Methods and systems for designing photovoltaic systems
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for designing a photovoltaic (PV) system, the method implemented by a design automation computer system in communication with a memory, the method comprising:
- receiving a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers;
determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data;
retrieving a set of structural product rules;
identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics;
receiving a system type selection;
receiving a plurality of system component selections;
receiving a plurality of PV layout preferences;
determining, at the design automation computer system, a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system;
determining a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout;
refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules;
determining a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout;
defining a PV system model using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials; and
displaying at least a portion of the PV system model on a visual display.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for designing a photovoltaic (PV) system is implemented by a design automation computer system. The method includes receiving a set of site data, receiving a system type selection, receiving a plurality of system component selections, receiving a plurality of PV layout preferences, determining a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system, determining a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout, determining a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout, and designing the PV system using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for designing a photovoltaic (PV) system, the method implemented by a design automation computer system in communication with a memory, the method comprising:
-
receiving a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers; determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data; retrieving a set of structural product rules; identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics; receiving a system type selection; receiving a plurality of system component selections; receiving a plurality of PV layout preferences; determining, at the design automation computer system, a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system; determining a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout; refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules; determining a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout; defining a PV system model using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials; and displaying at least a portion of the PV system model on a visual display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A design automation computer system used to design a photovoltaic (PV) system, the design automation computer system comprising:
-
a processor; and a memory coupled to said processor, said processor configured to; receive a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers; determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data; retrieving a set of structural product rules; identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics; receive a system type selection; receive a plurality of system component selections; receive a plurality of PV layout preferences; determine a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system; determine a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout; refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules; determine a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout; define a PV system model using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials; and displaying at least a portion of the PV system model on a visual display. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media for designing a photovoltaic (PV) system, the computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein, when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
-
receive a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers; determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data; retrieving a set of structural product rules; identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics; receive a system type selection; receive a plurality of system component selections; receive a plurality of PV layout preferences; determine a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system; determine a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout; refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules; determine a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout; define a PV system model using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials; and displaying at least a portion of the PV system model on a visual display. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A computer-implemented method for constructing a photovoltaic (PV) system, the method implemented by a design automation computer system in communication with a memory, the method comprising:
-
receiving a set of site data, wherein the site data includes a set of location identifiers; determining a set of location design characteristics based on the set of site data; retrieving a set of structural product rules; identifying a subset of structural product rules associated with the set of location design characteristics; receiving a system type selection; receiving a plurality of system component selections; receiving a plurality of PV layout preferences; determining, at the design automation computer system, a PV module layout by iteratively applying a first layout algorithm to the set of site data and the plurality of PV layout preferences, the PV module layout defining a placement of a plurality of PV modules of a PV system; determining a structural layout, an electrical design, and an electrical layout based on the PV module layout; refining the structural layout based on the subset of structural product rules; determining a bill of materials based on the PV module layout, the structural layout, and the electrical layout; creating a plurality of PV system options using the structural layout, the electrical design, the electrical layout, the PV module layout, and the bill of materials; providing the plurality of PV system options to a user device for display on a visual display of the user device; receiving a PV system selection corresponding to one of the plurality of PV system options; and constructing the PV system based on the PV system selection.
-
Specification