FR3134264A1 - Photovoltaic panel system including an integrated watering system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic panel system comprising: photovoltaic panels, a structure adapted to fix photovoltaic panels above a support such as the ground, fixing means for fixing the photovoltaic panels to said structure at a determined inclination relative to the support, said photovoltaic panel system comprising an integrated watering system adapted to water the support. Abstract figure: 1

Description

Photovoltaic panel system including an integrated watering system Field of the invention

The invention relates to a photovoltaic panel system comprising photovoltaic panels, a structure for fixing said photovoltaic panels above a support, such as the ground, and fixing means for fixing the photovoltaic panels to the structure according to a inclination determined relative to said support.

More precisely, the photovoltaic panel system according to the invention is particularly suitable for being installed on land or a meadow.

State of the art

The use of systems comprising photovoltaic panels, arranged above a support at a determined inclination relative to said support, has already been disclosed in the prior art. Several systems of this type, equipped with photovoltaic panels, are currently used in the creation of photovoltaic power plants suitable for electricity production.

Generally, to create a photovoltaic power plant, photovoltaic panels are attached to structures positioned on the ground, said photovoltaic panels remaining close to the ground. This type of installation allows easy access to photovoltaic panels for their maintenance and possible replacement if necessary.

Photovoltaic power plants according to the prior art, as described above, allow the owner of land to use the space solely for the production of electrical energy.

In the prior art, systems provided with photovoltaic panels are known, in which said photovoltaic panels are fixed to a structure, at a determined distance from the ground. These systems have the advantage of freeing up the surface of the ground and allowing the use of the surface present below said photovoltaic panels for a purpose other than that of producing electrical energy.

For example, positioning photovoltaic panels at a sufficiently large distance from the ground, in order to use the ground to enable the production of vegetation, is already known in the prior art. The photovoltaic panels have the characteristic of on the one hand of forming a large surface allowing to receive sunlight and on the other hand of creating shadow areas on the ground below said photovoltaic panels. The presence of photovoltaic panels also modifies the way in which rainwater is received on the ground. The photovoltaic panels protect the ground, located directly below said photovoltaic panels, against the runoff of rainwater, guiding this water onto the ground located between the photovoltaic panels.

There is a need to propose new solutions to manage the phenomena resulting from climatic conditions, thus optimizing the conditions of the plantations located under the photovoltaic panels.

A first objective of the present invention consists of providing a system provided with photovoltaic panels making it possible to irrigate the ground located under the installation of said photovoltaic panels.

A second objective of the present invention consists of providing a system making it possible to optimize the climatic conditions of the spaces located under the photovoltaic panels of a photovoltaic panel plant.

Object of the invention

In view of the above observations, the object of the present invention relates to a photovoltaic panel system comprising:

- photovoltaic panels,

- a structure suitable for fixing photovoltaic panels above a support, such as the ground,

- fixing means for fixing the photovoltaic panels to said structure, at a determined inclination relative to the support,

characterized in that the photovoltaic panel system comprises an integrated watering system adapted to water the support.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixing means comprise support elements, such as beams, for fixing the photovoltaic panels to the structure and the watering system comprises pipes for supplying water, with at their ends nozzles for dispersing the water, in which said nozzles are fixed to the support elements to allow said nozzles to disperse the water in a direction of dispersion imposed by the determined inclination of the photovoltaic panels relative to the support.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the nozzles are fixed to the support elements in a movable manner in order to be able to move relative to the support elements and thus modify their direction of dispersion relative to the support.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixing means comprise a drive mechanism, such as an electric motor, to allow the support elements to move relative to the structure and thus modify the determined inclination of the photovoltaic panels in relation to the support.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the support elements are assembled, movable in rotation relative to the structure, and the drive means are adapted to rotate said support elements relative to the structure.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the watering system comprises water supply means, such as a water pump, said water supply means being adapted to operate using electrical energy .

