Conductor temperature detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11721981-B2
Application number	US-202217964167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2022
Priority date	Mar 23, 2016
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

Various implementations are directed to a method for detecting, by a device, an increase in temperature at certain parts of an electrical system, and taking appropriate responsive action. The method may include measuring temperatures at certain locations within the system and estimating temperatures at other locations based on the measurements. Some embodiments include an integrated cable combining electrical conduction and heat-detection capabilities, or an integrated cable or connector combining electrical conduction with a thermal fuse.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an enclosure;
circuitry housed within the enclosure;
first and second conductors having first ends physically secured to and within the enclosure;
first and second connectors located outside the enclosure connected at second ends of the first and second conductors, respectively;
wherein the first conductor comprises a first external portion extending from an edge of the enclosure to the first connector and the second conductor comprises a second external portion extending from an edge of the enclosure to the second connector,
a temperature sensing device housed within the enclosure, wherein the temperature sensing device is deployed adjacently to where the first conductor and the second conductor are physically secured to the enclosure, and
a controller configured to receive one or more temperature measurements from the temperature sensing device and to trigger an overheating response in response to the one or more temperature measurements indicating overheating.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second external portion is longer than the first external portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first connector is configured to mechanically connect to a connector of the same type as the second connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first connector is a male connector and the second connector is a female connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry comprises a power converter.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry comprises a maximum power point tracker.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising
a second temperature sensing device housed within the enclosure;
third and fourth conductors having first ends physically secured to and within the enclosure; and
third and fourth connectors located outside the enclosure connected at second ends of the third and fourth conductors, respectively,
wherein the controller is configured to receive one or more temperature measurements from the second temperature sensing device and to trigger an overheating response in response to the one or more temperature measurements indicating overheating.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a current sensor configured to measure a current in the circuitry and provide one or more current measurements to the controller.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to trigger an overheating response based on the one or more temperature measurements and the one or more current measurements indicating an overheating condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to trigger an overheating response based on the one or more temperature measurements being above a temperature threshold concurrently with the one or more current measurements being above a current threshold.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a second temperature sensing device housed within the enclosure;
third and fourth conductors having first ends physically secured to and within the enclosure; and
third and fourth connectors located outside the enclosure connected at second ends of the third and fourth conductors, respectively
where the controller is configured to receive one or more second temperature measurements from the second temperature sensing device and to trigger an overheating response in response to the one or more temperature measurements, the second one or more temperature measurements and the one or more current measurements indicating an overheating condition.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the overheating response comprises reducing an electrical current in the circuitry.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the overheating response comprises disconnecting a portion of the circuitry from a path carrying current.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the overheating response comprises communicating a warning to an end user device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is a junction box of a photovoltaic generator.

16. A method comprising:
housing circuitry in an enclosure,
securing a first end of a conductor within the enclosure;
connecting a connector to a second end of the conductor;
such that the conductor comprises an external portion extending from an edge of the enclosure to the connector,
deploying a temperature sensing device within the enclosure adjacently to where the conductor is physically secured to the enclosure, and
configuring a controller housed in the enclosure to receive one or more temperature measurements from the temperature sensing device and to trigger an overheating response in response to an overheating condition.

17. A method comprising:
creating, by a temperature sensing device, one or more temperature measurements,
wherein the temperature sensing device is housed within an enclosure and the temperature sensing device is deployed adjacently to where a conductor is physically secured to the enclosure, the conductor having an external portion extending from the enclosure to a connector fastened at an end of the conductor,
providing the one or more temperature measurements to a controller, and
responsive to a determination that the one or more temperature measurements do not indicate an overtemperature condition, operating circuitry housed within the enclosure according to a normal system operation.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry comprises a power converter and the normal system operation comprises operating the power converter according to maximum power point tracking operation.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising responsive to a determination that the one or more temperature measurements indicate an overtemperature condition, triggering an overheating response.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the overheating response comprises reducing current in the circuitry.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the overheating response comprises disconnecting a portion of the circuitry.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the overheating response comprises communicating a warning to an end user device.

23. A system comprising:
a plurality of power devices, each power device comprising:
an enclosure;
circuitry housed within the enclosure;
first and second conductors having first ends physically secured to and within the enclosure;
first and second connectors located outside the enclosure connected at second ends of the first and second conductors, respectively;
wherein the first conductor comprises a first external portion extending from an edge of the enclosure to the first connector and the second conductor comprises a second external portion extending from an edge of the enclosure to the second connector,
a temperature sensing device housed within the enclosure, wherein the temperature sensing device is deployed adjacently to where the first conductor and the second conductor are physically secured to the enclosure, and
a controller configured to receive one or more temperature measurements from the temperature sensing device and to trigger an overheating response in response to the one or more temperature measurements indicating overheating,

wherein each power device of the plurality of power devices is connected to at least one other power device of the plurality of power devices.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein a first power device of the plurality of power devices i

Assignees

• Solaredge Technologies Ltd

Inventors

• Galin Yoav
• Adest Meir
• Gershman Israel
• Sella Guy

Classifications

• H02J2101/25

  involving maximum power point tracking control for photovoltaic sources · CPC title

• H02J3/46 Primary

  Controlling the sharing of generated power between the generators, sources or networks · CPC title

• G01K11/06

  using melting, freezing, or softening · CPC title

• H01H33/02

  Details · CPC title

• H01H85/04

  Fuses, i.e. expendable parts of the protective device, e.g. cartridges · CPC title