US20200373879A1 - Solar energy harvesting device - Google Patents
Solar energy harvesting device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20200373879A1 US20200373879A1 US16/989,302 US202016989302A US2020373879A1 US 20200373879 A1 US20200373879 A1 US 20200373879A1 US 202016989302 A US202016989302 A US 202016989302A US 2020373879 A1 US2020373879 A1 US 2020373879A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tubular rotating
- tubular
- axis solar
- rotating shafts
- positive
- 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
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- 238000003306 harvesting Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 16
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S20/00—Supporting structures for PV modules
- H02S20/30—Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
- H02S20/32—Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
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- 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
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- 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
- F24S30/42—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with only one rotation axis
- F24S30/425—Horizontal axis
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- H02S40/00—Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
- H02S40/30—Electrical components
- H02S40/34—Electrical components comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
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- 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
- F24S2030/10—Special components
- F24S2030/11—Driving means
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- 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
- F24S2030/10—Special components
- F24S2030/15—Bearings
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- 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
-
- 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
- Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a solar energy harvesting device including several single-axis solar trackers provided with respective coaxially aligned tubular rotating shafts.
- coaxially aligned refers to the arrangement of the tubular rotating shafts of the several single-axis solar trackers in ideal conditions, i.e., in the event of being installed on completely smooth and flat land. Nevertheless, in real conditions the tubular rotating shafts may experience certain misalignment, even though a final end of a tubular rotating shaft is always facing an initial end of another adjacent tubular rotating shaft.
- Document ES 1119081 U discloses a single-axis solar tracker comprising an elongated structure on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality of photovoltaic panels, a tubular rotating shaft fixed to a lower side of said structure and arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof, a plurality of support feet distributed along the structure, each support foot having an upper end which supports a bearing coupled to said tubular rotating shaft and a lower end anchored to the ground, and a drive motor operatively connected for rotating the tubular rotating shaft together with the structure and said photovoltaic panels according to the relative movements of the Sun.
- Document WO 9012990 A1 discloses a support assembly for mounting an array of photovoltaic panels to a support surface such as the ground.
- the support assembly comprises front and rear horizontal supports and a plurality of front and rear support posts.
- the photovoltaic panels are mounted lengthwise across the horizontal supports.
- Each support post has an anchor portion to be driven into the support surface and a leg portion which is nested therein and longitudinally adjustable to raise or lower the corresponding front and rear horizontal supports.
- the horizontal supports further comprise wiring raceways to support wiring harnesses originating from the photovoltaic panels and terminating at the end of each row of photovoltaic panels in the array.
- Document EP 2785164 A1 describes a computer bay comprising a rack which has two side walls placed between front and rear frontages.
- One side wall is equipped with an opening to allow a passage of a pipe.
- the opening is equipped with a pipe passage device to maintain the pipe in a place.
- the pipe passage device is provided with a pre-cut flexible membrane to seal the opening.
- the flexible membrane includes a pre-cut dividing the membrane into parts to deviate and form another opening during the introduction of the pipe.
- the flexible membrane includes a peripheral pad to be enchased on a peripheral edge of the former opening.
- the present invention contributes to palliating the above and other drawbacks by providing a solar energy harvesting device including several single-axis solar trackers, where each of the single-axis solar trackers comprises an elongated structure on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality of photovoltaic panels, a tubular rotating shaft fixed to a lower side of the structure and arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof, a plurality of support feet distributed along the structure, each support foot having an upper end which supports a bearing coupled to the tubular rotating shaft and a lower end anchored to the ground, and a drive motor operatively connected for rotating the tubular rotating shaft together with the structure and the photovoltaic panels according to the relative movements of the Sun, and where the tubular rotating shafts of the several single-axis solar trackers are coaxially aligned.
- Conductor wires having positive and negative polarities referred to hereinafter as positive and negative wires, conducting electrical energy generated by several of the photovoltaic panels connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers are housed inside one or more of the tubular rotating shafts.
- the tubular rotating shafts perform a dual function: they provide a rotating axis about which the structure and the photovoltaic panels rotate, and they support and protect the positive and negative wires conducting electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels to a junction box.
- the positive and negative wires from the photovoltaic panels connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers are inserted into the tubular rotating shafts through open ends thereof.
