| 摘要 |
A solar concentrator calibration tool that compensates for inconsistencies in the fabrication, assembly and installation of a solar collector system, permits the solar collector to perform optimally. The calibration tool provides feedback information to a supervisory control processor, allowing the processor to compare the expected position of the sun to the “actual” position found by the calibration tool. The processor then generates a calibration signal, thereafter used by the collector's movement control mechanism, to compensate the tracking of the solar collector to accurately follow the movement of the sun, unconstrained by the effects of the construction inconsistencies. |
| 主权项 |
1. An alignment tool for a solar energy collector, comprising:
a sensor array, removably attached to the solar energy collector, that:
receives solar energy from a sun as the sun moves along a track,senses an optimum alignment between the solar energy collector and the sun, the optimum alignment defined as an optical axis of the solar energy collector coincident with a maximum energy position of the sun, andsignals a movement control mechanism of the solar energy collector to maintain the optimum alignment; a position encoder attached to the solar energy collector system that generates a first tracking signal indicating an actual azimuth and elevation of the solar energy collector relative to the track of the sun as the solar energy collector tracks the sun; and a processor that executes a program of machine instructions to:
receive the first tracking signal,use a second tracking signal indicating an expected azimuth and elevation of the solar energy collector relative to the sun,determine an offset defined as a difference between the first and the second tracking signals, andprovide the offset to the movement control mechanism. |
