System and methods for sensing impacts experienced by photovoltaic systems during hailstorms
OwnerChristopher Thomas Needham, Frank Carl Oudheusdeninventors
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Abstract
Movement of photovoltaic panels is measured using an array of low-cost devices. Sensors are mounted on photovoltaic panels across a site to measure hail impacts. Time stamped data from the sensors is transmitted to a central computing device which, through an associated trained model, determines qualities of a hailstorm experienced by the site. Measured movement of the photovoltaic panels is used to determine when to place photovoltaic panels in a protective stow mode to reduce damage during a hail event.
Claims20
A system for mapping a hailstorm experienced by a photovoltaic (PV) array of a solar tracker system within a solar power plant comprising:
- a sensor mounted on a first PV module of the solar power plant, the sensor configured to directly measure vibrational data experienced by the first PV module through the first PV module as corresponding to weather effects;
- a second PV module of the solar power plant, the second PV module having a solar tracking path that includes a first tilt angle, wherein the second PV module is non-adjacent to the first PV module within the solar power plant;
- and
- a central computing system communicatively coupled to the sensor configured to:
- characterize a hailstorm through which the vibrational data was experienced, said characterization based on querying a trained hail model with attribute data of the first PV module, the vibrational data, and timestamps of the vibrational data;
- generate a hailstorm map relative to the PV array;
- and
- cause, based on the characterization of the hailstorm, a real-time reconfiguration of the second PV module positioned non-adjacent to the first PV module within the solar power plant that moves the second PV module from the first tilt angle of the solar tracking path to a second tilt angle that corresponds to a hail stow position, wherein the hail stow position reduces a surface area of the second PV module that is oriented to the sky.
A method for measuring photovoltaic (PV) panel impacts across a PV array of a solar tracker system within a solar power plant, the method comprising:
- collecting, via a sensor mounted on a first PV module of the solar power plant, data indicative of an impact experienced by the first PV module, wherein the sensor is communicatively coupled to a central computing system, and wherein the sensor is configured to directly measure the data through the first PV module;
- querying, using the central computing system, a trained hail model with the data, timestamps of the data, and attribute data of the first PV module;
- characterizing, by the central computing system, a hailstorm through which the data was experienced;
- generating, by the central computing system, a hailstorm map relative to the PV array;
- and
- causing, by the central computing system and based on the characterization of the hailstorm, a real-time re-configuration of a second PV module of the solar power plant such that the second PV module moves from a first tilt angle of a solar tracking path of the second PV module to a second tilt angle that corresponds to a hail stow position, wherein the hail stow position reduces a surface area of the second PV module that is oriented to the sky, and wherein the second PV module is positioned non-adjacent to the first PV module within the solar power plant.
A solar power plant data system for mapping a hailstorm experienced by a photovoltaic (PV) array of a solar tracker system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors mounted on a plurality of PV modules of a solar power plant, the plurality of sensors configured to directly measure vibrational data experienced by the plurality of PV modules through the plurality of PV modules in multiple locations within the solar power plant, wherein the plurality of PV modules each have a solar tracking path;
- and
- a central computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors configured to:
- characterize a hailstorm through which the vibrational data was experienced, said characterization based on querying a trained hail model with PV module attribute data, the vibrational data, and timestamps of the vibrational data;
- generate a site-wide hailstorm map relative to the PV array;
- and
- cause, based on the characterization of the hailstorm, a real-time reconfiguration of one or more PV modules of the plurality of PV modules such that the one or more PV modules move from a first tilt angle along the solar tracking path to a second tilt angle that corresponds to a hail stow position, wherein the hail stow position reduces a surface area of each of the one or more PV modules that is oriented to the sky.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.