Patents by Inventor Jérôme ARLIAUD

Jérôme ARLIAUD has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240154568
    Abstract: Solar array (1) comprising solar modules (3) distributed in rows (10), each solar module comprising solar collector (5) carried by a single-axis solar tracker (4), a reference solar power plant (2) comprising a central reference solar module and at least one secondary reference solar module, and a piloting unit (7) adapted for: piloting the angular orientation of the central reference module according to a central reference orientation setpoint corresponding to an initial orientation setpoint, piloting the orientation of each secondary reference module according to a secondary reference orientation setpoint corresponding to the initial orientation setpoint shifted by a predefined offset angle; receiving an energy production value from each reference module; piloting the orientation of the modules, except for the reference modules, by applying the reference orientation setpoint associated to the reference module having the highest production value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Madyan MICHOTTE DE WELLE, Jérôme ARLIAUD
  • Patent number: 11901857
    Abstract: Solar array (1) comprising solar modules (3) distributed in rows (10), each solar module comprising solar collector (5) carried by a single-axis solar tracker (4), a reference solar power plant (2) comprising a central reference solar module and at least one secondary reference solar module, and a piloting unit (7) adapted for: piloting the angular orientation of the central reference module according to a central reference orientation setpoint corresponding to an initial orientation setpoint, piloting the orientation of each secondary reference module according to a secondary reference orientation setpoint corresponding to the initial orientation setpoint shifted by a predefined offset angle; receiving an energy production value from each reference module; piloting the orientation of the modules, except for the reference modules, by applying the reference orientation setpoint associated to the reference module having the highest production value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Madyan Michotte De Welle, Jérôme Arliaud
  • Publication number: 20240012082
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, 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; 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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Jérôme ARLIAUD, Adrien CRUCIFIX, Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 11774539
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20230246586
    Abstract: Solar array (1) comprising solar modules (3) distributed in rows (10), each solar module comprising solar collector (5) carried by a single-axis solar tracker (4), a reference solar power plant (2) comprising a central reference solar module and at least one secondary reference solar module, and a piloting unit (7) adapted for: piloting the angular orientation of the central reference module according to a central reference orientation setpoint corresponding to an initial orientation setpoint, piloting the orientation of each secondary reference module according to a secondary reference orientation setpoint corresponding to the initial orientation setpoint shifted by a predefined offset angle; receiving an energy production value from each reference module; piloting the orientation of the modules, except for the reference modules, by applying the reference orientation setpoint associated to the reference module having the highest production value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Madyan MICHOTTE DE WELLE, Jérôme ARLIAUD
  • Patent number: 11558009
    Abstract: Solar array (1) comprising solar modules (3) distributed in rows (10), each solar module comprising solar collector (5) carried by a single-axis solar tracker (4), a reference solar power plant (2) comprising a central reference solar module and at least one secondary reference solar module, and a piloting unit (7) adapted for: piloting the angular orientation of the central reference module according to a central reference orientation setpoint corresponding to an initial orientation setpoint, piloting the orientation of each secondary reference module according to a secondary reference orientation setpoint corresponding to the initial orientation setpoint shifted by a predefined offset angle; receiving an energy production value from each reference module; piloting the orientation of the modules, except for the reference modules, by applying the reference orientation setpoint associated to the reference module having the highest production value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Madyan Michotte De Welle, Jérôme Arliaud
  • Publication number: 20220365161
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a solar module (1) comprising a single-axis solar tracker (2) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), and a photovoltaic device (3) supported by said tracker and having upper and lower photoactive faces, comprising the followings steps: measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called incident luminance originating from the incident solar radiation coming from the sky to reach the upper face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles; measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called reflected luminance originating from the albedo solar radiation corresponding to the reflection of the solar radiation on the ground to reach the lower face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles; determination of an optimum orientation considering the measurements of said distributions of the incident and reflected solar luminance; servo-control of the orientation of the module on said optimum or
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Jérôme ARLIAUD, Madyan MICHOTTE DE WELLE
  • Publication number: 20220278643
    Abstract: Solar array (1) comprising solar modules (3) distributed in rows (10), each solar module comprising solar collector (5) carried by a single-axis solar tracker (4), a reference solar power plant (2) comprising a central reference solar module and at least one secondary reference solar module, and a piloting unit (7) adapted for: piloting the angular orientation of the central reference module according to a central reference orientation setpoint corresponding to an initial orientation setpoint, piloting the orientation of each secondary reference module according to a secondary reference orientation setpoint corresponding to the initial orientation setpoint shifted by a predefined offset angle; receiving an energy production value from each reference module; piloting the orientation of the modules, except for the reference modules, by applying the reference orientation setpoint associated to the reference module having the highest production value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.
