| 摘要 |
An automated method causes a terrestrial solar cell array to track the sun. The solar cell system includes drive motors that adjust a position of the array relative to respective different axes. The position of the sun is predicted during the course of the day, and a kinematic model for the solar cell array is used to determine respective positions for the motors corresponding to aligning the solar cell array with the sun at that future time of the day. The future time may correspond to any time during solar tracking operation, which may begin at sunrise or after sunrise. Sampling of an output parameter of the array indicative of performance is used to determine misalignment. Preferably, an alignment analysis technique is used to sweep one or more solar cells along determined paths (e.g., azimuth and elevation paths) while measuring an output parameter indicative of system performance. The measured data is analyzed to determine if the solar cell system is in misalignment in which case the solar cell system is moved into proper alignment. The alignment procedure may be implemented on a periodic basis or using triggers, and maybe automatically executed or manually executed. |
