Variable profile solar-tracking photovoltaic system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10594252-B2
Application number	US-201615387151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

Described herein are improved solar tracker systems having variable profiles and related operating methods thereof. Solar-tracking PV systems with variable twisted or aerodynamic profiles offer several advantages including improved wind stability, improved shading characteristics and/or capability to correct system component misalignment. In an embodiment, motor drives (and locking devices if present) of a PV system can be driven against each other to cause a desirable twisted or aerodynamic profile of a torque tube and associated PV modules mounted on the torque tube. The desired twisted or aerodynamic profiles can range from a substantially flat horizontal plate to a twisted helix-like profile and combinations thereof so as to establish improved wind and/or shading characteristics. Advantages can also include a reduction in structural materials, increased structural strength, increased solar energy yield or a combination thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system comprising a plurality of tracker rows, each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system comprising:
a torque tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the solar-tracking PV system, the torque tube having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of PV modules mounted on the torque tube;
a first motor drive coupled to the first end of the torque tube;
a controller coupled to the first motor drive;
the method comprising:
restraining the second end of the torque tube with a locking device;
determining a first condition for positioning the solar-tracking PV system in a first twisted aerodynamic profile position is present;
delivering, by the controller, a first electrical power input to the first motor drive;
converting, by the first motor drive, the first electrical power input into a first mechanical torque;
applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube to rotate the first end of the torque tube in a first angular direction about the longitudinal axis; and

wherein the first end of the torque tube is rotated to a first predetermined twist angle relative to the second end of the torque tube such that the solar-tracking PV system is positioned in the first twisted aerodynamic profile position.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system further comprises:
a second motor drive coupled to the second end of the torque tube; and
wherein the method further comprises:
delivering a second electrical power input to the second motor drive;
converting the second electrical power input into a second mechanical torque by the second motor drive;
applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube comprises rotating the second end of the torque tube in a second angular direction about the longitudinal axis, the second angular direction being opposite the first angular direction.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first condition is present comprises determining whether an ambient environmental condition is beyond a predetermined threshold limit.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining an ambient environmental condition is beyond a predetermined threshold limit comprises determining an ambient wind speed, wind direction or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining an ambient environmental condition comprises sensing an ambient wind speed, wind direction or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, to the controller, a signal based on a measured ambient environmental condition.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
monitoring the first electrical power input; and
determining the first condition is present based on the monitored first electrical power input.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solar-tracking PV system further comprises a mechanical linkage for mechanically coupling the plurality of tracker rows, and wherein applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube of a first of the plurality of tracker rows comprises transmitting the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube of a second of the plurality of tracker rows via the mechanical linkage.

10. A method of operating a solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system comprising a plurality of tracker rows, each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system comprising:
a torque tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the solar-tracking PV system, the torque tube having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of PV modules mounted on the torque tube;
a first motor drive coupled to the first end of the torque tube;
a controller coupled to the first motor drive;
the method comprising:
determining a first condition for positioning the solar-tracking PV system in a first twisted aerodynamic profile position is present;
delivering, by the controller, a first electrical power input to the first motor drive;
monitoring the first electrical power input, wherein determining the first condition is present based on the monitored first electrical power input;
converting, by the first motor drive, the first electrical power input into a first mechanical torque;
applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube to rotate the first end of the torque tube in a first angular direction about the longitudinal axis; and

wherein the first end of the torque tube is rotated to a first predetermined twist angle relative to the second end of the torque tube such that the solar-tracking PV system is positioned in the first twisted aerodynamic profile position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system further comprises:
a second motor drive coupled to the second end of the torque tube; and
wherein the method further comprises:
delivering a second electrical power input to the second motor drive;
converting the second electrical power input into a second mechanical torque by the second motor drive;
applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube comprises rotating the second end of the torque tube in a second angular direction about the longitudinal axis, the second angular direction being opposite the first angular direction.

13. A method of operating a solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system comprising a plurality of tracker rows, each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system comprising:
a torque tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the solar-tracking PV system, the torque tube having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of PV modules mounted on the torque tube;
a first motor drive coupled to the first end of the torque tube;
a controller coupled to the first motor drive;
the method comprising:
determining a first condition for positioning the solar-tracking PV system in a first twisted aerodynamic profile position is present;
delivering, by the controller, a first electrical power input to the first motor drive;
converting, by the first motor drive, the first electrical power input into a first mechanical torque;
applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube to rotate the first end of the torque tube in a first angular direction about the longitudinal axis; and

wherein the first end of the torque tube is rotated to a first predetermined twist angle relative to the second end of the torque tube such that the solar-tracking PV system is positioned in the first twisted aerodynamic profile position, wherein the solar-tracking PV system further comprises a mechanical linkage for mechanically coupling the plurality of tracker rows, and wherein applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube of a first of the plurality of tracker rows comprises transmitting the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube of a second of the plurality of tracker rows via the mechanical linkage.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system further comprises:
a second motor drive coupled to the second end of the torque tube; and
wherein the method further comprises:
delivering a second electrical power input t

Assignees

• Sunpower Corp

Inventors

• Schimelpfenig Mark Adam
• Grushkowitz Tyler

Classifications

• F24S25/12

  using posts in combination with upper profiles · CPC title

• F24S50/60

  responsive to wind · CPC title

• F24S2030/136

  for moving several solar collectors by common transmission elements · CPC title

• H02S20/32 Primary

  specially adapted for solar tracking · CPC title

• F24S30/425

  Horizontal axis · CPC title