- the positive and negative wires emerge from an op en final end of the tubular rotating shaft of one of the single-axis solar trackers and are inserted into the tubular rotating shaft of another adjacent single-axis solar tracker through an open initial end of the corresponding tubular rotating shaft.
- the positive and negative wires of each single-axis solar tracker are gradually added to the positive and negative wires housed in the tubular rotating shafts of successive single-axis solar trackers and are connected to a junction box located in the final single-axis solar tracker.
- the positive and negative wires are preferably conducted from the mentioned open final end of one of the tubular rotating shafts to the open initial end of the tubular rotating shaft of another adjacent single-axis solar tracker inside a protective sleeve.
- the open initial and final ends of each tubular rotating shaft have coupled thereto respective caps provided with at least one opening.
- each cap has one or more projections which are plugged into the corresponding open initial or final end of the tubular rotating shaft.
- the protective sleeve has the ends thereof connected to, for example, plugged into, these openings of the caps located at the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts of two adjacent single-axis solar trackers.
- the protective sleeve is preferably made of a flexible material, and can be in the form of, for example, a corrugated tube made of plastic or elastomer.
- the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts have respective caps provided with an opening covered by a membrane, and this membrane has one or more cuts in a central region thereof for the passage of the positive and negative wires.
- the membrane is optionally supported in a ring fixed to the opening.
- the caps also optionally have a neck having an edge defining the opening, and the ring is fixed at the rim of the neck.
- the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts of two adjacent single-axis solar trackers are coaxially fixed to a rotating drive wheel of a drive device by tubular connecting elements.
- the rotating drive wheel has a central opening and the positive and negative wires go from one to the other of the open final ends of the tubular rotating shafts through the inside of the tubular connecting elements and through the central opening of the rotating drive wheel.
- the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts optionally have respective caps provided with at least one opening.
- a protective sleeve having the ends thereof connected to the openings of the caps.
- the positive and negative wires are conducted from one of the open final ends of the tubular rotating shafts to the other through the inside of the protective sleeve.
- Each of the tubular connecting elements also optionally has one end fixed to the rotating drive wheel and the other opposite end fixed to a support, and the corresponding tubular rotating shaft is fixed to the mentioned support by detachable fixing elements.
- FIG. 1 is a side view of a single-axis solar tracker that is part of the solar energy harvesting device according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the solar energy harvesting device of the present invention including several single-axis solar trackers arranged forming a row;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an open end of a tubular rotating shaft, with a cap and a protective sleeve according to an embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the final single-axis solar tracker including a junction box
- FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view showing an open end of a tubular rotating shaft, with a cap and a protective sleeve according to another embodiment
- FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section view showing the connection of two tubular rotating shafts to a gear reducer
- FIG. 7 is a cutaway perspective view showing the elements that perform the connection of FIG. 6 , where the tubular rotating shafts have been omitted for clarity.
- FIG. 1 shows a single-axis solar tracker S 1 comprising a structure 4 that is elongated in a longitudinal direction on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality of photovoltaic panels 2 .
- a tubular rotating shaft 1 arranged along the longitudinal direction is fixed to a lower side of the structure.
- a plurality of support feet 20 are distributed along the structure 4 , each support feet 20 has an upper end which supports a bearing coupled to the tubular rotating shaft 1 and a lower end anchored to the ground.
- One of the support feet 20 which is reinforced with an additional support 26 , has a drive motor 15 operatively connected for rotating the tubular rotating shaft 1 together with the structure 4 and the photovoltaic panels 2 according to the relative movements of the Sun.
- FIG. 2 shows a solar energy harvesting device including several single-axis solar trackers S 1 -S 5 arranged forming a row, where the tubular rotating shafts 1 of the several single-axis solar trackers S 1 -S 5 are coaxially aligned, or they are as coaxially aligned as allowed by the conditions of the land on which they are installed.
- the tubular rotating shafts 1 of two adjacent single-axis solar trackers S 1 -S 5 have respective mutually facing open ends.
- each single-axis solar tracker S 1 -S 5 The photovoltaic panels 2 arranged in each single-axis solar tracker S 1 -S 5 are connected in series and the electrical energy generated by same is conducted, by means of positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b , to a junction box 10 located in the final single-axis solar tracker S 5 of the row.
- the positive conductor wires 3 a and negative conductor wires 3 b emerge from opposite ends of each single-axis solar tracker S 1 -S 5 , although this is not an essential condition.
