CH705633A1 - Solar plant. - Google Patents

Abstract

A photovoltaic system has a plurality of solar modules (11) arranged at a distance from one another. The system is equipped with a device (27) to remove the rainwater and allows the angle of attack (29, 31) of the solar modules (11) to be steep, in order to ensure snowfall.

Description

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic system with a plurality of spaced-apart solar modules.

State of the art

Photovoltaic modules are usually mounted today on roofs of buildings or on racks in outdoor facilities. A wide range of different solutions is available. There are also concepts to equip Car Ports with solar modules. In this case - as with roofs on buildings - the modules are mounted on the top of the carport roof. Another approach is a lightweight construction in which the modules (or module carriers on which the modules are mounted) are attached to ropes and tracked. This solution has the advantage that a double use of the area under the solar modules is possible with low material usage for the construction of the system. The double use is, however, limited by the fact that in winter an icing on the modules or the module carriers and an undefined slippage of larger amounts of snow can occur, which limits the types of use under the solar system.

Object of the invention

Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a solar system in lightweight construction, in which a use of the area under the solar modules or module carriers is guaranteed without the limitations of icicles or slipping of larger amounts of snow. Furthermore, with the invention optionally additionally the annual energy yield can be increased by an optimal seasonal angular orientation of the solar modules (with south arrangement) or an optimal time of day-related orientation (in east-west arrangement) of the solar modules on the module carriers.

Description:

The object is achieved by a photovoltaic system according to claim 1.

In particular, these are a photovoltaic system with a plurality of mutually spaced module carriers, on which photovoltaic modules are mounted. The angle of attack of the photovoltaic modules relative to the horizontal plane is changeable. In normal operation, it can be 0 to 40 degrees, in particular 5 to 35 degrees (normal operation position) and is at least 20 degrees, preferably more than 30 degrees, particularly preferably more than 45 degrees, in order to prevent slipping of snow. Position). The setting of the angle of attack of the photovoltaic modules can be done by a rotating or tilting movement or a combination of rotational and tilting movement. In addition, a collecting device (in particular a gutter or eaves) is provided which is designed to collect rainwater or snow that runs off the photovoltaic modules or the module carriers and to remove them in a controlled manner. Among other things, the presence of such a collecting device for rainwater avoids icing.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below. The features mentioned in this context are (individually) to be regarded as preferred features that can be implemented individually or in any combination, provided they do not exclude each other.

The angle of the photovoltaic modules relative to the horizontal plane is preferably variable, whereby the photovoltaic modules can occupy at least two (normal operation position and snow throw position), optionally also several different positions. As a result, an optional optimal alignment of the photovoltaic modules relative to the solar radiation and thus an optimization of the energy yield is possible.

If the orientation of a photovoltaic module is mentioned, then - unless otherwise mentioned - meant the orientation of the plane defined by the surface of the photovoltaic module. The angle of attack is therefore the angle between this plane and the horizontal plane. An exception are the references to the orientation of the photovoltaic modules relative to a cardinal direction (north, south, east, west) or sunlight. Here, of course, meant that the surface of the photovoltaic module faces the corresponding cardinal direction.

The module carriers are arranged on a support. Rope-based photovoltaic systems are of particular interest in connection with the present invention. Therefore, the support is preferably formed by two or more support cables, the support cables are conveniently attached to masts or buildings. The module carriers are fastened on the two opposite sides to a respective carrying cable. In addition, in the middle, on one side or both sides, depending on a pull rope or other actuating mechanism may be provided which allows adjustment of the angle of attack of the module carrier. If the support is formed by more than two substantially parallel suspension cables, and thus the photovoltaic system has several rows of module carriers, then the suspension cables (with the exception of the outer or marginal suspension cables) can be used twice. They can then each serve for the attachment of module carriers of two adjacent rows. Accordingly, in each case a common drive mechanism or a common actuating mechanism can be provided for adjacent rows of module carriers. The distance of the photovoltaic modules from the ground is expediently adapted to the type of use of the area under the module carrier and can be up to 10 meters, or even more in special cases. The distance is preferably 2.5 meters to 6 meters. The suspension cables are attached to 2 end points. For longer arrangements, intermediate supports spaced between 3 and 70 m are used, depending on the type of use and the desired maximum rope sag and the maximum cable tension in the relevant application. Pitch spacings are preferably 4 meters to 55 meters.

Since this device prevents large amounts of snow can accumulate, it is possible to realize the photovoltaic system in lightweight construction. The photovoltaic system can therefore be designed for lower loads than would be indicated by the regional snowfall. Therefore, the design of the additional snow load per square meter of the module support surface can be made to be less than 80%, preferably less than 60%, more preferably less than 50% of the region-related snow load standards.

