公开(公告)号：US11362227B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-14

申请号：US17347393

申请日：2021-06-14

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. Au

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S25/70 ,  F24S30/425 ,  H01L31/052 ,  F24S30/00

Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a solar tracker apparatus. In an example, the apparatus comprises a center of mass with an adjustable hanger assembly configured with a clam shell clamp assembly on the adjustable hanger assembly and a cylindrical torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end such that the center of mass is aligned with a center of rotation of the cylindrical torque tubes to reduce a load of a drive motor operably coupled to the cylindrical torque tube. Further details of the present example, among others, can be found throughout the present specification and more particularly below.

公开(公告)号：US20220181975A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-09

申请号：US17437037

申请日：2020-02-25

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Chen Li ,  Yang Liu ,  Mohammad Salmaan Khan ,  Jonathan Kenzo Kamei ,  Sandeep Sanjiva Lele

IPC: H02M3/158 ,  H02M3/335 ,  H02S20/32

Abstract: A power converter converts a medium-voltage output from a solar module to an appropriate voltage to power a solar tracker system. The power converter includes a voltage divider having at least two legs, a first semiconductor switch subassembly coupled in parallel with a first leg of the voltage divider, and a second semiconductor switch subassembly coupled in parallel with a second leg of the voltage divider. The power converter may be a unidirectional or a bidirectional power converter. In implementations, the signals for driving the semiconductor switches of the first and second semiconductor switch subassemblies may be shifted out of phase from each other. In implementations, if the bus voltages to the semiconductor switches are not balanced, the pulse width of the driving signal of the semiconductor switch supplied with the higher bus voltage is decreased for at least one cycle.

公开(公告)号：US20220147091A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-12

申请号：US17601921

申请日：2020-05-04

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Yang Liu ,  Alexander W. AU ,  Fei Gu

IPC: G05F1/67 ,  H02J3/38 ,  H02J7/35

Abstract: Solar power systems and methods utilize DC power transmission and centralized power inversion. The solar power systems include a photovoltaic (PV) bus system and a fixed bus system. The PV system utilizes a control mode handoff control method, which includes determining that a local maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is enabled; in response to determining that the local MPPT control is enabled, starting an MPPT mode timer; performing local MPPT; determining that the MPPT mode timer is greater than a predetermined period; and, in response to determining that the MPPT mode timer is greater than a predetermined period, handing off MPPT control to the next MPPT controller. The distributed MPPT control method may include sequential MPPT control, adaptive ΔV MPPT control, and/or power limiting control. The fixed bus system includes PV string-level MPPT controllers and a fixed DC input central inverter or multiple fixed DC modular inverters.

公开(公告)号：US11316468B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-26

申请号：US16842479

申请日：2020-04-07

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Daniel Shugar

IPC: B08B3/02 ,  B08B1/00 ,  B08B1/04 ,  H02S40/10 ,  F24S40/20 ,  A46B13/00

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning an array of solar panels. The system can include an applicator apparatus configured with a plurality of cleaning devices, and an automatic position system (APS) configured with the applicator apparatus. The APS can include a first and second sensor coupled to the applicator apparatus. A controller coupled to the first and second sensor devices can be configured to adjust a position of the applicator apparatus to maintain the plurality of cleaning devices in a direction facing a solar panel to facilitate a removal of an undesired material from the solar panel, while the applicator apparatus is moved from a first position to a second position. A mobile vehicle can be configured with the applicator apparatus to move along a row of the array of solar panels to perform the method for cleaning.

公开(公告)号：US11307284B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-19

申请号：US16903127

申请日：2020-06-16

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Jérôme Arliaud ,  Adrien Crucifix ,  Philippe Blanc

IPC: H02S20/32 ,  F24S50/20 ,  G01S3/786 ,  G05D3/10 ,  H02S50/00 ,  H02S40/20 ,  H02S20/10

Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c). The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.

公开(公告)号：USD941747S1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-25

申请号：US29770137

申请日：2021-02-09

Applicant: NEXTRACKER INC.

Designer： Alexander W. Au

公开(公告)号：US20210305932A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-30

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.

公开(公告)号：US20210305446A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-30

申请号：US17347393

申请日：2021-06-14

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. AU

IPC: H01L31/052 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S25/70 ,  F24S30/425 ,  H02S20/32

Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a solar tracker apparatus. In an example, the apparatus comprises a center of mass with an adjustable hanger assembly configured with a clam shell clamp assembly on the adjustable hanger assembly and a cylindrical torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end such that the center of mass is aligned with a center of rotation of the cylindrical torque tubes to reduce a load of a drive motor operably coupled to the cylindrical torque tube. Further details of the present example, among others, can be found throughout the present specification and more particularly below.

公开(公告)号：US20210293455A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US17182162

申请日：2021-02-22

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Alexander W. AU

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

Abstract: In an example, the present invention provides a solar tracker apparatus. In an example, the apparatus comprises a center of mass with an adjustable hanger assembly configured with a clam shell clamp assembly on the adjustable hanger assembly and a cylindrical torque tube comprising a plurality of torque tubes configured together in a continuous length from a first end to a second end such that the center of mass is aligned with a center of rotation of the cylindrical torque tubes to reduce a load of a drive motor operably coupled to the cylindrical torque tube. Further details of the present example, among others, can be found throughout the present specification and more particularly below.

公开(公告)号：US20210293454A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-23

申请号：US17185916

申请日：2021-02-25

Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.

Inventor： Yudong MA ,  Yang Liu ,  Francesco BORRELLI ,  Allan DALY ,  Ricardo DELGADO-NANEZ ,  Alexander W. AU

IPC: F24S30/422 ,  F24S25/10 ,  F24S30/425

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.