Patent · US Active

Electric arc detection in photovoltaic installations

US10432139B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
20References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 2014
Grant dateOct 1, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 16, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/50
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method estimating a series or parallel nature and a location of an arc in a photovoltaic device, operating under direct current, including N (N=1 or N>1) strings of photovoltaic modules, connected to a charge device having a capacitive behaviour for the modules, the method including: a) detecting, at terminals of each of the modules of each string, evolution of voltage over time, during formation of an electric arc; b) identifying the modules at the terminals of which a voltage variation occurs between a first zone with stable voltage and a second zone with stable voltage for a duration of at least 5 μs, which immediately follows the voltage variation, and identifying the sign of each voltage variation; c) estimating the series or parallel nature and the location of the arc in the photovoltaic device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.