Nextracker Inc.

California Institute of Technology

City of Hope

Osel, Inc.

Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.

Princeton Power Systems, Inc.

Yang Liu

Alexander W Au

Chen Li

Francesco Borrelli

Allan Daly

Jonathan Kenzo Kamei

Ricardo Delgado-Nanez

Yu Dong Ma

Yudong Ma

Fei Gu

Yu-Chong Tai

Venkata Rahul Abbaraju

Sandeep Sanjiva Lele

Nanhai G Chen

Yuman Fong

Qiang Xu

Colin A Cook

Mohammad Salmaan Khan

Eric Martinez

Ignacio Javier Alvarez

Jun Wang

Aubrey M Shapero

Rosa Yu

Markus Meister

Alex Au

Andrew Cheng

Qing Xia

Fabricio Novak

Mohammed Salmaan Khan

Wesley Chu

A solar tracking system comprises multiple solar panel modules forming a grid of solar panel modules, wherein the multiple solar panel modules are orientatable to a solar source independently of each other; and a control system configured to orient each of the multiple solar panel modules to the solar source independently of each other based on a performance model to optimize an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules, wherein the performance model predicts an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules based on a topography of the area containing the grid of solar panel modules and weather conditions local to each of the solar panel modules.

Systems for and methods of positioning solar panels in an array of solar panels to efficiently capture sunlight

A solar tracking system comprises multiple solar panel modules forming a grid of solar panel modules, wherein the multiple solar panel modules are movable relative to a solar source independently of each other; and a control system configured to orient each of the multiple solar panel modules to the solar source independently of each other based on a performance model to optimize an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules, wherein the performance model predicts an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules based on a topography of the area containing the grid of solar panel modules and weather conditions local to each of the solar panel modules.

Systems for and methods of positioning solar panels in an array of solar panels with spectrally adjusted irradiance tracking

Split-cell and multi-panel photovoltaic backtracking control systems and methods allow for increased total power generation during low sun elevation conditions by shading a percentage of panel modules, thereby allowing for a lower angle of incidence on unshaded modules. The control systems and methods involve determining a sun elevation angle, a traditional backtracking angle, a split-cell or multi-panel backtracking angle, a single-cell or single-panel relative light transmission (RLT) based on the single-cell or single-panel backtracking angle, and a split-cell or multi-panel RLT based on the split-cell or multi-panel backtracking angle. If twice the single-cell or single-panel RLT is greater than the split-cell or multi-panel RLT, the split-cell or multi-panel backtracking angle is used; otherwise, the single-cell or single-panel backtracking angle is used. The control systems and methods may further involve determining a diffuse fraction index (DFI) and, if the DFI is greater than a DFI limit, using a DFI tracking angle.

Systems and methods for split-cell and multi-panel photovoltaic tracking control

Solar power systems and methods utilize DC power transmission and centralized power inversion. The solar power systems include a photovoltaic (PV) bus system and a fixed bus system. The PV system utilizes a control mode handoff control method, which includes determining that a local maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is enabled; in response to determining that the local MPPT control is enabled, starting an MPPT mode timer; performing local MPPT; determining that the MPPT mode timer is greater than a predetermined period; and, in response to determining that the MPPT mode timer is greater than a predetermined period, handing off MPPT control to the next MPPT controller. The distributed MPPT control method may include sequential MPPT control, adaptive ΔV MPPT control, and/or power limiting control. The fixed bus system includes PV string-level MPPT controllers and a fixed DC input central inverter or multiple fixed DC modular inverters.

Systems and methods for photovoltaic direct current (DC) bus control

Systems and methods for managing flow batteries utilize a battery management controller (BMC) coupled between a flow battery and a DC/DC converter, which is coupled to an electrical grid or a photovoltaic device via an inverter. The inverter converts an AC voltage to a first DC voltage and the DC/DC converter steps down the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage. The BMC includes a first power route, a second power route, and a current source converter coupled to the second power route. The BMC initializes the flow battery with a third DC voltage using the current source converter until a sensing circuit senses that the voltage of the flow battery has reached a predetermined voltage. The sensing circuit may include a capacitor, which has a small capacitance and is coupled across each cell of the flow battery, coupled in series between two resistors having very large resistances.

