US20130333690A1 - Solar tracker - Google Patents

Solar tracker Download PDF

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Publication number
US20130333690A1
US20130333690A1 US14/001,949 US201214001949A US2013333690A1 US 20130333690 A1 US20130333690 A1 US 20130333690A1 US 201214001949 A US201214001949 A US 201214001949A US 2013333690 A1 US2013333690 A1 US 2013333690A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
fixed
solar tracker
base
cylinder
tracker according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/001,949
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English (en)
Inventor
Francisco Jose Ceron Garcia
Emiliano Cornago Ramirez
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Abengoa Solar New Technologies SA
Original Assignee
Abengoa Solar New Technologies SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Abengoa Solar New Technologies SA filed Critical Abengoa Solar New Technologies SA
Assigned to ABENGOA SOLAR NEW TECHNOLOGIES, S.A. reassignment ABENGOA SOLAR NEW TECHNOLOGIES, S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CORNAGO RAMIREZ, EMILIANO, CERON GARCIA, FANCISCO JOSE
Publication of US20130333690A1 publication Critical patent/US20130333690A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F24J2/5427—
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S30/00—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S30/40—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement
    • F24S30/45—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with two rotation axes
    • F24S30/458—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with two rotation axes with inclined primary axis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
    • F24S25/00—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules
    • F24S25/10—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules extending in directions away from a supporting surface
    • F24S25/12—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules extending in directions away from a supporting surface using posts in combination with upper profiles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/40—Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
    • Y02E10/47—Mountings or tracking

