an image of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123 may be captured by moving to a position where an image is required above the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123.

A solar panel failure detection according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a step (S430) of diagnosing the failure of the photovoltaic (PV) panel through the EL image.

In step S430, in the solar panel failure detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the observation unit 130 photographs the images of the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123, the failure PV is used using the image. It may include a detection unit 140 for detecting a panel and providing location information of the faulty PV panel.

In step S430, the detection unit 140 may detect a faulty PV panel in which a failure occurs among a plurality of PV panels included in the plurality of PV arrays 121, 122, and 123 in the image. The detection unit 140 may detect a faulty PV panel using EL of the PV panel. When the EL of the PV panel is out of the normal range, the detection unit 140 may determine and detect a faulty PV panel.

Detection of a solar panel failure according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a step (S440) of providing location information of a failure-generated PV (photovoltaic) panel.

In step S440, the detection unit 140 may provide location information of the faulty PV panel. The detection unit 140 may display the location of the faulty PV panel in the form of coordinates in the entire PV panel. That is, a specific position in the entire PV panel is used as an origin, and the number of panels up, down, left, and right from the origin can be displayed as coordinate values. The origin may be a predetermined position. The origin can be changed according to the user's settings.

In step S440, the detection unit 140 may provide the location of the faulty PV panel as an image. The detection unit 140 analyzes the EL of the at least one PV array (121, 122, 123) when a current is applied to the at least one PV array (121, 122, 123) through the flow control unit 110, the failure PV Panels can be detected. The detection unit 140 may provide the location of the faulty PV panel. The detection unit 140 may provide an image of the EL. The detection unit 140 may provide an image of an EL of the entire PV array. In the above image, it is possible to compare the ELs of all the PV panels to determine the location of the faulty PV panel. The detection unit 140 may generate images of all PV panels by matching images of some PV panels photographed by the observation unit 130 being rotated or moved. The detection unit 140 may provide an EL observation image of all PV panels made by matching images. An EL observation image of the entire PV panel can identify a faulty PV panel and a location of the faulty PV panel. The detection unit 140 may display and provide the location of the faulty PV panel on the image of the entire PV panel. The detection unit 140 may simultaneously provide an image in which the location of the faulty PV panel is displayed and coordinates that indicate the location of the faulty PV panel.

So far, the present invention has been focused on the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments should be considered in terms of explanation, not limitation. The scope of the present invention is shown in the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the equivalent range should be interpreted as being included in the present invention.

110: flow control
120: solar power system
130: observation unit
140: detection unit

Claims (10)

A flow control unit that applies current to the photovoltaic (PV) panel of the solar power system in the system;
An observation unit that observes an EL image of the photovoltaic (PV) panel to which a current is applied; And
And a detection unit configured to diagnose whether the photovoltaic (PV) panel has failed through the EL image.
According to claim 1,
The detection unit,
A photovoltaic panel failure detection system that provides location information of a failed photovoltaic (PV) panel.
According to claim 2,
The detection unit,
A photovoltaic panel failure detection system in which an image of the PV panel obtained by the observation unit is image-matched to display the location of the failure panel on the entire image of the PV panel.
According to claim 1,
The observation unit,
Solar panel failure detection system that observes the entire area of the PV panel by changing the observation position of the camera up, down, left, and right.
According to claim 1,
The observation unit,
A solar panel failure detection system that includes; a drone flying over the PV panel and acquiring an EL image of a PV panel to which current is applied.
Applying a current to a photovoltaic (PV) panel of a solar power system;
Observing an EL image of the photovoltaic (PV) panel to which a current is applied; And
Diagnosing the failure of the photovoltaic (PV) panel through the EL image;
Solar panel failure detection method comprising a.
The method of claim 6,
Providing location information of a malfunctioning photovoltaic (PV) panel; Solar panel failure detection method comprising a.
The method of claim 7,
The information providing step,
A method of detecting a solar panel failure by displaying a location of a failure panel on an image of the entire PV panel by performing image registration processing on the image of the PV panel obtained in the observation step.
The method of claim 6,
The observation step,
A solar panel failure detection method that observes the entire area of the PV panel by changing the observation position of the camera up, down, left, and right.
The method of claim 6,
The observation step,
A method of detecting a solar panel failure by flying over the PV panel with a drone and obtaining an EL image of a PV panel to which current is applied.

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