Methods and systems for stowing solar trackers based on detection of motor backdrive signal
AssigneeNextpower LLC
InventorsRicardo Delgado-Nanez, Alessio Orsini, Alexander W. AU
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for selectively placing solar tracker rows of a solar array in a stow position during certain conditions meeting a threshold criterion (e.g., due to high winds, snow storms, etc.), while maintaining normal operations of other solar tracker rows that do not meet the threshold criterion. Systems and methods utilizing a motor back-drive signal as a trigger to determine which solar tracker rows to selectively place in a stow position.
Claims20
A solar tracker system for a solar array configured to generate electrical power, the solar tracking system comprising:
- a plurality of solar tracker rows, each solar tracker row including:
- a plurality of support piers;
- a torque tube extending along the solar tracker row rotatably supported on the plurality of support piers;
- a plurality of solar modules coupled to the torque tube;
- and
- a motor configured to cause the torque tube to rotate via an efficient gear drive;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive a signal from the motor of a first solar tracker row indicative of a wind force at the first solar tracker row;
- determine that the wind force at the first solar tracker row exceeds a threshold;
- and
- actuate the motor to move the first solar tracker row to a stow position while keeping at least one unaffected row in an operable position for continuing to generate electrical power.
A solar tracker system for a solar array configured to generate electrical power, the solar tracking system comprising:
- a plurality of solar tracker rows, each solar tracker row including:
- a plurality of support piers;
- a torque tube extending along the solar tracker row rotatably supported on the plurality of support piers;
- a plurality of solar modules coupled to the torque tube;
- and
- a motor configured to cause the torque tube to rotate via an efficient gear drive, the motor and the efficient gear drive configured to be back driven by a high wind force exceeding a threshold;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive a signal from the motor of a first solar tracker row indicative of the high wind force at the first solar tracker row exceeding the threshold;
- and
- actuate the motor to move the first solar tracker row to a stow position while keeping at least a second solar tracker row in an operable position for continuing to generate electrical power.
A method of operating a solar array to generate electrical power, the method comprising:
- identifying a plurality of rows of rotatable solar trackers that form the solar array, each of the rows of rotatable solar trackers comprising a plurality of solar panel modules, each of the rows of rotatable solar trackers configured to rotate relative to a solar source, and each of the rows of rotatable solar trackers configured to rotate independently of each other;
- identifying that at least one row of rotatable solar trackers is a high wind row when the high wind row has been rotated by a wind force of at least a threshold amount;
- and
- moving the high wind row of rotatable solar trackers to a stow position, while maintaining at least one lower wind row of the plurality of rows of rotatable solar trackers in an operable position for continuing to generate electrical power.
A solar tracker system for a solar array configured to generate electrical power, the solar tracker system comprising:
- a plurality of solar tracker rows, each solar tracker row including:
- a plurality of support piers;
- a torque tube extending along the solar tracker row rotatably supported on the plurality of support piers;
- a plurality of solar modules coupled to the torque tube;
- and
- a motor configured to cause the torque tube to rotate via an efficient gear drive;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive a signal indicative of a wind force at the first solar tracker row;
- determine that the wind force at the first solar tracker row exceeds a threshold;
- and
- enable the first solar tracker row to move to a stow position while keeping at least one unaffected row in an operable position for continuing to generate electrical power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.