FAULT MONITORING BASED ON SOLAR TRACKING ERROR
A system may include determination of solar tracking error associated with a solar collector, and determination of a fault associated with the solar collector based on the determined solar tracking error. In some aspects, determination of the fault includes fitting a tracking error vs. time function to the determined solar tracking error and the plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors, and determining that a derivative of the function exceeds a threshold value.
1 . A method comprising:
determining solar tracking error associated with a solar collector; and
determining a fault associated with the solar collector based on the determined solar tracking error.
2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the fault comprises:
comparing the determined solar tracking error with a plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors associated with the solar collector.
3 . A method according to claim 2 , wherein comparing the determined solar tracking error with the plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors fitting a tracking error vs. time function to the determined solar tracking error and the plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors; and
determining that a derivative of the function exceeds a threshold value.
4 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the fault comprises:
determining that the determined solar tracking error exceeds a threshold value.
5 . A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining second solar tracking error associated with a second solar collector,
wherein determining the fault associated with the solar collector comprises comparing the solar tracking error to the second solar tracking error.
6 . A method according to claim 5 , wherein comparing the solar tracking error to the second solar tracking error comprises:
fitting a first tracking error vs. time function to the determined solar tracking error and a plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors associated with the solar collector;
determining a derivative of the first tracking error vs. time function;
fitting a second tracking error vs. time function to the determined second solar tracking error and a plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors associated with the second solar collector;
determining a derivative of the second tracking error vs. time function; and
comparing the derivative of the first tracking error vs. time function to the derivative of the second tracking error vs. time function.
7 . A system comprising:
a solar collector;
a control unit to:
determine solar tracking error associated with a solar collector; and
determine a fault associated with the solar collector based on the determined solar tracking error.
8 . A system according to claim 7 , wherein determination of the fault comprises:
comparing the determined solar tracking error with a plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors associated with the solar collector.
9 . A system according to claim 8 , wherein comparison of the determined solar tracking error with the plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors comprises:
fitting of a tracking error vs. time function to the determined solar tracking error and the plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors; and
determination that a derivative of the function exceeds a threshold value.
10 . A system according to claim 7 , wherein determination of the fault comprises:
determination that the determined solar tracking error exceeds a threshold value.
11 . A system according to claim 7 , the control unit further to:
determine second solar tracking error associated with a second solar collector,
wherein determination of the fault associated with the solar collector comprises comparison of the solar tracking error to the second solar tracking error.
12 . A system according to claim 11 , wherein comparison of the solar tracking error to the second solar tracking error comprises:
fitting of a first tracking error vs. time function to the determined solar tracking error and a plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors associated with the solar collector;
determination of a derivative of the first tracking error vs. time function;
fitting of a second tracking error vs. time function to the determined second solar tracking error and a plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors associated with the second solar collector;
determination of a derivative of the second tracking error vs. time function; and
comparison of the derivative of the first tracking error vs. time function to the derivative of the second tracking error vs. time function.