Variable profile solar-tracking photovoltaic system
View Patent ↗Described herein are improved solar tracker systems having variable profiles and related operating methods thereof. Solar-tracking PV systems with variable twisted or aerodynamic profiles offer several advantages including improved wind stability, improved shading characteristics and/or capability to correct system component misalignment. In an embodiment, motor drives (and locking devices if present) of a PV system can be driven against each other to cause a desirable twisted or aerodynamic profile of a torque tube and associated PV modules mounted on the torque tube. The desired twisted or aerodynamic profiles can range from a substantially flat horizontal plate to a twisted helix-like profile and combinations thereof so as to establish improved wind and/or shading characteristics. Advantages can also include a reduction in structural materials, increased structural strength, increased solar energy yield or a combination thereof.
1. A method of operating a solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system comprising a plurality of tracker rows, each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system comprising:
a torque tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the solar-tracking PV system, the torque tube having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of PV modules mounted on the torque tube;
a first motor drive coupled to the first end of the torque tube;
a controller coupled to the first motor drive;
the method comprising:
restraining the second end of the torque tube with a locking device;
determining a first condition for positioning the solar-tracking PV system in a first twisted aerodynamic profile position is present;
delivering, by the controller, a first electrical power input to the first motor drive;
converting, by the first motor drive, the first electrical power input into a first mechanical torque;
applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube to rotate the first end of the torque tube in a first angular direction about the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the first end of the torque tube is rotated to a first predetermined twist angle relative to the second end of the torque tube such that the solar-tracking PV system is positioned in the first twisted aerodynamic profile position.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system further comprises:
a second motor drive coupled to the second end of the torque tube; and
wherein the method further comprises:
delivering a second electrical power input to the second motor drive;
converting the second electrical power input into a second mechanical torque by the second motor drive;
applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube comprises rotating the second end of the torque tube in a second angular direction about the longitudinal axis, the second angular direction being opposite the first angular direction.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first condition is present comprises determining whether an ambient environmental condition is beyond a predetermined threshold limit.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining an ambient environmental condition is beyond a predetermined threshold limit comprises determining an ambient wind speed, wind direction or a combination thereof.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining an ambient environmental condition comprises sensing an ambient wind speed, wind direction or a combination thereof.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting, to the controller, a signal based on a measured ambient environmental condition.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
monitoring the first electrical power input; and
determining the first condition is present based on the monitored first electrical power input.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solar-tracking PV system further comprises a mechanical linkage for mechanically coupling the plurality of tracker rows, and wherein applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube of a first of the plurality of tracker rows comprises transmitting the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube of a second of the plurality of tracker rows via the mechanical linkage.
10. A method of operating a solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system comprising a plurality of tracker rows, each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system comprising:
a torque tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the solar-tracking PV system, the torque tube having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of PV modules mounted on the torque tube;
a first motor drive coupled to the first end of the torque tube;
a controller coupled to the first motor drive;
the method comprising:
determining a first condition for positioning the solar-tracking PV system in a first twisted aerodynamic profile position is present;
delivering, by the controller, a first electrical power input to the first motor drive;
monitoring the first electrical power input, wherein determining the first condition is present based on the monitored first electrical power input;
converting, by the first motor drive, the first electrical power input into a first mechanical torque;
applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube to rotate the first end of the torque tube in a first angular direction about the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the first end of the torque tube is rotated to a first predetermined twist angle relative to the second end of the torque tube such that the solar-tracking PV system is positioned in the first twisted aerodynamic profile position.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system further comprises:
a second motor drive coupled to the second end of the torque tube; and
wherein the method further comprises:
delivering a second electrical power input to the second motor drive;
converting the second electrical power input into a second mechanical torque by the second motor drive;
applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube comprises rotating the second end of the torque tube in a second angular direction about the longitudinal axis, the second angular direction being opposite the first angular direction.
13. A method of operating a solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system comprising a plurality of tracker rows, each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system comprising:
a torque tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the solar-tracking PV system, the torque tube having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of PV modules mounted on the torque tube;
a first motor drive coupled to the first end of the torque tube;
a controller coupled to the first motor drive;
the method comprising:
determining a first condition for positioning the solar-tracking PV system in a first twisted aerodynamic profile position is present;
delivering, by the controller, a first electrical power input to the first motor drive;
converting, by the first motor drive, the first electrical power input into a first mechanical torque;
applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube to rotate the first end of the torque tube in a first angular direction about the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the first end of the torque tube is rotated to a first predetermined twist angle relative to the second end of the torque tube such that the solar-tracking PV system is positioned in the first twisted aerodynamic profile position, wherein the solar-tracking PV system further comprises a mechanical linkage for mechanically coupling the plurality of tracker rows, and wherein applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube of a first of the plurality of tracker rows comprises transmitting the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube of a second of the plurality of tracker rows via the mechanical linkage.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system further comprises:
a second motor drive coupled to the second end of the torque tube; and
wherein the method further comprises:
delivering a second electrical power input to the second motor drive;
converting the second electrical power input into a second mechanical torque by the second motor drive;
applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube.
15. A method of operating a solar-tracking photovoltaic (PV) system comprising a plurality of tracker rows, each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system comprising:
a torque tube extending along a longitudinal axis of the solar-tracking PV system, the torque tube having a first end and a second end;
a plurality of PV modules mounted on the torque tube;
a first motor drive coupled to the first end of the torque tube;
a controller coupled to the first motor drive;
the method comprising:
restraining the second end of the torque tube;
determining a first condition for positioning the solar-tracking PV system in a first twisted aerodynamic profile position is present;
delivering, by the controller, a first electrical power input to the first motor drive;
converting, by the first motor drive, the first electrical power input into a first mechanical torque;
applying the first mechanical torque to the first end of the torque tube to rotate the first end of the torque tube in a first angular direction about the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the first end of the torque tube is rotated to a first predetermined twist angle relative to the second end of the torque tube such that the solar-tracking PV system is positioned in the first twisted aerodynamic profile position.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of tracker rows of the solar-tracking PV system further comprises:
a second motor drive coupled to the second end of the torque tube; and
wherein the method further comprises:
delivering a second electrical power input to the second motor drive;
converting the second electrical power input into a second mechanical torque by the second motor drive;
applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein applying the second mechanical torque to the second end of the torque tube comprises rotating the second end of the torque tube in a second angular direction about the longitudinal axis, the second angular direction being opposite the first angular direction.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the first condition is present comprises determining whether an ambient environmental condition is beyond a predetermined threshold limit.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein determining an ambient environmental condition is beyond a predetermined threshold limit comprises determining an ambient wind speed, wind direction or a combination thereof.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein determining an ambient environmental condition comprises sensing an ambient wind speed, wind direction or a combination thereof.