NZ725871A - Supporting structure for solar panels - Google Patents
Supporting structure for solar panelsInfo
- Publication number
- NZ725871A NZ725871A NZ725871A NZ72587116A NZ725871A NZ 725871 A NZ725871 A NZ 725871A NZ 725871 A NZ725871 A NZ 725871A NZ 72587116 A NZ72587116 A NZ 72587116A NZ 725871 A NZ725871 A NZ 725871A
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- support structure
- pylons
- solar panels
- solar
- panels
- Prior art date
Links
- CWFOCCVIPCEQCK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chlorfenapyr Chemical compound BrC1=C(C(F)(F)F)N(COCC)C(C=2C=CC(Cl)=CC=2)=C1C#N CWFOCCVIPCEQCK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 claims description 6
- 229940035295 Ting Drugs 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004566 building material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004568 cement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003750 conditioning Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009776 industrial production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000036633 rest Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
Abstract
support structure for solar panels (6) comprising two or more circular and concentric tracks or rails (1), on which a plurality of pylons (5) are mounted, said pylons (5) are parallel and equipped with support wheels (9), so as to support, through respective frames (14), a plurality of solar panels (6); the pylons (5) rotate with respect to the common center of the concentric tracks (1), so as to carry out a rotation movement for the azimuthal tracking (RA) of the sun (from east to west), while a plurality of actuators (21), which are mounted within each pylon (5), move one or more panels (6), in order to obtain a rotation movement for the zenithal tracking (RZ). The combination of the two rotations is controlled by an electronic control unit (22), so as to follow at every moment of the day the sun's position. The support structure may be mounted on poles (4) and can be isolated or can be installed on coverings, buildings' roofs or generic flat surfaces. s (6); the pylons (5) rotate with respect to the common center of the concentric tracks (1), so as to carry out a rotation movement for the azimuthal tracking (RA) of the sun (from east to west), while a plurality of actuators (21), which are mounted within each pylon (5), move one or more panels (6), in order to obtain a rotation movement for the zenithal tracking (RZ). The combination of the two rotations is controlled by an electronic control unit (22), so as to follow at every moment of the day the sun's position. The support structure may be mounted on poles (4) and can be isolated or can be installed on coverings, buildings' roofs or generic flat surfaces.
Description
SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR SOLAR PANELS
The present invention generally relates to a structure for supporting solar
panels and more particulariy the ion relates to a t structure
with variable ry, which is able to move the solar panels as sun
followers during the day and during the year; rmore, the support
structure can be mounted on poles, as an isolated structure, or used as a
cover, such as a roof of buildings or a roof of greenhouses, or installed on
roundabouts or other circular—shaped surfaces.
Currently, structures for supporting solatr panels (the so-called solar
trackers) are constituted by a central piliar on which a “sail” consisting of
modular panels lying on the same plane is engaged.
Moreover, the i pillar is connected to a slewing ring that provides for
the azimuthal movement, from east to west, of the whole structure, while a
hinge, which is placed on the horizontal axis of the "sail", es for the
zenithal movement from 0 to 90°.
Said known t structure is extremely cumbersome when many solar
panels are installed and causes significant shading if there are more rows
of solar trackers; moreover, each solar tracker, as described, cannot be
used as a cover or roof for buildings.
The above mentioned structure, on one hand, has good features of
scalability for industrial production, but, on the other hand, it needs a lot of
space in order that the adjacent solar trackers do not cause unwanted
shading.
Furthermore, the ratio between the installed electrical power and the total
surface of the structure is very high, while the ratio between the installed
electrical power and the employed means, both in terms of energy needed
for making the whole ure and in terms of als constituting said
structure itself (such as the steel required to build a solar tracker, the
cement to perform foundations of the electrical connections, the employed
workers, etc), is very low.
Finally, the e which is occupied by said known supporting structure
is related to the specific solar tracker and it cannot be used for any other
human activity; it follows that, when the size of the single solar tracker
becomes greater, the whole supporting ure becomes more
cumbersome and the angular tracking s less accurate, as well as
the visual impact increases (said visual impact is constituted from a real
stretch of pillar trackers, the so-called "solar parks").