Definitions

  • thermosolar applications heliostats, Stirling discs, etc.
  • solar trackers for thermosolar applications heliostats, Stirling discs, etc.
  • Thermosolar plants are designed to make the most of solar energy by heating a fluid by means of solar radiation and using them in a conventional thermodynamic cycle in order to generate electrical energy.
  • Heliostats are used to capture and concentrate the sun's rays.
  • Heliostats are large mirrored surfaces generally formed with a certain curvature. They constantly follow the sun in such a way that the rays they reflect fall on one or various fixed focal points at the top of a tower, where a receptor is located, at any time, this receptor heating the heat transfer fluid.
  • the use of solar trackers in photovoltaic solar energy production consists of a supporting structure in which flat photovoltaic panels are installed. These panels must be oriented in such a way that they are perpendicular to the sun's rays at all times, which is why the solar tracker must be capable of rotating within the space it occupies, following the sun's position.
  • the photovoltaic cells convert the sun's energy into electricity, which direct the energy for industrial or commercial use by means of wiring and current inverters.
  • Utility model ESI050814 discloses a solar tracker for photovoltaic power plants, which comprises a fixed platform defined by a circular track, supported by pillars which elevate it from the floor and keep it at the right level, in order to enable a rotating platform located above, which has wheels, to rotate in order to orientate itself in azimuth.
  • This rotating platform supports a plurality of solar panels arranged in columns and rows on a sloped surface.
  • each one of the rows of solar panels is rotated around an axis common to all of them, in order to orientate itself, moving from a vertical position in which the sun's rays are received at sunrise until it reaches the most angled position at midday, when the sun is at its highest.
  • the azimuthal rotation of the mobile platform which occurs simultaneously alongside the angling of the panels, takes place once one a reduction motor has been coupled to one of the wheels, rotating until it reaches 210°, which is equivalent to fourteen hours of the apparent solar trajectory, from sunrise to sunset.
  • a rotating base for solar panel installations, formed by a circular track in the form of a U, on a fixed or bench platform, supported by pillars, which locate it at the right level, according to the orography of the area to be installed and an inclined mobile structure being defined on the track with a plurality of solar panels arranged in rows and columns on this sloped surface.
  • This inclined structure is joined and coupled to the fixed circular track by means of perpendicular bearings, which give it angular movement, in addition to serving as a guide for the rotational movement.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,067 discloses a solar tracker with an azimuthal rotation system, which operates by means of two hydraulic cylinders arranged perpendicularly and an elevation system, which operates by means of a hydraulic cylinder.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,972 discloses a heliostat, which comprises rotational reflector means arranged on the pedestal and fixed to a fixed or variable distance of the reflector, a hydraulic cylinder being used in the case of rotational means at a variable distance from the reflector.
  • the problem detected in the rotational systems of the abovementioned solar trackers is that, whereby heliostats are concerned, the focal distance is hundreds of meters, which explains the application of the rotational systems known to heliostats, obtaining a low capacity for obtaining a precise position or in other words, a low pressure, which makes it necessary to develop a specific rotational system for heliostats, which is highly precise in the movements throughout the day.
  • the invention refers to a solar tracker, of the variety referred to in the background section as “T” type, which comprises a pedestal, whether cylindrical or parallelepiped, upon which a supporting structure or structural support made of mirrors or photovoltaic modules is attached at the upper end, which resolves the abovementioned problems by means of:
  • the solar tracker object of the present invention, specifically comprises:
  • Pedestal is understood to mean a solid, cylindrical or rectangular parallelepiped shaped body, which supports a structure.
  • a solid body is understood to be a firm body which is not necessarily robust.
  • the anchoring means used to anchor the first end of each cylinder to the floor comprise:
  • the azimuthal movement of solar trackers with a cylinder takes place because the cylinder extends or retracts itself, thus giving rise to rotational movement of its second end fixed to the mechanical rotation element.
  • the centre of this circular movement is the mechanical rotation element rotation axis, which may be a bearing or a slew ring and the distance from this point to the centre of the piston rod or piston of the cylinder joined to the pedestal is formed by its radius.
  • the circular trajectory is located on a horizontal plain.
  • the cylinder will therefore have a rotational movement in the second end of the axis and another rotation in the axial line of the cylinder around the mooring point to the floor, in order to absorb the previous movement. In this case, a rotational capacity of over 120° is achieved.
  • the azimuthal movement with two cylinders takes place because the two cylinders are anchored at their second end to an anchoring means fixed to the mechanical rotation element, in such a way that the line joining these two points, corresponding to the second ends of each cylinder, passes through the rotational centre of the pedestal.
  • the hydraulic cylinders Upon extending or retreating, the hydraulic cylinders cause their end to rotate, forced by the mechanical rotation element.
  • the centre of said circular movement is the rotational axis of the mechanical rotation element; its radius is formed by the distance from this point to the centre of the piston rod joined to the pedestal.
  • the circular trajectory is located on a horizontal plane.
  • the cylinders Upon extending or retreating, the cylinders give rise to the rotation of the structure, capable of rotating 315°. Both cylinders should be synchronised, in such a way that the rotational direction they provoke coincides in each movement.
  • the solar tracker object of the present invention, comprises an elevation system for the structural support, attached to the upper end of the pedestal, which comprises:
  • the elevation cylinder by means of either elongation or retraction lineal movement, gives rise to the rotational movement of the mobile structural support in relation to the pedestal.
  • the mobile structural support comprises the photovoltaic mirrors or panels to be oriented.