According to a further embodiment, the collecting device is adapted to not only catch from the photovoltaic modules or the module carriers running or slipping material such as rainwater or snow, but also dissipate and that with advantage along its longitudinal axis. For this purpose, the collecting device can form a channel, for example in the form of a channel. The water entering the catcher is removed by means of the catcher e.g. transported to the edge or the center of the photovoltaic system, where it can be additionally led by a line down if necessary.

Generally speaking, the collecting device is designed so that the water flows to one or more points of the collecting device (in particular to one or both ends of the collecting device) and can be removed there, for example in a pipe from the collecting device, whereby a Overflow is prevented in the region of the longitudinal sides of the collecting device. If the capacity of the collecting device is sufficient, it can be oriented substantially horizontally. In order to accelerate the removal of water, however, it may also be provided that the collecting device is inclined relative to the horizontal plane. Thus, material entering the collecting device, such as rainwater or melt water, can flow more easily along the collecting device.

Each module carrier with photovoltaic modules is associated with at least one collecting device for the outgoing water. The collecting devices may be mounted on the module carriers or independently of the module carriers. Expediently, the collecting device runs along the lower end or along the lower side of the associated module carrier and / or photovoltaic module and can thus absorb the water draining from the module carrier or from the photovoltaic module. Expediently, the collecting device extends substantially over the entire length of said lower side.

According to one embodiment, the module carrier are movably attached to the support. On the one hand, the module carrier can be rotatably or pivotally connected to the support to adjust the angle of attack of the photovoltaic modules. On the other hand, it may be expedient for the module carriers (or parts thereof) to be designed to be movable or displaceable along the support in order to bring about a change in the modulo angle of attack. The movement of the module carrier is effected by one or more drives, wherein the module carrier can also be coupled, for example by a cable extending between the module carriers.

This makes it possible that the module carrier can be moved during snowfall so that the photovoltaic modules are located at a steep angle of attack (snow removal position) relative to the horizontal and thus a continuous slipping of the occurring snowfall is guaranteed. In this context, it is advantageous if a controller is provided which controls the drive so that the module carrier reliably in snowfall in an angular position of more than 20 degrees, better more than 30 degrees and more preferably more than 45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane to be brought.

According to a preferred embodiment variant with an east-west orientation of the photovoltaic modules, the module carrier has a preferably symmetrical arrangement in which a carrier element (the one module carrier side) with photovoltaic modules in the west direction and a support element (the other module carrier side) is directed with photovoltaic modules in the east direction , In the middle of the support elements are coupled to a hinge. At one end of the module carrier via a connecting means of the second kind (second connecting means) is fixed, in particular not displaceable, connected to the support, wherein the connecting means comprises a hinge, whereby a rotational movement or a pivoting of the support member is made possible relative to the support. At the other end of the module carrier is connected via a connecting means of the first kind (first connecting means) slidably connected to the support, wherein the connecting means also has a hinge, whereby a rotational movement or pivoting of the other support member is made possible relative to the support. The displacement causes a change in the angle of attack of the modules.

In a further embodiment variant in the south orientation of the photovoltaic modules, the module carrier has a carrier element (the one module carrier side) with photovoltaic modules in the south direction. This applies to the northern hemisphere, in the southern hemisphere, of course, the photovoltaic module would be oriented to the north. The construction is analogous to the east-west orientation described above, except that one of the support members (the other module support side) is replaced by a connection (eg, a connection strut) without a photovoltaic module. The said connection is thus coupled via a joint to the carrier element and connected via a connecting means (first or second type) with the support, which analogous to the variant with two support elements allows a shift and thus a change in the angle of attack.

There are various variants in which the module carriers are folded up. Alternatively, it is also possible for the module carriers to be inclined downwards relative to the support and to assume a steeper angle by displacement of the sliding element (or of the first connection means) or folded downwards. This variant is useful in the case of snow, but alternatively offers the advantage in desert-like areas that in a sandstorm, the modules to protect each other from the sand particles or pollution by dust.

Since no collecting device is required in desert areas, therefore, a photovoltaic system with a plurality of mutually spaced on a support module carriers with photovoltaic modules is also generally disclosed. In this photovoltaic system, at least two angles of incidence of the photovoltaic modules are adjustable relative to the horizontal plane, wherein a position (normal operation position) is adjustable with an angle of attack of 0 to 40 degrees. Alternatively, or in addition to the presence of a collecting device, this photovoltaic system can be designed so that the module carrier and the photovoltaic modules arranged thereon are inclined (or tiltable) relative to the support downwards and can be pushed together until the photovoltaic modules are at an angle (intermediate angle) of 0 to 30 Degree, preferably 0 to 20 degrees and in particular 0 to 10 degrees are arranged relative to each other (protective position). Thus, the surface of a photovoltaic module in each case the adjacent module carrier or photovoltaic module is inclined or facing and thus protected from environmental influences.

