Solar farm design system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10776531-B2
Application number	US-201715625389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2017
Priority date	Jun 16, 2017
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

One example includes a method for generating a solar farm design. Geographic map data defines geographic features and boundaries of a geographic region. A solar panel block library that stores virtual solar panel block types is accessed. Each of the virtual solar panel block types corresponds to a design of a respective solar panel block that includes solar panels, an inverter, and an access road, and each virtual solar panel block type includes predetermined dimensions and a predefined output power rating. An array of a virtual solar panel block type to fit within the geographic features and boundaries of the geographic region on the map is generated based on the dimensions of each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array. The array is iteratively modified to optimize a criterion of the solar farm design, and the design is stored in a memory for subsequent solar farm installation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed, is configured to implement a method for generating a solar farm design, the method comprising:
receiving geographic map data comprising a map that defines geographic features and boundaries of a geographic region on which a solar farm is to be installed;
accessing a solar panel block library that is configured to store a plurality of virtual solar panel block types, each of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types corresponding to a design of a respective solar panel block comprising a plurality of solar panels, an inverter, and an access road, each of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types comprising precomputed dimensions and a predefined output power rating;
generating an array of virtual solar panel blocks comprising at least one of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types to fit within the geographic features and boundaries of the geographic region on the map based on the predetermined dimensions of each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array;
iteratively modifying the array to substantially optimize a predetermined criterion of the solar farm design comprising:
iteratively selecting each of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types to generate each of a respective one of a plurality of arrays;
superimposing a respective one of the plurality of arrays over the map; and
iteratively shifting the respective one of the plurality of arrays in two dimensions over the map to maximize a quantity of the virtual solar panel blocks of the respective one of the plurality of arrays that do not intersect with the geographic features and boundaries of the geographic region on the map; and

storing the solar farm design in a memory for installation of the solar farm based on the solar farm design.

2. The medium of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types in the solar panel block library further comprises data associated with the predetermined maintenance and installation costs, wherein iteratively modifying the array further comprises substantially optimizing predetermined criteria associated with output power rating of each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array relative to the predetermined maintenance and installation costs associated with each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array.

3. The medium of claim 2 , wherein iteratively modifying the array further comprises maximizing a ratio of output power rating to predetermined maintenance and installation costs associated with the solar farm design.

4. The medium of claim 1 , wherein iteratively modifying the array further comprises adjusting at least one of axial position and relative dimension of each virtual solar panel block equally in at least one row or at least one column of the array to maximize a quantity of virtual solar panel blocks of the array on the map.

5. The medium of claim 4 , wherein adjusting a relative dimension of each virtual solar panel block comprises replacing each virtual solar panel block in the at least one row or the at least one column with another one of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types from the solar panel block library.

6. The medium of claim 1 , wherein iteratively modifying the array further comprises maintaining alignment of the access road of each solar panel block corresponding to each of the virtual solar panel blocks in each row or each column.

7. The medium of claim 1 , wherein iteratively modifying the array further comprises:
determining the output power rating of the solar farm design based on the predefined output power rating of each of the non-intersecting virtual solar panel blocks in each of the plurality of arrays; and
comparing the output power rating of each of the plurality of arrays to select a given one of the plurality of arrays for the solar farm design.

8. The medium of claim 1 , wherein iteratively modifying the array further comprises:
iteratively shifting an axial position of each virtual solar panel block equally in each of at least one row or at least one column of the array; and
adding a virtual solar panel block to an end of each of the at least one row or the at least one column to maximize a quantity of virtual solar panel blocks of the array on the map.

9. The medium of claim 1 , wherein iteratively modifying the array further comprises iteratively replacing each virtual solar panel block in each of at least one row or at least one column of the array with a different respective one of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types to maximize an area of the map that is covered by the array.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable components, the computer executable components comprising:
geographic map data comprising a map that defines geographic features and boundaries of a geographic region on which a solar farm is to be installed;
a solar panel block library configured to store a plurality of virtual solar panel block types, each of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types corresponding to a design of a respective solar panel block comprising a plurality of solar panels, an inverter, and an access road, each of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types comprising predetermined dimensions and a predefined output power rating; and
a solar farm design controller configured to execute a solar farm design algorithm configured to generate an array of virtual solar panel blocks comprising at least one of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types to fit within the geographic features and boundaries of the geographic region on the map based on the predetermined dimensions of each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array and to iteratively modify the array to substantially maximize an output power rating of the solar farm design based on the predefined output power rating of each of the virtual solar panel blocks in the array relative to predetermined maintenance and installation costs associated with the solar farm, to iteratively select each of the plurality of virtual solar panel block types to generate each of a respective one of a plurality of arrays, to superimpose a respective one of the plurality of arrays over the map; and to iteratively shift the respective one of the plurality of arrays in two dimensions over the map to maximize a quantity of the virtual solar panel blocks of the respective one of the plurality of arrays that do not intersect with the geographic features and boundaries of the geographic region on the map the solar farm design being stored in a memory for installation of the solar farm based on the solar farm design.

11. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the access road of each solar panel block corresponding to each of the virtual solar panel blocks in each row or each column is substantially aligned in the solar farm design.

12. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the solar farm design algorithm is further configured to:
determine the output power rating of the solar farm design based on the predefined output power rating of each of the non-intersecting virtual solar panel blocks in each of the plurality of arrays; and
compare the output power rating of each of the plurality of arrays to select a given one of the plurality of arrays for the solar farm design.

13. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the solar farm design algorithm is further configured to:
iteratively shift an axial position of each virtual solar panel block equally in each of at least one row or at least one column of the array; and
add a virtual solar panel block to an end of each of the at least one

Assignees

• Windlogics Inc
• Inventus Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Bieganek Cameron L
• Raj Taran
• Butterfield Ryan R
• Guzman Francisco J
• Gommels Jared R
• Newcom Justin R
• Donst Nathan S
• Fleenor Stacy A

Classifications

• H02J2103/30

  Simulating, planning, modelling, reliability check or computer assisted design [CAD] of electric power networks · CPC title

• H02J2101/24

  Photovoltaics · CPC title

• H02J3/388

  Arrangements for the handling of islanding, e.g. for disconnection or for avoiding the disconnection of power · CPC title

• H02J3/381

  Dispersed generators · CPC title

• G06F30/18 Primary

  Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling (circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18) · CPC title