IN-PLANE ROTATION SUN-TRACKING FOR CONCENTRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL
First Claim
1. 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.
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Abstract
A method for controlling 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. The method includes rotating the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements, and tilting the rows of photovoltaic elements to pivot about their pivot axes.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. 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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification