Optimizing solar tracker tracking using 3D modeling
AssigneeBrightnight Power LLC
InventorsMohit Aggarwal, Cédric Leroy, Benjamin Calvin Bourne
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Abstract
Systems and methods for optimizing power output of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant are disclosed. A method includes obtaining spatial data of the PV power plant and generating a 3D model based on the spatial data. Shading patterns for PV modules are simulated using the 3D model. Optimized tracking parameters for solar trackers are determined based on the simulated shading patterns. The optimized tracking parameters are then applied to the solar trackers. The method may further include actuating the solar trackers according to the optimized tracking parameters to improve energy capture and efficiency of the PV power plant.
Claims10
A method for optimizing power output of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant including a plurality of PV modules oriented by a plurality of solar trackers, comprising:
- obtaining Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) spatial data of the PV power plant, the spatial data including row spacing, tracker pile height, azimuth, and terrain profile information;
- generating a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) site geometry model of the PV power plant based on the spatial data;
- simulating shading patterns for the plurality of PV modules using the 3D model by applying a ray-tracing or geometry-aware shading model to compute shading events across the plurality of PV modules, including computing at least one of bypass diode behavior, tracker alignment, and diffuse irradiance contribution;
- determining optimized tracking parameters for each solar tracker of the plurality of solar trackers based on the simulated shading patterns, the optimized tracking parameters including at least one effective row spacing corresponding to a solar position;
- and
- applying the optimized tracking parameters to the plurality of solar trackers.
A non-transitory, computer-readable medium including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
- obtain Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) spatial data of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant including a plurality of PV modules oriented by a plurality of solar trackers, the spatial data including row spacing, tracker pile height, azimuth, and terrain profile information;
- generate a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) site geometry model of the PV power plant based on the spatial data;
- simulate shading patterns for the plurality of PV modules using the 3D model by applying a ray-tracing or geometry-aware shading model to compute shading events across the plurality of PV modules, including computing at least one of bypass diode behavior, tracker alignment, and diffuse irradiance contribution;
- determine optimized tracking parameters for each solar tracker of the plurality of solar trackers based on the simulated shading patterns, the optimized tracking parameters including at least one effective row spacing corresponding to a solar position;
- and
- apply the optimized tracking parameters to the plurality of solar trackers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.