The module carrier may have a mounting bracket and a plate provided with the mounting bracket provided with a plurality of parallel curvatures (in particular a trapezoidal sheet), on which the photovoltaic modules are mounted. The curvatures expediently run essentially parallel to one another and to the associated photovoltaic module.

In addition, a cleaning device (movable from one side to the opposite side) over the photovoltaic module surface may be provided to wipe material from the photovoltaic module surface. This may for example have the form of a rotating cleaning roller.

Optionally, the solar system may be equipped with a de-icing device or with de-icing agents. According to a preferred embodiment, parts of the photovoltaic system can be heated. This is used for partial or complete melting of reaching the photovoltaic system material such as snow or ice. Preferably, in this case, the photovoltaic modules and / or the collecting device can be heated. For example, the photovoltaic modules may be heated for a short time by passing a current through the solar cell strings which generates power dissipation. Alternatively, a resistance wire heating applied to the modules or an electrically conductive layer on the photovoltaic modules could also be used for heating or for deicing. With this method, a water film is created between the modules and the snow layer on the modules, which ensures slipping even at shallow angles of incidence of less than 40 ° with respect to the horizontal plane.

The invention will be described below with reference to the figures with reference to an application example in detail. The same reference numerals are used in the figures for the same parts. It shows: <Tb> FIG. 1 <sep> a side view of a rope-based photovoltaic system with module carriers on which solar modules are mounted (looking across the suspension cables). <Tb> FIG. 2 <sep> another side view of the rope-based photovoltaic system (view along the suspension cables); <Tb> FIG. 3 <sep> a symmetrical module carrier assembly with the photovoltaic modules inclined in two positions upwards; <Tb> FIG. 4 <sep> a one-sided module carrier assembly with the photovoltaic modules inclined in two positions upwards; and <Tb> FIG. 5 <sep> a symmetrical module carrier assembly with the photovoltaic modules in two positions downwards inclined.

Fig. 1 shows schematically a side view of a rope-based photovoltaic system with Abspannungsstützen 25 and a support cable 21 on which the module carrier 13 are mounted with photovoltaic modules 11. The width of the module carrier 13 is typically 0.8 meters to 1.7 meters, but may also be narrower or wider as the customer wishes. The module carrier 13 can be formed, for example, with a trapezoidal sheet (compare No. 15 in Fig. 3) and is equipped with a gutter or gutter 27 to remove the rainwater controlled by the photovoltaic modules 11 and the module carrier 13. In this case, the gutter 27 can also be formed by the last or lowermost bead of the trapezoidal sheet, which is part of the module carrier 13.

Fig. 2 shows schematically another side view of a rope-based photovoltaic system with Abspannungsstützen 25 and a suspension cable attachment 37 for the support cables in the form of a clamping device. Furthermore, a module carrier 13 or the mounting bracket 17 is shown for the trapezoidal sheet on which the photovoltaic modules are mounted. The length of the module carrier 13 is typically 3 meters to 8 meters, but may also be made longer or shorter depending on the customer's request. The module carrier 13 has a slope 35 of about 2 degrees relative to the horizontal plane, so that the eaves water can be dissipated better. A drive 39 on the Abspannungsstützen 25 serves to actuate a pull rope (see, No. 23 in Figure 3) for adjusting the angle of the photovoltaic modules on the module carriers 13. The drive can for example consist of an electric motor with spindle drive.

Fig. 3 shows the movable module carrier 13 at a flat angle of attack 29 and in a position with a steep angle of attack 31. The module carrier 13 is rotatably connected on one side via a (second) connecting means 33 with the support cable 21. On the opposite side of the module carrier 13 via a (first) connecting means 32 slidably mounted on the support cable 21, wherein the connecting means 32 in the present example has a slide rail 19, which in turn is connected to the pull cable 23. By a movement of the pull cable 23, the slide rail 19 moves on the support cable 21 and the flat angle of attack 29 changes into a steep angle of attack 31, so that a reliable slipping of the snow from the surface of the photovoltaic module 11 is ensured. The movement of the pull cable 23 is generated by a drive 39 which is mounted on one of the guy supports 25. The pull cable 23 is biased, which can be done by another drive 39 on the other side of the column. The bias can also be done by a weight force or by a spring force on the drive 39 opposite end of the pull cable 23. To reduce the required total traction on the pull cable 23 13 additional elastic elements may be mounted in the movable module carriers 13 or between the movable module carriers.

