[go: up one dir, main page]

GB2469963A - Solar tracking apparatus and method - Google Patents

Solar tracking apparatus and method Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2469963A
GB2469963A GB1013480A GB201013480A GB2469963A GB 2469963 A GB2469963 A GB 2469963A GB 1013480 A GB1013480 A GB 1013480A GB 201013480 A GB201013480 A GB 201013480A GB 2469963 A GB2469963 A GB 2469963A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sun
solar tracking
tracking apparatus
tracking
misorientation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1013480A
Other versions
GB2469963B (en
GB201013480D0 (en
Inventor
Anthony John Howard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
KENT HOLDINGS INTERNAT Ltd
Original Assignee
KENT HOLDINGS INTERNAT Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2008902129A external-priority patent/AU2008902129A0/en
Application filed by KENT HOLDINGS INTERNAT Ltd filed Critical KENT HOLDINGS INTERNAT Ltd
Publication of GB201013480D0 publication Critical patent/GB201013480D0/en
Publication of GB2469963A publication Critical patent/GB2469963A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2469963B publication Critical patent/GB2469963B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S50/00—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors
    • F24S50/20—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors for tracking
    • F24J2/38—
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/78—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
    • G01S3/78—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
    • G01S3/782—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction
    • G01S3/785—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system
    • G01S3/786—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
    • G01S3/7861—Solar tracking systems
    • H01L31/042—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
    • H02J7/00—Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
    • H02J7/34—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering
    • H02J7/35—Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering with light sensitive cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
    • H10F19/00—Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
    • H10F77/00—Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass
    • H10F77/95—Circuit arrangements
    • H10F77/953—Circuit arrangements for devices having potential barriers
    • H10F77/955—Circuit arrangements for devices having potential barriers for photovoltaic devices
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/47—Mountings or tracking
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Dc-Dc Converters (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
  • Photometry And Measurement Of Optical Pulse Characteristics (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The invention provides apparatus (150, 200, 220) and associated methods for controlling sun tracking of solar energy collectors and the like. In a preferred form, multiple radiation sensors (160, 202, 222) are used, and these are kept partly in shadow even when the apparatus is aimed directly at the sun. Their electrical output is monitored and used to determine whether and what reorientation is necessary. By measuring changes in the sensor outputs as the degree of shading varies it is possible to reduce or eliminate a "dead zone" in which the apparatus is unresponsive to misorientation. Accurate tracking is thus achievable.
GB1013480.7A 2008-04-30 2009-04-30 Solar tracking apparatus and method Expired - Fee Related GB2469963B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2008902129A AU2008902129A0 (en) 2008-04-30 Transducer
PCT/AU2009/000541 WO2009132394A1 (en) 2008-04-30 2009-04-30 Solar tracking apparatus and method

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201013480D0 GB201013480D0 (en) 2010-09-22
GB2469963A true GB2469963A (en) 2010-11-03
GB2469963B GB2469963B (en) 2012-02-08

Family

ID=41254702

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1013480.7A Expired - Fee Related GB2469963B (en) 2008-04-30 2009-04-30 Solar tracking apparatus and method
GB1014061A Expired - Fee Related GB2470849B (en) 2008-04-30 2009-04-30 Transducer

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1014061A Expired - Fee Related GB2470849B (en) 2008-04-30 2009-04-30 Transducer

Country Status (3)

Country Link
GB (2) GB2469963B (en)
WO (2) WO2009132393A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA201005937B (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2024073009A1 (en) 2022-09-29 2024-04-04 Planet A Energy, Inc. Indirect-view quad cell detector for sun tracking
FR3149674A1 (en) * 2023-06-12 2024-12-13 Heliosand High-precision shadow-cast solar tracking

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3996460A (en) * 1975-12-03 1976-12-07 Smith Peter D Solar tracking control system using shadow detection
US4316084A (en) * 1979-12-17 1982-02-16 Stout Alton H Light tracking detectors and housing therefor
US4672191A (en) * 1984-06-19 1987-06-09 Dennis Cofield Shadow solar tracking device and system
JPH0371076A (en) * 1989-08-10 1991-03-26 Yazaki Corp Sun tracking sensor
US5317145A (en) * 1991-12-31 1994-05-31 Wattsun Corporation Radiation source detector and tracker control having a shade pole and radiation responsive surface in the shape of narrow bands
JP2004029029A (en) * 2003-07-08 2004-01-29 Toranomon Kotohira Kaikan Biru:Kk Apparatus for tracking light source position and method therefor
US20050036294A1 (en) * 2003-08-12 2005-02-17 Overhead Door Corporation Device including light emitting diode as light sensor and light source

