Calibration system for solar collector installation

An alignment system for a solar energy network comprising a plurality of co-located solar energy collectors, the alignment system, comprising:

• an alignment tool removably attachable to each of the plurality of solar energy collectors, the alignment tool comprising:
• a sensor array that when attached to a particular solar energy collector:
• receives solar energy from a sun as the sun moves along a track,
• senses an optimum alignment between the particular solar energy collector and the sun, the optimum alignment defined as an optical axis of the particular solar energy collector coincident with a maximum energy position of the sun, and
• signals a movement control mechanism of the particular solar energy collector to maintain the optimum alignment;
• a position encoder attached to the solar energy collector system that generates a first tracking signal indicating an actual azimuth and elevation of the particular solar energy collector relative to the track of the sun as the solar energy collector tracks the sun;
• and
• a processor that, for each of the plurality of solar energy collectors, executes machine instructions to:
• initiate solar energy collector tracking of the sun when the sun is at a predetermined altitude above a rising horizon relative to a solar energy collector and stops solar energy collector tracking when the sun is at a predetermined altitude above a setting horizon relative to the solar energy collector,
• receive the first tracking signal,
• use a second tracking signal indicating an expected azimuth and elevation of the solar energy collector relative to the sun,
• determine an offset defined as a difference between the first and the second tracking signals, and
• provide the offset to the movement control mechanism.

A method for optimizing movement of each of a plurality of solar energy collectors in an array of solar energy collectors relative to an actual track of a sun, comprising:

• removably mounting an alignment tool comprising a position encoder and a sensor array on a first solar energy collector;
• coupling the position encoder to a processor and the sensor array to a movement control mechanism of the first solar energy collector;
• operating the first solar energy collector to maintain an optimum movement relative to the actual track of the sun by:
• receiving solar energy sensing signals from the sensor array,
• generating a movement control signal based on the solar energy sensing signals, and
• supplying the movement control signal to the movement control mechanism to cause the first solar energy to follow the actual track of the sun;
• determining, using the position encoder and the processor, azimuth and elevation values of the first solar energy collector as the first solar energy collector moves to follow the actual track of the sun;
• comparing, by the processor, the determined azimuth and elevation values to expected values of azimuth and elevation based on solar charts and actual latitude and longitude of the first solar energy collector;
• based on the comparison, determining by the processor, an offset value as a difference between the actual movement of the first solar energy collector when in optimum alignment with the sun and an expected movement of the first solar energy collector;
• supplying the offset value to the movement control mechanism;
• and
• detaching the alignment tool from the first solar energy collector.