Determination of solar tracking error

Abstract

A system may include determination of power delivered to an intended load by a solar collector and determination of a solar tracking error of the solar collector based on the determined power. Some aspects include determination of a servo feedback signal based on the determined power, wherein determination of the solar tracking error includes determination of the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal. Determination of the solar tracking error may further include determination of the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a relationship between a response of the solar collector and tracking error.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining power generated by a solar collector and being delivered to an intended load; and   determining a solar tracking error of the solar collector based on the determined power.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a servo feedback signal based on the determined power,   wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises determining the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein determining the solar tracking error further comprises:
 determining the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a relationship between a response of the solar collector and tracking error.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining power delivered to the intended load comprises:
 estimating a first solar position corresponding to a first time;   aligning the solar collector with a first position at the first time, the first position offset from the estimated first solar position in a first direction;   determining a first power generated while the solar collector is aligned with the first position;   estimating a second solar position corresponding to a second time;   aligning the solar collector with a second position at the second time, the second position offset from the estimated second solar position in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction; and   determining a second power generated while the solar collector is aligned with the second position, and   wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises determining a solar tracking error based on the first power and the second power.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:
 determining the solar tracking error based on the first power, the second power, and on a relationship between a response of the solar collector and tracking error, the relationship associated with the solar collector.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:
 determining a servo feedback signal based on the first power, the second power, and a servo feedback signal equation; and   determining the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a determined relationship between servo feedback signals and tracking error, the determined relationship associated with the solar collector and based on the servo feedback signal equation and the relationship between the response of the solar collector and tracking error.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are normal to a determined solar path. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are along a determined solar path. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 estimating a third solar position corresponding to a third time;   aligning the solar collector with the third solar position at the third time; and   determining a third power generated while the solar collector is aligned with the third position,   wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:   determining the solar tracking error based on the first power, the second power and the third power.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:
 determining a servo feedback signal based on the first power, the second power, the third power, and a servo feedback signal equation; and   determining the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a determined relationship between the servo feedback signal and tracking error associated with the solar collector.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein determining the first power comprises receiving a first power-related signal from an inverter and determining the first power based on the first power-related signal at a third time,   wherein determining the second power comprises receiving a second power-related signal from the inverter and determining the second power based on the second power-related signal at a fourth time, and   wherein a difference between the third time and the fourth time is not substantially an integer multiple of a period of a control servo of the inverter.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein determining power delivered to the intended load comprises:
 estimating a solar position corresponding to a first time;   aligning the solar collector with a first position at the first time, the first position offset from the estimated solar position in a first direction;   aligning a second solar collector with a second position at the first time, the second position offset from the estimated solar position in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction;   determining a first power generated by the solar collector while the solar collector is aligned with the first position; and   determining a second power generated by the second solar collector while the second solar collector is aligned with the second position, and   wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises determining the solar tracking error based on the first power and the second power.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:
 determining the solar tracking error based on the first power, the second power, and on a relationship between system response and tracking error, the relationship associated with the first and second solar collectors.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:
 determining a servo feedback signal based on the first power, the second power, and a servo feedback signal equation; and   determining the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a determined relationship between servo feedback signals and tracking error,   wherein the determined relationship is associated with the first and second solar collectors, and is based on the servo feedback signal equation and the relationship between the response of the solar collector and tracking error.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 ,
 wherein the determined relationship between the servo feedback signal and tracking error associated with the solar collector is linear.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are normal to a determined solar path. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are along a determined solar path. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein determining power delivered to the intended load further comprises:
 aligning a third solar collector with the estimated solar position at the first time; and   determining a third power generated while the third solar collector is aligned with the estimated solar position, and   wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:   determining the solar tracking error based on the first power, the second power and the third power.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:
 determining the solar tracking error based on the first power, the second power, and on a relationship between system response and tracking error, the relationship associated with the solar collector, the second solar collector, and the third solar collector.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:
 determining a servo feedback signal based on the first power, the second power, the third power, and a servo feedback signal equation; and   determining the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a determined relationship between servo feedback signals and tracking error,   wherein the determined relationship is associated with the first, second and third solar collectors, and is based on the servo feedback signal equation and the relationship between system response and tracking error.   
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 estimating a second solar position corresponding to a second time;   aligning the solar collector with a third position at the second time, the third position offset from the estimated second solar position in the first direction;   determining a third power generated while the solar collector is aligned with the third position;   estimating a third solar position corresponding to a third time;   aligning the solar collector with a fourth position at the third time, the fourth position offset from the estimated third solar position in the second direction;   determining a fourth power generated while the solar collector is aligned with the fourth position; and   determining a second solar tracking error based on the third power and the fourth power.   
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 a solar collector; and   a control unit to:
 determine power generated by the solar collector and being delivered to an intended load; 
 determine a servo feedback signal based on the determined power; and 
 determine a solar tracking error of the solar collector based on the determined power and the servo feedback signal. 
   
