Apparatus and method for predicting solar irradiance variation
US8923567B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2011 |
| Grant date | Dec 30, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 9, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/50
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method, as may be used for predicting solar irradiance variation, are provided. The apparatus may include a solar irradiance predictor processor (10) configured to process a sequence of images (e.g., sky images). The irradiance predictor processor may include a cloud classifier module (18) configured to classify respective pixels of an image of a cloud to indicate a solar irradiance-passing characteristic of at least a portion of the cloud. A cloud motion predictor (22) may be configured to predict motion of the cloud over a time horizon. An event predictor (24) may be configured to predict over the time horizon occurrence of a solar obscuration event. The prediction of the solar obscuration event may be based on the predicted motion of the cloud. The event predictor may include an irradiance variation prediction for the obscuration event based on the solar irradiance-passing characteristic of the cloud.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.