According to one embodiment of the invention, the watering system includes an optional tank for the storage and reuse of rainwater.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the watering system comprises a drain for collecting rainwater, said drain being positioned on the support.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the photovoltaic panel system is adapted to position the photovoltaic panels at a determined height relative to the support, the determined height being between 1 and 10 meters, preferably between 2 and 8 meters, with more preferably between 2 and 4 meters.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the photovoltaic panel system comprises a control device adapted to control the drive means, comprising, optionally, a computer.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the control device comprises a meteorological module provided with at least one sensor for collecting meteorological or other parameters.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the invention also relates to a photovoltaic shade shelter comprising the system according to the invention.

The aim, object and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the figures in which:

shows a schematic view of a photovoltaic panel system according to the invention, said system being installed in a field,

represents a detailed top view of two rows of photovoltaic panels, including a schematic representation of the range of the nozzles of a watering system dispersing water under said photovoltaic panels,

shows a perspective view of the range of the nozzles dispersing the water under the photovoltaic panels, said photovoltaic panels being presented at a first inclination relative to the ground,

represents a perspective view of the range of the nozzles dispersing the water under the photovoltaic panels, said photovoltaic panels being presented at a second inclination relative to the ground, and

shows a detailed view of the fixing of a nozzle making it possible to disperse the water under the photovoltaic panels, fixed on means of fixing the system provided with photovoltaic panels according to the invention.

There shows a schematic view of part of a photovoltaic panel system 10 according to the invention. Said system of photovoltaic panels 10 comprises photovoltaic panels 1 held in support elements 2. As illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, the support elements 2 are adapted to fix the photovoltaic panels 1 on a structure itself fixed to the ground .

According to the example illustrated on the , the photovoltaic panels 1 are, using support elements 2, fixed on posts 3, said posts 3 being themselves fixed on a support 5, potentially formed by the ground of a plot of land or a pre.

The fixing of the photovoltaic panels 1 on the posts 3 is carried out using the fixing means, not shown in Figures 1 to 5, for reasons of simplicity.

It should be noted that the structure for fixing the photovoltaic panels 1 above the ground 5 includes posts 3, as illustrated in the . It is entirely possible to use a structure having another shape comprising, for example, posts and cables, as disclosed, for example, in French patent application FR2202022.

The support elements 2, fixed on the posts 3, make it possible to modify the inclination of the photovoltaic panels 1 relative to the ground 5. By modifying this inclination, the photovoltaic panels 1 can be installed in a position making it possible to optimize the production of electricity using said photovoltaic panels 1. This means, for example, that the inclination of the photovoltaic panels 1 relative to the ground 5 can be modified according to a defined schedule during the day and the season at during which said photovoltaic panels 1 are used to produce electricity.

According to the invention, the photovoltaic panels 1 are positioned at a determined distance relative to the ground 5. As an indication, it is possible to define the height of the photovoltaic panels 1 relative to the support 5, this being able to be between 1 and 10 meters. The definition of said height can be a function of the use planned for the ground 5. In the case where the ground 5 is used to cultivate plantations of reduced height, the height of the photovoltaic panels 1 can be positioned close to the ground 5. In the case where we wish, on the contrary, to cultivate plantations of a greater height, such as for example fruit trees, it is possible to adapt the height of the photovoltaic panels 1 accordingly. As a general rule, the height of the photovoltaic panels 1 can vary between 1 and 10 meters, preferably between 2 and 8 meters, with more preferably between 2 and 4 meters in relation to the ground 5.

Depending on their use, the photovoltaic panels 1 can be installed in a position allowing the production of electrical energy to be optimized. In the context of growing plantations under the photovoltaic panels 1, the choice of inclination can make it possible to optimize the creation of protection by said photovoltaic panels 1. If we choose a horizontal inclination of said photovoltaic panels 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, it is possible to protect the plantations located under said photovoltaic panels 1, thus avoiding overexposure to the sun or rainwater.

