A concentrated solar energy collection system includes an array of heliostats and a solar receiver that further includes a plurality of tubes having at least one inlet and at least one outlet for carrying a heat transfer fluid (HTF). A flow control arrangement is provided for controlling the flow of HTF through the tubes. This includes at least one radiation sensor such as a pyranometer for sensing values representative of the aggregate solar radiation falling on the solar receiver via the heliostats. At least one temperature sensor measures input temperature of the HTF at or near the inlet. A controller coupled to the radiation and temperature sensors regulates the outlet temperature of the HTF by controlling the flow of HTF through the tubes via the flow control arrangement. A pressure differential sensor arrangement measures pressure differential across the flow control arrangement, providing an input to the controller.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c). The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.

The present disclosure provides a method (500) comprising receiving (510) images (e.g., 125A to 125G) of an object (110), the images (e.g., 125A to 125G) comprising first and second images. The method (500) then determines (530) feature points (810, 820) of the object (110) using the first images and determines (530, 540, 550) a three-dimensional reconstruction of a scene having the object (110). The method (500) then proceeds with aligning (560) the three-dimensional reconstruction with a three-dimensional mesh model of the object (110). The alignment can then be used to map (570) pixel values of pixels of the second images onto the three-dimensional mesh model. The directional radiosity of each mesh element of the three-dimensional mesh model can then be determined (580) and the hemispherical radiosity of the object (110) is determined (590) based on the determined directional radiosity.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c). The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.

Disclosed herein is a technique of configuring flexible photovoltaic tracker systems with high damping and low angle stow positions. Under dynamic environmental loads implementing a high amount of damping (e.g., greater than 25% of critical damping, greater than 50% of critical damping) or a very high amount of damping (e.g., 100% or greater of critical damping, infinite damping) enables the flexible tracker system to prevent problematic aeroelastic behaviors while positioned in a low stow angle. The disclosed technique is further applied to a prototyping process during wind tunnel testing.

A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property; a solar panel that is configured to generate and output power; and a monitor control unit. The monitor control unit is configured to: monitor the power outputted by the solar panel; determine that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from an expected power range; based on determining that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from the expected power range, access the sensor data; based on the power outputted by the solar panel and the sensor data, determine a likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range; and determine an action to perform to remediate the likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range.

Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of predefined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. Some embodiments may provide viewing, creating, and manipulating of multiple versions of a solar collector layout design for a particular installation worksite. The use of versions may allow analysis of alternative layouts, alternative feature classifications, and cost and performance data corresponding to alternative design choices. Version summary information providing a representative comparison between versions across a number of dimensions may be provided.

A solar tracking system (200) comprises multiple solar panel modules (SPMi) forming a grid of solar panel modules, wherein the multiple solar panel modules (SPMi) are orientatable to a solar source independently of each other; and a control system (SPCi) configured to orient each of the multiple solar panel modules (SPMi) to the solar source independently of each other based on a performance model to optimize an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules, wherein the performance model predicts an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules based on a topography of the area containing the grid of solar panel modules and weather conditions local to each of the solar panel modules (SPMi).

An optimization engine determines an optimal configuration for a solar power system projected onto a target surface. The optimization engine identifies an alignment axis that passes through a vertex of a boundary associated with the target surface and then constructs horizontal or vertical spans that represent contiguous areas where solar modules may be placed. The optimization engine populates each span with solar modules and aligns the solar modules within adjacent spans to one another. The optimization engine then generates a performance estimate for a collection of populated spans. By generating different spans with different solar module types and orientations, the optimization engine is configured to identify an optimal solar power system configuration.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method implementing the following steps: a) observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker (1) substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker (1), depending on the observed cloud coverage; (c) predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; d) calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; e) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker (1) according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle. The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.