Patent ID: 8785830
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: F24S,G01C,G01S,G05B,H01L,H02S,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a server configured to store site specific data, the server including a processor; a photovoltaic array located at a site, the photovoltaic array including a plurality of photovoltaic members, the photovoltaic array including a tracker controller, the tracker controller communicatively coupled with the server, the tracker controller configured to re-orient the photovoltaic array based on instructions from the server; one or more sensors located at the site, the one or more sensors communicatively coupled with the server, the one or more sensors configured to provide real-time sensed field data to the server; wherein the processor is configured to calculate predicted irradiance for multiple orientations of the photovoltaic array, the predicted irradiance determined from site specific data and real-time sensed field data, the processor further configured to calculate a maximum predicted irradiance and to compare the maximum predicted irradiance with a current tracked irradiance; and wherein the processor is configured to communicate an orientation to the tracker controller based on the maximum predicated irradiance if the maximum predicted irradiance is greater than the current tracked irradiance.