WO2010008584A2 - Matrice d’énergie solaire et pilotage - Google Patents

Matrice d’énergie solaire et pilotage Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010008584A2
WO2010008584A2 PCT/US2009/004146 US2009004146W WO2010008584A2 WO 2010008584 A2 WO2010008584 A2 WO 2010008584A2 US 2009004146 W US2009004146 W US 2009004146W WO 2010008584 A2 WO2010008584 A2 WO 2010008584A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
row
controller
rows
thermal energy
array
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2009/004146
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English (en)
Other versions
WO2010008584A3 (fr
Inventor
Keiichi Nakasato
Kip H. Dopp
John Wayne Forester
Original Assignee
Sopogy, Inc.
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
Application filed by Sopogy, Inc. filed Critical Sopogy, Inc.
Priority to AU2009271609A priority Critical patent/AU2009271609A1/en
Priority to MX2011000274A priority patent/MX2011000274A/es
Priority to EP09788938A priority patent/EP2318775A2/fr
Publication of WO2010008584A2 publication Critical patent/WO2010008584A2/fr
Publication of WO2010008584A3 publication Critical patent/WO2010008584A3/fr
Priority to US13/006,596 priority patent/US20110308512A1/en
Priority to MA33621A priority patent/MA32567B1/fr

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
    • F24S30/42—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with only one rotation axis
    • F24S30/425—Horizontal axis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S23/00—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
    • F24S23/70—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors
    • F24S23/74—Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors with reflectors with trough-shaped or cylindro-parabolic reflective surfaces
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to solar thermal energy arrays, such as solar thermal trough arrays for collecting solar thermal energy.
  • Solar thermal energy collectors are often installed as arrays having a plurality of collector rows. Each row may be formed of a plurality of individual collectors, such that the array resembles a traditional array of cells arranged in columns and rows.
  • Tracking systems for solar thermal energy collectors enable the collectors to move to track apparent motion of the sun across the sky.
  • Each collector in an array may be controlled individually to provide accurate tracking in a centralized control configuration, and therefore each individual collector in a "cell" of a row may be controlled individually so that each may separately track the sun's apparent movement to collect solar energy.
  • each collector moves continuously using a slow- but constantly-moving drive system.
  • the invention in one instance provides a solar thermal energy collector array which has a column comprising a plurality of adjacent solar thermal energy cells in which the individual cells each share a single row controller. Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more of these cells may share a single controller.
  • a cell in this instance may be a single solar thermal energy collector or may be a plurality of solar thermal energy collectors whose collector tubes are in fluid communication with one another, so that the working fluid passing through a first collector of the cell subsequently passes through a second collector of the cell to be heated further.
  • a cell may therefore have two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen, or more collectors in a given row that are actuated by a single row controller.
  • the central controller may be configured so that the row controllers are actuated sequentially so that e.g. the first cell moves then remains stationary, the second cell moves then remains stationary, the third cell moves then remains stationary, and so forth until the last cell has been moved and the cycle repeats.
  • the controller may be configured to actuate row controllers consecutively but not in order so that e.g. the first cell moves then remains stationary, the third cell moves then remains stationary, the fifth cell moves then remains stationary, and so forth until the last cell in the column has been moved and a second part of the cycle begins with the second cell moving, followed by the fourth cell, etc.
  • the row controllers in a complex array may therefore be configured to operate independently of one another.
  • plural adjacent row controllers such as two, three, four, or more adjacent row controllers may be configured to operate together.
  • Row controllers may be intelligent, stand-alone controllers that do not communicate with other controllers.
  • each of the controllers is a stand-alone controller that receives various inputs and provides control outputs to the rows for which the controller is configured.
  • Row controllers configured as discussed above may be arranged in a distributed control system in which one or more control centers having e.g. a programmable logic controller, microprocessor, microcontroller, or computer communicates with each of the row controllers.
  • control centers having e.g. a programmable logic controller, microprocessor, microcontroller, or computer communicates with each of the row controllers.
  • the row controllers do not stand alone and, instead, depend on the control center or centers for some information used to control the rows associated with that row controller.
  • Fig. 8 illustrates one array of the invention with local control, with the row controller in the immediate vicinity of rows controlled by the row controller as opposed to being positioned at a more remote location such as a control room or periphery of a complex array.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates a complex array having four arrays, each with its row controller positioned in the immediate vicinity of rows controlled by the respective row controllers.
  • Fig. 10 depicts a control strategy for arrays of Fig. 8 and Fig. 9.
