# US 12,184,221 B2 · Floating solar photovoltaic array with on-board energy management system for controlling and powering inflatable support pontoons, water quality, air compression and mooring devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,184,221 B2 - Document ID: US12184221B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/460,965 - Filed: 2023-09-05 - Published: 2023-12-21 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-07 - Assignees: Noria Energy - Applicants: Noria Energy - Inventors: Alex Mayer; James Raiford; Jason King; Becca Suchower; Brian Atchley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184221B2 ## CPC - H02S 10/40: Mobile PV generator systems - B63B 7/082: {having parts of rigid material} - B63B 35/38: Rigidly-interconnected pontoons - B63B 35/44: Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices {(construction methods for floating offshore platforms B63B75/00)} - B63B 79/10: using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - H02S 20/32: specially adapted for solar tracking - H02S 40/32: comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules - H02S 40/38: Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules - B63B 2035/4453: {for converting solar energy into electric energy} - H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A system for controlling the position and orientation of a floating solar array, having: (a) a floating solar array; (b) a plurality of retractable, bi-directional thrusters mounted to the floating solar array and extending below the floating solar array; (c) a control system on the floating solar array for controlling power level of each of the plurality of thrusters, and (d) a power cable connecting the floating solar array to an onshore grid by way of a power cable connector at a bottom central location on the floating solar array. Submerged baffles, perimeter floats and a method of stowing the floating solar array in high winds by rotating the floating solar array into a direction perpendicular to the direction of the high winds are also included. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for controlling the position and orientation of a floating solar array, comprising: (a) a floating solar array; (b) a plurality of thrusters mounted to the floating solar array and extending below the floating solar array; (c) a control system on the floating solar array for controlling operation of each of the plurality of thrusters, and (d) a power cable connecting the floating solar array to an onshore grid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the thrusters are retractable from a position below a water line to a position above the water line. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the floating solar array comprises a plurality of pontoons, and wherein the thrusters are mounted to the floating solar array to extend downwardly between the pontoons. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the thrusters is bi-directional such that the thruster can provide either forward or backward thrust in the direction that the thruster is pointing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the floating solar array can be rotated without rotating the direction in which any thruster is pointing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thrusters comprise thrusters pointing in four directions, the four directions being at 45 degree angles to one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of thrusters comprise equal numbers of thrusters pointing in each of the four directions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of thrusters comprise a greater number of thrusters pointing in a direction of prevailing wind or water currents. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the thrusters is rotatable around a vertical axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: (e) a power cable connector attaching the power cable to the floating solar array at a bottom central location on the floating solar array, such that the power cable connector permits rotation of the floating solar array without tangling of the power cable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: an anchor positioned to hold a first mid-portion of the power cable below the water level; and a buoy positioned to hold a second mid-portion of the power cable at the water level, and wherein the anchor is positioned between the power cable connector and buoy. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of thrusters are positioned both around the perimeter of the floating solar array and across the bottom of the floating solar array. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: (e) a submerged baffle extending downwardly below the floating solar array. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the submerged baffle is a wall shaped structure that is positioned perpendicular to prevailing wind or water currents. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: (e) a plurality of ballasted perimeter floats at the perimeter of the floating solar array. ### Claim 16 A method of controlling the position and orientation of a floating solar array, comprising: (a) providing a floating solar array having a plurality of thrusters thereon, the thrusters extending below the floating solar array; (b) providing a control system on the floating solar array, wherein the control system activates the thrusters to: rotate the floating solar array, and push the floating solar array in a first direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein each of the thrusters is bi-directional and the control system controls both the direction of operation and the power of the thrusters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of thrusters comprise thrusters pointing in four directions, the four directions being at 45 degree angles to one another, and wherein the control system activates the thrusters to rotate the floating solar array without rotating any of the plurality of thrusters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: stowing the floating solar array in high winds by rotating the floating solar array into a direction perpendicular to the direction of the high winds. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: maintaining the floating solar array at a fixed position by: sensing wind speed and direction, activating the thrusters to push the floating solar array in a direction opposite to the wind, wherein the control system selects the power of the thrusters to correspond to the sensed wind speed.