Dynamically setting a threshold output level for a solar array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9813022-B2
Application number	US-201514656303-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Feb 21, 2014
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing a solar array. Light is measured using a threshold sensor to generate sensor data. A selected threshold is computed for an electrical output generated by a plurality of solar cells in the solar array based on the sensor data using control logic in a control module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for managing a solar array, the method comprising:
measuring light using a threshold sensor to generate sensor data; and
computing a selected threshold for an electrical output generated by a plurality of solar cells in the solar array based on the sensor data using control logic in a control module,
wherein the solar array comprises:
the plurality of solar cells;
a plurality of groups of reflectors
the threshold sensor; and
the control module,
wherein the control module identifies eight selected source positions around a current light source position when the electrical output is below the selected threshold the control module,
wherein the control module calculates the angle of a reflector of the group of reflectors relative to a corresponding solar cell of the plurality of solar cells and an angle of light incident on the reflector,
wherein the control module applies a voltage determined by a voltage tilt curved stored in control module, and
wherein the voltage is applied to an actuation device associated with the reflector.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
controlling positioning of the plurality of groups of reflectors in the solar array using the selected threshold computed.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein controlling the positioning of the plurality of groups of reflectors in the solar array comprises:
monitoring the electrical output generated by the plurality of solar cells.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein controlling the positioning of the plurality of groups of reflectors in the solar array comprises:
determining whether the electrical output is below the selected threshold; and
repositioning at least one reflector in the plurality of groups of reflectors in response to a determination that the electrical output is below the selected threshold using the control logic in the control module.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein computing the selected threshold comprises:
multiplying an intensity of the light measured by the threshold sensor by a first factor, “n”, to produce an expected maximum output of the plurality of solar cells; and
multiplying the expected maximum output by a second factor, “f”, to produce the selected threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of solar cells comprises: a corresponding group of reflectors arranged on a substrate around a corresponding central point such that the corresponding group of reflectors are arranged in a plurality of radially outward directions around the corresponding central point such that the corresponding group of reflectors form concentric rings of reflectors around the central point, wherein the corresponding central point of any given group of reflectors is positioned to oppose a given corresponding solar cell of the solar array, wherein together all groups of reflectors are focused on the given corresponding solar cell, and wherein the method further comprises:
individually controlling positioning of ones of the corresponding groups of reflectors using the selected threshold computed.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the eight selected source positions comprise one degree offsets from the current light source position, which is (θ, φ), and wherein the one degree offsets comprise: (θ−1, φ−1), (θ+1, φ−1), (θ+1, φ+1), (θ−1, φ+1), (θ, φ−1), (θ−1, φ+1), (θ−1, φ), and (θ+1, φ).

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:
selecting one selected source position from the eight selected source positions; and
repositioning the plurality of groups of reflectors of the plurality of solar cells based on the one selected source position.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Singer Scott Benjamin
• Krut Dimitri D
• Karam Nasser H

Classifications

• H01L31/0547

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02S20/32

  specially adapted for solar tracking · CPC title

• H01L31/0543

  Electricity · mapped topic

• Y02E10/52

  PV systems with concentrators · CPC title

• H02S50/15 Primary

  using optical means, e.g. using electroluminescence · CPC title