    Inventors: Madyan MICHOTTE DE WELLE, Jérôme ARLIAUD
  • Patent number: 11397235
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a solar module including a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, and a photovoltaic device supported by said tracker and having upper and lower photoactive faces, including: measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called incident luminance originating from the incident solar radiation coming from the sky to reach the upper face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles; measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called reflected luminance originating from the albedo solar radiation corresponding to the reflection of the solar radiation on the ground to reach the lower face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles; determination of an optimum orientation considering the measurements of said distributions of the incident and reflected solar luminance; servo-control of the orientation of the module on said optimum orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Madyan Michotte De Welle
  • Patent number: 11387774
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method implementing the following steps: a) observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker (1) substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker (1), depending on the observed cloud coverage; (c) predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; d) calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; e) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker (1) according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle. The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 11327143
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER INC.
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 11307284
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER INC.
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 11296647
    Abstract: Solar array (1) comprising solar modules (3) distributed in rows (10), each solar module comprising solar collector (5) carried by a single-axis solar tracker (4), a reference solar power plant (2) comprising a central reference solar module and at least one secondary reference solar module, and a piloting unit (7) adapted for: piloting the angular orientation of the central reference module according to a central reference orientation setpoint corresponding to an initial orientation setpoint, piloting the orientation of each secondary reference module according to a secondary reference orientation setpoint corresponding to the initial orientation setpoint shifted by a predefined offset angle; receiving an energy production value from each reference module; piloting the orientation of the modules, except for the reference modules, by applying the reference orientation setpoint associated to the reference module having the highest production value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER INC.
    Inventors: Madyan Michotte De Welle, Jérôme Arliaud
  • Patent number: 11196381
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, including observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker; determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker, depending on the observed cloud coverage; predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: NEXTracker Inc.
    Inventors: Jérôme Arliaud, Adrien Crucifix, Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20210288608
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method implementing the following steps: a) observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker (1) substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker (1), depending on the observed cloud coverage; (c) predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; d) calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; e) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker (1) according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle. The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Jérôme ARLIAUD, Adrien CRUCIFIX, Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20210223347
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Jérôme ARLIAUD, Adrien CRUCIFIX, Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20210223348
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Jérôme ARLIAUD, Adrien CRUCIFIX, Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20210211090
    Abstract: Solar array (1) comprising solar modules (3) distributed in rows (10), each solar module comprising solar collector (5) carried by a single-axis solar tracker (4), a reference solar power plant (2) comprising a central reference solar module and at least one secondary reference solar module, and a piloting unit (7) adapted for: piloting the angular orientation of the central reference module according to a central reference orientation setpoint corresponding to an initial orientation setpoint, piloting the orientation of each secondary reference module according to a secondary reference orientation setpoint corresponding to the initial orientation setpoint shifted by a predefined offset angle; receiving an energy production value from each reference module; piloting the orientation of the modules, except for the reference modules, by applying the reference orientation setpoint associated to the reference module having the highest production value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Madyan MICHOTTE DE WELLE, Jérôme ARLIAUD
  • Publication number: 20210184625
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, including observing the evolution over time of the cloud coverage above the solar tracker; determining the evolution over time of an optimum inclination angle of the solar tracker substantially corresponding to a maximum of solar radiation on the solar tracker, depending on the observed cloud coverage; predicting the future evolution of the cloud coverage based on the observed prior evolution of the cloud coverage; calculating the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle according to the prediction of the future evolution of the cloud coverage; servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker according to the prior evolution of the optimum inclination angle and depending on the future evolution of the optimum inclination angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: NEXTracker Inc.
    Inventors: Jérôme ARLIAUD, Adrien CRUCIFIX, Philippe Blanc
  • Publication number: 20210165067
    Abstract: A method for controlling the orientation of a solar module including a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, and a photovoltaic device supported by said tracker and having upper and lower photoactive faces, including: measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called incident luminance originating from the incident solar radiation coming from the sky to reach the upper face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles; measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called reflected luminance originating from the albedo solar radiation corresponding to the reflection of the solar radiation on the ground to reach the lower face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles; determination of an optimum orientation considering the measurements of said distributions of the incident and reflected solar luminance; servo-control of the orientation of the module on said optimum orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Jérôme ARLIAUD, Madyan MICHOTTE DE WELLE