US 11,703,887 B2
Systems and methods for solar trackers with diffuse light tracking
Andrew Joseph Morse, Mount Airy, MD (US); Nagendra Srinivas Cherukupalli, Cupertino, CA (US); and Tamilarasan Mouniandy, Chennai (IN)
Assigned to FTC Solar, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by FTC Solar, Inc., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/183,829.
Application 17/183,829 is a continuation of application No. 17/022,974, filed on Sep. 16, 2020, granted, now 10,935,992.
Prior Publication US 2022/0083079 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G05D 3/10 (2006.01); H02S 50/00 (2014.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.01); G01S 3/786 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 3/105 (2013.01) [G01S 3/7861 (2013.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.12); H02S 50/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a tracker attached to a rotational mechanism for changing a plane of the tracker, wherein the tracker is configured to collect solar irradiance; and
a controller in communication with the rotational mechanism, the controller comprising at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to:
detect a first amount of diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) and a first amount of direct normal irradiance (DNI) at a first specific point in time;
calculate a first angle for the tracker to maximize an amount of irradiance received by the tracker based on the first amount of diffuse horizontal irradiance, the first amount of direct normal irradiance, and an angle of the sun; and
transmit instructions to the rotational mechanism to change the plane of the tracker to the first angle.