Solar Tracker Attitude Error Correction Using Dither Feedback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Solar trackers face challenges in accurately tracking the sun due to attitude errors in the supporting mechanism, which can lead to decreased power generation efficiency, especially when the mechanism is not installed correctly or is affected by external factors like wind or earthquakes.

Innovation Solution

A solar tracker system that includes a supporting mechanism, a power generation measuring section, a solar position getting section, a dither control section, a positional shift measuring section, and an attitude error estimating section, which performs a dither operation to determine the attitude error and corrects the solar panel's orientation based on estimated errors, allowing it to track the sun accurately without relying on external sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the solar tracker uses a supporting mechanism to change the orientation of the solar panel, then the solar panel can track the sun, but attitude errors occur during installation or due to external factors like wind or earthquakes, reducing tracking accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking capabilityVSAvoidtracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs dither operations by intentionally oscillating the solar panel orientation around the theoretical solar position, measures the resulting power generation variations, and uses this feedback to calculate and correct attitude errors in the supporting mechanism, thereby maintaining high tracking accuracy despite installation errors or external disturbances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The solar tracker uses its own power generation output as the measurement signal to detect attitude errors, eliminating the need for external sensors. The system self-diagnoses its orientation accuracy by monitoring how power generation varies during dither operations and autonomously corrects its own attitude errors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If the solar tracker corrects orientation based on calculated attitude errors, then tracking accuracy improves, but the system requires complex control mechanisms to perform dither operations and calculate errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical orientation sensors with a computational approach that uses power generation measurements to infer attitude errors. By substituting direct mechanical measurement with indirect calculation based on electrical output, the system achieves high tracking accuracy while simplifying the mechanical control mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the solar tracker uses power generation measurements to determine solar position, then external sensors are eliminated, but the system must perform continuous dither operations to accurately measure power distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor requirementVSAvoiddither operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs dither operations as periodic, small-amplitude oscillations around the theoretical solar position at specific intervals. This periodic action allows the system to gather necessary measurement data for attitude error correction without requiring continuous dithering, thus minimizing time loss while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively corrects attitude errors, ensuring efficient power generation by continuously updating the estimated attitude error and adjusting the solar panel's orientation, allowing it to track the sun accurately and maintain high power generation efficiency even without external sensors.

Implementation Method 1

A typical concentrating photovoltaic generator module includes a condenser lens which concentrates incoming sunlight and a solar panel (photovoltaic cell) which generates electric power by receiving the concentrated sunlight

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConcentrating photovoltaics: Concentrated Photovoltaics

Implementation Method 2

a solar panel (photovoltaic cell) which generates electric power by receiving the concentrated sunlight

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9960729B2Solar tracker, sun tracking method, solar power generator, and controller

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A solar tracker comprises: a measuring section which measures the quantity of electric power generated by a solar panel; a solar position getting section which gets information about the theoretical solar position; a driving section which changes the orientation of the solar panel; a dither control section which measures a solar position; a positional shift measuring section which measures a solar positional shift between the measured solar position and the theoretical solar position. The driving section corrects the theoretical solar position based on the estimated attitude error and controls the orientation of the solar panel based on the theoretical position corrected.