An object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above
mentioned drawbacks and, in particular, to provide a support structure for
solar panels with reduced overall dimensions, with respect to the known
support structures having the same number of solar panels.
Another object of the present ion is to provide a support structure for
solar panels, which is able to reduce shadowing during its operation, with
respect to the known solar trackers.
Another object of the present invention is to e a support structure for
solar panels, which can be used as a roof for covering buildings or flat
surfaces in general and that it can also be mounted on poles.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a t structure
for solar panels, which is suitable for reducing the environmental and
visual impact and which is however efficient and functional from the point
of view of the energy efficiency.
These and other objects are achieved by a support structure for solar
panels according to the appended claim 1; other technical characteristics
of the support structure for solar panels, according to the t
invention, are also mentioned in the other dependent claims.
Advantageously, the support structure according to the present invention
includes at least two tracks or rails having a circular geometry and
concentric to each other, which constitute the path around which a ity
of pylons supporting the solar panels rotate, so that said panels can make
an azimuthal tracking of the solar radiation.
According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the structures are
made of metal, but nothing ts the use of ent materials,
especially building materials, while the tracks or rails can also be placed at
a certain height from the ground and in a space devoid of shading.
Modular solar paneis (which can be constituted by oltaic and/or
thermal panels) can be provided; said solar panels are also placed inside
special frames consisting of metal supports which are hinged to a carrying
rectilinear pyion.
it is possible to check the zenithal ng hal azimuthal rotation) by
using suitable actuators of the panels frames, so as to e a correct
tracking of the solar radiation, that is to say said solar radiation always hits
the panel according to a direction which is perpendicular to said panel; in
particular, the movements of each panel are lled by an electronic
control unit, which instantly is the position of each pane! and keeps
said position so that the ion of the solar radiation is always
perpendicuiar to the surface of the panel, thus maximizing the energy
capture.
Said electronic control unit also controls the weather conditions so as to
always place the pylons ting the panels in a position of low
ance (for example in case of wind or rain ).
Therefore, it is possible to maintain the tracking of a plurality of ,
thus obtaining a higher energy efficiency (of about 30-35%) with respect to
a fixed solar panel.
Preferably, an electronic control unit is provided for controlling the two
axial movements of each panel, namely the azimuthal movement (rotation
around the track) and the zenithal movement (rotation along the hinge axis
of each frame supporting the related panel); a movement of the panels
which is properly combined and controlled along the above ned
axes, throughout the day, allows tracking the different positions of the sun
so that the solar radiation always hits the panel in conditions of maximum
energy efficiency.
The structure may be d isolated or it can form the cover of a
building or it can be mounted on existing buildings with a flat roof.
These and other technical features will be more clear from the following
ption, which refers to preferred embodiments of the support
structure for solar panels, ing to the present invention, as well as
from the ed drawings, which also refer to said preferred
embodiments of the invention in which:
— figure 1 shows a top plan view of a first embodiment of the support
structure for solar panels, according to the present invention, in a first
mode of operation;
— figure 2 shows a perspective view of a movable frame, which includes
the support pylons of the solar panels and which comprises the support
structure of the panels, according to the present invention;
- Figure 3A shows a perspective view of a plurality of fixed support tracks,
which are inctuded in the support structure of the , according to the
present invention;
- Figure 3B shows a side view of the support structure of figure 3A,
according to the present invention;
- Figure 4A shows a first perspective View of one of the support pylons of
the solar panels of figure 2, according to the invention;
- figure 4B shows a further perspective view of the support pylon of figure
4A, according to the present ion;
- figure 40 shows a front view of the support pyion of s 4A and 48,
ing to the present invention;
- figure 40 shows a side View of the support pylon of figures 4A, 4B and
40, according to the present invention;
- figure 5 shows a front view of a system for connecting the support
pyions, according to the present invention;
- figure 6A shows a first mode of operation of the solar panels mounted on
the support pylons of figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D;
- figure SB shows a mode of operation of the solar panels mounted on the
support pylons of figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 40, according to the invention;
- figure 7 shows a partial perspective view of the support structure for solar
panels, according to the present invention;
- figures 7A, 7B, 70 show enlargements of technical s of figure 7,
ing to the present invention;
- figure 8 shows an ed view of an enlarged detaii of figure 7,
according to the present invention;
- figure 9A shows a perspective view of a support frame of the solar
panels, which is d on the pylon of figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D,
according to the present invention;
- figure QB shows a side View of the support frame of figure 9A, according
to the present invention;
- Figure QC shows a plan view of the support frame of figures 9A and QB,
according to the present invention.