  • FIG. 11 illustrates one array of the invention with distributed control, where a row controller in the immediate vicinity of rows controlled by the row controller receives setpoints from a more remote, central controller such as a field controller.
  • Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 illustrate complex arrays comprising e.g. four of the arrays of Fig. 11.
  • Fig. 14 depicts a control strategy for arrays of Fig. 11-13.
  • One way is to use or develop tables or data of the sun's position or utilize an equation that calculates the sun's position as a function of the time of day and day of year for the latitude at which the collector array is located.
  • the time of day may be obtained from a clock within the controller, from a website on the World Wide Web, or from a radio transmission of time from e.g. a national bureau.
  • tables that contain or equations that generate data representing the angle at which solar collectors of a row would ideally be positioned may be utilized.
  • GPS global positioning satellite
  • Another way is to utilize global positioning satellite (GPS) data to assess the geographic position of an array or part of a complex array of collectors to calculate the angle of the sun and optionally obtain the time of day provided as part of a typical GPS signal. This data is useful in calculating the angle at which the collectors of a row of an array should be positioned.
  • Data as obtained above may be used to position and control solar thermal energy collectors. Alternatively, data as obtained above may be modified and used to position collectors to compensate for inaccuracies of measurement or movement.
  • Wear may be compensated for by incorporating a wear offset either directly into the alignment offset by adding it to or subtracting it from the stored alignment offset and storing the new number or by storing the wear offset separately in a database and adding to or subtracting from the modified set point above.
  • the alignment offset and wear offset may be measured manually, or these offsets may be calculated by providing alignment equipment in the solar array.
  • a collector tube of a row may have a brightness meter attached that indicates brightness of light shining on the tube.
  • the row controller may periodically move the collector row to determine the position at which maximum brightness occurs and calculate either a new alignment offset or a new wear offset value that may be stored in a database.
  • Another way to compensate for wind pressure is to compare the collector row angle set point with either an instantaneous reading from the inclinometer or a time-averaged reading for a period of time during the day (e.g. the preceding five or ten minutes) as well as compare to wind speed and direction to calculate a wind pressure offset that can be used to adjust the set point as calculated above.
  • An additional way to adjust the position of the collector row is to measure temperature of the working fluid and moving the collector row slightly in one direction and then the other to assess change in temperature or rate of change in temperature of the working fluid.
  • a working fluid temperature offset may be calculated by finding the position that maximizes the temperature or that maximizes the temperature and minimizes the rate of change of temperature near the position at which the temperature is at its maximum. This method may be used periodically to calculate a new wear offset value or a separate working fluid temperature offset value that may be stored separately and/or used in conjunction with other settings as discussed above.
  • the control system may be localized to the central controller.
  • the time, row angle, and calibration offset are calculated or stored at each row controller, and little or no information or instruction is received from other controllers.
  • Information that might be received from other controllers is e.g. stow (park) the collectors by turning them to face earth or another safe position, track the sun, lag the sun by maintaining the collector stationary for a period of time that the apparent motion of the sun would otherwise be tracked, and defocus the collectors by moving them off of the set point at which the collectors obtain maximum solar energy by e.g. five degrees.
  • stow park
  • the row controller receives information from the inclinometers of each of the rows and adjusts an individual row at a time to position the row at the desired angle.
  • Signals indicating the temperature of heated working fluid (in one instance, heated oil from a trough array) from each of the rows discharging heated working fluid to a common pipe are sent to a field controller via a sensor module and optional sensor router, which communicates information about the temperatures of each of the rows to a field controller that compares the temperature values to established values to instruct the row controller to stow, track, lag, or defocus.
  • the field controller optionally receives information from weather sensors and/or the process utilizing the working fluid (e.g. a power plant) to also make decisions on whether a row should stow, track, lag, or defocus.
  • Fig. 9 illustrates multiple arrays in which each of the row controllers operates independently of a central controller.
  • the local controller will therefore calculate solar angle from latitude, longitude, time of day and date, utilize weather information directly, and perform other responses as discussed above and below for this type of array.
  • All logic and controls may be provided at each local row controller.
  • a row controller sequentially actuates each of its associated rows as discussed above.
  • Row controllers may each comprise an enclosure; a logic board with its microcontroller; a plurality of relays, each relay interfacing with the logic board and wired to a motor of a row; and one or more power supplies for the logic board and for the motors.
  • Each logic board receives inputs such as signals representative of weather condition, inclinometer position, and/or working fluid temperature, and each logic board uses this information along with e.g. time of day and date information to calculate what action to take (e.g. move solar thermal energy collector 1 degree; place collector row into "stow” condition, where reflector row points to ground rather to the sky) and when.
