Abstract: A method of operating a solar energy system in the vicinity of one or more fixed structures comprises: periodically reorienting the plurality of PV modules to minimize an angular-dependent loss in power output for each respective successive sun angle during an unshaded period characterized by an absence of fixed-structure shading impinging on the respective pivot volumes, and orienting the plurality of PV modules to reduce a loss in power output due to shading by the one or more fixed structures during a shade period characterized by non-zero partial shading by the one or more fixed structures impinging on one or more of the respective pivot volumes.

Abstract: A method of operating a solar energy collection system comprising an array of pivotable PV modules and a group of plants arranged to produce a crop, includes performing a optimization of a value function based on a current state, responsively to predicted insolation, by dynamically determining one or more orientations for the array of PV modules, and controlling, based on the optimization of the value function, at least one of the PV modules to switch orientation to increase or decrease instantaneous photovoltaic conversion of incident solar radiation by the array of PV modules and/or increase or decrease instantaneous photosynthetic conversion of the incident solar radiation by the group of plants.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods of converting an HF alkylation unit which utilizes HF as a reaction catalyst to a sulfuric acid alkylation unit which utilizes sulfuric acid as a reaction catalyst. This disclosure also relates to a segmented sulfuric acid settler for separating a sulfuric acid phase from a hydrocarbon phase. This disclosure also relates to methods of converting a vertical HF acid settler to a segmented sulfuric acid settler. This disclosure also relates to converted sulfuric acid alkylation units and alkylation processes performed in the converted sulfuric acid alkylation units.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods of converting an HF alkylation unit which utilizes HF as a reaction catalyst to a sulfuric acid alkylation unit which utilizes sulfuric acid as a reaction catalyst. This disclosure also relates to a segmented sulfuric acid settler for separating a sulfuric acid phase from a hydrocarbon phase. This disclosure also relates to methods of converting a vertical HF acid settler to a segmented sulfuric acid settler. This disclosure also relates to converted sulfuric acid alkylation units and alkylation processes performed in the converted sulfuric acid alkylation units.

Abstract: A solar energy system can be controlled and operated responsively to detected and/or predicted changes in insolation conditions. By placing an imaging aperture of an imaging device as part of an external surface of a solar receiver, an orientation of each heliostat in a heliostat field can be determined. The imaging device can be used to image at least a portion of the heliostat field based on light passing through the imaging aperture, which is proximate to, adjacent to, or at least partially within the capture area of the solar receiver so as to acquire at least one image indicating a change in a distribution of insolation levels falling on the portion of the field. Characteristics of heliostats within the portion of the field can be calculated based on the at least one image. Aiming directions of one or more can be changed based on the calculated characteristics.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to solar energy systems and methods of operating the same. In some embodiments, the solar energy system comprising: a plurality of heliostats configured to reflect sunlight to a target mounted on a tower, each heliostat including a respective heliostat controller, the target, the target being selecting from the group consisting of an energy conversion target and/or a secondary reflector; and a macro-array of light-intensity sensors characterized by a maximum sensor-sensor distance and mounted on the tower such that when any heliostat of the plurality of heliostats reflects a beam of light onto the macro-array of light-intensity sensors, the maximum dimension of the reflected beam's projection on the macro-array is at most twice the maximum sensor-sensor distance, wherein each heliostat controller is operative to control its respective heliostat so that the light beam reflected by the heliostat traverses the macro-array of light-intensity sensors.