  • the elevation movement takes place when the hydraulic elevation cylinder extends or retreats, giving rise to a rotational movement of its end, forced by the axle-ball joint type fixation of the support element of the mobile structural support, in relation to the pedestal.
  • Said circular movement is produced on a vertical plane, which passes through the anchoring point of the first end of the cylinder.
  • the centre is formed by the point at which the rotational axis or horizontal line intersects, passing through the centres of the previous ball joints, with the vertical plane defined above.
  • the rotational radius of the mobile ball joint of the elevation cylinder will be the distance between the previous centre and the mobile anchoring point.
  • the hydraulic cylinders may be optimised using cylinders with a diameter range of between 120 and 240 mm.
  • the mechanical rotation element may be optimised using a mechanical rotation element with a radius of over 700 mm.
  • the pedestal in the solar tracker object of the present invention, comprises: a hydraulic switchboard or oil supply system for supplying the cylinders, which comprises a motor-pump unit, which exerts pressure on the hydraulic system, an oil deposit to admit the loading and unloading of oil in the hydraulic cylinders, a break block and a blockade in order to be able to regulate the velocity of the cylinders, a manoeuvre block for managing the mechanism, pressurised storage tanks for a rapid system response and pressure switches, electrovalves, special valves, through and connecting valves, with the aim of supplying oil at pressure to the chambers of the cylinders.
  • a hydraulic switchboard or oil supply system for supplying the cylinders, which comprises a motor-pump unit, which exerts pressure on the hydraulic system, an oil deposit to admit the loading and unloading of oil in the hydraulic cylinders, a break block and a blockade in order to be able to regulate the velocity of the cylinders, a manoeuvre block for managing the mechanism, pressurised storage tanks
  • the tracker comprises a control system which feeds the pump, orders the opening and closing of the oil circuits, captures the position information and tracker state, communicates this information to the centralised control and facilitates local control.
  • the system comprises an external box, which has a console for system configuration, calibration, monitoring and diagnostics inside; a switch panel for tracker maintenance and cleaning functions, a power block for managing the feeding of the electric group and a communications block, to manage all the information which arrives from the centralised control of the switch panel and the state of the tracker.
  • the solar tracker object of the present invention, comprises an azimuthal rotational mechanism and an elevation mechanism for the structural support of the photovoltaic mirrors or panels, to be oriented, which is highly advantageous in comparison to those mechanisms already known about, given that:
  • cylinders may be oleohydraulically driven or also mechanically driven, in which ease the hydraulic centre installed in the pedestal would not be necessary.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a solar tracker with just one hydraulic azimuthal rotation actuator cylinder.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a solar tracker with two hydraulic azimuthal rotation cylinders.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective representation of the pedestal of the solar tracker with the hydraulic control and oil supply equipment.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective representation of a detail of the upper bench.
  • FIG. 5 is a lower representation of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 6 is a lower representation of FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective representation of a detail of the fixed anchoring of the oleohydraulic azimuthal rotation actuator cylinder.
  • FIG. 8 is a lateral schematic view of the lower part of the solar tracker with an oleohydraulic cylinder and arm in the form of a U fixed to the base of the pedestal.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross sectional representation of IX-IX represented in FIG. 8 .
  • the solar tracker object of the present invention, is a heliostat, which comprises:
  • FIGS. 2 and 6 represent another preferred embodiment in which the fixed base ( 2 ) of the heliostat comprises two lateral openings ( 6 , 6 ′) facing two hydraulic azimuthal rotation cylinders ( 4 , 4 ′), in such a way that the second end of each cylinder ( 4 , 4 ′) is fixed tangentially to the lower face of the internal mobile ring ( 9 ) of the bearing by a mobile anchoring piece ( 5 ) as a mobile fixation means, in such a way that it makes if possible to obtain an azimuthal rotation of 315°.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 represent a preferred embodiment in which the fixed base ( 2 ) anchored to the floor also comprises a U shaped arm ( 26 ), to which the end of the cylinder ( 4 ) is fixed, which may comprise two U shaped arms when the base ( 2 ) comprises two openings ( 6 , 6 ′) and two cylinders ( 4 , 4 ′).
  • FIGS. 1-3 , 5 and 6 represent embodiments in which the anchoring means ( 16 , 16 ′) of the first end of each oleohydraulic azimuthal rotation actuation cylinder, as shown in FIG. 7 , comprises:
  • the parallel piece is fixed to a H profile which is perpendicular to the base, although it may have any profile capable of fixing the parallel piece to the desired distance in relation to said base.
  • the pedestal of the solar tracker object of the present invention, comprises a pressurised oil supply system ( 21 ) for supplying the oleohydraulic cylinders ( 4 , 4 ′ and 11 ) with a diameter of between 120 and 240 mm, comprising a motor-pump unit, an oil deposit, cylinder velocity regulation means and oil supply means.
  • the tracker is fixed to the pedestal and comprises a piece of oil supply system ( 21 ) control equipment ( 20 ), comprising configuration, calibration, monitoring, diagnostic and management means for the oil supply system ( 21 ) actuation settings.
  • FIG. 3 represents a detail of the pedestal of the tracker, object of the present invention, with the oil supply system ( 21 ) and piece of control equipment ( 20 ).
  • FIG. 4 a detail of the upper bench ( 12 ) can be observed, in which it is possible to see that it comprises two articulations ( 19 , 19 ′), each one of which comprises two rotating side plates ( 17 , 17 ′) fixed to the arm or structural support ( 10 ) with a fixed support ( 22 , 22 ′) arranged between both and joined to them by means of a horizontal rotation axis ( 18 , 18 ′) pertaining to the structural support.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
US14/001,949 2011-02-28 2012-02-28 Solar tracker Abandoned US20130333690A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES201130263A ES2387775B1 (es) 2011-02-28 2011-02-28 Seguidor solar.
ESP201130263 2011-02-28
PCT/ES2012/070126 WO2012117142A1 (fr) 2011-02-28 2012-02-28 Suiveur solaire