With reference to the above mentioned figures, the support structure for
solar panels according to the present invention comprises a plurality of
(and preferably M0 or more) concentric tracks or rails 1, with a ar
geometry or with a polygonal geometry which can be approximated to a
3O ar geometry, which are fixed to the ground or to a generic supporting
surface through piiings 4, and a plurality of pylons 5, which are connected
to related frames 14 supporting a plurality of solar panels 6 (fig. 1).
The pylons 5 are bound to the tracks or rails 1 and move on said tracks 1
through drive wheels 9; rmore, the pylons 5 are connected together
by means of perpendicular or vertical trusses 7, which form a braced
frame 8 with said pylons 5 (fig. 2).
Therefore, the whole movable structure formed by the pylons 5 and the
trUSses 7 rotates around a central g or node 3, which houses an
electronic control unit 22, which controls the whole support structure and
which is connected to the pylons 5 via a connecting frame 18 (fig. 3A, 3B,
, 7, 8).
In particular, the appended figure 1 shows a pian View of one embodiment
of the support structure for solar panels according to the present invention,
which comprises a fixed portion, constituted by four circuiar tracks 1
resting on the foundation piiings 4, and a movable portion, constituted by
the metallic structures of the pylons 5, on which the frames 14 supporting
the solar panels 6 are mounted, which rotate around the l bearing 3.
The azimuthal on of the movable portion occurs through the drive
wheels 9, which rest on the ar rails or tracks 1 and which are linked
to the pylons 5 through suitable support means 13, white the zenithai
rotation of the structure occurs around an hinge axis or pin 10, by means
of suitable chain actuators 11, which move a particular eccentric
kinematism 12 (fig. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 9A, QB, 9C).
It follows that the whole movable portion formed by the pylons 5 rests,
through the drive wheels 9, on the circular tracks or rails 1 and rotates
around the central axis 15 of the bearing 3, where, through a four~way
junction, it is possible to connect the pylons 5; therefore, the solar panels 6
rotate either according to an azimuthal direction (around the l
bearing or node 3) and according to a zenithal direction (around the hinge
axis or pin 10).
An ment of the alignment between the rails 1 along a vertical plane
is med by means of a control system for controlling the height of said
rails 1 over the foundation pilings 4, while an inverter 21 is installed in a
symmetrical central position of each pylon 5; the electrical connecting
cables run along the vertical trusses of the frame 18 to connect the central
3O node 3, inside of which the onic control unit 22 is led.
Figures 6A and 6B show the anti—shadowing function of the support
structure according to the invention; t the anti-shadowing function
(fig. 6A), the solar radiation 19 would be able to hit only the first pylon 5 of
the solar panels 6, while the back pylons 5 would be only lly hit and
would be covered by the shadow 20 generated from the first pyion 5, white
the structure according to the invention allows rotating one or more frames
14 mounted on pylons 5 (which would generate the shadow 20) according
to the opposite direction with respect to the zenithal direction, thus leaving
the solar radiation 19 hits the whole surface of the solar panels 6, which
are provided inside the frames 14 of the back pylons 5 (fig. SB).
The operation mode of the support structure for solar panels, which is the
object of the present invention, is substantially the following.
The movable portions or structures rest on the rails 1 and said rails 1
constitute the path around which the pylons 5, which are able to support
the frames 14 where the solar panels 6 are mounted, rotate; said rotation
occurs by means of coated drive wheels 9, in order to realize the
azimuthal tracking RA (from east to west) of the solar radiation 19.
The e structures bed in the embodiment of the present
invention are made of metal, however nothing prevents the use of different
materials, sueh as buildings materials; furthermore, the movable ures
are ably placed at a n height from the ground over a surface or
area t shadowing.
