Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

A method may include orienting a set of solar power units in a first position in which rows of solar power units are shaded by adjacent rows of solar power units; and monitoring energy generated by the set of solar power units over a window of time, that includes from when the set of solar power units are oriented in the first position until a sun angle corresponds to none of the rows being shaded by the adjacent rows. The method may include identifying a knee in energy generation during the first window of time, where the knee indicates a transition from higher to lower rates of change of energy generation at a given solar angle. The method may include plotting a trajectory of future orientation positions over time of the set of solar power units that include an orientation and time corresponding to the given solar angle.

One or more techniques, alone or in combination, maximize a surface area of a receiver that converts light into another form of energy. One technique enhances collection efficiency by controlling a size, shape, and/or position of a cell relative to an expected illumination profile under various conditions. Another technique positions non-active elements (such as electrical contacts and/or interconnects) on surfaces likely to be shaded from incident light by other elements of the receiver. Another technique utilizes embodiments of interconnect structures occupying a small footprint. The receiver may be cooled by exposure to a fluid such as water or air.

A solar plant and single axis solar tracker management method maximize power output production. The object of the invention embraces a solar plant and a method accounting for readings being made by field sensors whilst weather forecast data are provided by third parties such as weather forecast companies collecting and broadcasting weather forecast data related to sun irradiance levels and climate conditions affecting sun irradiance levels, like clouds, pollution or fog. Some of the solar trackers of the plant are furnished with irradiance sensors, whilst the solar plant has a plurality of solar sensors arranged along; these solar sensors being configured to measure irradiance on a horizontal plane. The object of the invention envisages an outpost solar tracker configured to take radiation measurements in an inclined plane and, when it is necessary to verify the measurements of the horizontal sensors, they will go to 0° positions.

A distributed power system wherein a plurality of power converters are connected in parallel and share the power conversion load according to a prescribed function, but each power converter autonomously determines its share of power conversion. Each power converter operates according to its own power conversion formula/function, such that overall the parallel-connected converters share the power conversion load in a predetermined manner.

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.

A polyhedron device for sensing light rays and detecting incident directions of the light rays includes a polyhedron mounting seat. The polyhedron mounting seat includes a bottom surface, a top surface, and side surfaces, wherein the bottom surface is opposite to the top surface. The side surfaces, located between the top surface and the bottom surface and inclined to the bottom surface, face toward different directions. The side surfaces are respectively provided with first light sensors. The top surface is provided with at least one second light sensor. The specific design of the polyhedron mounting seat is provided to the sensor for detecting a light ray at a larger angle, thereby measuring the finer data.

A technique that enables easily determining an attitude of a laser scanning apparatus is provided. A surveying device includes a sunlight incident direction measurement unit, a Sun direction acquisition unit, and an attitude calculator. The sunlight incident direction measurement unit measures an incident direction of sunlight that enters a laser scanning apparatus, based on a detected waveform of incident light entering the laser scanning apparatus. The Sun direction acquisition unit acquires a direction of the Sun as seen from the laser scanning apparatus, from astronomical data, based on a position of the laser scanning apparatus. The attitude calculator calculates an attitude of the laser scanning apparatus in an absolute coordinate system, based on the incident direction of sunlight and the direction of the Sun as seen from the laser scanning apparatus, which is acquired from the astronomical data.

A solar tracker system including a tracker apparatus including a plurality of solar modules, each of the solar modules being spatially configured to face in a normal manner in an on sun position in an incident direction of electromagnetic radiation derived from the sun, wherein the solar modules include a plurality of PV strings, and a tracker controller. The tracker controller includes a processor, a memory, a power supply configured to provide power to the tracker controller, a plurality of power inputs configured to receive a plurality of currents from the plurality of PV strings, a current sensing unit configured to individually monitor the plurality of currents, a DC-DC power converter configured to receive the plurality of power inputs powered from the plurality of PV strings to supply power to the power supply, and a motor controller, wherein the tracker controller is configured to track the sun position.

A solar generator includes a base and a cover. The cover is disposed atop the base to define an enclosure and rotates relative to the base. A motor is disposed inside of the enclosure to rotate the cover. A solar panel is disposed atop the cover such that the solar panel is angled with respect to a horizontal plane. The solar panel includes a plurality of series of solar cell sections. Each series includes a plurality of solar cell segments arranged in a line. A reflector is disposed between adjacent series of solar cell sections. The reflector is angled to reflect inbound solar radiation onto a surface of the series of solar cell sections adjacent to the reflector. Each of the series of solar cell sections is arranged to receive both reflected solar radiation from the reflector and direct solar radiation from a sun.