- the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b conducting electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels 2 connected in series in the different single-axis solar trackers S 1 -S 5 are inserted into the tubular rotating shafts 1 through open ends thereof and are housed inside one or more of the tubular rotating shafts 1 . More specifically, the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b of each single-axis solar tracker S 1 -S 5 are gradually added to the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b of successive single-axis solar trackers S 1 -S 5 inside successive tubular rotating shafts 1 , and are finally connected to the junction box 10 .
- the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b emerge from an open final end of the tubular rotating shaft 1 of one of the adjacent single-axis solar trackers S 1 -S 5 and are inserted into the tubular rotating shaft 1 of the other adjacent single-axis solar tracker S 1 -S 5 through an open initial end of the corresponding tubular rotating shaft 1 .
- the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b are conducted from the open final end of one of the tubular rotating shafts 1 to the open initial end of the tubular rotating shaft 1 of the other adjacent single-axis solar tracker S 1 -S 5 inside a protective sleeve 5 .
- the tubular rotating shaft 1 has a square cross-section and at each of the open initial and final ends 1 a , 1 b thereof there is coupled a respective cap 7 having an opening 8 and a projection 9 which is plugged into the corresponding open initial or final end 1 a , 1 b of the tubular rotating shaft 1 .
- the protective sleeve 5 has the ends thereof plugged into the openings 8 of the caps 7 located at the open initial and final ends 1 a , 1 b of the tubular rotating shafts 1 of two adjacent single-axis solar trackers S 1 -S 5 .
- FIG. 3 only shows the open initial end 1 a of the tubular rotating shaft 1 and the corresponding cap 7 , it must be pointed out that the open final end 1 b and the corresponding cap 7 are similar.
- the cap 7 could have several projections instead of just the one projection 9 shown for being plugged into the corresponding open initial or final end 1 a , 1 b of the tubular rotating shaft 1 with an equivalent result.
- the protective sleeve 5 is preferably made of a flexible material, such as plastic or elastomer, for example.
- the protective sleeve 5 is in the form of a corrugated tube.
- the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b can be inserted into the tubular rotating shafts 1 through the openings 8 of the caps 7 , for example through a space formed between an inner rim of the opening 8 of the cap 7 and an elastically deformed portion of the wall of the protective sleeve.
- FIG. 4 shows an end of the single-axis solar tracker S 5 located in the last spot in the row, and it allows observing the elongated structure 4 on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality of photovoltaic panels 2 , the tubular rotating shaft 1 , one of the support feet 20 which supports a bearing 12 coupled to the tubular rotating shaft 1 , the junction box 10 , and the protective sleeve 5 conducting the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b from the open final end of the tubular rotating shaft 1 to the junction box 10 .
- a negative conductor wire 3 b emerging from the photovoltaic panels 2 connected in series in this single-axis solar tracker S 5 is connected directly to the junction box 10 .
- FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts 1 have caps 7 coupled thereto.
- the tubular rotating shafts 1 have a square cross-section and each cap 7 has one or more projections 9 which are plugged into the corresponding open end of the tubular rotating shaft 1 .
- the cap 7 has an opening 8 covered by a membrane 16 having at least one cut 18 , and preferably two crossed cuts 18 , located in a central region of the membrane 16 .
- the membrane 16 is supported in a ring 17 fixed to the opening 8 .
- the caps 7 have a neck 7 a the rim of which defines the opening 8 , and the ring 17 is fixed at the rim of the neck 7 a .
- This embodiment makes it unnecessary to use the mentioned corrugated tube inside the tubular rotating shafts 1 , since the caps 7 protect the cables from the sharp edges present at the open end of the tubular rotating shafts 1 .
- These one or more cuts 18 allow the passage of the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b and at the same time support them in a centered position in which they do not come into contact with the edges of the ends of the tubular rotating shafts 1 , thereby preventing friction without having to use a protective sleeve.
- FIGS. 6 and 7 show the connection of the open ends of two tubular rotating shafts 1 of a single-axis solar tracker S 1 -S 5 adjacent to a rotating drive wheel 27 of a drive device 31 .
- the rotating drive wheel 27 is part of a reducer gear and is driven by a drive motor 15 supported on one of the support feet 20 .
- the open ends of the two adjacent tubular rotating shafts 1 are coaxially fixed to the rotating drive wheel 27 by rigid tubular connecting elements 28 .
