METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CALIBRATING IRRADIANCE SENSORS
A method for calibrating irradiance sensors is performed by an irradiance analysis computing device in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving an irradiance estimate representing an expected amount of irradiance, receiving a first irradiance value associated with at least one irradiance sensor, processing the irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value to generate at least one irradiance metric, and determining a condition of said irradiance sensor based at least in part on the at least one irradiance metric.
1 . A computer-implemented method for calibrating irradiance sensors implemented by an irradiance analysis computing device in communication with a memory, the method comprising:
receiving an irradiance estimate representing an expected amount of irradiance;
receiving a first irradiance value associated with at least one irradiance sensor;
processing, at the irradiance analysis computing device, the irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value to generate at least one irradiance metric; and
determining the condition of the at least one irradiance sensor based at least in part on the at least one irradiance metric.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the irradiance estimate using an irradiance model.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating the irradiance estimate based on at least one of a location, a system orientation, a date, and a time.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the first irradiance value further comprises:
receiving the first irradiance value from an irradiance sensor, the irradiance sensor representing at least one of a pyranometer and a reference cell.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an irradiance reference value wherein the irradiance reference value is a proxy for a second irradiance value;
processing the irradiance reference value, the irradiance estimate, and the first irradiance value to generate a second irradiance metric;
determining whether the at least one irradiance sensor is in a normal condition or an anomalous condition based at least in part on the second irradiance metric.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
normalizing the received irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the at least one irradiance sensor is in a normal condition or an anomalous condition further comprises:
determining whether the at least one irradiance sensor is at least one of: miscalibrated, misoriented, obstructed, soiled, and otherwise impaired.
8 . An irradiance analysis computing device used to calibrate irradiance sensors, the irradiance analysis computing device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to said processor, said processor configured to:
receive an irradiance estimate representing an expected amount of irradiance;
receive a first irradiance value associated with at least one irradiance sensor;
process the irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value to generate at least one irradiance metric; and
determine a condition of the at least one irradiance sensor based at least in part on the at least one irradiance metric.
9 . The irradiance analysis computing device of claim 8 , further configured to:
generate the irradiance estimate using an irradiance model.
10 . The irradiance analysis computing device of claim 8 , further configured to:
generate the irradiance estimate based on at least one of a location, a system orientation, a date, and a time.
11 . The irradiance analysis computing device of claim 8 , further configured to:
receive the first irradiance value from an irradiance sensor in communication with the irradiance analysis computing device via wired or wireless networks.
12 . The irradiance analysis computing device of claim 8 , further configured to:
receive an irradiance reference value wherein the irradiance reference value is a proxy for a second irradiance value;
process the irradiance reference value, the irradiance estimate, and the first irradiance value to generate a second irradiance metric;
determine whether the at least one irradiance sensor is in a normal condition or an anomalous condition based at least in part on the second irradiance metric.
13 . The irradiance analysis computing device of claim 8 , further configured to:
normalize the received irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value.
14 . The irradiance analysis computing device of claim 8 , further configured to:
determine whether the at least one irradiance sensor is at least one of miscalibrated, misoriented, obstructed, soiled, and otherwise impaired.
15 . Computer-readable storage media for calibrating irradiance sensors, the computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein, when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
receive an irradiance estimate representing an expected amount of irradiance;
receive a first irradiance value associated with at least one irradiance sensor;
process the irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value to generate at least one irradiance metric; and
determine a condition of the at least one irradiance sensor based at least in part on the at least one irradiance metric.
16 . The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
generate the irradiance estimate based on an irradiance model and at least one of a location, a system orientation, a date, and a time.
17 . The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
receive an irradiance reference value wherein the irradiance reference value is a proxy for a second irradiance value;
process the irradiance reference value, the irradiance estimate, and the first irradiance value to generate a second irradiance metric;
determine whether the at least one irradiance sensor is in a normal condition or an anomalous condition based at least in part on the second irradiance metric.
18 . The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
identify a minimum threshold value for the at least one irradiance metric; and
ignore irradiance metrics falling below the predetermined threshold.
19 . The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
determine a confidence value associated with the at least one irradiance metric.
20 . The computer-readable storage media in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
determine whether the at least one irradiance sensor is at least one of miscalibrated, misoriented, obstructed, soiled, and otherwise impaired.
21 . An irradiance analysis system used to calibrate an irradiance sensor associated with a photovoltaic system (“PV system”), the irradiance analysis system comprising:
a PV system;
an irradiance sensor associated with said PV system configured to determine irradiance measurements of said PV system; and
an irradiance analysis computing device in networked communication with said irradiance sensor, said irradiance analysis computing device including a processor and a memory coupled to said processor, said processor configured to:
receive an irradiance estimate representing an expected amount of irradiance received by said PV system;
receive a first irradiance value from said irradiance sensor;
process the irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value to generate at least one irradiance metric; and
determine a condition of said irradiance sensor based at least in part on the at least one irradiance metric.
22 . The irradiance analysis system of claim 21 , wherein said irradiance analysis computing device is further configured to:
generate the irradiance estimate using an irradiance model.
23 . The irradiance analysis system of claim 21 , wherein said irradiance analysis computing device is further configured to:
generate the irradiance estimate based on at least one of a location, a system orientation, a date, and a time.
24 . The irradiance analysis system of claim 21 , wherein said irradiance analysis computing device is further configured to:
receive the first irradiance value from said irradiance sensor via a wired or a wireless network.
25 . The irradiance analysis system of claim 21 , wherein said irradiance analysis computing device is further configured to:
receive an irradiance reference value wherein the irradiance reference value is a proxy for a second irradiance value, wherein the proxy for the second irradiance value represents a direct current output associated with said PV system;
process the irradiance reference value, the irradiance estimate, and the first irradiance value to generate a second irradiance metric;
determine whether said irradiance sensor is in a normal condition or an anomalous condition based at least in part on the second irradiance metric.
26 . The irradiance analysis system of claim 21 , wherein said irradiance analysis computing device is further configured to:
normalize the received irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value.
27 . The irradiance analysis system of claim 21 , wherein said irradiance analysis computing device is further configured to:
determine whether the at least one irradiance sensor is at least one of miscalibrated, misoriented, obstructed, soiled, and otherwise impaired.