Apparatus and method for providing active helix prevention in a single axis solar tracker system

A solar tracker system, comprising:

• a plurality of photovoltaic modules mounted in single row;
• a drive shaft operatively coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic modules and defining an axis of rotation about which the plurality of photovoltaic modules in the row synchronously rotate;
• a plurality of drive motors operatively coupled to the drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft to synchronously rotate the plurality of photovoltaic modules in the row about the axis of rotation;
• a controller operatively connected to the plurality of drive motors and configured to control operation of the plurality of motors between an operative state and an inoperative state;
• a first angle detector operatively connected to the controller and being mounted proximate one free end of the row, the first angle sensor generating first angle data indicative of a first angle of rotation of at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules in the row at the first location;
• and
• a second angle detector operatively connected to the controller and being mounted proximate an opposite free end of the row, the second angle sensor generating second angle data indicative of a second angle of rotation of at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules in the row at the second location;
• wherein the controller is configured to receive and compare the first angle data and the second angle data and, if there is a difference between the first angle data and the second angle data that meets or exceeds a predetermined angle deviation, the controller is operable to transition the plurality of drive motors from the operative state to the inoperative state.

A method of providing active helix prevention for a solar tracker system including a plurality of photovoltaic modules mounted in a single row and at least one drive motor configured to synchronously rotate the plurality of photovoltaic modules about an axis of rotation, comprising:

• detecting a first angle of rotation of a first photovoltaic module in the row at a first location along a length of the single row;
• detecting a second angle of rotation of a second photovoltaic module in the row at a second location along the length of the second row and spaced from the first location,
• comparing the detected first angle of rotation and the detected second angle of rotation;
• and
• transitioning the at least one drive motor from an operative state to an inoperative state if there is a difference between the first detected angle of rotation and the second detected angle of rotation that meets or exceeds a predetermined angle deviation.