- the rotating drive wheel 27 has a central opening 27 a .
- caps 7 provided with an opening 8 .
- a protective sleeve 5 having the ends thereof connected to the openings 8 of the caps 7 , and the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b are conducted from one of the open final ends of the tubular rotating shafts 1 to the other through the inside of the protective sleeve 5 .
- the positive and negative wires 3 a , 3 b go from one of the open final ends of the tubular rotating shafts 1 to the other through the inside of the tubular connecting elements 28 and through the central opening 27 a of the rotating drive wheel 27 .
- each of the tubular connecting elements 28 has one end fixed to the rotating drive wheel 27 and the other opposite end fixed to a support 29 , and the corresponding tubular rotating shaft 1 is fixed to the support 29 by detachable fixing elements 30 , such as screws, for example.
Abstract
The present invention relates to a solar energy harvesting device, said device including several single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5), each comprising an elongated structure (4) on which a plurality of photovoltaic panels (2) are installed, and a tubular rotating shaft (1) fixed to a lower side of the structure (4). A plurality of support feet (20) rotatably support the coaxially aligned tubular rotating shafts (1) of the several single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5) on the ground. A motor rotates the tubular rotating shafts (1) according to the relative movements of the Sun. Positive and negative wires (3 a, 3 b) conducting electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels (2) connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5) are housed inside the tubular rotating shafts (1) and go through a central opening (27 a) of a rotating drive wheel (27) of a drive device (31) arranged to rotate the tubular rotating shafts (1).
Description
- The present invention relates to a solar energy harvesting device including several single-axis solar trackers provided with respective coaxially aligned tubular rotating shafts.
- The term “coaxially aligned” refers to the arrangement of the tubular rotating shafts of the several single-axis solar trackers in ideal conditions, i.e., in the event of being installed on completely smooth and flat land. Nevertheless, in real conditions the tubular rotating shafts may experience certain misalignment, even though a final end of a tubular rotating shaft is always facing an initial end of another adjacent tubular rotating shaft.
- Document ES 1119081 U discloses a single-axis solar tracker comprising an elongated structure on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality of photovoltaic panels, a tubular rotating shaft fixed to a lower side of said structure and arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof, a plurality of support feet distributed along the structure, each support foot having an upper end which supports a bearing coupled to said tubular rotating shaft and a lower end anchored to the ground, and a drive motor operatively connected for rotating the tubular rotating shaft together with the structure and said photovoltaic panels according to the relative movements of the Sun.
- Several parallel rows of single-axis solar trackers are usually arranged in a solar energy harvesting installation, such as the one described in said document ES 1119081 U, for example, where each row includes several single-axis solar trackers with the tubular rotating shafts thereof being mutually aligned. One drawback is that the conductor wires having positive and negative polarities, conducting electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers forming a row must be supported, for example by means of cable trays, and conducted to a junction box located in the final single-axis solar tracker of the corresponding row, which entails a complex installation and the need to incorporate numerous additional elements.
- Document WO 9012990 A1 discloses a support assembly for mounting an array of photovoltaic panels to a support surface such as the ground. The support assembly comprises front and rear horizontal supports and a plurality of front and rear support posts. The photovoltaic panels are mounted lengthwise across the horizontal supports. Each support post has an anchor portion to be driven into the support surface and a leg portion which is nested therein and longitudinally adjustable to raise or lower the corresponding front and rear horizontal supports. The horizontal supports further comprise wiring raceways to support wiring harnesses originating from the photovoltaic panels and terminating at the end of each row of photovoltaic panels in the array.
- Document EP 2785164 A1 describes a computer bay comprising a rack which has two side walls placed between front and rear frontages. One side wall is equipped with an opening to allow a passage of a pipe. The opening is equipped with a pipe passage device to maintain the pipe in a place. The pipe passage device is provided with a pre-cut flexible membrane to seal the opening. The flexible membrane includes a pre-cut dividing the membrane into parts to deviate and form another opening during the introduction of the pipe. The flexible membrane includes a peripheral pad to be enchased on a peripheral edge of the former opening.
