Solar system fault detection
This patent describes an apparatus for detecting predetermined faults in a variety of active, different solar systems. Each of the different solar systems uses a heat transfer fluid and has a tank for receiving fluid or a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to a tank, and at least one collector and one pipe through which fluid flows. The different solar systems each has different predetermined operating conditions associated with a given type of fault, comprising: a. sensing means for sensing the presence of different predetermined operating conditions associated with each of the solar systems. Each of the sensing means includes a switch that changes in state in response to a change in a predetermined operating condition in at least one of the fluid, tank or heat exchanger, collector, and pipe; b. means in communication with each of the sensing means for determining whether one or more predetermined faults have occurred in one of the solar systems, the means for determining including combining means. The combining means includes logic gates at least one of which is actuated by logic gate actuating voltages via the associated states of at least two of the switches to produce an output signal indicative of whether a predetermined fault is present in the one solar system; and c. indicating means responsive to the output signal for indicating the presence and identity of the one predetermined fault in the one solar system.
- Assignee:
- Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4626832
- OSTI ID:
- 7228876
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140900* -- Solar Thermal Utilization
CONTAINERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GATING CIRCUITS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
LOGIC CIRCUITS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
PIPES
SIGNALS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SWITCHES
TANKS