     
     
         29 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 28 , wherein determination of power delivered to the intended load comprises:
 estimation of a first solar position corresponding to a first time;   alignment of the solar collector with a first position at the first time, the first position offset from the estimated first solar position in a first direction;   determination of a first power generated while the solar collector is aligned with the first position;   estimation of a second solar position corresponding to a second time;   alignment of the solar collector with a second position at the second time, the second position offset from the estimated second solar position in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction; and   determination of a second power generated while the solar collector is aligned with the second position, and   wherein determination of the solar tracking error comprises determination of a solar tracking error based on the first power and the second power.   
     
     
         33 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A system according to  claim 28 , further comprising a second solar collector, wherein determination of power delivered to the intended load comprises:
 estimation of a solar position corresponding to a first time;   alignment of the solar collector with a first position at the first time, the first position offset from the estimated solar position in a first direction;   alignment of the second solar collector with a second position at the first time, the second position offset from the estimated solar position in a second direction substantially opposite to the first direction;   determination of a first power generated by the first solar collector while the first solar collector is aligned with the first position; and   determination of a second power generated by the second solar collector while the second solar collector is aligned with the second position, and   wherein determination of the solar tracking error comprises determination of the solar tracking error based on the first power and the second power.   
     
     
         44 . A system according to  claim 43 , wherein determination of the solar tracking error comprises:
 determination of the solar tracking error based on the first power, the second power, and on a relationship between system response and tracking error, the relationship associated with the solar collector and the second solar collector.   
     
     
         45 . A system according to  claim 44 , wherein determination of the solar tracking error comprises:
 determination of a servo feedback signal based on the first power, the second power, and a servo feedback signal equation; and   determination of the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a determined relationship between servo feedback signals and tracking error,   wherein the determined relationship is associated with the first and second solar collectors, and is based on the servo feedback signal equation and the relationship between the response of the solar collector and tracking error.   
     
     
         46 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A system according to  claim 43 , wherein determination of power delivered to the intended load further comprises:
 alignment of a third solar collector with the estimated solar position at the first time; and   determination of a third power generated while the third solar collector is aligned with the estimated solar position, and   wherein determination of the solar tracking error comprises:   determination of the solar tracking error based on the first power, the second power and the third power.   
     
     
         51 . A system according to  claim 50 , wherein determination of the solar tracking error comprises:
 determination of the solar tracking error based on the first power, the second power, and on a relationship between system response and tracking error, the relationship associated with the solar collector, the second solar collector and the third solar collector.   
     
     
         52 . A system according to  claim 51 , wherein determining the solar tracking error comprises:
 determining a servo feedback signal based on the first power, the second power, the third power, and a servo feedback signal equation; and   determining the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a determined relationship between servo feedback signals and tracking error,   wherein the determined relationship is associated with the first, second and third solar collectors, and is based on the servo feedback signal equation and the relationship between system response and tracking error.   
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . A system according to  claim 43 , further comprising:
 estimating a second solar position corresponding to a second time;   aligning the first solar collector with a third position at the second time, the third position offset from the estimated second solar position in the first direction;   determining a third power generated while the first solar collector is aligned with the third position;   estimating a third solar position corresponding to a third time;   aligning the first solar collector with a fourth position at the third time, the fourth position offset from the estimated third solar position in the second direction;   determining a fourth power generated while the first solar collector is aligned with the fourth position; and   determining a second solar tracking error based on the third power and the fourth power.   
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the intended load is a power grid. 
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the intended load is an energy storage device. 
     
     
         57 . A system according to  claim 28 , wherein the intended load is a power grid. 
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 28 , wherein the intended load is an energy storage device.