In-plane rotation sun-tracking for concentrated photovoltaic panel
AssigneePanasonic Boston Laboratory
InventorXinbing Liu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photovoltaic array includes a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row having a pivot axis parallel to the row. Each cell has a lens which has a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element. The photovoltaic array further includes a rotational actuator, coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells configured to rotate the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements and a tilt actuator, coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements configured to pivot the rows of photovoltaic elements about their pivot axes.
Claims14
A photovoltaic array comprising:
- a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row of photovoltaic cells having a pivot axis parallel to the row, each cell having a lens having a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element;
- a rotational actuator, coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells configured to rotate the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements;
- and
- a tilt actuator, coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements to pivot the rows of photovoltaic elements about their pivot axes.
A method for controlling a photovoltaic array including a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row of photovoltaic cells having a pivot axis parallel to the row, each cell having a lens having a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element, the method comprising:
- rotating, by a rotational actuator coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells, the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements;
- and
- tilting, by a tilt actuator coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements, the rows of photovoltaic elements to pivot about their pivot axes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.