Energy distribution system and related methods, devices, and systems

• US 9,488,968 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drift Marketplace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wovn, Inc.
• Inventors: Tilley, Herbert Alan, Robinson, Gregory William, McKenzie, Edwin Eugene III
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mashruwala, Nikhil
• Application Number:
  US13/815,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20140201109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 126/573, 126/601, 126/602, 136/244, 700/287, 700/291, 705/412
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2030/145 Tracks
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2201/00 Prediction; Simulation
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/452 Vertical primary axis
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/67 to the maximum power available from a generator, e.g. from solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/10 Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground H02S20/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49355 Solar energy device making

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an autonomous energy distribution network including a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, where each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid. The network also includes a node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, where the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected.

Claims

1. An autonomous energy distribution network, comprising:

a plurality of solar tracker devices configured to receive solar energy and transform the solar energy into electrical energy, wherein each of the solar tracker devices is directly connected to a node in a power distribution grid;

a first node manager configured to receive status information from the solar trackers, wherein the status information includes information regarding the state of the node to which each of the solar tracker device are directly connected, wherein at least one of the solar trackers includes the first node manager; and

a remote computing device including a second node manager in communication with the first node manager, wherein the second node manager is configured to control operation of the first node manager over a computer network.

2. The energy distribution network of claim 1 wherein the status information further includes geographical location of the solar tracker and a time stamp.

3. The energy distribution network of claim 2 wherein the information regarding the state of the node includes power signal condition.

4. The energy distribution network of claim 3 wherein the node manager is configured to associate the power signal condition at individual nodes with the corresponding geographical location and time stamp of the nodes.

5. The energy distribution network of claim 1 wherein the computer network comprises a communication path that includes a cellular link between the first node manager and the second node manager.

6. The energy distribution network of claim 1 wherein the node manager operates the solar tracker based, at least in part, on the status information and without intervention from a remote computing device.