Solar power forecasting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar power systems face challenges in predicting solar irradiance accurately due to the intermittent nature of solar radiation, primarily caused by cloud cover, leading to suboptimal operation and delays in adapting electrical grid responses.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a distributed network of digital cameras capturing sky images to generate a 3D sky model, determining sun location parameters, and calculating solar radiation levels by analyzing occlusion from objects in the sky, allowing for real-time forecasting and control of solar power systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current solar power systems are used without advanced prediction, then system simplicity is maintained, but solar irradiance prediction accuracy deteriorates due to cloud intermittency
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the sky into multiple regions and uses multiple digital cameras positioned at different locations to capture sky images of different regions. This segmentation allows the system to track cloud movements across different sky regions, improving solar irradiance prediction accuracy by providing comprehensive cloud cover information without requiring a single complex all-encompassing sensor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces digital cameras as intermediary devices to detect cloud positions and movements in the sky. These cameras serve as mediators between the actual cloud conditions and the solar power system control, providing visual data that is processed to predict solar irradiance changes. This intermediary approach enables accurate prediction without directly measuring solar radiation, reducing the complexity of the measurement system.
2Loss of time
If real-time solar irradiance prediction is implemented, then electrical grid response time is improved, but measurement and detection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of cloud positions and movements using digital cameras before significant solar irradiance changes occur. By continuously monitoring the sky and tracking cloud trajectories, the system predicts future solar irradiance levels in advance, allowing the electrical grid to prepare appropriate responses. This preliminary action eliminates response delays by providing ahead-time warnings of impending solar radiation changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct solar radiation measurement instruments with digital camera-based cloud detection systems. Instead of using complex radiometers or pyranometers to directly measure solar irradiance, the system uses digital cameras to capture sky images, detect cloud positions, and predict irradiance changes based on cloud movement analysis. This substitution simplifies the measurement apparatus while maintaining or improving prediction capability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple digital cameras are deployed to capture sky images, then solar irradiance prediction accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sky monitoring task is segmented into multiple regions, each captured by individual digital cameras positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive sky coverage and improved prediction accuracy through distributed observation, while keeping each individual camera unit simple and standardized. The modular segmented approach balances accuracy improvement with manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital cameras in the network serve multiple functions: capturing sky images for cloud detection, tracking cloud movements, determining sun location parameters, and providing data for 3D sky model generation. This multi-functionality justifies the deployment of multiple cameras, as each device contributes to various aspects of the solar irradiance prediction system, reducing the need for specialized single-purpose instruments and optimizing resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a level of solar radiation at a point of interest (POI). Multiple sky images are captured by a distributed network of digital cameras. Sun location parameters are determined. A three-dimensional (3D) sky model is generated based on the sky images. Generating the 3D sky model includes generating 3D object data based on the sky images to model one or more objects in a region of sky, and generating position data to model a position of the one or more objects in the region of sky. A level of solar radiation at the POI is determined based on the position data and 3D object data of the 3D sky model and the sun location parameters.