US 12,146,972 B2
Method for controlling the orientation of a solar tracker based on cartographic models
Jérôme Arliaud, Pourrières (FR); Adrien Crucifix, Marseilles (FR); and Philippe Blanc, Sophia Antipolis (FR)
Assigned to NEXTRACKER LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed by Nextracker LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/449,180.
Application 18/449,180 is a continuation of application No. 17/222,742, filed on Apr. 5, 2021, granted, now 11,774,539.
Application 17/222,742 is a continuation of application No. 16/903,127, filed on Jun. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,307,284, issued on Apr. 19, 2022.
Application 16/903,127 is a continuation of application No. 15/739,667, granted, now 10,684,348, issued on Jun. 16, 2020, previously published as PCT/FR2016/051650, filed on Jun. 30, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 1556228 (FR), filed on Jul. 2, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0012082 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. G01S 3/786 (2006.01); F24S 50/20 (2018.01); G05D 3/10 (2006.01); H02S 20/10 (2014.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.01); H02S 40/20 (2014.01); H02S 50/00 (2014.01)
CPC G01S 3/7861 (2013.01) [F24S 50/20 (2018.05); G05D 3/105 (2013.01); H02S 20/10 (2014.12); H02S 20/32 (2014.12); H02S 40/20 (2014.12); H02S 50/00 (2013.01); F24S 2201/00 (2018.05); Y02E 10/47 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling an orientation of a solar tracker, the method comprising:
receiving solar luminance data from a plurality of photosensitive cells disposed above the solar tracker;
comparing the received solar luminance data to a database, the database comprising a plurality of cloud coverage models, each of the cloud coverage models corresponding to an inclination angle;
matching the received solar luminance data with a cloud coverage model from the plurality of cloud coverage models; and
changing an angle of the solar tracker to correspond with the inclination angle of the matched cloud coverage model;
wherein the plurality of cloud coverage models includes at least:
(a) a zero cloud coverage model having a direct inclination angle determined based on a position of a Sun, and
(b) a widespread cloud coverage model having an associated inclination angle that is different from the direct inclination angle determined based on the position of the Sun.