ITPD20130073A1 - SUPPORT FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - Google Patents

Description

SUPPORT FOR MODULES OR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

DESCRIPTION

This patent relates to the photovoltaic panel sector and in particular concerns a new support for photovoltaic modules or cells. Support structures for solar photovoltaic modules or cells are known; for example the Italian patent n. PD2011A000264 illustrates a useful device for the following main reasons:

∠’fixed / constrains / from support / supports photovoltaic modules.

∠’channels various types of fluids useful for cooling or heating the modules.

∠’supplies these fluids to a coil / cooler in direct contact with the module.

∠’the whole structure represents a continuous circuit for the fluid, maximizing efficiency.

∠’cooling the modules improves their electrical production, − modules can be heated, for example to cause the melting of snow and ice, if necessary,

∠’the resulting hot fluid can be used to heat.

The construction of the aforementioned structure involves various costs which are mainly:

â ’cost of the coil / cooler, also of the roll bond type.

â ’cost of welding two (or more) aluminum tubes (supply and outlet) to the cooler itself.

â ’cost for the metal tubes themselves.

â ’cost for plastic joints used to join these aluminum tubes to flexible plastic tubes.

â ’cost of these flexible plastic tubes.

Cost of taps used to join these plastic tubes to extruded support and conveying rods.

â ’cost of the support / conveying rods.

â ’Teflon cost necessary to ensure a watertight seal.

â ’costs of skilled labor to make the connections and assembly.

To reduce many of the aforementioned costs, a new support for photovoltaic modules or cells has been studied and built consisting of a single integrated extruded profile, that is, including both the coil / cooler, both the cooler inlet-outlet ducts, and the pipes. supporting and conveying the inlet and outlet of the cooling fluid, and rails suitable for the junction.

The profile can be made of aluminum, or ceramic and / or vitrified clay and / or terra cotta or any other suitable material.

The new invention represents the purest execution of the original concept possible by exploiting a technique that drastically reduces costs, increasing the thermal efficiency, robustness and eco-logic of the final product. The new invention does not only concern extrusion technology, but above all concerns the realization of such integrated coil / cooler structures, cooler inlet-outlet ducts, support pipes and inlet and outlet conveying using all the techniques currently available. state of the art such as but not limited to: CNC milling, plasma cutting, water jet cutting, lost wax casting or other, mold, metal printing, chemical processes and so on.

It is an ideal product for bonding modules, or photovoltaic cells, amorphous type adhesives, modules without "junction box" on the back such as Revolution 6, but also traditional â € œframelessâ € modules positioned with the "junction box" protruding outside the structure ("offset ").

A further solution provides for the incorporation of an insulating area in the structure itself. If the cooler is exposed to air, it tends to create condensation / precipitation. By obtaining a special compartment behind the cooler, thanks to a third sheet that defines an insulation area with the further advantage of reinforcing the entire structure, it is possible to insert a panel of polystyrene, rock wool, and other insulating materials.

Alternatively, it is possible to avoid the added cost necessary to make the aforementioned third sheet simply by applying an insulating panel behind a regular extrusion.

A further new solution provides for the possibility of exploiting the integrated extruded shape equipped with various special housings to accommodate or store electrical cables or a copper bar that can be inserted laterally to be accessible from the outside. Furthermore, the bar can be electrically insulated, using all the state-of-the-art techniques, for example, but not exclusively, using rubber, surface anodization or Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO) creating one of the poles combined with a single cable constituting the second pole. .

A further solution concerns the possibility of joining / welding partial extrusions, or small metal components, in order to produce said integrated structures by parts, then welded together. For example, said individual rods can be joined by welding (TIG / MIG or other) to extruded sheets or rectangles to obtain said integrated structures.

In certain localities / sites it is very difficult to dispose of the heat produced by such a system. It may happen that in certain cases it is desired to cool the modules without collecting / exploiting the heat produced. In these cases, dissipating heat is a problem that is solved in the way described below.

A further innovation is related to the combination of a â € œvortex tubeâ € with said integrated support that works with compressed air or fluid gas. A "vortex tube" offers the possibility of separating hot from cold air. The hot air can simply be discharged into the room, while the cold air is introduced into the cooling circuit. Using this technique, the system is cooled without having to resort to a separate system, for example a water or gas heat pump.

