Tracking type photovoltaic power generator and error correction method of its built-in clock

• US 6,465,725 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2001
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Shibata, Masatoshi, Suzuki, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/919,578
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 136/246, 136/244, 136/291, 250/203.4, 126/573, 126/575, 126/574
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/452 Vertical primary axis
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7861 Solar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/00 Supporting structures for PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

A tracking type photovoltaic power generator includes a clock for clocking a time and a sun direction sensor for outputting a signal indicative of a sun direction, a controller which calculates a first time when the sun the sun arrives at a culmination azimuth on the basis of the time clocked by the clock, detects a culmination azimuth on the basis of a difference between a second time when the culmination azimuth is detected and the first time. Accordingly, the generator automatically corrects the error of the time clocked by the clock.

Claims

1. A tracking photovoltaic power generator comprising:

a clock which clocks a time;

a sun direction sensor which outputs a signal indicative of a sun direction; and

a controller which detects an error of a time clocked by the clock based on a signal from the sun direction sensor and corrects the error of the time clocked by said clock based on the signal from said sun direction sensor.

2. The tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 1, wherein said generator comprises only one said sun direction sensor.

3. A tracking photovoltaic power generator comprising:

a clock which clocks a time;

a sun direction sensor which outputs a signal indicative of a sun direction; and

a controller which detects an error of a time clocked by the clock base on a signal from the sun direction sensor and corrects the error of the time clocked by said clock based on the signal from said sun direction sensor;

wherein said controller includes;

a calculating section which calculates a first time when the sun arrives at an azimuth based on the time clocked by said clock;

a detecting section which detects said azimuth based on the signal from said sun direction sensor; and

a correction section which corrects the error of the time clocked by said clock based on a difference between a second time when said detecting section detects said azimuth and the first time calculated by said calculating section.

4. The tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 3, wherein said azimuth is a culmination azimuth of the sun relative to a location of the generator.

5. The tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 3, wherein said correcting section corrects the error of the time clocked by said clock when said difference becomes equal to or greater than a given value.

6. The tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 3, wherein said detecting section detects said azimuth based on the signal from said sun direction sensor within a given time period before or after the first time calculated by said calculating section.

7. The tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 6, wherein said correcting section corrects the error of the time clocked by said clock when said difference becomes equal to or greater than a given value.

8. The tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 6, wherein said correcting section corrects the error of the time clocked by said clock in a time band excluding said given time period.

9. The tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 8, wherein said correcting section corrects the error of the time clocked by said clock when said difference becomes equal to or greater than a given value.

10. An error correction method of a built-in clock in a tracking photovoltaic power generator comprising:

detecting an error of a time clocked by said built-in clock based on a signal from a sun direction sensor; and

correcting the error of the time clocked by said built-in clock based on the detected error.

11. The error correction method of the built-in clock in a tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 10, wherein said generator comprises only one said sun direction sensor.

12. The error correction method of the built-in clock in a tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 10, wherein said detecting step comprises:

calculating a first time when the sun arrives at an azimuth based on the time clocked by said built-in clock,

detecting said azimuth based on the signal from said sun direction sensor; and

detecting the error of the time clocked by said built-in clock based on a difference between a second time when said azimuth is detected and said calculated first time.

13. The error correction method of the built-in clock in a tracking photovoltaic power generator according to claim 12, wherein said azimuth is a culmination aznimuth of the sun relative to a location of the generator.

14. The error correction method of the built-in clock in a tracing photovoltaic power generator according to claim 12, wherein said correcting step corrects the error of the time clocked by said built-in clock when said difference becomes equal to or greater than a given value.