General Electric Company

Michael Schmidt

Mark Ronald Lynass

Oliver Gerhard Mayer

Marcus Zettl

Yaru Najem Mendez Hernandez

Eva Bernal Serra

Christian Heller

Omar Stern

Marianne Hartung

Ralph Teichmann

Simon Herbert Schramm

Kathleen Ann O'Brien

Christian Maria Anton Heller

Owen Jannis Schelenz

Christian M Heller

Said Farouk El-Barbari

Omar Ivan Stern Gonzalez

Toby Ferenczi

Eike Mueggenburg

Yvonne Boose

A physical effect (optical effect), which may be observed in solar irradiance as shading due to a cloud passing overhead may be approaching a given location (e.g., a location at or proximate a solar power generator), has been discovered. This optical effect takes place prior to an occurrence of a solar obscuration event by the cloud, and thus this optical effect may be effectively sensed and processed in apparatuses, systems and methods to predict the occurrence of a solar obscuration of the power generator.

Prediction of solar obscuration events based on detection of spectral distribution shifts caused by approaching clouds

A prediction system for predicting solar irradiance based on cloud characteristics includes a sky imager that includes a customized lens configured to capture one or more substantially planar images of the sky. The prediction system further includes an image processor coupled to the sky imager and configured to process the one or more substantially planar images. Moreover, the prediction system includes a computing system coupled to the image processor and configured to detect cloud characteristics based on the one or more substantially planar images, and predict the solar irradiance based on the cloud characteristics.

Methods and systems for predicting cloud movement

Apparatus and method, as may be used to acquire different components of solar irradiance in a solar-based power generation system or as may be used in a sky imager, are provided. A filter matrix () may be arranged to receive incident solar irradiance. The filter matrix may include an array of pixels () controllable to selectively acquire different components of the solar irradiance. A module, such as a photosensor () or calculator module () may be configured to determine a spatial location of at least one of the irradiance components relative to the array of pixels of the filter matrix. A controller () may be electrically coupled to the module to supply a control signal to the filter matrix based on the determined location of the irradiance component to pass a selected one of the irradiance components.

Apparatus having a controllable filter matrix to selectively acquire different components of solar irradiance

A power generation system () for generating electrical power, which may vary in response to one or more weather-varying factors (). The system may include an array of power generators () subject to the weather-varying factor. A module () may be configured to predict over a time horizon at least one power-generating condition for the array of power generators. A controller () may be configured to anticipatorily adjust a control strategy regarding operation of a component and/or subsystem of the power generation system based on the predicted power-generating condition for the array of power generators over the time horizon.

Power generation system including predictive control apparatus to reduce influences of weather-varying factors

A solar-based power generation system may include an array of components responsive to solar radiance. The components may be disposed over respective locations on a field. The system may further include a plurality of optical fibers having respective first ends coupled to the array of components and arranged to receive solar radiance. The plurality of optical fibers may have respective second ends arranged to output respective optical signals indicative of respective levels of solar radiance over the respective locations of the field. Opto-electrical circuitry may be coupled to receive the respective optical signals from the plurality of optical fibers and generate a respective signal indicative of a shadow condition present over at least one or more of the respective locations of the field.

Shadow detection apparatus using fiber optics for solar-based power generation plants

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Bayern, Germany

Michael Schmidt