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU2003058C1 (en) * 1991-07-26 1993-11-15 Maksimov Vitalij S Sensor for measuring intensity of illumination
US5726505A (en) * 1995-01-13 1998-03-10 Omron Corporation Device to prevent reverse current flow, rectifier device and solar generator system
JP3368124B2 (en) * 1995-10-26 2003-01-20 キヤノン株式会社 Overcharge prevention circuit
JP2003158282A (en) * 2001-08-30 2003-05-30 Canon Inc Solar power system
US6657419B2 (en) * 2001-11-19 2003-12-02 Solarmate Corporation Micro-solar insolation circuit

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3996460A (en) * 1975-12-03 1976-12-07 Smith Peter D Solar tracking control system using shadow detection
US4316084A (en) * 1979-12-17 1982-02-16 Stout Alton H Light tracking detectors and housing therefor
US4672191A (en) * 1984-06-19 1987-06-09 Dennis Cofield Shadow solar tracking device and system
JPH0371076A (en) * 1989-08-10 1991-03-26 Yazaki Corp Sun tracking sensor
US5317145A (en) * 1991-12-31 1994-05-31 Wattsun Corporation Radiation source detector and tracker control having a shade pole and radiation responsive surface in the shape of narrow bands
JP2004029029A (en) * 2003-07-08 2004-01-29 Toranomon Kotohira Kaikan Biru:Kk Apparatus for tracking light source position and method therefor
US20050036294A1 (en) * 2003-08-12 2005-02-17 Overhead Door Corporation Device including light emitting diode as light sensor and light source

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2009132393A1 (en) 2009-11-05
GB201014061D0 (en) 2010-10-06
ZA201005937B (en) 2011-01-26
GB2469963B (en) 2012-02-08
WO2009132394A1 (en) 2009-11-05
GB201013480D0 (en) 2010-09-22
GB2470849A (en) 2010-12-08
GB2470849B (en) 2011-08-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2010098973A3 (en) Field level tracker controller
WO2011011651A3 (en) Calibration system for solar collector installation
EP2357544A3 (en) Shading means control
WO2011095810A3 (en) Scanning systems
WO2009048879A3 (en) Methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun
IN2012DN02543A (en)
WO2010053752A3 (en) Variable timing zenseistm
WO2010076738A3 (en) Prosture-adjustable solar-collecting window blind
WO2011163437A3 (en) Power processing methods and apparatus for photovoltaic systems
WO2008157560A3 (en) Solar concentrator with simplified tracking
WO2010148526A8 (en) Tracking method and measuring system having a laser tracker
EP2315331A3 (en) Integrated real-time power and solar farm control system
WO2013012617A3 (en) Combination solar cell sun sensor for direct alignment of trackers and closed-loop tracking
WO2012016933A3 (en) Method and apparatus for determining at least one operating parameter of a thermoelectric system in a vehicle
EP1947622A3 (en) Device for generating analog current or voltage signal
MA33041B1 (en) Method and monitor of a photovoltaic system
WO2012158922A3 (en) System and method for gain regulation
MX2013004641A (en) Linearly concentrating solar collector and method for reflector tracking in such a solar collector.
WO2009140505A3 (en) Methods and systems for detecting concealed objects
GB2469963A (en) Solar tracking apparatus and method
WO2011099035A3 (en) Scalable and rapidly deployable master-slave method and apparatus for distributed tracking solar collector and other applications
EP2386832A3 (en) Photoelectric encoder
MX344410B (en) Suitable control method for a system of photovoltaic concentration modules.
WO2015097447A3 (en) Radiation measurement apparatus and method
WO2010048906A3 (en) Device for generating rotational seismic waves, rotational seismic sensor system and seismic measuring set

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20190430