  • each row controller receives a command such as stow, track, lag, wash, or defocus from the field controller, and the row controller takes the indicated action in response. While tracking, the row controller calculates a solar angle at which to set the row. The calculated angle is compared to a minimum value and a maximum value. If the calculated angle is less than the minimum value or greater than the maximum value, the row is placed in the stow position. If not, the row is moved to the calculated angle, and the cycle is repeated. If the row controller receives a command other than the "track” command, the row controller positions the collector row as instructed until the row controller receives a different instruction from the field controller. If no instruction is received, the collector row proceeds to a "stow" position.
  • a command such as stow, track, lag, wash, or defocus from the field controller
  • the optional field controller receives signals from various sensor modules to decide what instruction to send to the various row controllers. For instance, if weather sensors indicate that there is sufficient wind and/or rain, the field controller instructs all row controllers to stow their respective rows. If a wash command has been entered by e.g. a user interface, the field controller instructs selected or all row controllers to move their respective rows to a wash position. Likewise, if the working fluid exit temperature from one or more rows is at or above a threshold for the maximum fluid temperature, the row controller or controllers associated with those rows are instructed to defocus that row or those rows.
  • the particular row controller is instructed to lag the particular row (i.e. not track the sun and remain in its present position) for one cycle. Otherwise, the field controller sends the row controllers a signal to track the sun, and the row controllers run through their cycles of controlling the position of each row individually until an instruction to the contrary is received from the field controller.
  • a distributed control system is illustrated in Fig. 1 1 and in Fig. 12 (illustrating dedicated control wires from the central or field controller to row controllers for multiple arrays) as well as in Fig. 13 (illustrating a "daisy-chain" arrangement of field controller and row controllers for multiple arrays).
  • Time and collector row angle for all rows are generated at the field controller, and an optional GPS system provides location data as well as a reference time signal.
  • a row controller comprising a microcontroller receives the angle set point and actuates each row individually to move the row to a desired position by comparing the set point to the angle received from the inclinometer and actuating the row motor as needed.
  • the microprocessor can utilize a communication protocol such as Bacnet to directly communicate with the central field controls.
  • the temperature of the working fluid from each row discharging to the common discharge pipe is also provided to the field controller or to the microcontroller to adjust the position of the collector row as described herein.
  • information from the process that uses the heated working fluid and/or weather sensors is processed by the field controller and/or the row controller to provide changes to set points for the various rows or directions to stow, track, lag, or defocus a row, selected rows, or all rows.
  • a field controller may perform the same or similar decisions as discussed above.
  • the field controller verifies whether it has received an instruction or information indicating that collector rows should move to a stow position, such as an operator's instruction to stow collectors or weather information indicating there is sufficient precipitation and/or wind.
  • the field controller may send row controllers an angle set point that the row controllers use to move collector rows to the desired angle, effectively parking the rows.
  • a wash command received by the field controller results in the field controller sending out an angle set point to row controllers to place selected or all rows to an angle appropriate to wash the collectors of the rows. If the working fluid exit temperature is at a threshold for a maximum working fluid temperature, the field controller may provide an angle set point to the selected row controller or controllers to effectively defocus the desired row or rows.
  • the field controller uses a proportional-integral-derivative control loop to determine a target angle offset from a calculated desired solar angle to provide a corrected angle set point to the row controller(s).
  • the field controller in comparing the set point or target angle to a "stow" condition maximum or minimum value finds that the calculated angle is above the maximum or below the minimum value, the field controller sends selected or all row controllers target angles that effectively move the collector rows to a stow position.
  • Row controllers in this instance receive target angles from the field controller and perform limited functions with the target angles.
  • a row controller may optionally compare the target angle to maximum and minimum positions as discussed above and stow the controller's rows as discussed above as well as optionally send an alarm to a control panel.
  • the row controller may not make any adjustment to row position and may just send an alarm signal.
  • the row controller may then optionally compare the row angle as provided by a row's inclinometer to a maximum acceptable and a minimum acceptable value stored locally or obtained via the network connecting the controllers and, if not acceptable, stop taking action and send an alarm. Otherwise, the row controller simply controls row position to the set point received from the field controller as discussed above.