The solar panels (which are constituted by photovoltaic or thermal panels)
are placed inside special frames 14, which are constituted of metal
support means hinged to the carrying structure of the respective pylon 5,
while suitable actuators (the inverters 11, 21) control the zenithal tracking
R2 of all the panels 6 which are mounted on a respective pylon 5. so as to
perform the ng function of the solar radiation 19 and the solar
ion 19 is able to hit each panel 6 according to a direction which is
perpendicular to the surface of the panel 6 (this is the condition ing
to which an optimum energy efficiency is performed).
Therefore, the frame 14 contains a plurality of solar panels 6, such as
moduiar panels, and the actuators 11, 21 control the solar tracking by
controlling the azimuthal rotation RA and the zenithai rotation RZ.
Said two rotations are needed in order to ensure that the panels 6 carried
out an optimum tracking of the solar radiation 19 for any position of the
sun; in ular, the tracks or rails 1 constitute the fixed portion of the
support structure which, according to the invention, behaves as a large
bearing around which the whole movable portion of the ure rotates,
by ieaning on the rails 1 through the coated wheels 9; moreover, the
wheels 9 can be constituted by simple support wheels for distributing the
load and/or drive wheels.
The pylons 5, besides having the wheels 9 incorporated, are made so that
the respective frames 14, which carry the panels 6, are able to rotate
around the hinge axis or pin 10; it is also to be noted that every single
pylon 5, when moves according to the zenithal rotation, is independent
with respect to the other pylons, so as to control with great accuracy the
angular ng and to reduce the shading of the nt pylons 5.
In fact, when the solar radiation 19 is oriented at angles less than 25° with
respect to the horizon, the pylons 5 which receive said radiation 19 also
shade the pylons 5 that are positioned behind them and therefore.
according to the present invention, the electronic unit control 22, according
to the sun's position, shall decrease the shading by rotating the frames 14
of the panels 6 in a direction opposite to the direction of the solar tracking,
so as to obtain the least possible shading for solar panels 6 which are
positioned immediately behind the panels 6 which directly e the
solar radiation 19.
Suitable actuators 21 are provided for said rotation, so as to allow the
zenithal tracking and to make angular rotations with angles greater than
90°.
Therefore, the azimuthal and zenithal rotations RA, RZ allows a complete
tracking of the sun’s trajectory throughout the day for any position of the
tracker.
2O The movements are then controlled for each single pylon 5 by the
electronic control unit 22, which tly controls the position of each
panel 6 and keeps said position, so that the solar radiation 19, which hits
the panel 6, is always perpendicular to the surface of the solar panel 6, in
order to maximize the energy production, also limiting the shading of the
other pylons 5.
The onic control unit 22 controls the weather conditions, so as to
move the pylons 5 supporting the panels 6 among positions in which a
minimum resistance to the wind is ed, and is also able to control one
or two types of drive wheels 9, which are independent of each other since
the connection n the wheels 9 and the traction axis occurs h
a free wheel; in particular, when a first type of wheel 9 is used for the
hal rotation throughout the day, according to the latitude of the
place where the structure is installed, the other type of wheels 9 cannot be
used, given the presence of the free wheel, while the other wheels 9 are
always used for the azimuthal rotation, but shall perform the quick services
of movement, such as the fast return of the structure for a new collimation,
the maintenance of the structure and/or other needs, thus avoiding that
the time during which the tracker returns to the starting position is equal to
the ng time (which is equal to about 8/10 hours).
Moreover, said different types of wheels turn at ent speeds between
them to facilitate the rebooting.
in particular, the support structure according to the invention is able to
maintain the tracking of a plurality of pylons 5 with frames 14 containing
solar panels 6, in which case the yield is greater than 30-35% with respect
to a fixed solar panel.
Finally, the structure. which has a uniform load distribution over the entire
surface, can be mounted isolated outside, thus allowing cultivation below
the structure, or can be installed on existing buildings with a flat layer
(such as flat roots or greenhouses), or it can be provided for covering a
building, in order to erably decrease with respect to the known
ures, the environmental impact.
The support structure also allows the maintenance of failure solar panels
without blocking the operation of the other panels.