Battery management architectures for flow batteries

A solar tracker system including a tracker apparatus including a plurality of solar modules, each of the solar modules being spatially configured to face in a normal manner in an on sun position in an incident direction of electromagnetic radiation derived from the sun, wherein the solar modules include a plurality of PV strings, and a tracker controller. The tracker controller includes a processor, a memory, a power supply configured to provide power to the tracker controller, a plurality of power inputs configured to receive a plurality of currents from the plurality of PV strings, a current sensing unit configured to individually monitor the plurality of currents, a DC-DC power converter configured to receive the plurality of power inputs powered from the plurality of PV strings to supply power to the power supply, and a motor controller, wherein the tracker controller is configured to track the sun position.

Methods and systems for detecting shading for solar trackers

A distributed direct current power system including an inverter to invert DC to alternating current (AC), a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) strings, and a plurality of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) converters coupled between the plurality of photovoltaic (PV) strings, respectively, and the central inverter, the plurality of MPPT converters configured to maximize solar power production by the plurality of PV strings and minimize mismatch between the plurality of PV strings. The system also including a plurality of batteries, a plurality of DC-DC battery converters (DCBC) coupled to the plurality of batteries and configured to manage charge and discharge of the plurality of batteries, enable interconnection of the plurality of PV strings and the plurality of batteries, and supply a constant medium DC voltage to the central inverter, and a hydrogen generation system in electrical communication with the inverter, the photovoltaic strings, or the batteries.

Fixed DC bus and hydrogen generation system

A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of on sun trackers and a plurality of off sun tracker. Each tracker is selectively adjusted to achieve a desired power output of the solar power plant system in an example.

Sensing and feedback for row on sun tracking method and system

A multi-power source system including a first power source, a second power source in a parallel with the first power source, and a diode preventing power from the second power source to drive the first power source, but permitting the first power source to charge the second power source. The system also includes a controller operably coupled to both the first and second power sources, and a plurality of field effect transistor (FETs) arranged in series with one or more of the first power source, the second power source, and the load, wherein controller can switch the plurality of FETs to enable the first power source to drive the load or the second power source to drive the load.

Multi-power source systems for photovoltaic battery control

A solar tracking system includes a solar array, a support structure configured to support the solar array, a driveshaft coupled to the support structure, a base configured to rotatably support the driveshaft, and an articulation system coupled to the driveshaft and configured to articulate the driveshaft relative to the base. The articulation system includes a gearbox coupled to the driveshaft. The solar tracking system also includes a motor mechanically operably coupled to the gearbox to cause the driveshaft to rotate, and a controller that determines a fault caused by the winding up of the driveshaft, and, in response to determining the fault, shorting the windings of the motor and/or providing power, which is generated by the motor when the unwinding driveshaft drives the rotation of the motor, to a load, such as an energy storage device, a resistive load, and/or a heating element.

Systems and methods for tracker-level protection

A power converter converts a medium-voltage output from a solar module to an appropriate voltage to power a solar tracker system. The power converter includes a voltage divider having at least two legs, a first semiconductor switch subassembly coupled in parallel with a first leg of the voltage divider, and a second semiconductor switch subassembly coupled in parallel with a second leg of the voltage divider. The power converter may be a unidirectional or a bidirectional power converter. In implementations, the signals for driving the semiconductor switches of the first and second semiconductor switch subassemblies may be shifted out of phase from each other. In implementations, if the bus voltages to the semiconductor switches are not balanced, the pulse width of the driving signal of the semiconductor switch supplied with the higher bus voltage is decreased for at least one cycle.

Power converters and methods of controlling same

A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.

Self-powered solar tracker apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Yang Liu