  • angle of sun or sun location (as measured by e.g. brightness or heat or row temperature);
  • limit switches may be used as an input to the central controller or row controller to shut off power to a collector row motor, or limit switches may be used in series with relay actuator wiring to interrupt power to the relay to stop the motor for a collector row
  • Communications from sensors and among controllers may occur a number of ways. There may be dedicated cables from the central controller to each row controller or sensor. Alternatively, the row controllers are daisy-chained, allowing the central controller to communicate with some or all row controllers using a single control cable. Likewise, inputs such as working fluid temperature and inclinometer angle may be daisy-chained with their respective cables. Communications may instead or additionally be performed using e.g. wireless mesh communications (802.15.4) or other RP protocols.
  • IEEE 802.5.4 802.5.4
  • a trough collector array may be formed using solar thermal energy collectors as described in PCT/US2009/041171, entitled “SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTION SYSTEM", the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein as if put forth in full below.
  • Such collectors may be comparatively small when compared to previous trough collectors used in generating process steam for e.g. power generation, air conditioning, food processing, or oil recovery from earth formations.
  • An aperture of a solar collector such as a trough collector may be less than about 2 or 3 meters.
  • a trough or other type of collector of an array such as the one referred to in the PCT application cited above may have a chain and sprocket drive. Such drive is not typically considered to be sufficiently precise to use in accurately positioning a collector. Often, more precise drives such as worm gear drives are used. A system as described herein may often utilize less precise positioning means such as chain and sprocket drives.
  • Types of solar thermal energy collectors
  • collectors are comparatively small, it is helpful to provide a more precise control system such as one disclosed herein.
  • the smaller rotational mass (especially where the axis of rotation for a row is located within the parabola defined by the mirror, such as coaxial Iy with the collector tube or at the center of mass for the reflector in cross-section) in combination of a more precise control system as disclosed herein allows better control over temperature of the working fluid exiting the array and improved efficiency in collection of solar energy.
  • a more precise control system as disclosed herein may be applied to larger solar collectors, the gains in collection efficiency and/or temperature control may not be as large for a larger solar collector as for a smaller solar collector.
  • Micro Concentrated Solar Power can utilize trough solar collectors with a parabolic shape to reflect sunlight onto an absorber tube located at the focus on the parabola.
  • the absorber tube is filled with a liquid that is pumped through a thermal loop, which could be used for solar process heating, air conditioning, or power generation, among other uses.
  • Rays that are directed toward the collector in parallel with the axis of symmetry reflect to the focus of the parabola. Adjusting the collectors to face the sun throughout the day maximizes the amount of sun rays that are parallel to the axis of symmetry and, thus, maximizes the amount of solar power directed to the absorber tube.
  • rows of collectors are positioned so that their absorber tubes are oriented along a North-South line. Not only does this arrangement allow efficient use of space and prevent/reduce collectors from casting shadows on neighboring collectors, but it also enables the collectors to change their East- West direction by simply rotating about the absorber tube.
  • the SopoTracker can accommodate large fields by using a system of Controllers, as explained below. However, it can also be used for smaller applications, including a single- collector system sometimes referred to as the SopoLite - for example a small-scale thermal loop that sits on a portable trailer, which can be used for data collection. SopoTracker applications are not limited to just parabolic collectors, but could also be applied to pyrheliometers to collect direct measurements of solar radiation and to enhance other technologies that benefit from directly facing the sun, among other uses.
  • Integrative system that can integrate, analyze, and respond to information such as time, sun angle, wind speed, weather conditions, heat generation, manual commands sent via internet, etc., to optimize solar collection and intelligently respond by, for example, adjusting the collectors to track the sun, defocus when too hot, or return to HOME in a protective manner.
  • the SopoTracker includes Row Controllers, Field Controller(s) and a Plant Controller.
  • Each Row Controller maintains the tracking for a cluster of one or more rows of collectors.
  • the Row Controller typically would be responsible for basic control in keeping a cluster of collectors aligned with the sun's angle.
  • a Field Controller could facilitate communication between multiple Row Controllers, a Plant Controller and the internet. This communication could, for example, utilize Ethernet hardware, including Ethernet switches or Ethernet routers. Both the Plant Controller and Field Controller could, for example, run on Linux.
  • the Plant Controller might monitor information such as weather conditions, flow rate, heat generated by each row of collectors, etc. and send commands via the Field Controller and Row Controllers to collectors when a response to these factors is necessary.
  • the Field Controller can relay commands to override the Row Controller's basic solar tracking to account for other factors, either as an entire field or as a single row or as a set of rows.
  • the Field Controller can change the start and stop times for tracking since it is communicating with many Row Controllers. Thus, accounting for different hours of operation for the changing seasons and for daylight savings would be relatively easy.
