Patent ID: 7104064
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: F24S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a solar power station including a solar panel assembly having a plurality of towers, a substantially planar solar panel pivotally mounted to an upper end of each tower, and a control system, each of the towers having a plurality of floors and being individually extendable from a bottom position to an extended position, the control system including a computer, at least one earthquake sensor and at least one wind sensor, the computer having a main routine stored therein for operating the towers, the main routine comprising: a monitor parameter subroutine continually monitoring the earthquake and wind sensors; a computer check subroutine continually monitoring the performance of the computer; a maintenance check subroutine continually monitoring for maintenance being performed on the control system and providing notice of scheduled maintenance that must be performed; and a withdraw towers subroutine initiating withdrawal of the towers to the bottom position when the at least one earthquake sensor or the at least one wind sensor sense a seismic event or a high wind force, respectively; wherein the monitor parameter subroutine, the computer check subroutine and the maintenance check subroutine are run concurrently.