Fig. 4 shows the movable module carrier 13 at a flat angle of attack 29 and in a position with a steep angle of attack 31. The module carrier 13 is connected on one side via a connecting means 33 with a hinge to the support cable 21 and with another joint with a Connecting strut 41 coupled, which in turn with the connecting means of the second kind (Fig. 3, 32) is connected.

Fig. 5 shows the movable module carrier 13 inclined downwards at a flat angle of attack and in a folded position with a catcher 27th

Legend:

[0029] <Tb> 11 <sep> Photovoltaic Module <Tb> 13 <sep> module carrier <Tb> 15 <sep> trapezoidal sheet <Tb> 16 <sep> PTO <tb> 17 <sep> Mounting bracket for trapezoidal sheet metal <tb> 18 <sep> terminals for module mounting <Tb> 19 <sep> slider <Tb> 21 <sep> Support / carrying cable <Tb> 23 <sep> rope <Tb> 25 <sep> guy supports <tb> 27 <sep> catcher / gutter <tb> 29 <sep> Flat angle of attack <tb> 31 <sep> Steep angle of attack <tb> 32 <sep> First connecting means / slide rail <tb> 33 <sep> Second connecting means / clamping device for rotary motion <tb> 35 <sep> Inclination angle of the eaves and the module carrier <tb> 37 <sep> Suspension cable attachment / Clamping device for suspension rope <tb> 39 <sep> Drive for pull rope <Tb> 41 <sep> connecting strut

Claims (8)

1. photovoltaic system having a plurality of spaced apart on a support (21) arranged module carriers (13) with photovoltaic modules (11), characterized in that - At least two angles of attack (29,31) of the photovoltaic modules (11) are adjustable relative to the horizontal plane and a position with an angle of attack (31) of more than 20 degrees is adjustable and - A collecting device (27) is provided, which is adapted to catch from the photovoltaic modules (11) or the module carriers (13) running or slipping material such as rainwater or snow and to derive along the collecting device (27). 2. Photovoltaic system according to claim 1, characterized in that a drive (39) which is in operative connection with the module carriers (13) is provided by means of which the angle of attack (29, 31) of the photovoltaic modules (11) is variable relative to the horizontal plane, - The support (21) is formed by one or more supporting cables, - it is at the catcher (27) is a gutter, - At least one channel (27) is provided per module carrier (13), wherein the grooves (27) along the lower sides of the module carrier (13) extend, and - The module carrier (13) via connecting means (32) are fixed to the support (21), which along the support (21) verschiebar. 3. Photovoltaic system according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (21) is formed by one or more supporting cables. 4. Photovoltaic system according to one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the angle of attack (29, 31) of the photovoltaic modules (11) is variable relative to the horizontal plane, whereby their orientation relative to the sun and thus the energy input can be optimized. 5. Photovoltaic system according to one of claims 1 or 3 to 4, characterized in that parts of the photovoltaic system are heatable for melting of the photovoltaic system passing material such as snow or ice, wherein preferably the photovoltaic modules (11) and / or the collecting device (27) are heated. 6. Photovoltaic system according to one of claims 1 or 3 to 5, characterized in that per module carrier (13) a collecting device (27) is provided, which extends along the lower side of the module carrier (13), wherein the collecting device (27) on the module carrier (13) or independent of the module carrier (13) is mounted. 7. Photovoltaic system according to one of claims 1 or 3 to 6, characterized in that per module carrier (13) with photovoltaic modules (11) - At least a first connecting means (32) for connecting the module carrier (13) with the support (21) is provided, wherein the first connecting means (32) along the support (21) is displaceable, - At least a second connecting means (33) for connecting the module carrier (13) with the support (21) is provided, which has a joint and is fixedly connected to the support (21) and a joint (16) is provided which connects a module carrier side provided with a photovoltaic module (11) to a second module carrier side provided with a photovoltaic module (11) or to a connecting strut (41). 8. photovoltaic system having a plurality of spaced apart on a support (21) arranged module carriers (13) with photovoltaic modules (11), characterized in that - At least two angles of attack (29, 31) of the photovoltaic modules (11) are adjustable relative to the horizontal plane, wherein a position with an angle of attack (31) between 0 to 40 degrees is adjustable and - The module carrier (13) and arranged thereon photovoltaic modules (11) relative to the support (21) are inclined downwards and are mutually collapsible until the photovoltaic modules (11) at an intermediate angle of 0 to 30 degrees, preferably 0 to 20 degrees and in particular 0 to 10 degrees are arranged relative to each other, so that the surface of a photovoltaic module (11) in each case the adjacent module carrier (13) or photovoltaic module (11) inclined and thus protected from environmental influences, and - Preferably, a collecting device (27) is provided, which is adapted to catch from the photovoltaic modules (11) or the module carriers (13) running or slipping material such as rainwater or snow and to derive along the collecting device (27).