Sun tracking system and method using solar array

• US 5,919,314 A
• Filed: 12/26/1996
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co. Ltd. (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co. Ltd. (SK Hynix Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Il Song
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/774,152
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 136/246, 136/291, 136/292, 250/203.4, 323/906, 244/173
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/20 intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detectors, e.g. by varying incidence angle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7862 mounted on a moving platform, e.g. space vehicle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

A sun tracking system and method for tracking the position of the sun. The sun tracking system includes an on-board computer for controlling each device; a solar array driving unit for rotating a solar array and for transmitting an array angle to the on-board computer; an array tilt mechanism for adjusting a tilt of the solar array and for transmitting an tilt angle to the on-board computer; the solar array connected to the solar array driving unit and to the array tilt mechanism, for supplying a current and a voltage to a peak power tracker; and the peak power tracker for supplying a power generated from the solar array to each part of a satellite and for supplying a peak power to the on-board computer.

Claims

1. A system for tracking the sun, comprising:

an on-board computer for controlling each device, said on-board computer having an algorithm for tracking the position of the sun;

a solar array driving unit for rotating a solar array and for transmitting an array angle to said on-board computer, said solar array driving unit being operated by a command of said on-board computer;

an array tilt mechanism for adjusting a tilt of said solar array and for transmitting a tilt angle to said on-board computer, said array tilt mechanism being operated by a command of said on-board computer;

said solar array connected to said solar array driving unit and to said array tilt mechanism, for supplying a current and a voltage to a peak power tracker; and

said peak power tracker for supplying a power generated from said solar array to each part of a satellite and for supplying a peak power to said on-board computer;

whereby the sun can be tracked by using the principle that the power generated from said solar array is inversely proportional to an angle between the sun and a normal surface of said solar array.

2. A method for tracking the sun, comprising the steps of:

(a) rotating a solar array by operating a solar array driving unit from an on-board computer, and stopping said solar array driving unit at a peak power point by monitoring a power generated from said solar array, thus to obtain a first array angle θ

A;

(b) tilting said solar array by driving an array tilt mechanism from said on-board computer, and stopping said array tilt mechanism at the peak power point by monitoring the power, thus to obtain a first tilt angle θ

B;

(c) repeating said steps of (a) and (b) after a given time T to obtain a second array angle θ

C and a second tilt angle θ

D, and causing said solar array driving unit to rotate said solar array at a speed of (θ

C-θ

A)/T at a point of said second array angle θ

C; and

(d) causing said array tilt mechanism to tilt said solar array at a speed of (θ

D-θ

B)/T at a point of said second tilt angle θ

D.

3. A method for tracking the sun as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of rotating a solar array is implemented in such a way that if a variation of the power of said solar array is greater than 0, said solar array is rotated in the same direction, and if a variation of the power of said solar array is less than 0, said solar array is rotated in an opposite direction.

4. A method for tracking the sun as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of tilting said solar array is implemented in such a way that if a variation of the power of said solar array is greater than 0, said solar array is tilted in the same direction, and if a variation of the power of said solar array is less than 0, said solar array is tilted in an opposite direction.