- The present invention contributes to palliating the above and other drawbacks by providing a solar energy harvesting device including several single-axis solar trackers, where each of the single-axis solar trackers comprises an elongated structure on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality of photovoltaic panels, a tubular rotating shaft fixed to a lower side of the structure and arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof, a plurality of support feet distributed along the structure, each support foot having an upper end which supports a bearing coupled to the tubular rotating shaft and a lower end anchored to the ground, and a drive motor operatively connected for rotating the tubular rotating shaft together with the structure and the photovoltaic panels according to the relative movements of the Sun, and where the tubular rotating shafts of the several single-axis solar trackers are coaxially aligned.
- Conductor wires having positive and negative polarities, referred to hereinafter as positive and negative wires, conducting electrical energy generated by several of the photovoltaic panels connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers are housed inside one or more of the tubular rotating shafts.
- With this arrangement, the tubular rotating shafts perform a dual function: they provide a rotating axis about which the structure and the photovoltaic panels rotate, and they support and protect the positive and negative wires conducting electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels to a junction box.
- Preferably, the positive and negative wires from the photovoltaic panels connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers are inserted into the tubular rotating shafts through open ends thereof. For example, the positive and negative wires emerge from an op en final end of the tubular rotating shaft of one of the single-axis solar trackers and are inserted into the tubular rotating shaft of another adjacent single-axis solar tracker through an open initial end of the corresponding tubular rotating shaft. In that sense, the positive and negative wires of each single-axis solar tracker are gradually added to the positive and negative wires housed in the tubular rotating shafts of successive single-axis solar trackers and are connected to a junction box located in the final single-axis solar tracker.
- The positive and negative wires are preferably conducted from the mentioned open final end of one of the tubular rotating shafts to the open initial end of the tubular rotating shaft of another adjacent single-axis solar tracker inside a protective sleeve. In one embodiment, the open initial and final ends of each tubular rotating shaft have coupled thereto respective caps provided with at least one opening. For example, each cap has one or more projections which are plugged into the corresponding open initial or final end of the tubular rotating shaft. The protective sleeve has the ends thereof connected to, for example, plugged into, these openings of the caps located at the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts of two adjacent single-axis solar trackers.
- The protective sleeve is preferably made of a flexible material, and can be in the form of, for example, a corrugated tube made of plastic or elastomer.
- In an alternative embodiment, the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts have respective caps provided with an opening covered by a membrane, and this membrane has one or more cuts in a central region thereof for the passage of the positive and negative wires. The membrane is optionally supported in a ring fixed to the opening. The caps also optionally have a neck having an edge defining the opening, and the ring is fixed at the rim of the neck.
- In another alternative embodiment, the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts of two adjacent single-axis solar trackers are coaxially fixed to a rotating drive wheel of a drive device by tubular connecting elements. The rotating drive wheel has a central opening and the positive and negative wires go from one to the other of the open final ends of the tubular rotating shafts through the inside of the tubular connecting elements and through the central opening of the rotating drive wheel.
- The open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts optionally have respective caps provided with at least one opening. Inside the tubular connecting elements and through the central opening of the rotating drive wheel there is installed a protective sleeve having the ends thereof connected to the openings of the caps. The positive and negative wires are conducted from one of the open final ends of the tubular rotating shafts to the other through the inside of the protective sleeve.
- Each of the tubular connecting elements also optionally has one end fixed to the rotating drive wheel and the other opposite end fixed to a support, and the corresponding tubular rotating shaft is fixed to the mentioned support by detachable fixing elements.