The use of these tubes and their configuration in parallel or series, as needed, in relation to thermal photovoltaic systems, PVT, is an innovative solution that increases the ability to cool said support. For example, a "vortex tube" is applied to the outlet of each single integrated structure where the hot air is directly discharged into the atmosphere while the cold air is conveyed to the main cooling circuit. It has even been found that it is also possible to use one of the two support tubes as a "vortex tube" upstream of each structure; in this configuration a duct of the integrated structure is used, in which a vortex separating hot and cold air is generated. Only the cold air is introduced on the evaporator, or on the flat part supporting the photovoltaic cells, and finally discharged after having collected the heat of the integrated modules. This innovative configuration eliminates the need to purchase return pipes and the circuit is disposable compressed air.

The characteristics of the present invention will be better clarified by the following description with reference to the drawing tables, attached by way of non-limiting example.

Figure 1 illustrates an extrusion profile (1) according to a first possible embodiment, where said profile (1) is made in a single extrusion and includes: a cold fluid inlet pipe (A), a fluid outlet pipe (B), a cooler coil (D), cooler inlet-outlet ducts (C).

The novelty of the present invention consists in the fact of being able to produce profiles by extrusion or similar processes, a technical advance that involves enormous savings in time and money. By exploiting the extrusive manufacturing technique, which for the aforementioned conveying support structures is completely innovative, production times are considerably reduced, currently dedicated to the creation and junctions in the cooling circuit, module by module, using manual and artisanal processes, often little reliable.

Regarding, said serpentine can be made, when necessary, with special perforated reinforcements (F), aircraft wing construction and inserted in claws / tracks (E). Said perforated reinforcements (F), if necessary, can for example be stuck or glued using, for example, epoxy glue.

The profile (1) also includes tracks (G) useful to constrain the structure itself and the modules.

As in figure 1a, said profile (1) can alternatively comprise two semi-profiles (H) or in any case modular, for example when a wide press is not available, and where said single profile (1) is obtained by welding the two halves ( H). In this case, the ends of the semi-profile (H) comprise a closed wall (H1) on which side holes (I) can be made subsequently, obtained later by CNC milling or a similar process for completing the cooling circuit.

Said profiles (1) can therefore also be obtained from modular portions which can then be joined together by welding, using gaskets or other.

Figures 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1i illustrate further possible embodiments of the new profile (1), comprising, in addition to said tubes (A, B), the cooling coil (D) formed by two walls (D1, D2 ) opposite and partitions (D3) between said walls (D1, D2), where said partitions (D3), in addition to constituting the reinforcing structure of the profile (1), are also suitable to be milled to create the serpentine path. with Figures 1g and 1h show two possible embodiments of the tracks (G) on the tubes (A, B).

Figure 2 illustrates an advanced extrusion profile (2) for the realization of the aforementioned all-encompassing structure, also comprising a third sheet (K), which defines an insulation area with the further advantage of reinforcing the entire structure. According to an alternative construction possibility, the sheets of the cooler can be of different thicknesses, for example the one (D1) in contact with the module can be finer to better conduct the external heat to the fluid.

According to an alternative realization possibility, a Thermo-Electric generator or TEG (T) can exploit the heat produced to generate electricity or illuminate a light or an LED. A circuit (M) amplifies the voltage produced by the TEG to power an LED or OLED (T1).

A further new invention concerns the possibility of exploiting the all-encompassing extruded shape to accommodate or store electrical cables in various special locations. As shown in figure 2a, for example a copper bar (N1) can be inserted laterally to be accessible from the outside. The bar (N1) can be electrically insulated using all state-of-the-art techniques for example (but not exclusively) using rubber or surface anodizing. A lateral rail (N) is used to insert / accommodate a copper bar (N1) electrically insulated by means of rubber.

As shown in figure 2b, according to a further realization possibility, the opposite walls (D1, D2) of the cooler (D) can be of equal thickness and have vertical supports (D3) for greater strength during the extrusion process.

As shown in figure 3, a further new invention concerns the possibility of joining / welding extrusions or small metal components in order to produce all-encompassing structures such as those mentioned above. For example, single tubes (A, B) can be joined by welding, TIG / MIG or other (P) to extruded sheets or rectangles (D1, D2) to obtain all-encompassing structures. By drilling (G) the tubes (A, B) laterally, ducts are created that carry fluid to the coolers created by joining single pieces.

A photovoltaic system is made with very valuable materials. The cables, for example, are made of copper, a material of high value and therefore subject to theft. To comply with the theft of cables, it has been found that these structures can be electrically insulated and then used as large electrical cables. We claim this original invention for the field of application â € œsupport structures.â € It has been found that the extruded structures can be electrically insulated with rubber / special paint or through an accurate and heavy surface anodization or Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO) , or other similar processes currently known in the state of the art. It has been found that at a later time, a CNC milling cutter or equivalent can make a male or female electrical socket (P) from the body of the extrusion itself, as shown in figure 4. This procedure removes the anodizing or other insulating protection where you want to have access to the conductive metal. It has been found that this technique is particularly suitable for systems that cool with gas / air instead of water.

