Estimating solar array power generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016238641-A1
Application number	US-201514623275-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2015
Priority date	Feb 16, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In an approach for estimating solar array power generation for an installation of a solar array, a processor determines a location of an installation of a solar array. A processor determines, over a course of a specified time interval, a path of traversal of a source of energy relative to the location of the installation of the solar array. A processor scans an area surrounding the solar array. A processor estimates, based, at least in part, on the path of traversal of the source of energy and the area surrounding the solar array, an amount of power to be generated by the solar array.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 - 7 . (canceled)

8 . A computer program product for estimating solar array power generation for an installation of a solar array, the computer program product comprising:
one or more computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising: program instructions to determine a location of an installation of a solar array; program instructions to determine, over a course of a specified time interval, a path of traversal of a source of energy relative to the location of the installation of the solar array; program instructions to scan an area surrounding the solar array; and program instructions to estimate, based, at least in part, on the path of traversal of the source of energy and the area surrounding the solar array, an amount of power to be generated by the solar array.

9 . The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to plot the path of traversal of the source of energy relative to the installation of the solar array over the course of the specified time interval; and program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to generate a map of one or more entities in existence between the installation of the solar array and the path of traversal of the source of energy.

10 . The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to determine, based, at least in part, on the plotted path of traversal and the map of one or more entities, one or more particular time intervals in which the installation of the solar array is at least partially blocked from the source of energy.

11 . The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to notify a user of the installation of the solar array of the one or more particular time intervals in which the installation of the solar array is at least partially blocked from the source of energy.

12 . The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to retrieve a map of one or more entities in existence between the installation of the solar array and the path of traversal of the source of energy over the course of the specified time interval.

13 . The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, to notify a user of the installation of the solar array of the estimate of the amount of power generated by the solar array.

14 . The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein program instructions to determine a path of traversal of a source of energy comprise:
program instructions to use at least one sensor to determine the path of traversal of the source of energy relative to the installation of the solar array.

15 . A computer system for estimating solar array power generation for an installation of a solar array, the computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising: program instructions to determine a location of an installation of a solar array; program instructions to determine, over a course of a specified time interval, a path of traversal of a source of energy relative to the location of the installation of the solar array; program instructions to scan an area surrounding the solar array; and program instructions to estimate, based, at least in part, on the path of traversal of the source of energy and the area surrounding the solar array, an amount of power to be generated by the solar array.

16 . The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to plot the path of traversal of the source of energy relative to the installation of the solar array over the course of the specified time interval; and program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to generate a map of one or more entities in existence between the installation of the solar array and the path of traversal of the source of energy.

17 . The computer system of claim 16 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to determine, based, at least in part, on the plotted path of traversal and the map of one or more entities, one or more particular time intervals in which the installation of the solar array is at least partially blocked from the source of energy.

18 . The computer system of claim 17 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to notify a user of the installation of the solar array of the one or more particular time intervals in which the installation of the solar array is at least partially blocked from the source of energy.

19 . The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to retrieve a map of one or more entities in existence between the installation of the solar array and the path of traversal of the source of energy over the course of the specified time interval.

20 . The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising:
program instructions, stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, to notify a user of the installation of the solar array of the estimate of the amount of power generated by the solar array.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Akselrod Ben Z
• Di Loreto Anthony
• Mcduff Steve
• Robeson Kyle D

Classifications

• G01R21/133 Primary

  by using digital technique · CPC title

• G01W1/12

  Sunshine duration recorders (measuring intensity of sunshine G01J) · CPC title

• H02S50/00 Primary

  Monitoring or testing of PV systems, e.g. load balancing or fault identification · CPC title

• Y02E10/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] energy · CPC title