Solar tracking apparatus and solar electric power generation system thereof

This application claims the right of priority based on Taiwan Patent Application No. 097114033 entitled “solar tracking apparatus and solar power electric generation system thereof”, filed on Apr. 17, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference and assigned to the assignee herein.

This invention relates to a solar tracking apparatus and a solar power generation system thereof, and more particularly to a solar tracking apparatus to track the sun by digital image comparison.

A conventional solar tracking apparatus adopts a light sensor to track the sun. The light sensor sends a sensing signal to a power driving apparatus when it senses the “obliquely” incident sun light. In response to the sensing signal, the power driving apparatus adjusts the solar tracking apparatus as well as solar cells aligned with the sun.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional solar tracking apparatus 1 includes an opaque housing 12, a focusing tube 14, and four light sensors 18. The tube 14 is disposed on the housing 12. The bottom of the housing 12 has a the detection region 16, which could be divided into a region B and a region A enclosing the region B. The four light sensors 18 are disposed at the boundary between the region A and the region B.

While the sun\'s ray a₁, through the tube 14, illuminates the region B only, the light sensors 18 located around the region B may not be illuminated. Therefore, these four lights will not send any signal to the power driving apparatus (not shown). As time goes by, the sun moves and has the oblique sun ray a₂ illuminate the light sensors 18, and the light sensors 18 sends a sensing signal to activate the power driving apparatus. Accordingly the power driving apparatus adjusts the solar tracking apparatus 1 (as well as the solar cell, not shown) aligned with the sun, and then the sun\'s ray will illuminate the region B only again and no oblique sun ray is sensed by the light sensors 18. Following this way, the solar tracking apparatus 1 can become aligned towards the sun automatically and achieves the “sun tracking”.

However, the power driving apparatus above is activated only when the light sensors 18 sense the oblique sun ray. Therefore, the solar tracking apparatus 1 may become misaligned before the next time when the light sensors 18 sense the sun again, as shown in FIG. 3.

In a solar power generation system, the power generation capacity depends on the alignment of the solar cell with the sun. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the conventional solar tracking apparatus 1 in the solar power generation. At time t=0, the solar tracking apparatus 1 and the solar cells are best aligned with the sun, and the power generation capacity reaches the maximum (E_max). Then at time t=t₁, the alignment is the worst, so the power generation is down to the minimum (E_min). At this moment, the light sensors will sense the oblique sun ray, and the power driving apparatus can adjust the solar tracking apparatus 1 and the solar cell towards the sun. As shown in FIG. 4, from time t=0 to t=t₁, the power generation does not have full capacity because of the misalignment more or less.

Furthermore, if the sun\'s rays illuminate too obliquely the region A without illuminate light sensors 18, the power driving apparatus may not receive any signals to activate the solar tracking apparatus 1. It often happens after the sun is blocked by the cloud for a period time.

Another problem is that the sensitivity of the apparatus 1 is limited. When the region B is large, the alignment of the apparatus 1 to the sun is not very accurate.

Thus, it is desirable to improve the alignment of the solar tracking apparatus to the sun, to track the sun even after the sun is blocked by the cloud for a period of time, and to increase the power generation capacity.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to track the sun by digital image comparison to achieve accurate alignment to the sun. In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus can predict the sun\'s position in the sky based on the stored historical data.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a solar tracking apparatus for use with a power driving apparatus, the solar tracking apparatus includes: a memory unit for recording a first solar image; an image capturing unit for capturing a second solar image; and an processing unit for obtaining difference between the first solar image and the second solar image. The processing unit activates the power driving apparatus in response to the difference.

In another embodiment, the present invention also provides a solar power generation system including: a solar panel; a power driving apparatus for adjusting the solar panel; and a solar tracking apparatus. The solar tracking apparatus further includes: a memory unit for recording a first solar image; an image capturing unit for capturing a second solar image; and an processing unit for obtaining difference between the first solar image and the second solar image. The processing unit activates the power driving apparatus in response to the difference so that the solar panel can be aligned with the sun.

Some advantages may be achieved by using the technical features of the embodiment above, which follows:

• 1. The alignment of the solar tracking apparatus with the sun can be very accurate, and the power generation has a full capacity.
• 2. The solar image can be captured wherever the sun is in the sky, and the sun can be located even after it is blocked by the cloud for a period of time.
• 3. The solar image comparison can be done by calculating the solar centers of the solar images.
• 4. The solar tracking apparatus can predict the sun\'s position with software to quickly follow the sun\'s move.


Continue reading about Solar tracking apparatus and solar electric power generation system thereof...
Full patent description for Solar tracking apparatus and solar electric power generation system thereof

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this Solar tracking apparatus and solar electric power generation system thereof patent application.

Patent Applications in related categories:

20090288656 - Solar energy collector - A solar energy collector includes a parabolic reflector, a solar panel, a photosensor panel, a projecting pointer, a solar location calculator, and a reflector mount. The parabolic reflector includes a parabolic reflecting surface. The solar panel includes a light receiving surface for facing the reflecting surface. The photosensor panel includes ...


###


How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.  
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Solar tracking apparatus and solar electric power generation system thereof or other areas of interest.
###


Previous Patent Application:
Stationary, solar-powered boiler for generating steam
Next Patent Application:
Autonomous heliostat for solar power plant
Industry Class:
Stoves and furnaces

###


Design/code © 2009 FreshContext LLC/Freshpatents.com. Website Terms and Conditions - Also read: About this Page
Patent data source: patents published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Information published here is for research/educational purposes only (and in conjunction with our Keyword Monitor) and is not meant to be used in place of the full USPTO patent document/images or a comprehensive patent archive search. Complete official applications are on file at the USPTO and often contain additional data/images (Freshpatents is currently text-only). FreshPatents.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO or firms/individuals or products/designs/ideas related to listed patents.
FreshPatents.com Support
Thank you for viewing the Solar tracking apparatus and solar electric power generation system thereof patent info.
IP-related news and info


Results in 2.04233 seconds


Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories:
Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf paws