From the above description, the technical es of the support ure
for solar , according to the present invention, are clear, as well as
the related advantages.
Finally, it is also clear that other variations of the invention may be
implemented without departing from the inventive idea which is mentioned
in the appended claims, as well as it is clear that the technical details
which have been described and illustrated may be varied according to
requirements and without departing from the scope of tion of the
appended claims.
Claims (15)
1. Support structure for solar panels (6), characterized by comprising at least two tracks or rails (1) forming a path on which a plurality of parallel pylons (5), which support said solar panels (6), rotate, said solar panels (6) being free to spacially rotate according to an hal direction (RA) and said solar panels (6) being supported by at ieast one frame (14), which is hinged to a respective pylon (5), so that one or more of said solar panels (6) ned within said frame (14) specialty rotate also in a 10 zenithal direction (RZ), about a hinge axis or pin (10) which is placed centrally and longitudinally on said frame (14).
2. Support structure ing to claim 1, characterized in that said tracks or rails (1) are placed at a certain height from the ground, in an area devoid of shading, and are supported by a plurality of foundation piles (4). 15
3. Support structure as claimed in at least one of the previous , terized in that an electronic control unit (22) controls respective actuators (21, 11) and/or kinematic isms (12), which are able to rotate said pylons (5) on said tracks or rails (1) and to spatially rotate said one or more solar paneis (6) of each frame (14) in said zenithal direction 20 (RZ), said electronic l unit (22) being also able to instantly control the positions of each solar panei (6), so that the solar radiation (19) which hits each solar panel (6) is always perpendicular to the surface of said solar panei (6).
4. Support structure as claimed in at least one of the previous claims. 25 characterized in that said electronic control unit (22) controls the weather ions, so as to piece said pylons (5) in positions of minimal resistance to the wind.
5. Support structure as claimed in at teast one of the previous claims, characterized in that said structure constitutes the coverage of a ng 30 or is installed on existing buildings with a flat roof or is installed over roundabouts or over circular—shaped surfaces.
6. Support structure as claimed in at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said pylons (5) move on said tracks or rails (1) through one or more supporting and/or driving wheels (9). 35
7. Support structure as claimed in at least one of the us claims, characterized in that said pylons (5) are connected together by means of perpendicular or vertical trusses (7), which form a braced frame (8) with said pylons (5).
8. Support structure according to claims from 3 to 8, characterized in that said pylons (5) rotate on said tracks or rails (1) and around a l bearing or node (3), which houses said electronic control unit (22) and which is connected to said pylons (5) through at least one ting frame (18).
9. Support structure as claimed in at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said solar panels (6), which are installed on a fixed 10 frame (14) of a respective pylon (5), are rotated according to said zenithal direction (RZ) independently with respect to the solar panels (6), which are led on the frames (14) of the other pylons (5) of said support structure.
10. Support structure as claimed in at least one of the previous claims, 15 characterized in that said solar panels (6)) which are installed on a prefixed frame (14) of a tive pylon (5), are rotated in the opposite direction with respect to the solar panels (6), which are installed on the frames (14) of the adjacent pylons (5) of the support structure.
11. Support structure as d in at least one of the previous , 20 characterized in that said solar panels (6) are constituted by modular solar panels (6).
12. Support structure as claimed in at least one of the previous , characterized in that said panels (6) are constituted by solar panels and/or photovoltaic panels and/or thermal panels. 25
13. Support structure according to claims from 6 to 12, characterized in that said wheels (9) are of at ieast two different types and independent between them, so that when a first type of wheels is used for an azimuthal rotation of tracking, a second type of wheel, which is also used for said azimuthal rotation, performs fast handling services, such as a fast return of 30 the structure for a new collimation, maintenance of the structure, etc.
14. Support structure as claimed in claim 13. characterized in that said different types of wheels (9) turn at ent speeds.
15. Support structure as claimed in at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that said at least two tracks or raiis (1) are concentric 35 n them and have a circular or polygonal geometry, said polygonal geometry being approximated to a circular geometry.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITPCT/IT2014/000106 | 2014-04-09 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ725871A true NZ725871A (en) |
Family
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