US 12,445,087 B2
Stowing of photovoltaic modules for hail mitigation
Sanket Shah, Albuquerque, NM (US); and Kyumin Lee, Albuquerque, NM (US)
Assigned to ARRAY TECH, INC., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed by Array Tech, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (US)
Filed on May 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/658,728.
Application 18/658,728 is a continuation of application No. 18/465,049, filed on Sep. 11, 2023.
Application 18/465,049 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/071105, filed on Mar. 11, 2022.
Application PCT/US2022/071105 is a continuation of application No. 17/654,523, filed on Mar. 11, 2022, granted, now 11,469,707, issued on Oct. 11, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/161,847, filed on Mar. 16, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/159,675, filed on Mar. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0291423 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. H02S 30/20 (2014.01); G01W 1/10 (2006.01); G05B 17/02 (2006.01); G05D 3/10 (2006.01); H02S 20/30 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 30/20 (2014.12) [G01W 1/10 (2013.01); G05B 17/02 (2013.01); H02S 20/30 (2014.12); G05D 3/105 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving weather information from a weather forecasting service, the weather information including a likelihood of a hail event at a location of a solar site and a predicted size of hail stones expected in the hail event;
determining a stowing score for the hail event, wherein the stowing score is based on the likelihood of the hail event at the location of the solar site and the predicted size of hail stones expected in the hail event;
comparing the stowing score with a threshold score value for the solar site; and
placing one or more photovoltaic (PV) modules at the solar site into a stow position based on a determination that the stowing score exceeds the threshold score value.