公开(公告)号：US20190341776A1

公开(公告)日：2019-11-07

申请号：US16402695

申请日：2019-05-03

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au ,  Yang Liu

IPC: H02J1/10 ,  H02S40/32 ,  H02S40/36 ,  H02S40/38 ,  H02J7/00 ,  H02J7/35 ,  H02J3/38

Abstract: Systems and methods integrate advanced solar tracker, battery, inverter, and software technologies to improve performance, plant output, and costs. The systems may incorporate an advanced vanadium flow battery (VFB) that is DC-voltage (DV)-coupled to photovoltaic (PV) arrays for high, round-trip efficiency. The systems incorporate a DC architecture that optimizes performance for commercial, industrial, agricultural, and utility applications. A distributed direct current (DC) power system includes a centralized, single-stage inverter; PV arrays; maximum power point tracking (MPPT) converters coupled between the PV arrays and the centralized, single-stage inverter; batteries; and DC-DC battery converters (DCBCs) coupled to the batteries. The MPPT converters maximize solar power production by the PV arrays and minimize mismatch between the PV arrays. The DCBCs manage charge and discharge of the batteries, enable the interconnection of the PV arrays and the batteries, and supply a constant medium voltage to the central inverter.

公开(公告)号：US10222446B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-05

申请号：US14489412

申请日：2014-09-17

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: G01S3/786 ,  H01L31/042 ,  F16H19/08 ,  F24J2/54 ,  F24S30/425 ,  H02S20/32 ,  H02S20/10 ,  F24S25/65 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a solar tracker apparatus configured with an off-set drive assembly. In an example, the apparatus has an inner race structure, which has a cylindrical region coupled to a main body region, the main body comprising an off-set open region. The cylindrical region is an annular sleeve structure coupled to the main body region, which occupies the spatial region within the cylindrical region. In an example, the apparatus has an outer race structure coupled to enclose the inner race structure, configured to couple the inner race structure to allow the inner race structure to move in a rotational manner about a spatial arc region; and configured to allow the inner race structure to pivot about a region normal to a direction of the spatial arc region. In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly that is configured to pivot a torque tube.

公开(公告)号：US11300326B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-12

申请号：US16788171

申请日：2020-02-11

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Yu Dong Ma ,  Yang Liu ,  Francesco Borrelli ,  Allan Daly ,  Ricardo Delgado-Nanez ,  Alexander W. Au

IPC: F24S30/422 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S30/425 ,  H02S20/10 ,  F24S20/00 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of on sun trackers and a plurality of off sun tracker. Each tracker is selectively adjusted to achieve a desired power output of the solar power plant system in an example.

公开(公告)号：US10985690B2

公开(公告)日：2021-04-20

申请号：US15974553

申请日：2018-05-08

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: A47F5/00 ,  H02S20/32 ,  H02S20/00 ,  F16L3/02 ,  F16M13/02 ,  F24S25/70 ,  F24S30/425 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: In an example, the solar tracker has a clamp assembly that is configured to pivot a torque tube. In an example, the assembly has a support structure configured as a frame having configured by a first anchoring region and a second anchoring region. In an example, the support structure is configured from a thickness of metal material. In an example, the support structure is configured in an upright manner, and has a major plane region. In an example, the assembly has a pivot device configured on the support structure and a torque tube suspending on the pivot device and aligned within an opening of the support and configured to be normal to the plane region. In an example, the torque tube is configured on the pivot device to move about an arc in a first direction or in a second direction such that the first direction is in a direction opposite to the second direction.

公开(公告)号：US10928100B2

公开(公告)日：2021-02-23

申请号：US15948960

申请日：2018-04-09

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: F24S30/425 ,  H02S20/32 ,  F24S25/33 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S25/70 ,  H01L31/054 ,  H02S20/10 ,  F24S25/65 ,  F24S30/00 ,  F24S25/60

Abstract: A solar tracker including a torque tube, a drive device connected to one end of the torque tube, a frame assembly coupled to the torque tube, the frame assembly arranged perpendicular to the axis of the torque tube and supporting a plurality of solar modules. The solar tracker further includes a clamp assembly having a housing coupled to the torque tube where the torque tube is coupled to the housing, the housing having an opening with a major plane normal to a length of the torque tube, the opening having an inner region that acts as a stop for the torque tube when moved in a first direction, and as a stop for the torque tube when moved in a second direction and the drive device is operable to move the torque tube about a center of rotation from a first position to a second position.

公开(公告)号：US10601365B2

公开(公告)日：2020-03-24

申请号：US15979368

申请日：2018-05-14

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F16F1/36 ,  F16M11/04 ,  F24S40/80 ,  F24S25/65 ,  F24S30/425 ,  F16F15/08 ,  H02S30/10 ,  F24S25/60 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.

公开(公告)号：US20190036478A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-31

申请号：US16128022

申请日：2018-09-11

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Yang Liu ,  Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  H01L31/042 ,  H02S40/38 ,  H02S40/32 ,  H02S40/34

Abstract: A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.

公开(公告)号：US09543888B2

公开(公告)日：2017-01-10

申请号：US14735085

申请日：2015-06-09

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  H02S20/30

CPC classification number: H02S20/32 ,  H02S20/30 ,  H02S30/10

Abstract: In an example, a clamp assembly for a glass on glass solar module for a tracker is included. The assembly has a lower clamp structure characterized by a top-hat shaped rail structure having a length extending from a first end to a second end. In an example, the assembly has an upper clamp structure configured to sandwich a pair of edges of a pair of solar modules with a portion of the lower clamp structure. In an example, the assembly has a locking spacer configured to the pair of edges of the pair of solar modules. In an example, the pair of edges comprises substantially glass material. In an example, the assembly has a pair of key structures configured with the locking spacer. Each of the key structures is affixed to each of the solar modules to physically lock each of the solar modules to the upper clamp structure.

Abstract translation: 在一个示例中，包括用于跟踪器的玻璃太阳能模块上的玻璃的夹具组件。 组件具有较低的夹紧结构，其特征在于具有从第一端延伸到第二端的长度的顶帽状轨道结构。 在一个示例中，组件具有上部夹具结构，其构造成将一对太阳能模块的一对边缘与下部夹具结构的一部分夹在中间。 在一个示例中，组件具有配置成该对太阳能模块对的边缘的锁定间隔件。 在一个示例中，该对边缘基本上包括玻璃材料。 在一个示例中，组件具有配置有锁定间隔件的一对键结构。 每个键结构被固定到每个太阳能模块以将每个太阳能模块物理地锁定到上部夹具结构。

公开(公告)号：USD744417S1

公开(公告)日：2015-12-01

申请号：US29448811

申请日：2013-03-13

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Designer： Alexander W. Au

公开(公告)号：US11411529B2

公开(公告)日：2022-08-09

申请号：US17343600

申请日：2021-06-09

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Yang Liu ,  Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  H02S40/32 ,  H02S40/38 ,  H02S40/34 ,  H01L31/042

Abstract: A solar tracker apparatus includes an adjustable hanger assembly that has a clam shell hanger assembly. The clam shell hanger assembly may hold a torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end. A center of mass of the solar tracker apparatus may be aligned with a center of rotation of the torque tubes, in order to reduce a load of a drive device operably coupled to the torque tube. Solar modules may be coupled to the torque tubes. The solar tracker includes an energy system that includes solar panel, a DC to DC converter, a battery, and a micro-controller. The energy system may facilitate full operation movement of the tracker apparatus without any external power lines.