With a view to producing electrical energy, thanks to the photovoltaic panels 1 and the use of the ground 5 located under said photovoltaic panels 1, the system 10 according to the present invention is provided with a control device adapted to control drive means intended to manage the inclination of the photovoltaic panels 1, said control device thus making it possible to obtain an optimal inclination.

A control device of this type is optionally provided with an on-board computer making it possible to receive instructions from a user, for example from an operator. Furthermore, said control device can be supplemented with a meteorological module provided with at least one sensor making it possible to collect meteorological or other parameters. Such a module can transmit meteorological data to the computer in order to define optimal positions of the photovoltaic panels 1.

Sensors 6 can be used to collect data relating to the humidity of the air (hygrometry) present between the photovoltaic panels 1 and the ground 5. These data can then be processed by the control device according to the invention.

The photovoltaic panel system 10 according to the present invention is provided with a watering system, comprising, among other things, a water reservoir such as an optional cistern 20 capable of accommodating a certain quantity of water. Alternatively, said watering system can be directly connected, thanks to a connection, to the water network.

The watering system comprises water supply means, such as a pump 21. Said pump 21 can pump and direct a certain quantity of water, via pipes 22, towards the nozzles 23 adapted to disperse the water. water in a specific direction and surface. Other pipes (not shown on the ) are also present between the pipes 22 and the nozzles 23. As shown in the , the nozzles 23 of the watering system are fixed on the support elements 2. This means that in the case where the inclination 1 of the photovoltaic panels 10 is modified relative to the ground 5, the direction of dispersion of the nozzles 23 is automatically modified which means that the range of said nozzles 23 dispersing the water on the ground 5 can be modified by acting on the inclination of the photovoltaic panels 1 relative to the ground 5. The effect of these measures is represented in more detail on Figures 2 to 4.

There shows, between two rows of photovoltaic panels 1, the presence of a drain 30 on the ground 5, said drain being adapted to receive and direct rainwater towards the cistern thanks to a pipe 31. The drain 30 makes it possible to regulate the quantity of water present on the ground 5 below the photovoltaic panels 1. The photovoltaic panels 1 provide natural protection of the areas located under the photovoltaic panels 1 against rainwater. The areas of the ground 5 not being located under the photovoltaic panels 1 will therefore be more humid than the areas of the adjacent ground 5.

The drain 30 makes it possible to optimize the dispersion of water on the areas located under the photovoltaic panels 1 of the system 10 according to the invention.

There shows a top view of part of the system 10 of photovoltaic panels 1. The represents two rows of photovoltaic panels 1 positioned side by side. Six circles, bearing the reference numbers 41 to 46, represent, schematically, the extent of the dispersion of water under the two rows of photovoltaic panels 1. The example according to shows the presence of three nozzles, present on each of the two rows of photovoltaic panels 1, said nozzles making it possible to water the areas of the ground 5 located below the rows of photovoltaic panels 1.

There also shows that all of the nozzles cover a large area around the rows of photovoltaic panels 1 and an overlap of the watered areas. However, for a significant part, the nozzles are complementary and their range allows them to cover a large surface area of the ground 5.

There represents a perspective view of the two rows of photovoltaic panels 1 and the range of the nozzles installed on said rows of photovoltaic panels 1 according to the . Each nozzle 23 allows watering of a zone, said zone being represented by a dome in the figure. Even if only 2 nozzles 23 are visible on the , other nozzles 23 in total are present and produce watering in the form of domes 41 to 46, however the number and location / position of said nozzles 23 may change depending on the terrain, the need and the size of the irrigation system .