  • the Plant Controller could send a command that the entire field of collectors should be sent to the HOME position to conserve energy. However, in the event that a single row of collectors is overheating, then the Plant Controller could send a specific command to the affected row to return to the HOME position to defocus.
  • the connection to the internet could also enable the Field Controller to send information out to the solar field operator, to the power generator or to others. This information could be analyzed to calculate efficiency or to predict and/or prevent potential problems.
  • the Field Controller is an FTP server to which files are written and read by both the Row Controller and the Plant Controller. The following lists example communications that the different controllers may send to each other:
  • the Row Controller can adjust multiple rows of collectors (a cluster) to track the sun.
  • many of these Row Controllers can be used to control numerous rows, which are also controlled by a Field Controller.
  • a single Row Controller may also play the roles that the Plant Controller and Field Controller play in a larger field. This would enable the Row Controller to use weather station information, temperature measurements, etc. to determine how the collectors should function.
  • the description below will provide an example of how a Row Controller could be designed to meet the basic function of controlling rows of collectors to track the sun and receive commands from a Field Collector.
  • One version of the Row Controller directs a cluster of up to six rows of collectors.
  • the collector rows are rotated by a chain-sprocket apparatus that is driven by a motor controlled by the Row Controller hardware, which includes a single board controller, power supply, motor power supply, and driver/selector board.
  • An encoder installed on one collector in each row measures and encodes the row's position, which is read by the software programmed in the single board controller.
  • the software will use an algorithm to calculate the sun's angular position and then rotate each of the rows individually, looping through the six rows throughout the day, to match the calculated angle position.
  • the collectors in a row are connected to a crank shaft by a few chain-sprocket apparatuses, which have a gear ratio of 9:1.
  • the chain-sprocket apparatus includes a chain link that wraps around an 18-inch drive sprocket that connects to the end arm of the collector and a 2- inch drive sprocket that is attached to the crank shaft.
  • the crank shaft is rotated by a Vi horsepower DC motor, which runs on a 90 volt DC power supply activated by the Row Controller hardware.
  • the 18-inch sprocket also has a safety feature called a limit switch. The limit switch prevents over rotation of the collector by creating a non-conducting gap between the sprocket and a metal switch.
  • Each row has a encoder that detects the angle at which the collector is positioned.
  • the encoder communicates using e.g. a 5-volt level of RS232 signal.
  • An encoder may transmit e.g. 2 bytes of data every 10 milliseconds. Data may be sent 56K, no parity, 1 stop bit, for instance.
  • the data format is as follows: High ordered byte transferred first. Bit 7 is set to 1 to indicate high order Bit 6 to 0 are high order data
  • Bit 7 is set to 0 to indicate low order.
  • Bit 6 to 0 are low order data
  • a high bit indicator is used to make it easier for the receiver to identify the bytes, which saves considerable computation and uncertainty.
  • the collector After installing the encoder, the collector is placed upside down or right side up while the encoder is reset.
  • the upside down position of the collector is set as the origin and 0 degrees. It is also referred to as home.
  • a full rotation of 360 degrees is counted in 2 A 14 (14 bit binary) positions, which results in a resolution of approximately 45 positions per degree.
  • the Row Controller hardware in this example includes a single board controller, power supply, motor power supply, and driver/selector board, which enable the tracker (i.e., Row Controller) to control 6 rows of collectors.
  • the driver/selector board in this instance is a printed circuit board (PCB) and may include some or all of the following:
  • One of the RJ 45 sockets may provide connection to Ethernet.
  • Six of the RJ 45 sockets may provide power to the encoder as well as a limit switch.
  • Limit switches prevent collectors from moving beyond a safe limit in the event of a single-board computer or other electronic failure. At least two limit switches may be used per row. One may be serially connected to the motor while another may be serially connected to the relay driver. In alternate versions, limit switches connected to the drivers may be replaced with limit switches that are connected to the logic of the circuit.
  • the PCB has the potential to control six rows of collectors, and multiple Row Controllers are linked via switches to accommodate large field size. Other versions can expand to control 10 or more rows.
  • SBC single board computer
  • a picoFlash CPU with a 186 compatible processor that runs on a limited version of DOS operating system. Since the Field Controller could run on LINUX, other versions of Row Controllers can use CPUs running on Linux instead of DOS to simplify communication between the two computers.
