Self-powered solar tracker apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016308488-A1
Application number	US-201514972036-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 10, 2012
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A self-powered tracker apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a center of mass aligned with an adjustable hanger assembly including a clam shell clamp assembly configured to hold a cylindrical torque tube, the cylindrical torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end, such that the center of mass is aligned with a center of rotation of the cylindrical torque tube to reduce a load of a motor operably coupled to the cylindrical torque tube; a plurality of solar modules spatially disposed and coupled to the cylindrical torque tube; a motor drive coupled to the motor; an energy system comprising: a solar panel energy source comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the solar panel energy source configured to produce less than 300 Watts; a battery charger including a DC to DC converter coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode; a battery coupled to the DC to DC converter; a boost converter comprising a first lead and a second lead coupled to the battery device; a capacitor device coupled to the boost converter, the capacitor device being configured to provide a stable voltage for the motor drive; a micro-controller comprising:
an input coupled to a motor current and a voltage;
an input for a sensor to monitor a temperature of the battery device;
an input for current and voltage from the solar panel energy source;
input for a current and voltage for the battery device; and
one or more control signals operably coupled to the battery charger, boost converter, and motor drive;
wherein the energy system is configured to supply power to the motor to cause the tracker apparatus to operate with less than 15 Watt-hours per day of operation without an external energy source.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor is configured to move the torque tube about the center of rotation and is substantially free from a load; wherein the adjustable hanger assembly comprises a housing that supports the cylindrical torque tube configured to suspend the cylindrical torque tube via a center region of the adjustable housing assembly.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the center of rotation is offset from a center of the cylindrical torque tube, and
wherein the solar panel energy source is configured on an upper portion of the self-powered tracker apparatus, and spatially separated from a box,
wherein the box encloses an electronic module containing the DC to DC converter, battery coupled to the DC to DC converter, the boost converter, the capacitor device, and the micro controller.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless communication module coupled to the micro-controller.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the micro-controller is configured to operate under a plurality of modes, one of the modes being a lower power mode and a normal operating mode.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the energy system includes a printed circuit board, and
wherein the printed circuit board comprises a multi-layer board including a top electronic component layer, an inner control power and circuit layer, an inner grounding layer, and a bottom signal routing and partial power circuit layer such that the inner grounding layer and the inner control power layer are configured within an inner region to protect against electromagnetic interference.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the micro-controller is configured to operate a program to operate the apparatus, wherein the program is stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an inclinometer device coupled to the micro-controller device and provided on a common printed circuit board with the micro-controller device.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the energy system is located in a shaded region of the tracker apparatus.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor drive is configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal to drive the motor.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the energy system is local within a vicinity of the tracker apparatus.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an accelerator device, a gyro device, an inclinometer device, a pressure device, and a temperature device.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a data collection device coupled the micro-controller device, and operably coupled to a wireless transceiver device.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor is configured to operate at 20 to 50 Watts during a normal operation of causing movement to the torque tube and the plurality of solar modules.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the micro-controller is configured to execute a program for solar tracking under a diffuse lighting environment, the program comprising one or more computer codes stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium.

16 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is one of a plurality of tracker apparatus, each of which has a micro-controller device, configured to selectively cause movement to the solar tracker apparatus.

17 . A self-powered tracker apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a center of mass aligned with an adjustable hanger assembly including a clam shell clamp assembly holding a cylindrical torque tube, the cylindrical torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end, such that the center of mass is aligned with a center of rotation of the cylindrical torque tubes to reduce a load of a motor operably coupled to the cylindrical torque tube; a plurality of solar modules coupled to the plurality of torque tubes; an energy system comprising:
a solar panel energy source comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the solar panel energy source configured to produce less than 300 Watts;
a circuit board comprising:
a power region, the power region comprising:
a DC to DC converter coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode;
a battery coupled to the DC to DC converter;
a boost converter comprising a first lead and a second lead coupled to the battery device;
a capacitor device coupled to the boost converter, the capacitor device being configured to provide a stable voltage for a motor drive; and
the motor drive coupled to the motor;

a control region spatially separated from the power region and isolated from the power region, the control region comprising:
a micro-controller comprising an input coupled to a motor current and a voltage;
an input for a sensor to monitor a temperature of the battery device;
an input for current and voltage from the solar panel energy source;
input for a current and voltage for the battery device; and
one or more control signals operably coupled to the battery charger, boost converter, and motor drive;

an inclinometer device provided within an outer edge region of the control region, the inclinometer device having an output coupled to the micro-controller;
wherein the energy system is configured to supply power to the motor to cause the tracker apparatus to operate with less than 15 Watt-hours per day of operation without an external energy source.

18 . The system of claim 17 further comprising a wireless module comprising a Zigbee module provided on the control region, and coupled to an antenna device for communication of a wireless signal to and from the micro-controller device.

Assignees

• Nextracker Inc

Inventors

• Liu Yang
• Au Alex

Classifications

• H02J2101/24

  Photovoltaics · CPC title

• H02S40/38

  Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules · CPC title

• H02S20/32 Primary

  specially adapted for solar tracking · CPC title

• H02S40/34

  comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes · CPC title

• H02S40/32

  comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules · CPC title