IN-PLANE ROTATION SUN-TRACKING FOR CONCENTRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL

• US 20170250649A1
• Filed: 02/23/2017
• Published: 08/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Boston Laboratory
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Boston Laboratory
• Inventors: Liu, Xinbing
• Application Number:
  US15/440,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20170250649A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/30 with lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/45 with two rotation axes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0508 the interconnection means having a particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A photovoltaic array includes a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row having a pivot axis parallel to the row. Each cell has a lens which has a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element. The photovoltaic array further includes a rotational actuator, coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells configured to rotate the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements and a tilt actuator, coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements configured to pivot the rows of photovoltaic elements about their pivot axes.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic array comprising:

a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row of photovoltaic cells having a pivot axis parallel to the row, each cell having a lens having a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element;

a rotational actuator, coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells configured to rotate the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements; and

a tilt actuator, coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements to pivot the rows of photovoltaic elements about their pivot axes.

2. The photovoltaic array of claim 1, further comprising:

a stepper motor as the rotational actuator for rotating the array of photovoltaic elements; and

a motor with a helical lead screw as the tilt actuator for pivoting the rows of photovoltaic elements.

3. The photovoltaic array of claim 1, further comprising:

flexible wiring electrically connecting the photovoltaic cells to each other.

4. The photovoltaic array of claim 1, further comprising:

a fixed axis bar connected to of each of the rows by a first pin; and

a pivot driver bar connected to each of the rows by a second pin,

wherein the tilt actuator pivots the rows by moving the pivot driver bar relative to the fixed axis bar.

5. The photovoltaic array of claim 1, further comprising:

an open loop controller for controlling the rotational actuator and the tilt actuator to track sunlight based on time of day values and date of year values provided by a clock circuit.

6. The photovoltaic array of claim 1, further comprising:

a closed loop controller for controlling the rotational actuator and the tilt actuator to track sunlight based on time of day values and date of year values provided by a clock circuit, and based on a signal output by the array.

7. The photovoltaic array of claim 1, further comprising:

a partially analog controller for controlling the rotational actuator and tilt actuator to track sunlight based on time of day values and date of year values provided by a clock circuit, and based on an analog comparison between a present signal output by the array and a previous signal output by the array stored in a capacitor.

8. A method for controlling a photovoltaic array including a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row of photovoltaic cells having a pivot axis parallel to the row, each cell having a lens having a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element, the method comprising:

rotating, by a rotational actuator coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells, the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements; and

tilting, by a tilt actuator coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements, the rows of photovoltaic elements to pivot about their pivot axes.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

rotating, by a stepper motor as the rotational actuator, the array of photovoltaic elements; and

tilting, by a motor with a helical lead screw as the tilt actuator, the rows of photovoltaic elements.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

conducting, by flexible wiring electrically connecting the photovoltaic cells, electrical current between the cells.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

pivoting, by a tilt actuator, the rows of the array by moving a pivot driver bar connected to each of the rows by a second pin relative to a fixed axis bar connected to of each of the rows by a first pin.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

controlling, by an open loop controller, the rotational actuator and tilt actuator to track sunlight based on time of day values and date of year values provided by a clock circuit.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

controlling, by a closed loop controller, the rotational actuator and the tilt actuator to track sunlight based on time of day values and date of year values provided by a clock circuit, and based on a signal output by the array.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

controlling, by a partially analog controller, the rotational actuator and the tilt actuator to track sunlight based on time of day values and date of year values provided by a clock circuit, and based on an analog comparison between a present signal output by the array and a previous signal output by the array stored in a capacitor.