As shown in figures 5a and 5b, the new profile (1) also includes a `` vortex tube '' which works with compressed air or fluid gas and in turn includes an inlet (V1) for compressed air, which enters tangentially into said tube (A) of the cold air, and where the flow of hot air (V2) is separated, which is made to flow out of the pipe (A) discharged into the environment, and a flow of cold air (V3) which is introduced into the cooling circuit .

This "vortex tube" can be obtained simply by milling the walls in an appropriate way.

According to a possible solution, said profiles (1, 2) comprise a head or end caps (Z), having corresponding shape and dimensions or in any case suitable for closing the opposite ends of the profiles. Said heads (Z) can be welded or simply mounted with sealing gaskets. Said heads (Z) can be made in such a way as to hold together the semi-profiles or modular profiles (H), which thus do not require welding. Said heads (Z) can also be shaped with baffles such as to convey the fluid in a serpentine, thus eliminating the need to mill the baffles (D3) of the profiles (1, H).

As shown in Figure 1l, said heads (Z) can comprise a plurality of caps (Z1, Z2), for said tubes (A, B) and for the holes (D4) of the profile (1) identified by said partitions (D3).

Figure 1m shows a three-dimensional view of a single plug (Z2) able to be inserted in the profile (1) and equipped with sealing gaskets of the O-ring type (Z3).

Said extrusions can be made in whole or in part in plastic, glass, aluminum, or other metals or materials.

These are the schematic modalities sufficient for the skilled person to realize the invention, consequently, in concrete application there may be variations without prejudice to the substance of the innovative concept.

Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached tables, the following claims are expressed.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells in aluminum or any other material characterized in that it comprises one or more extruded profiles (1, H, 2) whose shape or section includes at least the cooler / evaporator (D) and at least the tubes or support ducts (A, B) and conveyance of the inlet and outlet of the cooling fluid, hydraulically connected to each other, and at least one or more rails (G) for joining modules or other and where on the flat top of the cooler / evaporator (D) the photovoltaic module or cell is applied. 2. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per claims 1, 2, characterized in that said profile (1, 2) is made in a single extrusion and comprises: said cold fluid inlet pipe (A), said hot fluid outlet (B), a cooler coil (D), cooler inlet-outlet ducts (C) between said pipes (A, B) and said cooler (D), said cooler coil (D) being formed by two opposite walls (D1, D2) identifying a flat part and partitions (D3, F) between said walls (D1, D2). 3. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per claims 1, 2, characterized in that said pipes of the cold (A) and hot (B) fluid are open and communicating with said flat part of the cooler / evaporator (D) underlying the modules or photovoltaic cells along their entire length. 4. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per claims 1, 2, characterized in that the cold (A) and hot (B) fluid pipes are open and communicating with the flat part of the cooler / evaporator (D) below the modules or the photovoltaic cells only at the ends or heads. 5. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per claim 2, characterized in that where said partitions (D3, F) constitute the reinforcing structure of the profile (1, 2, H) and are also drilled or milled to create the path to coil between said cold fluid pipe (A) and said hot fluid pipe (B). 6. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one head (Z), having a corresponding shape and size or in any case suitable for closing the opposite ends of said profile (s) (1, H, 2), where said heads (Z) can be welded or simply mounted with sealing gaskets, so as to keep together the profiles or modular profiles (H), said head (Z) being shaped with septa such as to convey the fluid in a serpentine between said tubes of the cold (A) and hot (B) fluid. 7. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said at least one extruded profile (1, 2, H) comprises a special compartment, under the cooler (D), where it is possible to insert a panel in insulating. 8. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per the preceding claims, characterized in that said extruded profile (1, 2, H) comprises suitable seats for receiving or containing electrical cables or electrically insulated copper bars (N1). 9. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said at least one extruded profile (1) can be produced in a single extrusion or by parts (1, 2, H), where the single parts (1, 2, H) extruded, having a substantially rectangular section, are able to be joined together laterally. 10. Support for photovoltaic modules or cells as per the previous claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one â € œvortex tubeâ € cooling system that works with compressed air / gas, where the hot air is simply discharged into the environment, while the cold one it is introduced into said cooling circuit.