Maximizing solar panel power generation with piezoelectric springs
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsSarbajit K. Rakshit, Jagabondhu Hazra, Manikandan Padmanaban, Marc Henri Coq
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Abstract
An approach for adjusting an inclination angle and a raindrop impact angle of a solar panel to maximize power output. The approach predicts an impact angle of a plurality of raindrops on an inclined solar panel. The approach predicts solar irradiance striking the inclined solar panel. The approach calculates an optimal solar panel inclination angle and an optimal solar panel radial angle based on maximizing power output. The approach adjusts the solar panel inclination angle and solar panel radial angle based on the optimal solar panel inclination angle and an optimal solar panel radial angle.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method for adjusting an inclination angle and a radial angle of a solar panel to maximize power output, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- predicting, by one or more processors, an impact angle of a plurality of raindrops on an inclined solar panel;
- predicting, by the one or more processors, solar irradiance striking the inclined solar panel;
- calculating, by the one or more processors, an optimal solar panel inclination angle and an optimal radial angle based on maximizing power output;
- and
- adjusting, by the one or more processors, the solar panel inclination angle and radial angle based on the optimal solar panel inclination angle and the optimal radial angle.
A system for adjusting an inclination angle and a radial angle of a solar panel to maximize power output, the system comprising:
- a solar panel;
- a mounting system for the solar panel;
- an array of piezoelectric springs attached to a base and to a bottom face of the solar panel;
- one or more motors and gears for changing a solar panel inclination angle of the solar panel and a radial angle of the solar panel;
- one or more computer processors and memory for executing program instructions;
- one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media;
- and
- program instructions stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
- program instructions to predict an impact angle of a plurality of raindrops on an inclined solar panel;
- program instructions to predict solar irradiance striking the inclined solar panel;
- program instructions to calculate an optimal solar panel inclination angle and an optimal radial angle based on maximizing power output;
- and
- program instructions to adjust the solar panel inclination angle and radial angle based on the optimal solar panel inclination angle and the optimal radial angle.
A computer program product for adjusting an inclination angle and a radial angle of a solar panel to maximize power output, the computer program product comprising:
- one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:
- program instructions to predict an impact angle of a plurality of raindrops on an inclined solar panel;
- program instructions to predict solar irradiance striking the inclined solar panel;
- program instructions to calculate an optimal solar panel inclination angle and an optimal radial angle based on maximizing power output;
- and
- program instructions to adjust the solar panel inclination angle and radial angle based on the optimal solar panel inclination angle and the optimal radial angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.