IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,161,082
Granted Patent B2
US 7,161,082 · App. 10/661,673 · Granted Jan 9, 2007

Photovoltaic power generation systems and methods of controlling photovoltaic power generation systems

Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,161,082
App. No.
10/661,673
Granted
Jan 9, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

There are provided a restricted area including an area in which solar cell modules are installed, a preventer for preventing intrusion of an intruder into the restricted area, and a detector capable of detecting the intrusion of the intruder into the restricted area, and a predetermined electric shock preventer is activated by a signal outputted from the detector upon detection of the intruder to prevent the intruder from receiving an electric shock.

Claims (22)

1. A method of controlling a photovoltaic power generation system including a solar cell string comprised of a plurality of connected solar cell modules, a plurality of sensors provided around the solar cell string, and a switch for establishing a short circuit between output terminals of the solar cell string, based on output signals from the plurality of sensors, the method comprising:

a first step of measuring the output signals from the plurality of sensors;

a second step of normalizing values of the output signals;

a third step of comparing the normalized output signal values to a reference value S;

a fourth step of calculating a comparison calculated value D, which is defined below, when at least one of a plurality of normalized output signal values Ax is larger than the reference value S,

the comparison calculated value D=(a minimum of the plurality of normalized output signal values Ax)/(a maximum of the plurality of normalized output signal values Ax); and

a fifth step of establishing the short circuit between the output terminals by the switch when the comparison calculated value D is smaller than a comparison reference value D 0 .

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an alarm is issued before the short circuit between the output terminals is established.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein when an output period of the alarm is longer than a time T 0 , the short circuit between the output terminals is established by the switch.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors is comprised of solar cells.

5. A method of controlling a photovoltaic power generation system including a plurality of solar cell strings connected in parallel, each solar cell string being comprised of a plurality of connected solar cell modules, and each solar cell string having a plurality of sensors provided around the solar cell string and a switch for establishing a short circuit between output terminals of the solar cell swing, the method comprising:

(1) carrying out for each of the plurality of solar cell strings,

a first step of measuring output signals from the plurality of sensors,

a second step of normalizing values of the output signals,

a third step of comparing the normalized output signal values to a reference value S, and

a fourth step of calculating a comparison calculated value Dy, which is defined below, when at least one of a plurality of normalized output signal values Ax is larger than the reference value S,

the comparison calculated value Dy=(a minimum of the plurality of normalized output signal values Ax)/(a maximum of the plurality of normalized output signal values Ax); and

(2) carrying out a fifth step when at least one of the comparison calculated values Dy of the plurality of solar coil strings is smaller than a comparison reference value D 0 ,

the fifth step being a step of establishing a short circuit between output terminals of a solar cell string corresponding to the comparison calculated value Dy smaller than the comparison reference value D 0 , by the switch.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein before the short circuit is established between the output terminals of the solar cell string corresponding to the comparison calculated value Dy smaller than the comparison reference value D 0 , an alarm is issued for the solar cell string.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein when an output period of the alarm is longer than a time T 0 , the short circuit is established between the output terminals of the solar cell string corresponding to the comparison calculated value Dy smaller than the comparison reference value D 0 .

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of sensors is comprised of solar veils.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2000-207654 · Jul 10, 2000 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 0989363900 · Jun 29, 2001
Related Publication 20040056768A1 · Mar 25, 2004