Solar Collection Apparatus and Methods Using Accelerometers and Magnetics Sensors

• US 20110030672A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seektech Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seektech Inc.
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US12/901,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20110030672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/574
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 13/033 provided with means for controlling the light-transmission or the heat-reflection, (e.g. shields, reflectors, cleaning devices)
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/133 in the form of flexible elements, e.g. belts, chains, ropes
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/15 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/70 with reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/45 with two rotation axes
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A mirror or other reflecting surface is used for collecting and reflecting incident solar radiation. The mirror is supported for independent motion about a pair of axes. An accelerometer generates signals representative of an amount and direction of motion of the mirror about each of the axes. Motors or other drive mechanisms independently drive the mirror about each of the axes. A tracking device provides information about the current position of the Sun. A control is connected to the accelerometer, the motors and the tracking device for maintaining a predetermined optimum orientation of the mirror as the Sun moves across the sky. Position sensors that sense the position of the mirror relative to the earth'"'"'s magnetic field may also be employed.

Claims

1. A solar tracking apparatus, comprising:

means for collecting and reflecting incident solar radiation;

means for supporting the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means for independent motion about a pair of axes;

accelerometer means for generating signals representative of an amount and direction of motion of the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means about each of the axes;

motor means for independently driving the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means about each of the axes;

tracking means for providing information about the current position of the Sun; and

control means connected to the accelerometer means, the motor means and the tracking means for maintaining a predetermined optimum orientation of the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means as the Sun moves across the sky.

2. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means is configured for concentrating incident solar radiation.

3. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the accelerometer means is mounted on the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means.

4. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support means includes a pair of pivot mechanisms.

5. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the accelerometer means includes a MEMS accelerometer device

6. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the motor means includes first and second electric motors and first and second drive linkages for coupling the electric motors, respectively, to the support means.

7. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means is supported so that both axes are substantially in the same horizontal plane when the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means is in a horizontal orientation.

8. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 7 wherein the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means is a mirror with a configuration selected from the group consisting of planar, parabolic and parabolic trough.

9. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising means for sensing a reference position of the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means relative to the earth'"'"'s magnetic field vector and for generating signals representative of the reference position and supplying them to the control means.

10. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 9 wherein the accelerometer means and the reference position sensing means are provided by three-axis sensors.

11. A heliostat mirror pointing system employing both accelerometer and magnetic sensors to determine mirror position relative to the earth'"'"'s gravitational vector and the earth'"'"'s magnetic field vector.

12. The heliostat mirror pointing system of claim 11 wherein one axis of rotation is approximately vertical.

13. The heliostat mirror pointing system of claim 11 wherein one axis of rotation is approximately horizontal.

14. The heliostat mirror pointing system of claim 11 wherein the magnetic sensor is used to sense rotation around said vertical axis.

15. The heliostat mirror pointing system of claim 11 wherein the accelerometer sensor is used to sense rotation around said horizontal axis.

16. The heliostat mirror pointing system employing 3-axis magnetic sensors to determine mirror position relative to the earth'"'"'s magnetic field vector.

17. The heliostat mirror pointing system of claim 16 wherein one axis of rotation is approximately vertical.

18. The heliostat mirror pointing system of claim 16 wherein one axis of rotation is approximately horizontal.

19. The heliostat mirror pointing system of claim 16 wherein the magnetic sensor is used to sense rotation around horizontal and vertical axis.

20. A heliostat mirror control system employing both accelerometer and magnetic sensors to determine mirror position relative to the earth'"'"'s gravitational vector and the earth'"'"'s magnetic field vector.

21. The heliostat mirror control system of claim 20 wherein said control system is a member of a mesh network.

22. The heliostat mirror control system of claim 20 wherein said control system uses a wireless control means

23. The heliostat mirror control system of claim 20 wherein photovoltaic devices are used to provide power to said control system.

24. The heliostat mirror control system of claim 20 wherein photovoltaic devices are used to store energy in one or more capacitors to provide power for said control system.

25. The heliostat mirror control system of claim 20 wherein photovoltaic devices are used to store energy in one or more rechargeable batteries to provide power for said control system.

26. A solar tracking apparatus, comprising:

a reflective surface for collecting and reflecting incident solar radiation;

a pivot mechanism that supports the reflective surface for independent motion about a pair of axes;

an accelerometer that generates signals representative of an amount and direction of motion of the reflective surface about each of the axes;

at least one motor coupled to independently drive the reflective surface about each of the axes;

a data source that provides information about the current position of the Sun; and

a control circuit connected to the accelerometer, the motor and the data source for maintaining a predetermined optimum orientation of the reflecting surface as the Sun moves across the sky.

27. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 26 wherein the reflective surface is configured for concentrating incident solar radiation.

28. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 26 wherein the accelerometer is mounted on the reflective surface.

29. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 26 wherein the reflective surface is supported by a pair of pivot mechanisms.

30. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 26 wherein the accelerometer is a MEMS accelerometer device.

31. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 29 wherein the apparatus includes first and second electric motors and first and second drive linkages for coupling the electric motors to corresponding ones of the pair of pivot mechanisms.

32. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 26 wherein the reflective surface is supported so that both axes are substantially in the same horizontal plane when the reflective surface is in a horizontal orientation.

33. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 26 wherein the reflective surface is a mirror with a configuration selected from the group consisting of planar, parabolic and parabolic trough.

34. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 26 and further comprising means for sensing a reference position of the solar radiation collecting and reflecting means relative to the earth'"'"'s magnetic field vector and for generating signals representative of the reference position and 4 supplying them to the control circuit.

35. The solar tracking apparatus of claim 34 wherein the accelerometer and the reference position sensing means are provided by three-axis sensors.