Solar tracker system

• US 10,903,782 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2019
• Issued: 01/26/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCX Solar LLC
• Original Assignee: FCX Solar LLC
• Inventors: Needham, Christopher Thomas, Oudheusden, Frank Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Slawski, Magali P
• Application Number:
  US16/443,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20190319578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/021 for rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 9/04 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 9/06 Measuring arrangements specially adapted for aerodynamic testing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0475 PV cell arrays made by cells in a planar, e.g. repetitive, configuration on a single semiconductor substrate; PV cell microarrays PV modules composed of a plurality of thin film solar cells deposited on the same substrate H01L31/046
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/32 specially adapted for solar tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/00 Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H01L31/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/10 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic system, comprising:

a collection of photovoltaic modules;

a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules; and

a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base and resisting movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base, the damper having a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, wherein the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio;

the second damping ratio being greater than the first damping ratio; and

the damper comprising;

a damper chamber containing a fluid; and

a damper piston movable through the fluid inside the damper chamber, the damper piston including;

a first port;

a second port; and

a valve, configured to passively open or close the second port.

2. The photovoltaic system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator coupled to the collection of photovoltaic modules and configured to move the collection of photovoltaic modules to change an angle of the collection of photovoltaic modules relative to the base.

3. The photovoltaic system of claim 2, wherein the actuator moves the collection of photovoltaic modules at the first rate.

4. The photovoltaic system of claim 3, wherein environmental loading moves the collection of photovoltaic modules at the second rate.

5. The photovoltaic system of claim 2, further comprising a controller in electronic communication with the actuator and configured to drive the actuator to move the collection of photovoltaic modules relative to the base, wherein the damper transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio independently of the controller.

6. The photovoltaic system of claim 1, wherein the damper supports at least a portion of a load placed on the photovoltaic system by an environmental condition.

7. The photovoltaic system of claim 1, wherein the second damping ratio is greater than critical damping of the photovoltaic system.

8. The photovoltaic system of claim 7, wherein the second damping ratio causes the damper to be fully locked against the movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base.

9. The photovoltaic system of claim 7, wherein the second damping ratio causes the damper to permit movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base while resisting the movement.

10. The photovoltaic system of claim 1, wherein the second damping ratio allows the collection of photovoltaic modules to move a designated angular distance relative to the base in a specified amount of time under specified wind loading.

11. A photovoltaic system, comprising:

one or more photovoltaic modules;

a base coupled to the one or more photovoltaic modules and supporting the photovoltaic modules;

an actuator coupled to the one or more photovoltaic modules and configured to move the photovoltaic modules to dynamically change an angle of the one or more photovoltaic modules with respect to the base; and

a damper coupled between the photovoltaic modules and the base and resisting movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base, the damper having a first damping ratio and passively transitioning to a second damping ratio that is greater than the first damping ratio;

the damper comprising;

a damper chamber containing a fluid; and

a damper piston movable through the fluid inside the damper chamber, the damper piston including;

a first port;

a second port; and

a valve, configured to passively open or close the second port.

12. The photovoltaic system of claim 11, further comprising a controller in electronic communication with the actuator and configured to drive the actuator to move the collection of photovoltaic modules relative to the base, wherein the damper transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio independently of the controller.

13. The photovoltaic system of claim 11, wherein the damper supports at least a portion of a load placed on the photovoltaic system by an environmental condition.

14. The photovoltaic system of claim 11, wherein the second damping ratio is greater than critical damping of the photovoltaic system.

15. The photovoltaic system of claim 14, wherein the second damping ratio causes the damper to be fully locked against the movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base.

16. The photovoltaic system of claim 14, wherein the second damping ratio causes the damper to permit movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base while resisting the movement.

17. The photovoltaic system of claim 11, wherein the second damping ratio allows the collection of photovoltaic modules to move a designated angular distance relative to the base in a specified amount of time under specified wind loading.

18. The photovoltaic system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the photovoltaic modules, the base, or the actuator is designed to withstand an average value of moments applied to the photovoltaic system across a specified period of time.

19. A photovoltaic system, comprising:

a collection of photovoltaic modules;

a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules; and

a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base and resisting movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base, the damper having a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, wherein the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio;

the damper comprising;

a damper chamber containing a fluid; and

a damper piston movable through the fluid inside the damper chamber, the damper piston including;

a first port;

a second port; and

a valve, configured to passively open or close the second port;

wherein the second damping ratio is higher than the first damping ratio.

20. A photovoltaic system, comprising:

a collection of photovoltaic modules;

a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules;

an actuator coupled to the photovoltaic modules and the base, the actuator moving the photovoltaic modules relative to the base to maximize energy captured;

a damper coupled to the photovoltaic modules and the base, the damper damping movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base;

the damper comprising;

a damper chamber containing a fluid; and

a damper piston movable through the fluid inside the damper chamber, the damper piston including;

a first port having a first diameter;

a second port having a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter; and

a valve, configured to passively open or close the second port.