Solar tracker and related methods, devices, and systems

• US 20140196761A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drift Marketplace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Questar Energy Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Tilley, Herbert Alan, Robinson, Gregory William, McKenzie, Edwin Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 9,471,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/246
• 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 a solar tracker assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a base having a track, a centrally-positioned base member, a motor operably coupled to the base member, and a plurality of arms extending from the base member towards the track, with the track including a plurality of arcuate members that are assembled to form the track. A rotatable frame is coupled to the arms and has one or more towers and an actuator positioned on the one or more towers. A pivoting frame is coupled to the one or more towers, with the pivoting frame configured to carry a solar panel array. In operation, the motor can rotate the base member and arms around a Z-axis to position the rotatable frame at azimuth and the actuator can move the pivoting frame around an X-Y axis to position the pivoting frame at zenith.

Claims

1. A solar tracker assembly comprising:

a base having a track, a centrally-positioned base member, a motor operably coupled to the base member, and a plurality of arms extending from the base member towards the track member, wherein the track comprises a plurality of arcuate members that are assembled to form the track;

a rotatable frame coupled to the arms, the rotatable frame including one or more towers and an actuator positioned on the one or more towers; and

a pivoting frame coupled to the one or more towers, the pivoting frame configured to carry a solar panel array;

wherein

the motor rotates the base member and arms around a Z-axis to position the rotatable frame at azimuth, and

the actuator moves the pivoting frame around an X-Y axis to position the pivoting frame at zenith.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the track has a surface;

a distal end of the arms includes wheels attached thereto;

the wheels engage and move with respect to the surface of the track during rotation; and

the wheels are configured to compensate for anomalies in the track after assembly of the arcuate members.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the pivoting frame is coupled to the one or more towers with hinges.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the actuator is a linear actuator that engages the pivoting frame such that the pivoting frames moves around a hinge point.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the motor is a slew motor.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a solar panel array carried by the pivoting frame, and wherein the assembly is configured to position the solar panel array in line with the sun as it moves across the sky.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the base further includes a plurality of foot plates for securing the base to a deployment site; and

the solar tracker assembly further comprises tracker electronics operably coupled to the motor and the actuator and configured to auto-level the tracker assembly to compensate for uneven placement of individual foot plates at the deployment site.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more towers include a plurality of frame members anchored to the arms and a plurality of bars interconnecting the frame members.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a sensor box operably coupled to the tracker electronics, the sensor box comprising one or more accelerometers and at least one other sensor.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the other sensor includes at least one of a heat sensor, a light sensor, and a compass sensor.

23. The solar tracker assembly of claim 1, further comprising tracker electronics operably coupled to the motor and the actuator, wherein the tracker electronics are configured to self-calibrate the motor and the actuator to a compass heading and an alignment plane without user intervention.

11. A method for assembling a tracker assembly, the method comprising assembling a base structure, a rotatable frame, and a pivoting frame, wherein

the assembled base structure includes a base member having a plurality of extending arms that engage a stationary track and a motor that drives the rotation of the base member with respect to the stationary track, wherein the track includes a plurality of arcuate members that are assembled to form the track,

the assembled rotatable frame is coupled to the base structure;

and

the assembled pivoting frame is coupled to the rotatable frame with one or more hinge elements and a linear actuator.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

coupling tracker electronics to the motor and the linear actuator; and

after assembly of the base structure, the rotatable frame, and the pivoting frame, self-calibrating for compass heading and an alignment plane via the tracker electronics.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

attaching a sensor box to the pivoting frame tracker electronics, the sensor box housing a plurality of sensors; and

coupling the sensors to the tracker electronics.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the sensor input includes GPS data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein self-calibrating further comprises receiving data based on calibration information from another solar tracker.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

attaching a sensor box to the pivoting frame tracker electronics, the sensor box housing a plurality of sensors; and

coupling the sensors to the tracker electronics.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising attaching one or more solar panels to the pivoting frame.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the method can be performed by a single person of average size without the use of large and/or special equipment.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

21. A kit for assembling a tracker assembly, the kit comprising:

a plurality of base components;

a plurality of rotatable frame components;

a plurality of pivoting frame components; and

instructions for assembling the tracker assembly,

wherein the base components, rotatable frame components and pivoting frame components are sized to meet Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requirements.

22. (canceled)