A method allows positioning the tracker at angles that promote the cooling of photovoltaic modules and therefore, decrease their operating temperature, without reducing the total energy produced thus optimizing power production of photovoltaic (PV) electricity by reducing the working temperature of PV modules of a solar tracker. The method also provides an optimization of the electrical output of the system for particular conditions of instantaneous air temperature and wind speed to improve electrical power generation ratios with respect to those known current techniques taking into account incident power in the PV plane, or in some cases the output power without considering the action of changes in wind speed or air temperature.

A method allows positioning the tracker at angles that promote the cooling of photovoltaic modules and therefore, decrease their operating temperature, without reducing the total energy produced thus optimizing power production of photovoltaic (PV) electricity by reducing the working temperature of PV modules of a solar tracker. The method also provides an optimization of the electrical output of the system for particular conditions of instantaneous air temperature and wind speed to improve electrical power generation ratios with respect to those known current techniques taking into account incident power in the PV plane, or in some cases the output power without considering the action of changes in wind speed or air temperature.

A solar tracker system includes a support tube, a solar panel assembly connected to the support tube, and an active lock connected to the support tube. The active lock includes a housing defining a chamber and a seal. The seal prevents a flow of fluid through the chamber when the active lock is in a sealed state and allows the flow of fluid through the chamber when the active lock is in an unsealed state. The active lock further includes a locking system motor connected to the seal to transition the active lock between the sealed state and the unsealed state, a battery providing power to the locking system motor, and an antenna for receiving instructions controlling the locking system motor.

A solar tracker system includes a photovoltaic panel and an actuator coupled to the photovoltaic panel and configured to actuate to rotate the photovoltaic panel around a base. A controller communicatively coupled to the actuator is configured to detect a direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel. Based on the direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel, the controller adaptively controls the actuator to set a stow position of the photovoltaic panel.

A solar tracker system includes a photovoltaic panel and an actuator coupled to the photovoltaic panel and configured to actuate to rotate the photovoltaic panel around a base. A controller communicatively coupled to the actuator is configured to detect a direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel. Based on the direction from which wind is incident on the photovoltaic panel, the controller adaptively controls the actuator to set a stow position of the photovoltaic panel.

A method allows positioning the tracker at angles that promote the cooling of photovoltaic modules and therefore, decrease their operating temperature, without reducing the total energy produced thus optimizing power production of photovoltaic (PV) electricity by reducing the working temperature of PV modules of a solar tracker. The method also provides an optimization of the electrical output of the system for particular conditions of instantaneous air temperature and wind speed to improve electrical power generation ratios with respect to those known current techniques taking into account incident power in the PV plane, or in some cases the output power without considering the action of changes in wind speed or air temperature.

A method allows positioning the tracker at angles that promote the cooling of photovoltaic modules and therefore, decrease their operating temperature, without reducing the total energy produced thus optimizing power production of photovoltaic (PV) electricity by reducing the working temperature of PV modules of a solar tracker. The method also provides an optimization of the electrical output of the system for particular conditions of instantaneous air temperature and wind speed to improve electrical power generation ratios with respect to those known current techniques taking into account incident power in the PV plane, or in some cases the output power without considering the action of changes in wind speed or air temperature.

A protection system protects against incident wind in a photovoltaic installation and a method protects a photovoltaic installation against damage caused by incident wind. The protection system for protecting a photovoltaic installation includes a plurality of parallel and spaced apart rows of solar trackers having a central shaft attached to supports by means of couplings and supporting photovoltaic panel; and at least one actuator device kinetically connected to the central shaft for modifying its angular position. At least one row comprises a deflecting barrier below the photovoltaic panels and between the supports, covering between 40% and 65% of the distance (D) existing between the central shaft and the ground, defining a passage (P) between the deflecting barrier and the central shaft for redirecting the incident wind.

A protection system protects against incident wind in a photovoltaic installation and a method protects a photovoltaic installation against damage caused by incident wind. The protection system for protecting a photovoltaic installation includes a plurality of parallel and spaced apart rows of solar trackers having a central shaft attached to supports by means of couplings and supporting photovoltaic panel; and at least one actuator device kinetically connected to the central shaft for modifying its angular position. At least one row comprises a deflecting barrier below the photovoltaic panels and between the supports, covering between 40% and 65% of the distance (D) existing between the central shaft and the ground, defining a passage (P) between the deflecting barrier and the central shaft for redirecting the incident wind.

A solar tracker system includes a torque tube, a solar panel assembly attached to the torque tube, a housing defining a chamber and a fluid passageway extending from the chamber, and an active lock connected to a seal configured to prevent a flow path of fluid while in a sealed state and allow the flow path of fluid in an unsealed state. The system further includes a controller in communication with the torque tube and the active lock. The controller is programmed to receive a command to place the solar panel assembly in a stowed position, instruct the torque tube to rotate the panel assembly to a stowed angle corresponding to the stowed position, monitor a current angle of the panel assembly, compare the current angle to the stowed angle, and instruct the seal to transition to the sealed state when the current angle is equal to the stowed angle.