38results about "Solar heat simulation/prediction" patented technology

The invention relates to a method for creating a layout plan for the arrangement of a plurality of solar elements (3) on a layout area (1), in particular a building envelope, comprising the following method steps: A. Providing the layout area (1) as a surface model, which surface model includes, in particular, the dimensions of the layout area (1), information on the arrangement of obstacles (2.1; 2.2; 2.3; 2.4) and / or information on special areas with special requirements; B. Providing a pattern (4) of solar elements (3); C. Overlaying the pattern (4) of solar elements (3) and the surface model; D. Determining the solar elements (3) of the pattern (4) of solar elements (3) that lie within the layout area (1) and do not collide with obstacles (2.1; 2.2; 2.3; 2.4) and / or special areas, as placeable solar elements (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4).4); E Rotating the pattern (4) of solar elements (3) and / or moving the pattern (4) of solar elements (3); F Determining the solar elements (3) of the pattern (4) of solar elements (3) that lie within the occupancy area (1) and do not collide with obstacles (2.1; 2.2; 2.3; 2.4) and / or special areas, as placeable solar elements (5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4);.

In an aspect, the present disclosure describes systems and methods for autonomous and rapid post and solar module assembly.

The solar energy and solar farms are used to generate energy and reduce dependence on oil (or for environmental purposes). The maintenance, operation, optimization, and repairs in big farms become very difficult, expensive, and inefficient, using human technicians. Thus, here, we teach using the robots with various functions and components, in various settings, for various purposes, to improve operations in big (or hard-to-access) farms, to automate, save money, reduce human mistakes, increase efficiency, or scale the solutions to very large scales or areas, e.g., for repair, operation, calibration, testing, maintenance, adjustment, cleaning, improving the efficiency, and tracking the Sun.

A method and apparatus for estimating capacity of a system including an energy generation system, an energy storage system or both. The method and apparatus initially estimate the system capacity based on a facility location and size. The initial estimate may be adjusted through adjustment of at least one parameter. An updated capacity estimate is generated and displayed.

A solar tracking system comprises a plurality of solar panel modules, each independently orientatable relative to a solar source. A control system determines a topography associated with the solar panel modules and generates, for each module, a performance model based at least in part on the topography and weather data. The control system independently orients each solar panel module to the solar source based on the respective performance model to optimize energy output from the array. The topography may indicate relative positions or heights of the modules and can be determined using laser site surveys, energy readings from photovoltaics, or aerial imaging. The weather data may include direct normal irradiance, global horizontal irradiance, or diffuse horizontal irradiance. The control system may periodically update the performance model for each module and account for interactions between neighboring modules due to shading.

Solar trackers and control systems prevent damage from weather events – such as hail – by orienting solar panels at optimal angles during such weather events. These angles may be achieved and managed by the physical stops of the slew drives and mechanical stop assemblies in the tracker. Control systems may trigger stowing of the solar panels during such weather events in a variety of ways, including comparing irradiance measured from the solar panels with expected irradiance.

An example method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) illustration of a photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system for photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation, comprising obtaining initial photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters, determining the 3D illustration of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system based on the initial photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters and information of a site environment of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system, and determining actual photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters using the 3D illustration of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system.

A concentrated solar power plant comprising a plurality of heliostats or heliostat field, a substantially cylindrical solar energy receiver (2), consisting of a molten salt solar receiver, located atop a central tower (1) and having an external surface covered with receiver panels (8), the heliostats reflecting solar energy to said external surface of the receiver (2), each receiver panel (8) comprising a plurality of heat exchanger tubes (9) for transporting a heat transfer fluid being a molten salt, which are partly exposed on the external surface of the receiver and comprising a thermo-mechanical monitoring system to ensure the integrity of the solar receiver panel tubes in different operation phases ; wherein, using the tube emittance ε obtained from the measurements of the external surface of the receiver obtained from the infrared cameras and the salt temperature in the tubes obtained from the thermocouples during circulation mode, and the atmospheric transmittance τ obtained from the measurements of the weather data, the monitoring system is configured to calibrate the raw temperature measurements Traw acquired by the infrared cameras (4), so as to obtain calibrated temperatures Tcam.

A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property; a solar panel that is configured to generate and output power; and a monitor control unit. The monitor control unit is configured to: monitor the power outputted by the solar panel; determine that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from an expected power range; based on determining that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from the expected power range, access the sensor data; based on the power outputted by the solar panel and the sensor data, determine a likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range; and determine an action to perform to remediate the likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range.

A solar tracking system comprises multiple solar panel modules forming a grid of solar panel modules, wherein the multiple solar panel modules are orientatable to a solar source independently of each other; and a control system configured to orient each of the multiple solar panel modules to the solar source independently of each other based on a performance model to optimize an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules, wherein the performance model predicts an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules based on a topography of the area containing the grid of solar panel modules and weather conditions local to each of the solar panel modules.

Described are techniques for presenting three-dimensional (3D) computer models of photovoltaic (PV) power system components using artificial reality. For instance, a software application can be executed to provide an interactive presentation in augmented reality (AR) or mixed reality (MR). The AR / MR application can generate a virtual object using a 3D computer model of an assembly of PV power system components, where the assembly includes a solar cable. The virtual object can be presented on a see-through display to a user. In this way, the virtual object can be overlaid onto a real-world environment seen through the see-through display. The AR / MR application may update the virtual object on the see-through display according to user input. In some instances, user input includes input for moving the virtual object.

Method for controlling the orientation of a solar module (1) comprising a single-axis solar tracker (2) orientable around an axis of rotation (A), and a photovoltaic device (3) supported by said tracker and having photoactive upper and lower faces, comprising the following steps: - measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called incident solar radiation from the sky to reach the upper face, said distribution being established according to several angles of elevation; - measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called reflective solar radiation from the albedo solar radiation corresponding to the reflection of solar radiation on the ground to reach the lower face, said distribution being established according to several angles of elevation; - determination of an optimal orientation taking into account the measurements of said distributions of the incident and reflective solar luminance;- controlling the module's orientation based on said optimal orientation.

A device comprises a platform constructed and arranged to be mounted to one or more solar array modules and one or more solar irradiance sensors on the platform configured to receive incident solar energy, the one or more solar irradiance sensors oriented on the platform so that the received incident solar energy is comparable to that received by the solar array modules, the one or more solar irradiance sensors providing solar irradiance signals in response to the incident solar energy. A processor is on the platform, the processor configured to receive the solar irradiance signals and, in response, generating a performance reference metric based on the solar irradiance signals, the performance reference metric related to the expected performance of the one or more solar array modules to which the platform is mounted. A transmitter is on the platform, the transmitter configured to periodically transmit the performance reference metric to a receiver.

Method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) steerable around an axis of rotation (A), said method implementing the following steps: a) observing the evolution over time of the cloud cover above the solar tracker (1); b) determining the evolution over time of an optimal tilt angle of the solar tracker (1) corresponding substantially to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker (1), as a function of the observed cloud cover; c) predicting the future evolution of the cloud cover based on the observed past evolution of the cloud cover; d) calculating the future evolution of the optimal tilt angle as a function of the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud cover; e) controlling the orientation of the solar tracker (1) as a function of the past evolution of the optimal tilt angle and as a function of the future evolution of the optimal tilt angle.The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.

A power generation plant comprising a support structure formed by supporting piles (2) aligned fastened to the ground, such structure being a bi-dimensional "chessboard" structure placed on an agricultural land, with any orientation, a handling system for solar energy receptor devices (P) placed on the piles arranged in a row, adapted to allow the handling of such devices around at least a first axis (X). Such plant comprises, on the ground beneath such receptor devices, between rows of adjacent piles, one or more greenhouses (S) for intensive cultivation of agricultural products.

In an aspect, the present disclosure describes systems and a for autonomous and rapid post and solar module assembly.

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for optimizing the design of a photovoltaic power plant comprising a structure mounted on a support, a plurality of power generation units connected to said structure, each power generation unit being designed to change its orientation relative to the sun in order to optimize its power production at all times, said power generation units being connected to control means for controlling said orientation. Abstract: Figure 3

An example method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) illustration of a photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system for photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation, comprising obtaining initial photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters, determining the 3D illustration of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system based on the initial photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters and information of a site environment of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system, and determining actual photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters using the 3D illustration of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system.

A method for the customized production of at least one photovoltaic panel, wherein the method comprises the following steps: entering input data into a prediction module, wherein the input data comprising at least one of panel design characteristics, operational limits, desired panel characteristics, material characteristics, predicting predicted panel characteristics and / or predicted production parameters using the prediction module based on the input data, customized production of the at least one photovoltaic panel based on the input data, recording actual panel characteristics and / or actual production parameters of the at least one photovoltaic panel during or after its production, updating the prediction module based on one or more panel differences between the actual panel characteristics and the predicted panel characteristics, and / or one or more production differences between the actual production parameters and the predicted production parameters.

An example method for generating a three-dimensional (3D) illustration of a photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system for photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation, comprising obtaining initial photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters, determining the 3D illustration of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system based on the initial photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters and information of a site environment of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system, and determining actual photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system installation parameters using the 3D illustration of the photovoltaic panel array current distribution wiring system.

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for optimizing the energy supply of at least one building by means of a data processing device, in which a customer data record is received from a customer data storage device via a first interface, and building data records are received via at least a second interface, and a co-simulation is carried out on the basis of the customer data record and the building data records, taking into account technical and economic parameters of the building's energy supply, characterized in that the building data records are determined by the data processing device on the basis of the customer data record by automatically performing an internet search with a scraping tool and accessing databases with publicly available information. The invention further relates to a corresponding arrangement and a corresponding computer program.

Described are techniques for generating interactive presentations using three- dimensional (3D) computer models of photovoltaic (PV) power system components. An interactive presentation is executed by a computer system to generate a virtual environment based on an environment model and a component model. The environment model is a 3D computer model of a real-world environment, which can be a site where a PV power system component will be installed or a manufacturing facility where the PV power system component is built. The component model is a 3D computer model of the PV power system component. The virtual environment can be presented from a perspective of a virtual observer viewing a 3D scene and updated according to user input for controlling movement of the virtual observer. During the interactive presentation, the component model can be presented as a virtual object in the virtual environment.

Systems and methods for optimizing power output of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant are disclosed. A method includes obtaining spatial data of the PV power plant and generating a 3D model based on the spatial data. Shading patterns for PV modules are simulated using the 3D model. Optimized tracking parameters for solar trackers are determined based on the simulated shading patterns. The optimized tracking parameters are then applied to the solar trackers. The method may further include actuating the solar trackers according to the optimized tracking parameters to improve energy capture and efficiency of the PV power plant.

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for optimizing the design of a photovoltaic power plant comprising a structure positioned on a support, a plurality of electricity production units connected to said structure, each of the electricity production units being designed to modify its orientation relative to the sun in order to optimize its electricity production at all times, said electricity production units being connected to control means enabling control of said orientation.

A solar tracking system (200) comprises: a plurality of solar panel modules (SPMi) forming a grid of solar panel modules wherein the plurality of solar panel modules (SPMi) are orientable independently of one another to a solar energy source; and a control system SPCi configured to orient each of the plurality of solar panel modules SPMi to the solar energy source independently of one another based on a performance model to optimize energy output from the grid of solar panel modules, wherein the performance model predicts energy output from the grid of solar panel modules based on a surface morphology of a region containing the grid of solar panel modules and weather conditions local to each of the solar panel modules SPMi.

The present invention refers to a solar energy disposition comprising a plurality of different individual support structures (1, 1') whereby at least two of said individual support structures (1, 1') are disposed so as to increase the occupation rate of the effectively available area in a utility space (A), while improving the general behaviour of wind loads upon the ensemble of individual support structures (1, 1'). The present invention further refers to a system (10) adapted for solar energy generation, comprising a plurality of different types of individual support structures (1, 1') comprising at least one support element (2) of pole type or similar, that support at least one top element (3) of canopy type or similar at an average height (hm) above a base level (B), so as to increase the number of possibilities of spatial distribution of a respective solar energy disposition as a function of the constrains at a utility space (A).

Disclosed herein is a technique of configuring flexible photovoltaic tracker systems with high damping and low angle stow positions. Under dynamic environmental loads implementing a high amount of damping (e.g., greater than 25% of critical damping, greater than 50% of critical damping) or a very high amount of damping (e.g., 100% or greater of critical damping, infinite damping) enables the flexible tracker system to prevent problematic aeroelastic behaviors while positioned in a low stow angle. The disclosed technique is further applied to a prototyping process during wind tunnel testing.

Described are techniques for facilitating installation of photovoltaic (PV) power systems using artificial reality. For instance, a software application can be executed to provide an interactive presentation in virtual reality (VR). The VR application can generate a virtual environment including virtual objects representing different components of a PV power system. Each virtual object can be generated using a three-dimensional (3D) computer model, with at least some of the virtual objects being placed into the virtual environment in an uninstalled state. The virtual environment can be presented to a user from a perspective of a virtual observer viewing a 3D scene. The VR application can receive user input corresponding to an installation operation performed by the virtual observer with respect to a virtual object, update the 3D scene to show the installation operation being performed according to the user input, and provide feedback on the user input.

The invention provides a solar heat collection system photo-thermal efficiency prediction method and system, and relates to the technical field of solar heat utilization, and the method comprises the steps: firstly collecting historical meteorological data and photo-thermal efficiency data, constructing a general data set, and predicting the photo-thermal efficiency through a multivariate nonlinear regression model; then marking the terrain and continuously collecting data, when the solar heat collection system in the same terrain in a fixed region reaches a collection day number threshold value and a quantity threshold value, integrating historical meteorological data, the photo-thermal efficiency and the inclination angle parameter to construct a region data set, and predicting the photo-thermal efficiency by using a random forest model; and calculating a root-mean-square error in real time, and when the number of times exceeds a root-mean-square error threshold value in a specific time window, switching to the multivariate nonlinear regression model for prediction until the random forest model completes new data updating and is re-enabled after a collection day number threshold value is reached, thereby realizing dynamic prediction of the photo-thermal efficiency under different topographic conditions.