Variable profile solar-tracking photovoltaic system

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.

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.

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;
• 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.