Method of recognizing and assessing shadowing events

US9112078B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SMA Solar Technology AG · DE

Inventors

• Jens Klein · Grünwald, DE
• Bjoern Magnussen · Iserlohn, DE
• Andreas Strusch · Vellmar, DE
• Alexander George Atkins Smith · Garland, US
• William Gaggioli · Mission Viejo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 8, 2011
• Grant date: Aug 18, 2015
• Expiry date: Nov 27, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/50
• WIPO field: Thermal processes and apparatus
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

For recognizing shadowing events affecting a photovoltaic module, electric power produced by the module is recorded. For each position of the sun on a present day an expected value of the electric power is defined. Further, an ideal power course of the electric power over the present day is determined by fitting a curve that corresponds to cloudless sun without shadow casting obstacles to peak values of the electric power recorded for same positions of the sun during a plurality of previous days. For all positions of the sun at which the electric power produced on the present day falls short of the ideal power course a shadowing probability of not less than zero is defined whose magnitude depends on the level of accord of the electric power produced on the present day with the expected value at the position of the sun.