Solar Tracker Modeling With Terrain-Adaptive Backtracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current performance modeling software cannot accurately model the energy production of horizontal single-axis tracking systems on variable terrain, as it fails to calculate optimal rotation angles to avoid interrow shading, leading to overestimation or underestimation of energy production, and lacks the capability to handle terrain-adaptive backtracking strategies.
Innovation Solution
The development of a method to model each individual bay of a solar site with terrain-adaptive backtracking schedules, simplifying the bay composition and backtracking schedule by averaging or choosing a representative angle, and using techniques like raycasting and retro-transposition to determine energy production, allowing for accurate prediction of performance on uneven terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If basic true-tracking algorithm is used to minimize incidence angle, then power generation efficiency is improved, but row-to-row shading occurs causing significant power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The backtracking algorithm applies preliminary anti-action by proactively reducing the tilt angle of solar modules before shading occurs. Instead of reacting to shading after it happens, the system preemptively adjusts the tracker angle to prevent inter-row shading, especially during morning and evening hours when the sun is at low elevation angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static fixed-tilt mounting to dynamic tracking that continuously adjusts the angle of solar modules. The backtracking algorithm introduces further dynamic adjustment by modulating the tilt angle in real-time based on sun position and row spacing, allowing the system to optimize between maximizing irradiance capture and minimizing shading losses.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If basic backtracking algorithm is used to prevent shading, then row-to-row shading is reduced, but the algorithm fails when trackers are on non-flat terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The enhanced backtracking algorithm applies local quality by considering the specific terrain characteristics at each tracker location rather than assuming a uniform flat plane. Each tracker's backtracking angle is calculated based on its local ground slope and orientation, allowing the system to adapt to varying terrain conditions across the solar farm while still preventing shading.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters used in backtracking calculations from constant values (flat terrain assumptions) to variable parameters that reflect actual terrain geometry. By incorporating ground slope angles and local topography data into the backtracking algorithm, the system dynamically adjusts tracker angles to account for non-flat terrain while maintaining shading prevention.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If cross-slope aware backtracking is used to account for different tracker planes, then some shading is prevented, but the algorithm fails when cross-axis slope is not constant throughout the site
Solution Approach 1:
The enhanced backtracking algorithm applies segmentation by dividing the solar farm into discrete tracker units, each with its own local terrain parameters. Rather than applying a single global backtracking angle to all trackers, the system calculates individual backtracking angles for each tracker based on its specific location and local ground slope, enabling precise adaptation to variable terrain conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static uniform backtracking to dynamic location-specific backtracking. Each tracker's backtracking angle is dynamically calculated based on real-time sun position and local terrain geometry, allowing the system to adapt to varying cross-axis slopes across different parts of the site while maintaining effective shading prevention.
4Device complexity
If standard performance modeling software is used to estimate energy production, then modeling is simple, but accuracy of energy production estimates is reduced due to inability to handle terrain-adaptive backtracking
Solution Approach 1:
The enhanced backtracking algorithm serves as an intermediary between simple standard modeling software and complex terrain-specific performance calculations. By pre-calculating terrain-adjusted backtracking angles and performance metrics, the system provides standardized input data that can be used with conventional modeling tools while incorporating sophisticated terrain adaptation logic, thus bridging the gap between simplicity and accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Modeling performance of solar trackers at a solar site in order to accurately predict performance while subject to the limitations of available processing resources. Certain aspects of this invention include transposition modeling each individual bay of a solar site with terrain-adaptive backtracking schedules that prevent interrow shading. Further aspects include simplifying the bay composition of the solar site and/or the backtracking schedule, such as by averaging or otherwise choosing a representative angle amongst a plurality of angles, in order to simplify the modeling performance while still obtaining an accurate result.