초록 ▼

A solar concentrator calibration tool that compensates for inconsistencies in the fabrication, assembly and installation of a solar collector system, permitting the solar collector to perform optimally. The calibration tool provides feedback information to a supervisory control processor, allowing t

A solar concentrator calibration tool that compensates for inconsistencies in the fabrication, assembly and installation of a solar collector system, permitting 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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A calibration tool for aligning a solar collector system with a sun, the calibration tool comprising: an alignment element removably attached along an optical axis of the solar collector system wherein the alignment element is configured to provide information regarding a current alignment betwee

1. A calibration tool for aligning a solar collector system with a sun, the calibration tool comprising: an alignment element removably attached along an optical axis of the solar collector system wherein the alignment element is configured to provide information regarding a current alignment between the sun and the solar collector system;a position encoder attached to the solar collector system and configured to generate information regarding a location of the solar collector system upon alignment with the sun; anda processor coupled to both the alignment element and the position encoder, wherein the processor is configured to utilize the information regarding the location of the solar collector system in conjunction with information regarding expected movements of the sun and expected movements of the solar collector system to determine a difference between the location of the solar collector system and the expected movements of the solar collector system, and wherein the difference is used as a calibration adjustment for a movement control mechanism of the solar collector system. 2. The calibration tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the alignment element comprises a photodiode sensor array. 3. The calibration tool as defined in claim 2, wherein the photodiode sensor array comprises a quadrant sensor array. 4. The calibration tool as defined in claim 1, wherein the position encoder is configured to generate elevation and azimuth data as part of the information regarding the location of the solar collector system. 5. The calibration tool as defined in claim 1, wherein: the alignment element and the position encoder are removably attached to the solar collector system. 6. The calibration tool as defined in claim 1, wherein: the processor is further configured to communicate the calibration adjustment to the movement control mechanism of the solar collector system. 7. A method of calibrating movements of a solar collector to track movements of a sun, the method comprising: initially aligning the solar collector with the sun;performing a tracking operation for a predetermined period of time, and recording first location data for the solar collector for each movement of the solar collector during the tracking operation;comparing the first location data recorded during the tracking operation with expected location information based upon a known path of the sun;determining an offset in position of the solar collector between the first location data and the expected location information; andtransmitting the offset in the position of the solar collector as a calibration signal to one or more servomechanisms used to control movements of the solar collector with respect to the sun. 8. The method as defined in claim 7, wherein: performing the tracking operation comprises: using a calibration tool to perform the tracking operation for the predetermined period of time; andrecording the first location data for the solar collector for each movement of the solar collector during the tracking operation. 9. The method as defined in claim 8, further comprising: after performing the tracking operation, removing the calibration tool from the solar collector. 10. The method as defined in claim 8, further comprising: before performing the tracking operation, removably coupling the calibration tool to the solar collector. 11. The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising after removing the calibration tool from the solar collector, recoupling the calibration tool to the solar collector;performing a second tracking operation for a second predetermined period of time using the calibration tool;recording second location data for the solar collector for each movement of the solar collector during the second tracking operation;comparing the second location data recorded during the second tracking operation with the expected location information based upon the known path of the sun;determining a second offset in the position of the solar collector between the second location data and the expected location information;transmitting the second offset in the position of the solar collector as a second calibration signal to the one or more servomechanisms;uncoupling the calibration tool from the solar collector; andafter uncoupling the calibration tool, moving the solar collector using the one or more servomechanisms based upon the second calibration signal. 12. The method as defined in claim 9, further comprising: after removing the calibration tool from the solar collector, coupling the calibration tool to a second solar collector;performing a second tracking operation for a second predetermined period of time for the second solar collector using the calibration tool;recording second location data for the second solar collector for each movement of the second solar collector during the second tracking operation;comparing the second location data recorded during the second tracking operation with second expected location information based upon the known path of the sun;determining a second offset in a position of the second solar collector between the second location data and the second expected location information;transmitting the second offset in the position of the second solar collector as a second calibration signal to one or more second servomechanisms of the second solar collector;uncoupling the calibration tool from the second solar collector; andafter uncoupling the calibration tool from the second solar collector, moving the second solar collector using the one or more second servomechanisms based upon the second calibration signal. 13. The method as defined in claim 7, further comprising: after removing the calibration tool and after transmitting the offset, moving the solar collector using the one or more servomechanisms based upon the calibration signal. 14. A method of tracking a sun using a solar collector system, the solar collector system comprises a solar collector configured to collect solar radiation from the sun and a movement mechanism configured to move the solar collector, the method comprising: determining calibration movement data of the solar collector using a solar calibration mechanism, wherein the calibration movement data comprises data regarding movements of the solar collector relative to movements of the sun at each of two or more first points in time;using a computer processor to compare the calibration movement data to predetermined correct movement data to determine offset data, wherein the predetermined correct movement data comprises one or more positions of the solar collector that substantially maximizes solar energy received by the solar collector at each of the two or more first points in time; andusing the computer processor to determine correction data for the movements of the solar collector for two or more second points in time based upon the offset data, wherein the correction data is to be used by the movement mechanism to more accurately align the movements of the solar collector with the movements of the sun. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: before determining the calibration movement data of the solar collector, removably coupling the solar calibration mechanism to the solar collector system. 16. the method of claim 15, further comprising: initially aligning the solar collector with the sun, wherein: removably coupling the solar calibration mechanism to the solar collector system occurs after initially aligning the solar collector with the sun. 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: after determining the calibration movement data of the solar collector, uncoupling the solar calibration mechanism from the solar collector system. 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising: using the correction data to align the movements of the solar collector with the movements of the sun. 19. The method of claim 14, wherein: a second solar collector system comprises a second solar collector configured to collect solar radiation from the sun and a second movement mechanism configured to move the second solar collector, the method further comprising:determining second calibration movement data of the second solar collector using the solar calibration mechanism, wherein the second calibration movement data comprises second data regarding movements of the second solar collector relative to movements of the sun at each of two or more third points in time;using the computer processor to compare the second calibration movement data to second predetermined correct movement data to determine second offset data, wherein the second predetermined correct movement data comprises one or more positions of the second solar collector that substantially maximizes solar energy received by the second solar collector at each of the two or more third points in time; andusing the computer processor to determine second correction data for the movements of the second solar collector for two or more fourth points in time based upon the second offset data, wherein the second correction data is to be used by the second movement mechanism to more accurately align the movements of the second solar collector with the movements of the sun. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: before determining the second calibration movement data, removably coupling the solar calibration mechanism to the second solar collector system;after determining the second calibration movement data, uncoupling the solar calibration mechanism from the second solar collector system; andusing the second correction data to align the movements of the second solar collector with the movements of the sun.