- The preceding and other features and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a merely illustrative and non-limiting embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a side view of a single-axis solar tracker that is part of the solar energy harvesting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the solar energy harvesting device of the present invention including several single-axis solar trackers arranged forming a row; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an open end of a tubular rotating shaft, with a cap and a protective sleeve according to an embodiment; -
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the final single-axis solar tracker including a junction box; -
FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view showing an open end of a tubular rotating shaft, with a cap and a protective sleeve according to another embodiment; -
FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section view showing the connection of two tubular rotating shafts to a gear reducer; and -
FIG. 7 is a cutaway perspective view showing the elements that perform the connection ofFIG. 6 , where the tubular rotating shafts have been omitted for clarity. - Referring first to
FIG. 1 , this figure shows a single-axis solar tracker S1 comprising astructure 4 that is elongated in a longitudinal direction on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality ofphotovoltaic panels 2. A tubular rotatingshaft 1 arranged along the longitudinal direction is fixed to a lower side of the structure. A plurality ofsupport feet 20 are distributed along thestructure 4, eachsupport feet 20 has an upper end which supports a bearing coupled to the tubular rotatingshaft 1 and a lower end anchored to the ground. One of thesupport feet 20, which is reinforced with anadditional support 26, has adrive motor 15 operatively connected for rotating the tubular rotatingshaft 1 together with thestructure 4 and thephotovoltaic panels 2 according to the relative movements of the Sun. -
FIG. 2 shows a solar energy harvesting device including several single-axis solar trackers S1-S5 arranged forming a row, where the tubular rotatingshafts 1 of the several single-axis solar trackers S1-S5 are coaxially aligned, or they are as coaxially aligned as allowed by the conditions of the land on which they are installed. Generally, the tubular rotatingshafts 1 of two adjacent single-axis solar trackers S1-S5 have respective mutually facing open ends. - The
photovoltaic panels 2 arranged in each single-axis solar tracker S1-S5 are connected in series and the electrical energy generated by same is conducted, by means of positive andnegative wires junction box 10 located in the final single-axis solar tracker S5 of the row. In the embodiment shown, thepositive conductor wires 3 a andnegative conductor wires 3 b emerge from opposite ends of each single-axis solar tracker S1-S5, although this is not an essential condition. - The positive and
negative wires photovoltaic panels 2 connected in series in the different single-axis solar trackers S1-S5 are inserted into the tubular rotatingshafts 1 through open ends thereof and are housed inside one or more of the tubular rotatingshafts 1. More specifically, the positive andnegative wires negative wires shafts 1, and are finally connected to thejunction box 10. - Between every two adjacent single-axis solar trackers S1-S5, the positive and
negative wires shaft 1 of one of the adjacent single-axis solar trackers S1-S5 and are inserted into the tubular rotatingshaft 1 of the other adjacent single-axis solar tracker S1-S5 through an open initial end of the corresponding tubular rotatingshaft 1. In the embodiment shown, the positive andnegative wires shafts 1 to the open initial end of the tubular rotatingshaft 1 of the other adjacent single-axis solar tracker S1-S5 inside aprotective sleeve 5. - As best shown in
FIG. 3 , the tubularrotating shaft 1 has a square cross-section and at each of the open initial andfinal ends respective cap 7 having anopening 8 and a projection 9 which is plugged into the corresponding open initial orfinal end shaft 1. Theprotective sleeve 5 has the ends thereof plugged into theopenings 8 of thecaps 7 located at the open initial andfinal ends shafts 1 of two adjacent single-axis solar trackers S1-S5. - Although
FIG. 3 only shows the openinitial end 1 a of the tubular rotatingshaft 1 and thecorresponding cap 7, it must be pointed out that the openfinal end 1 b and thecorresponding cap 7 are similar. Likewise, thecap 7 could have several projections instead of just the one projection 9 shown for being plugged into the corresponding open initial orfinal end rotating shaft 1 with an equivalent result. - The
protective sleeve 5 is preferably made of a flexible material, such as plastic or elastomer, for example. In the embodiment shown, theprotective sleeve 5 is in the form of a corrugated tube. The positive andnegative wires rotating shafts 1 through theopenings 8 of thecaps 7, for example through a space formed between an inner rim of theopening 8 of thecap 7 and an elastically deformed portion of the wall of the protective sleeve. -
FIG. 4 shows an end of the single-axis solar tracker S5 located in the last spot in the row, and it allows observing theelongated structure 4 on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality ofphotovoltaic panels 2, the tubularrotating shaft 1, one of thesupport feet 20 which supports abearing 12 coupled to the tubularrotating shaft 1, thejunction box 10, and theprotective sleeve 5 conducting the positive andnegative wires rotating shaft 1 to thejunction box 10. - A
negative conductor wire 3 b emerging from thephotovoltaic panels 2 connected in series in this single-axis solar tracker S5 is connected directly to thejunction box 10. Asignal cable 13 andpower supply cable 14 extending along the several single-axis solar trackers S1-S5 on the outside of the respective tubularrotating shafts 1, attached thereto, furthermore emerge from thejunction box 10. -
FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the open initial and final ends of the tubularrotating shafts 1 havecaps 7 coupled thereto. For example, the tubularrotating shafts 1 have a square cross-section and eachcap 7 has one or more projections 9 which are plugged into the corresponding open end of the tubularrotating shaft 1. Thecap 7 has anopening 8 covered by amembrane 16 having at least one cut 18, and preferably two crossedcuts 18, located in a central region of themembrane 16. In the illustrated embodiment, themembrane 16 is supported in aring 17 fixed to theopening 8. More specifically, thecaps 7 have a neck 7 a the rim of which defines theopening 8, and thering 17 is fixed at the rim of the neck 7 a. This embodiment makes it unnecessary to use the mentioned corrugated tube inside the tubularrotating shafts 1, since thecaps 7 protect the cables from the sharp edges present at the open end of the tubularrotating shafts 1. - These one or
more cuts 18 allow the passage of the positive andnegative wires rotating shafts 1, thereby preventing friction without having to use a protective sleeve. -
FIGS. 6 and 7 show the connection of the open ends of two tubularrotating shafts 1 of a single-axis solar tracker S1-S5 adjacent to arotating drive wheel 27 of adrive device 31. For example, therotating drive wheel 27 is part of a reducer gear and is driven by adrive motor 15 supported on one of thesupport feet 20. - The open ends of the two adjacent
tubular rotating shafts 1 are coaxially fixed to therotating drive wheel 27 by rigidtubular connecting elements 28. Therotating drive wheel 27 has acentral opening 27 a. At the open initial and final ends of the tubularrotating shafts 1 there are installedrespective caps 7 provided with anopening 8. Inside thetubular connecting elements 28 and through thecentral opening 27 a of therotating drive wheel 27 there is installed aprotective sleeve 5 having the ends thereof connected to theopenings 8 of thecaps 7, and the positive andnegative wires rotating shafts 1 to the other through the inside of theprotective sleeve 5. Accordingly, the positive andnegative wires rotating shafts 1 to the other through the inside of thetubular connecting elements 28 and through thecentral opening 27 a of therotating drive wheel 27. - As best shown
FIG. 7 , each of thetubular connecting elements 28 has one end fixed to therotating drive wheel 27 and the other opposite end fixed to asupport 29, and the corresponding tubularrotating shaft 1 is fixed to thesupport 29 bydetachable fixing elements 30, such as screws, for example. - The scope of the present invention is defined in the attached claims.
Claims (6)
1. A solar energy harvesting device, including several single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5), each of said single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5) comprising:
an elongated structure (4) on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality of photovoltaic panels (2),
a tubular rotating shaft (1) fixed to a lower side of said structure (4) and arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof,
a plurality of support feet (20) distributed along the structure (4), each support foot having an upper end which supports a bearing coupled to said tubular rotating shaft (1) and a lower end anchored to the ground, and
a drive motor operatively connected for rotating the tubular rotating shaft (1) together with the structure (4) and said photovoltaic panels (2) according to the relative movements of the Sun,
wherein tubular rotating shafts (1) of the several single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5) are coaxially aligned, and
wherein the solar energy harvesting device further comprising:
positive and negative wires (3 a, 3 b) conducting electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels (2) connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5) and housed inside one or more of the tubular rotating shafts (1),
open ends of two adjacent tubular rotating shafts (1) coaxially fixed to a rotating drive wheel (27) of a drive device (31) by tubular connecting elements (28), and the rotating drive wheel (27) having a central opening (27 a),
the positive and negative wires (3 a, 3 b) go from one to the other of the open ends of the tubular rotating shafts (1) through the inside of said tubular connecting elements (28) and through said central opening (27 a) of the rotating drive wheel (27),
the positive and negative wires (3 a, 3 b) emerge from an open final end of the tubular rotating shaft (1) of one of the of the single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5) and are inserted into the tubular rotating shaft (1) of another adjacent single-axis solar tracker (S1-S5) through an open initial end of the corresponding tubular rotating shaft (1), and
the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts (1) have respective caps (7) provided with an opening (8) covered by a membrane (16), and said membrane (16) has at least one cut (18) in a central region thereof for the passage therethrough of the positive and negative wires (3 a, 3 b).
2. The solar energy harvesting device according to claim 1 , wherein positive and negative wires (3 a, 3 b) from the photovoltaic panels (2) connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5) are inserted into the tubular rotating shafts (1) through open ends thereof.
3. The solar energy harvesting device according to claim 2 , wherein the positive and negative wires (3 a, 3 b) of each single-axis solar tracker (S1-S5) are gradually added to the positive and negative wires (3 a, 3 b) of successive single-axis solar trackers (S1-S5) and are connected to a junction box (10) located in a final single-axis solar tracker (S5).