There represents two rows of photovoltaic panels 1 according to Figures 2 and 3, the inclination of which relative to the ground 5 has been modified. In Figures 2 and 3, the photovoltaic panels 1 are essentially positioned in a horizontal orientation. On the , the photovoltaic panels 1 are oriented at an inclination presenting an acute angle relative to the ground 5. The shows that the range of the nozzles 23 is modified thanks to the change in orientation of the photovoltaic panels 1. This lies in the fact that said nozzles 23 are fixed to the support elements 2 of the system 10 of photovoltaic panels 1 so that these can disperse water in a direction of dispersion imposed by the determined inclination of said photovoltaic panels 1 relative to the ground 5. It should be noted that, in addition to the modification of the inclination of the photovoltaic panels 1 relative to the ground 5 to modify the range of the nozzles 23, the pressure and the flow rate of the water can be used to modify said range, thus optimizing the watering of the areas of the ground 5 present below the photovoltaic panels 1. The modification of the irrigation parameters such as the pressure and flow of water and the inclination of the photovoltaic panels 1 can be carried out automatically according to the sensors 6 or manually.

There represents a detailed view of an embodiment of a nozzle 23 fixed on a support element 2, such as a beam, of the system 10 of photovoltaic panels 1 according to the invention. The nozzle 23 is positioned directly under the photovoltaic panels 1, their support 2 or other element.

According to the example illustrated by , the nozzle 23 is installed on the support element 2 in a fixed position. According to an alternative embodiment, not shown on the , the nozzles 23 can be fixed on the support element 2, in a movable manner, thus allowing said nozzles 23 to move relative to the support element 2 and, therefore, modify the direction of dispersion of the water on the ground 5.

Claims (12)

Photovoltaic panel system (10) comprising:
- photovoltaic panels (1),
- a structure (3) adapted to fix photovoltaic panels (1) above a support (5), such as the ground,
- fixing means for fixing the photovoltaic panels (1) to said structure (3), at a determined inclination relative to the support (5),
characterized in that the photovoltaic panel system (10) comprises an integrated watering system adapted to water the support (5). Photovoltaic panel system (10) according to claim 1, the fixing means comprising support elements (2), such as beams, for fixing the photovoltaic panels (1) to the structure (3) and the watering system comprising pipes (22) for supplying water, with nozzles (23) at their ends for dispersing water, wherein said nozzles (23) are attached to support members (2) to enable said nozzles (23) ) to disperse the water in a direction of dispersion imposed by the determined inclination of the photovoltaic panels (1) relative to the support (5). A photovoltaic panel system (10) according to claim 2, wherein said nozzles (23) are movably attached to the support members (2) to allow said nozzles (23) to move relative to the support members (2) to thus modify the direction of dispersion of said nozzles (23) relative to the support (5). Photovoltaic panel system (10) according to one of claims 2 or 3, in which the fixing means comprise a drive mechanism, such as an electric motor, to allow the support elements (2) to move by relative to the structure (3) to thus modify the determined inclination of the photovoltaic panels (1) relative to the support (5). Photovoltaic panel system according to claim 4, in which the support elements (2) are assembled movable in rotation relative to the structure (3), the drive means being adapted to rotate the support elements (2) with respect to structure (3). Photovoltaic panel system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the watering system comprises water supply means (21), such as a water pump, said water supply means ( 21) being adapted to operate using electrical energy. Photovoltaic panel system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the watering system comprises an optional reservoir (20) for the storage and reuse of rainwater. Photovoltaic panel system (10) according to claim 7, wherein the watering system comprises a drain (30) for collecting rainwater, said drain being positioned on the support (5). Photovoltaic panel system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the photovoltaic panel system (10) is adapted to position the photovoltaic panels (1) at a determined height relative to the support (5), the determined height being between 1 and 10 meters, p between 2 and 8 meters, with more preferably between 2 and 4 meters. Photovoltaic panel system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the photovoltaic panel system (10) comprises a control device adapted to control the drive means, optionally comprising a computer. Photovoltaic panel system (10) according to claim 10, wherein the control device comprises a meteorological module provided with at least one sensor (6) for collecting meteorological or other parameters. Photovoltaic shade comprising the photovoltaic panel system (10) according to one of the preceding claims.