Solar tracker
AssigneeThe University of Western Ontario
InventorsKamran Siddiqui, Hassan Hassan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for use with solar devices. The present invention may be used with solar panels, solar dishes, or any other devices for which an optimal exposure to the sun is desired. The present invention first adjusts an azimuth of the solar device until an optimal solar exposure, from an azimuth point of view, is achieved. Then, an altitude of the solar collector is adjusted until an optimal solar exposure, from an altitude point of view, is achieved. The invention also uses a load compensation mean to alleviate the amount of lifting or braking torque needed from the motor to tilt the solar collector.
Claims29
A system for tracking a sun to provide solar exposure to a solar device, the system comprising:
- an altitude motor for adjusting an altitude of the device;
- an azimuth motor for adjusting an azimuth of the device;
- a controller for controlling an activation and deactivation of said altitude motor and said azimuth motor;
- an altitude sensor for detecting solar exposure to the device, said altitude sensor being coupled to said controller;
- an azimuth sensor for detecting solar exposure to the device, said azimuth sensor being coupled to said controller;
- an altitude switch for reversing a polarity of said altitude motor, said altitude switch being activated when said device is at a solar noon position;
- an azimuth switch for reversing a polarity of said azimuth motor, said azimuth switch being activated when said device reaches an extreme azimuth position;
- a load compensation means coupled to a supporting mechanism for said device, said load compensation means being attached to said supporting mechanism such that said load compensation means partially supports a weight of said device when said altitude of said device is being adjusted by said altitude motor;
- wherein
- said controller activates and deactivates said altitude motor based on readings from said altitude sensor, said altitude motor being deactivated when said altitude sensor detects sufficient solar exposure for said device;
- and
- said controller activates and deactivates said azimuth motor based on readings from said azimuth sensor, said azimuth motor being deactivated when said azimuth sensor detects sufficient solar exposure for said device.
A system for tracking a sun to provide solar exposure to a solar device, the system comprising:
- an altitude motor for adjusting an altitude of the device;
- an azimuth motor for adjusting an azimuth of the device;
- a controller for controlling an activation and deactivation of said altitude motor and said azimuth motor;
- an altitude sensor for detecting solar exposure to the device, said altitude sensor being coupled to said controller;
- an azimuth sensor for detecting solar exposure to the device, said azimuth sensor being coupled to said controller;
- an altitude switch for reversing a polarity of said altitude motor, said altitude switch being activated when said device is at a solar noon position;
- an azimuth switch for reversing a polarity of said azimuth motor, said azimuth switch being activated when said device reaches an extreme azimuth position;
- wherein
- said controller activates and deactivates said altitude motor based on readings from said altitude sensor, said altitude motor being deactivated when said altitude sensor detects sufficient solar exposure for said device;
- said controller activates and deactivates said azimuth motor based on readings from said azimuth sensor, said azimuth motor being deactivated when said azimuth sensor detects sufficient solar exposure for said device;
A supporting mechanism for tiltably supporting a load, the mechanism comprising:
- a main supporting shaft for supporting a mass of said load;
- a tilting mechanism for tilting said load, said tilting mechanism being coupled to said main supporting shaft, said tilting mechanism comprising:
- a tilting motor for tilting said load
- a load compensation means for partially supporting said mass of said device such that said motor requires less torque to tilt said load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.