4. The solar energy harvesting device according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane (16) is supported in a ring (17) fixed to said opening (8).
5. The solar energy harvesting device according to claim 1 , wherein the caps (7) have a neck (7 a) having a rim defining the opening (8) and said ring (17) is fixed at said rim of the neck (7 a).
6. The solar energy harvesting device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the tubular connecting elements (28) has one end fixed to the rotating drive wheel (27) and the other opposite end fixed to a support (29), and the corresponding tubular rotating shaft (1) is fixed to said support (29) by detachable fixing elements (30).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16/989,302 US20200373879A1 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2020-08-10 | Solar energy harvesting device |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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ES201531011U ES1144186Y (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2015-09-14 | SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTION DEVICE |
ESU201531011 | 2015-09-14 | ||
PCT/ES2016/000101 WO2017046429A1 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2016-09-14 | Device for capturing solar energy |
US201815757676A | 2018-03-06 | 2018-03-06 | |
US16/989,302 US20200373879A1 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2020-08-10 | Solar energy harvesting device |
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US15/757,676 Division US10778140B2 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2016-09-14 | Device for capturing solar energy |
PCT/ES2016/000101 Division WO2017046429A1 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2016-09-14 | Device for capturing solar energy |
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US15/757,676 Active 2037-04-06 US10778140B2 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2016-09-14 | Device for capturing solar energy |
US16/989,302 Abandoned US20200373879A1 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2020-08-10 | Solar energy harvesting device |
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US15/757,676 Active 2037-04-06 US10778140B2 (en) | 2015-09-14 | 2016-09-14 | Device for capturing solar energy |
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EP (1) | EP3351867B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2016321918B2 (en) |
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CN111373654A (en) * | 2017-11-24 | 2020-07-03 | 住友电气工业株式会社 | Light-collecting photovoltaic power generation device |
EP3608605B1 (en) | 2018-08-06 | 2021-01-27 | Soltec Energías Renovables, SL | A single axis solar tracker with a torsional vibration damping device |
CN110230644A (en) * | 2019-07-08 | 2019-09-13 | 浙江正泰新能源开发有限公司 | The photovoltaic tracking device bearing arrangement of external sliding block |
CN111327256B (en) * | 2020-04-01 | 2023-07-18 | 贵州电网有限责任公司 | Photovoltaic board adjusting device according to seasonal variation |
US11955924B2 (en) | 2020-07-27 | 2024-04-09 | Kloeckner Metals Corporation | Solar tracking mounting system |
CN113630072B (en) * | 2021-07-26 | 2023-08-29 | 孙文兰 | Outdoor portable self-adjustable solar power generation equipment |
WO2023083905A1 (en) * | 2021-11-09 | 2023-05-19 | Martin Hadlauer | Distributor unit |
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ITTV20010055U1 (en) * | 2001-11-20 | 2003-05-20 | Gilberto Mattiuzzo | STRUCTURE OF TRANSFORMATION DEVICE OF SOLAR RADIATION ELECTRICAL ENERGY |
EP1602133B1 (en) * | 2003-03-10 | 2008-07-23 | SunPower Corporation, Systems | Modular shade system with solar tracking panels |
EP1604407B1 (en) * | 2003-03-18 | 2009-07-08 | SunPower Corporation, Systems | Tracking solar collector assembly |
US20100051018A1 (en) * | 2008-08-26 | 2010-03-04 | Ammar Danny F | Linear solar energy collection system with secondary and tertiary reflectors |
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-
2015
- 2015-09-14 ES ES201531011U patent/ES1144186Y/en active Active
-
2016
- 2016-09-14 MX MX2018003054A patent/MX2018003054A/en unknown
- 2016-09-14 EP EP16845772.9A patent/EP3351867B1/en active Active
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BR112018004972A8 (en) | 2022-11-08 |
BR112018004972A2 (en) | 2018-10-02 |
AU2016321918A1 (en) | 2018-04-19 |
EP3351867B1 (en) | 2020-10-14 |
BR112018004972B1 (en) | 2022-12-20 |
PT3351867T (en) | 2021-01-11 |
ES1144186U (en) | 2015-09-29 |
US20190036477A1 (en) | 2019-01-31 |
CL2018000584A1 (en) | 2018-08-31 |
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