SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A DUAL-AXIS SOLAR ARRAY TRACKER BASED ON SOLAR ARRAY OUTPUT SIGNALS

• Main Author: Galasso D. Anthony
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.09.2016
• Subjects: CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-REDRADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, E.G. USINGPHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES; MEASURING; MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES; PHYSICS; TESTING

A solar array tracking system includes a solar array module having at least three separate cells mounted on a platform coupled to a drive mechanism. Each separate cells provides an electrical output in direct current form. Micro-inverters are provided for each of the separate cells. Each micro-inverter receives the electrical signal output from the associated cell and convert the electrical signal to alternating current form and provided such signal on an output thereof. Sensors, one for each micro-inverter, provide an output signal proportional to a magnitude of the electrical power or energy provided by the associated micro-inverter. A controller is coupled to receive the output signals from each of the sensors. The controller is configured to generate control signals for the drive mechanism that move the platform and solar array module such that the electrical output signals from each of the separate cells in the solar array module are optimized.