Publications (1)

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US20130333690A1 true US20130333690A1 (en) 2013-12-19

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/001,949 Abandoned US20130333690A1 (en) 2011-02-28 2012-02-28 Solar tracker

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US (1) US20130333690A1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2387775B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2012117142A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2495590A1 (es) * 2014-06-30 2014-09-17 Sener Ingeniería Y Sistemas, S.A. Mecanismo de giro azimutal para seguidores solares
CN108759124A (zh) * 2018-07-12 2018-11-06 山东智热取暖设备有限公司 集热器传动装置
EP3722699A1 (fr) * 2019-04-11 2020-10-14 Hangzhou Sino-Deutsch Power Transmission Equipment Co., Ltd Dispositif d'entraînement de rotation horizontal pour héliostat à grande échelle
EP3817220A1 (fr) * 2019-10-29 2021-05-05 Esasolar Energy System, S.L. Suiveur solaire

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2932720A4 (fr) 2013-04-10 2016-07-27 Mediatek Inc Procédé et appareil de dérivation de vecteur de disparité pour codage vidéo tridimensionnel et multi-vue
EP3179177A1 (fr) 2015-12-07 2017-06-14 Marco Antonio Carrascosa Perez Héliostat à structure améliorée

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4290411A (en) * 1978-06-05 1981-09-22 Russell George F Solar energy collector sun-tracking apparatus and method
US4586488A (en) * 1983-12-15 1986-05-06 Noto Vincent H Reflective solar tracking system
US6401456B1 (en) * 1998-07-15 2002-06-11 Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. Method and device for controlling work machine
US20100065039A1 (en) * 2008-09-12 2010-03-18 Rainbow Technology Inc., Sun tracing device
US20100102202A1 (en) * 2008-10-24 2010-04-29 Emcore Solar Power, Inc, Solar Tracking for Terrestrial Solar Arrays with Variable Start and Stop Positions
US20100300429A1 (en) * 2009-05-26 2010-12-02 Young & Franklin, Inc. Actuator-based drive system for solar collector
US20110162685A1 (en) * 2009-12-31 2011-07-07 Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Pampus Gmbh Renewable energy source including an energy conversion structure and a bearing component

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2332117B1 (es) * 2007-06-08 2010-10-25 Universidad De Jaen Sistema de seguimiento solar para captadores de energia solar.
US20090032090A1 (en) * 2007-07-30 2009-02-05 Emcore Corporation Method for assembling a terrestrial solar array including a rigid support frame
TWI424136B (zh) * 2009-08-24 2014-01-21 Herng Jiunn Liao 用於太陽能板之雙軸式太陽追蹤器系統與裝置

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4290411A (en) * 1978-06-05 1981-09-22 Russell George F Solar energy collector sun-tracking apparatus and method
US4586488A (en) * 1983-12-15 1986-05-06 Noto Vincent H Reflective solar tracking system
US6401456B1 (en) * 1998-07-15 2002-06-11 Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. Method and device for controlling work machine
US20100065039A1 (en) * 2008-09-12 2010-03-18 Rainbow Technology Inc., Sun tracing device
US20100102202A1 (en) * 2008-10-24 2010-04-29 Emcore Solar Power, Inc, Solar Tracking for Terrestrial Solar Arrays with Variable Start and Stop Positions
US20100300429A1 (en) * 2009-05-26 2010-12-02 Young & Franklin, Inc. Actuator-based drive system for solar collector
US20110162685A1 (en) * 2009-12-31 2011-07-07 Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Pampus Gmbh Renewable energy source including an energy conversion structure and a bearing component

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2495590A1 (es) * 2014-06-30 2014-09-17 Sener Ingeniería Y Sistemas, S.A. Mecanismo de giro azimutal para seguidores solares
CN108759124A (zh) * 2018-07-12 2018-11-06 山东智热取暖设备有限公司 集热器传动装置
EP3722699A1 (fr) * 2019-04-11 2020-10-14 Hangzhou Sino-Deutsch Power Transmission Equipment Co., Ltd Dispositif d'entraînement de rotation horizontal pour héliostat à grande échelle
EP3817220A1 (fr) * 2019-10-29 2021-05-05 Esasolar Energy System, S.L. Suiveur solaire

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2387775A1 (es) 2012-10-01
WO2012117142A1 (fr) 2012-09-07
ES2387775B1 (es) 2013-06-06

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AS Assignment

Owner name: ABENGOA SOLAR NEW TECHNOLOGIES, S.A., SPAIN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CERON GARCIA, FANCISCO JOSE;CORNAGO RAMIREZ, EMILIANO;SIGNING DATES FROM 20130821 TO 20130822;REEL/FRAME:031100/0016

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION