128results about "Solar heat simulation/prediction" patented technology

The solar energy and solar farms are used to generate energy and reduce dependence on oil (or for environmental purposes). The maintenance 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.

A system and method of configuring solar energy systems that includes at least one processor, and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The memory can store instructions to cause the at least one processor to 1) search one or more data sources for information, 2) store the information in a data store, 3) receive one or more images associated with a location to receive a solar energy system, 4) display the one or more images in real-time on a user interface on a display, 5) receive input data from a user interacting with the user interface, 6) process the information, images, and input data to determine parameters associated with the location, and 7) identify a useable area in the location for placement of the solar energy system based on the parameters.

The invention provides consumers, private enterprises, government agencies, contractors and third party vendors with tools and resources for gathering site specific information related to purchase and installation of energy systems. A system according to one embodiment of the invention remotely determines the measurements of a roof. An exemplary system comprises a computer including an input means, a display means and a working memory. An aerial image file database contains a plurality of aerial images of roofs of buildings in a selected region. A roof estimating software program receives location information of a building in the selected region and then presents the aerial image files showing roof sections of building located at the location information. Some embodiments of the system include a sizing tool for determining the size, geometry, and pitch of the roof sections of a building being displayed.

Systems and methods for shading analysis and creating a 3D model of a surface of interest are provided. Such systems and methods may include taking ray traces to determine light contact with the surface of interest. Shadow maps may be generated. Power flux calculations may also be performed.

A renewable energy generator imposes costs on a power grid from rapid fluctuations in output. A device is disclosed that collects data on renewable power production, meteorological and other information, forecasts short timescale renewable power production then mitigates costs incurred by power fluctuations by modulating the power output, while maximizing power production revenue. Mitigation may be effected by an AC / DC inverter, an energy storage system, demand response or a FACTS device. The magnitude and costs for modulating response required from energy storage, FACTS or other power modulation equipment is thereby reduced.

The invention provides systems and methods for provisioning a site with an energy system such as a solar energy system. A system according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a user interface module providing a graphical user interface for receiving information from a user, for example a potential purchaser. The information includes location information for the site to be provisioned. An image retrieval module is coupled to the user interface module and to a source of geographical information. The image retrieval module retrieves at least one image of the site corresponding to the location provided by the user. A sizing module is configured to enable a user to measure an installation surface represented in the image. Energy system components are selected based on the measurements.

In a method for forecasting shadowing of a photovoltaic (PV) system due to cloud formation or movement, part of the firmament is imaged with fisheye optics onto the input optics of a digital camera. Pixel groups associated with luminous intensity ranges are formed. The spatial arrangement of the groups is analyzed to forecast shadowing of a photovoltaic system. A line extending from the PV system to the sun is formed and is continuously tracked. A reference line located inside a region around the line is formed. Passage of clouds across a reference line is analyzed. The result of the analysis is used to increase the electric power from the PV system to a minimum value through supply of additional backup energy or to reduce the electric power consumption by disconnecting users to ensure that key users do not experience a drop in supplied power below a minimum value.

A suntracking system for a central receiver solar power plant includes a heliostat field for reflecting sunlight to a receiver, cameras directed toward at least a subset of the heliostats, and a controller. The cameras are configured to produce images of sunlight reflected from multiple heliostats. The heliostats include a mirrored surface having a settable orientation and have a geometry modeled by a set of parameters. A method of estimating heliostat parameters for open-loop suntracking includes acquiring pointing samples by setting the direction of reflection of the heliostats and detecting concurrent sunlight reflections into the cameras. The method uses the acquired pointing samples and surveyed locations of the cameras to estimate the heliostat parameters. The method accurately maintains the sun's reflection directed toward the receiver open-loop utilizing the estimated tracking parameters.

To optimally arrange roofing material integrated solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size on a roof setting surface, an arrangement range in which the solar battery modules can be arranged on the roof setting surface is determined. An arranging direction of the solar battery modules is determined. The number of solar battery modules which can be arranged almost horizontally in a line in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range is calculated. Solar battery modules of a line in a number not more than the calculated number are combined to form a solar battery module group. The solar battery module groups are arranged to set a center of the solar battery module group within the determined arrangement range and near a line almost vertically dividing the surface into two parts. The above operations are repeated a number of times corresponding to the number of lines of solar battery module groups which can be vertically arranged in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range.

Solar irradiance, the energy from the Sun's electromagnetic radiation, has a wide range of applications from meteorology to agronomy to solar power. Solar irradiance is primarily determined by a location's spatial relationship with the Sun and the atmospheric conditions that impact the transmission of the radiation. The spatial relationship between the Sun and a location on Earth is determined by established astronomical formulas. The impact of atmospheric conditions may be estimated via proxy using pixels from satellite imagery. While satellite-based irradiance estimation has proven effective, availability of the input data can be limited and the resolution is often incapable of capturing local weather phenomena. Brief qualitative descriptions of general atmospheric conditions are widely available from internet weather services at higher granularity than satellite imagery. This methodology provides logic for quantifying the impact of qualitative weather observations upon solar irradiance, and the integration of this methodology into solar irradiance estimation models.

A Solar Access Measurement Device (“SAMD”) located at a predetermined position is disclosed. The SAMID may include a skyline detector enabled to detect a skyline of a horizon relative to the SAMD, an orientation determination unit enabled to determine the orientation of the skyline detector, and a processor in signal communication with the skyline detector and orientation determination unit.

An earth energy loop transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring energy for an entity, the system having means for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from the moving energy transfer fluid, and means for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred. The system including means for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price. The system including means for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the means for measuring to the means for invoicing. Methods are disclosed for using such systems to measure and calculate an amount of energy transferred and / or to invoice an entity for the transferred energy.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for identifying PV system and solar irradiance sensor orientation and tilt based on energy production, energy received, simulated energy production, estimated energy received, production skew, and energy received skew. The present invention relates to systems and methods for detecting orientation and tilt of a PV system based on energy production and simulated energy production; for detecting the orientation and tilt of a solar irradiance sensor based on solar irradiance observation and simulated solar irradiance observation; for detecting orientation of a PV system based on energy production and energy production skew; and for detecting orientation of a solar irradiance sensor based on solar irradiance observation and solar irradiance observation skew.

A system and method for identifying the solar potential of rooftops. In one embodiment, solar-potential criteria and three-dimensional spatial data and tabular data, for a selected area including parcels on which the rooftops are located, are entered into a geographic information system. Three-dimensional aerial data of the selected area, including the rooftops in the selected area, is collected. Solar azimuth and altitude angles are calculated for regular intervals to generate shadow simulation data representing shadows cast onto the rooftops by obstructions. The shadow simulation data is intersected with the XYZ coordinates of the rooftop shapes, as determined from the aerial data, to generate rooftop shade patterns for specific intervals over a specific period of time. The tabular data and the rooftop shade patterns are then used to determine addresses and per-parcel specifications of buildings having said rooftops meeting the solar-potential criteria.

A prediction system for predicting solar irradiance based on cloud characteristics includes a sky imager that includes a customized lens configured to capture one or more substantially planar images of the sky. The prediction system further includes an image processor coupled to the sky imager and configured to process the one or more substantially planar images. Moreover, the prediction system includes a computing system coupled to the image processor and configured to detect cloud characteristics based on the one or more substantially planar images, and predict the solar irradiance based on the cloud characteristics.

A support system for installing a photovoltaic power generator includes: display means for displaying an installation surface image including an installation surface on which photovoltaic modules are to be installed and a gauge disposed on the installation surface and whose actual dimensions are known, the installation surface being a region of a finite area; installation surface input means for receiving inputs for specifying the installation surface on the installation surface image displayed on the display means; installation surface shape specification means for specifying an installation surface shape on the basis of the dimensions of the gauge in the installation surface image; and module determination means for determining a type and layout of the photovoltaic modules suitable for the installation surface shape.

A system and method for identifying the solar potential of rooftops. In one embodiment, solar-potential criteria and three-dimensional spatial data and tabular data, for a selected area including parcels on which the rooftops are located, are entered into a geographic information system. Three-dimensional aerial data of the selected area, including the rooftops in the selected area, is collected. Solar azimuth and altitude angles are calculated for regular intervals to generate shadow simulation data representing shadows cast onto the rooftops by obstructions. The shadow simulation data is intersected with the XYZ coordinates of the rooftop shapes, as determined from the aerial data, to generate rooftop shade patterns for specific intervals over a specific period of time. The tabular data and the rooftop shade patterns are then used to determine addresses and per-parcel specifications of buildings having said rooftops meeting the solar-potential criteria.

Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and / or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. In some embodiments, metadata about the design process, including the process of classifying features and providing user input, generating layouts, and then modifying those layouts, may be generated. The metadata may include information about exceptional conditions in the project state information or design. A list of exceptions corresponding to exceptional conditions may be generated, and the designer may interact with these exceptions in a variety of ways, such as by complying with rules to remove an item from the exceptions list or overriding the application of the rules. The exceptions may be non-blocking relative to other user actions.

An apparatus and method, as may be used for predicting solar irradiance variation, are provided. The apparatus may include a solar irradiance predictor processor (10) configured to process a sequence of images (e.g., sky images). The irradiance predictor processor may include a cloud classifier module (18) configured to classify respective pixels of an image of a cloud to indicate a solar irradiance-passing characteristic of at least a portion of the cloud. A cloud motion predictor (22) may be configured to predict motion of the cloud over a time horizon. An event predictor (24) may be configured to predict over the time horizon occurrence of a solar obscuration event. The prediction of the solar obscuration event may be based on the predicted motion of the cloud. The event predictor may include an irradiance variation prediction for the obscuration event based on the solar irradiance-passing characteristic of the cloud.

An offshore vessel embodies a mobile buoyant energy recovery system enabled to extract energy from solar power. An exemplary energy recovery system comprises concentrating solar thermal power systems (CSP) or concentrating photovoltaic power (CPV) systems on the deck of the vessel. Within the vessel hull, ballast water serves multiple purposes. The ballast not only stabilizes the vessel, but also provides reactant for hydrogen electrolysis or ammonia synthesis, or steam for a turbine. For CPV systems the ballast conducts heat as a coolant improving the efficiency and durability of photovoltaic cells. For CSP systems the ballast water becomes superheated steam through a primary heat exchanger in the concentrator. In some embodiments, some steam from the CSP primary heat exchanger or from the CPV coolant system undergoes high-pressure electrolysis of enhanced efficiency due to its high temperature. In some embodiments, the remaining steam that did not undergo electrolysis drives a steam turbine providing electrical current for electrolysis. A secondary heat exchanger takes heat from the steam expelled from an energy storage process to efficiently distill ballast water at a lower temperature thus minimizing corrosion and build-up of scale. A remote control Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) determines position, navigation, configuration, and operation of the preferably unmanned modular mobile buoyant energy recovery structure based on Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), Velocity Performance Prediction (VPP) models, Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) and various onboard sensors and controls.

Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and / or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives.

An automated method causes a terrestrial solar cell array to track the sun. The solar cell system includes motors that adjust a position of the array along different respective axes with respect to the sun, wherein a first motor adjusts the inclination angle of the array relative to the surface of the earth and a second motor rotates the array about an axis substantially perpendicular to that surface. The method includes (a) using a software algorithm to predict a position of the sun at a future time; (b) using a computer model to determine respective positions for the motors corresponding to the solar cell array being substantially aligned with the sun at the future time; and (c) activating and operating the motors at respective particular speeds so that at the future time the solar cell array is substantially aligned with the sun. The future time may correspond to any time during operation. An initial future time may correspond to a start up time after sunrise at which point the solar cell is to begin tracking the sun.

A device for performing solar shade analysis combines a spherical reflective dome and a ball compass mounted on a platform, with a compass alignment mark and four dots in the corners of the platform. A user may place the device on a surface of a roof, or in another location where solar shading analysis is required. A user, while standing above the device can take a photo of the device. The photographs can then be used in order to evaluate solar capacity and perform shade analysis for potential sites for solar photovoltaic systems. By using the device in conjunction with a mobile device having a camera, photographs may be taken and uploaded, to be analyzed and processed to determine a shading percentage. For example, the solar shade analysis system may calculate the percentage of time that the solar photovoltaic system might be shaded for each month of the year. These measurements and data, or similar measurements and data, may be valuable when applying for solar rebates or solar installation permits.

A prediction system for predicting solar irradiance based on cloud characteristics is presented. The system includes a sky imager that includes a customized lens configured to capture one or more substantially planar images of the sky. The prediction system further includes an image processor coupled to the sky imager and configured to process the one or more substantially planar images. Moreover, the prediction system includes a computing system coupled to the image processor and configured to detect cloud characteristics based on the one or more substantially planar images, and predict the solar irradiance based on the cloud characteristics. Methods and non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform the method for predicting power output of one or more solar panels in a solar plant based on cloud characteristics are also presented.

Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and / or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. Embodiments may also include definition of one or more design apertures, each of which may correspond to boundaries in which solar collector layouts should comply with distinct sets of user-defined design preferences. Distinct apertures may provide heterogeneous regions of collector layout according to the user-defined design preferences.