Solar Collector Layout Apertures for Heterogeneous Site Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design and analysis of solar collector installations are complex, time-consuming, and prone to errors due to various interrelated parameters such as location, weather, physical obstructions, and regulatory requirements, making it a costly process in solar energy project development.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based method and interface for designing solar collector layouts, using geometric objects to define work areas and layout apertures with specific design preferences, allowing for automatic generation of layouts that comply with site conditions and regulations, leveraging knowledge-based CAD techniques to optimize design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual design methods are used for solar collector installations, then design flexibility and customization are maintained, but the process becomes complex, time-consuming, and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The design process is segmented into distinct functional modules including worksite representation, work area definition, layout aperture creation, and automated layout generation. Each module handles specific aspects of the design, allowing complex parameters to be managed independently and systematically, thereby reducing overall process complexity while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
A computer-based automated design system acts as an intermediary between design requirements and final layout generation. This intermediary automatically processes multiple interrelated parameters (location, weather, obstructions, regulations) and generates optimized layouts, eliminating manual complexity while significantly improving design efficiency and reducing errors
2Loss of time
If automated layout generation is implemented, then design time is reduced and errors are minimized, but the system requires complex parameters and constraints to be managed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining work areas and layout apertures with associated design preferences before automated layout generation. This preliminary structuring of parameters and constraints allows the automated system to operate efficiently with organized inputs, reducing design time while managing complexity through pre-established frameworks
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages complex parameters by allowing dynamic changes to design preferences within defined apertures. Parameters such as collector placement rules, work area boundaries, and layout constraints can be modified without regenerating the entire system structure, enabling flexible parameter management that reduces both design time and computational complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If heterogeneous design preferences are applied to different regions, then design optimization is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by allowing different design preferences to be applied to specific layout apertures rather than uniformly across the entire worksite. Each aperture can have customized placement rules and constraints tailored to local conditions, improving design optimization while the aperture-based structure keeps system complexity manageable through regional segmentation
4Reliability
If multiple constraints are considered in layout generation, then design reliability is improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple constraints are segmented and organized within the aperture structure, where each aperture encapsulates a specific set of design preferences and constraints. This segmentation allows the computational system to process constraints in organized groups rather than as a monolithic complex set, improving design reliability while managing computational complexity through structured decomposition
Data Source
AI summary
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.