  • TRACKER software • if there are no user input in few second, TRACKER software is run
  • Tracker Software o Initializes various routines o Places IO ports to motor off state o Serial Communications o Ethernet/FTP Communications to Field Controller o Reads configuration file o Reads date using standard C routine and compute solar day and solar correction angle for the day. o Initializes interrupt for millisecond time interrupt and counter. o Turn on watchdog timer which will automatically restart SBC in case if it hangs.
  • Row Controller reads and writes to FTP server in Field Controller.
  • the Row Controller program cooperatively multitasks.
  • the timer counter increases in increments of approximately one millisecond.
  • the Delay function waits for the delay counted in ms, while still multitasking (mainly reads serial port).
  • the millisecond count is divided by 1024 to approximate a second and coordinate one-second events.
  • One-second events include resetting the watchdog timer, resetting the display of the raw encoder position during large moves that are not routine mini tracking moves, and blinking of the LED.
  • PV cells produce electrical current from light, such that the amount of electricity generated provides a quantitative measurement of light received by the PV cells.
  • a ring of PV cells could be placed around the absorber tube to indicate the amount of sunlight that each particular part of the collector is reflecting toward the tube.
  • the ring of PV cells could be grouped into the two halves of the reflector.
  • Another method could use tubes fitted around the absorber tube to provide pyrheliometer readings.
  • the quantitative measurement of light/radiation that is reflected onto the absorber tube can be used to determine the angle at which the collection is at its maximum.
  • an offset can be determined to send a zero position to the encoder.
  • the functions of the Field Controller and Plant Controller could be integrated into a single computer that would control plant information while also facilitating the necessary communication, regardless of the amount of collectors being used.
  • a single Controller would integrate information from the weather station, temperature readings, flow measurements, etc., and send commands directly to the Row Controller.

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Abstract

L’invention concerne des systèmes et des procédés pour commander des matrices de collecteurs d’énergie solaire. Des rangées de la matrice sont actionnées séquentiellement ou consécutivement plutôt que simultanément.
PCT/US2009/004146 2008-07-16 2009-07-16 Matrice d’énergie solaire et pilotage WO2010008584A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2009271609A AU2009271609A1 (en) 2008-07-16 2009-07-16 Solar thermal energy array and drive
MX2011000274A MX2011000274A (es) 2008-07-16 2009-07-16 Arreglo y unidad de energia termica solar.
EP09788938A EP2318775A2 (fr) 2008-07-16 2009-07-16 Matrice d'energie solaire et pilotage
US13/006,596 US20110308512A1 (en) 2008-07-16 2011-01-14 Solar thermal energy array and drive
MA33621A MA32567B1 (fr) 2008-07-16 2011-02-15 Matrice d'energie solaire et pilotage

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13514608P 2008-07-16 2008-07-16
US61/135,146 2008-07-16

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WO2012022420A1 (fr) * 2010-08-18 2012-02-23 Robert Bosch Gmbh Procédé et appareil de commande pour déplacer différents éléments fonctionnels mobiles d'une installation solaire
EP2678616A4 (fr) * 2011-02-22 2015-03-04 Sunpower Corp Entraînement de suiveur solaire
CN103562652A (zh) * 2011-05-24 2014-02-05 纳博特斯克有限公司 太阳光聚光系统
EP2716993A4 (fr) * 2011-05-24 2015-03-04 Nabtesco Corp Système de collecte de lumière solaire
WO2013003123A3 (fr) * 2011-06-30 2013-06-27 Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc. Systèmes et procédés photovoltaïques
WO2013028657A3 (fr) * 2011-08-22 2013-10-31 First Solar, Inc Système et procédés pour commander des dispositifs de suivi de module solaire
WO2013028661A1 (fr) * 2011-08-22 2013-02-28 First Solar, Inc. Procédé et appareil pour commander une sortie d'installation photovoltaïque à l'aide d'un retard ou d'une avance d'angle de suivi
DE102012103457A1 (de) * 2011-12-12 2013-06-13 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Verfahren zum Betreiben eines solarthermischen Kraftwerkes
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WO2018055469A1 (fr) * 2016-09-20 2018-03-29 Solarisfloat, Lta. Système de poursuite de panneaux solaires
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EP3926251A1 (fr) * 2020-06-17 2021-12-22 Soltec Innovations, S.L. Procédé et système pour commander un dispositif de poursuite solaire à axe unique horizontal
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AU2009271609A1 (en) 2010-01-21
EP2318775A2 (fr) 2011-05-11
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MX2011000274A (es) 2011-04-04
MA32567B1 (fr) 2011-08-01

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