Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S50/00—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors
  • F24S50/60—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors responsive to wind
• • 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
  • F24S25/13—Profile arrangements, e.g. trusses
• • 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
  • F24S25/15—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules extending in directions away from a supporting surface using bent plates; using assemblies of plates
• • 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
  • F24S30/422—Vertical axis
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S50/00—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors
  • F24S50/20—Arrangements for controlling solar heat collectors for tracking
• • 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
  • F24S2030/19—Movement dampening means; Braking means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24S—SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS
  • F24S40/00—Safety or protection arrangements of solar heat collectors; Preventing malfunction of solar heat collectors
  • F24S40/80—Accommodating differential expansion of solar collector elements
  • F24S40/85—Arrangements for protecting solar collectors against adverse weather conditions
• • 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
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B10/00—Integration of renewable energy sources in buildings
  • Y02B10/20—Solar thermal
• • 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

• the invention relates to solar energy and more particularly to devices comprising an inclined assembly of planar solar panels (photovoltaic or possibly thermal).
• a wind-resistant device comprising an inclined assembly of solar panels having the shape of a rectangular surface elongated in the horizontal direction, device characterized in that it also comprises a hull of a shape comparable to all the panels and fixed behind them so as to determine a dihedral evoking a roof, with one or more ventilation orifices (vents or slits) at the top, the ends of the dihedral- being closed by triangular panels, and the whole being fixed at a distance above the ground low but sufficient to tolerate the entry of fresh air inside the dihedral, and allow air circulation at the back of the panels.
• the opening (slit) provided at the top of the dihedral extends over the entire length of the edge and is wide enough to allow easy evacuation of air.
• the device according to the invention can be oriented around a vertical axis, thus allowing tracking in azimuth, and for this purpose the base of the dihedral is subjected directly or indirectly to a circular running path.
• the device while allowing natural ventilation of the rear face of the solar panels, by thermal effect or under the action of the wind, has above all the important advantage of offering only little wind resistance which will tend to tackle the system on the platform.
• the hull can have any shape other than a flat rectangle, for example a shape curved, provided that the ventilation of the rear part of the panels can be done in good conditions.
• the frame is driven by the tracking movement in azimuth of the sun using a two-way motor.
• the engine intervenes to rotate the frame, either continuously, its speed being adjusted as a function of the apparent speed, in azimuth, of the sun, or discontinuously so that the dihedral angle D of the vertical plane perpendicular to the panels with the vertical plane containing the sun is less than a certain value, Dm, chosen in advance by the user.
• the value of Dm depends on the use or not of the trough concentration device. - Without concentration, Dm is chosen so that the yield loss due to the periodic aiming error remains acceptable. Between two starts of the engine, it can be assumed that the angular speed of the sun is substantially constant. The motor is started when the dihedral angle D has the value -Dm and stops when it takes the value + Dm. It is shown that the loss of yield is worth the factor
• Dm should hardly exceed one or two degrees.
• the device described is very stable; on the other hand, in the latter case, only the device for rotating can oppose the vertical axis torque caused by the wind, which risks damaging it.
• the present invention therefore includes an additional device for blocking the rotation of the frame when the latter is stationary, this device being put out of service when the rotational movement is controlled.
• a safety system automatically implements the locking device if the torque exceeds the admissible value for the rotation drive. The release can be done manually when the wind has fallen, or automatically after a certain time, even if it is immediately put back into operation if the excessive torque reappears.
• Fig. 1 schematically represents a perspective of the basic device according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 schematically shows in plan a rotation and drive device according to the present invention
• FIG. 3 shows a schematic section, called B on the
• FIG. 2 rolling and locking devices which. allow rotation, while ensuring the wind resistance of the mobile device
• Fig. 4 represents a schematic section of the mobile chassis
• FIG. 5 represents a schematic perspective of the principle of the device for concentrating by trough mirrors
• Fig. 6 represents an axono-etric perspective of the mobile chassis fitted with panels and the device for concentration mirrors
• Fig. 7 shows a diagram in the form of blocks which shows the various command and control elements of the device according to the present invention.
• 1 represents the solar panels associated in the same plane and fixed on a frame not shown
• 2 represents the symmetrical hull of the plane of the panels
• 3 represents a rectangular base made up of two beams 4 and 5 and two crosspieces 6 and 7, the other crosspieces are not shown
• 8 represents the vent through which the air located under the chassis and the hull can escape
• A represents A 'represent the axis of rotation of the mobile system
• 9 represents a band bearing
• 12 represents the base on which the system rests.
• the hull 7 has a rectangular shape identical to that of the set of panels and is symmetrical with this set with respect to the 'axis A, A'.
• this hull a different shape, for example a wider one, which increases the distance from the beam 4 to the axis A, A ' , or curved, provided that the vent 7 remains in the form shown in FIG. 1 and that the lower part 10 of the hull is at the same distance from the upper plane of the base 12 as the lower part 11 of all the panels, this distance being of the same order as the width of the vent 8.
• FIG. 2 The connecting element between the rectangular base 3 and the tread 9 is not shown in FIG. 1 but in FIG. 2.
• FIG. 2 is shown the rectangular base 3 with its two longitudinal members 4 and 5 and its two spacers 6 and 7 and in dotted lines the superstructure composed of all the solar panels and the hull.
• the rectangular base rests on a cruciform structure 13 which moves it away from the base 12.
• This structure 13 comprises in its middle a cylindrical part 14 crossed in its center by an axis 15 fixed on the base 12, so that it can rotate freely around this axis and thus ensure the centering of the movable part without supporting the weight. From this cylindrical part leave four arms 16, 17, 18, 19 which support the side members 4 and 5 and are terminated by rolling and locking elements 20, 21, 22, 23 whose structure is shown (section B) on the Fig.
• a spacer 24 carries a motor 25 which drives a caster 26 fixed on a shaft 27, which is connected to the motor rotor by a speed reduction box, not shown.
• the caster 26 rests on the tread 9 and ensures, by friction or by means of a rack, the rotation of the mobile part.
• An angle sensor not shown, connected on the one hand to the cylindrical part 14 and, on the other hand, to the axis 15, translated in the form of an electrical, analog or digital signal, the angle that the moving part does with an azimuthal direction chosen for origin (for the northern hemisphere, it will preferably be the north direction, for the southern hemisphere, the south direction), this type of sensor is well known to man art and there is a wide variety.
• a torque sensor can advantageously be interposed between the motor 25 and the spacer 24, so that, if too great a horizontal force perpendicular to the axis 27 is applied
• the torque sensor triggers an electrical signal which blocks the moving part.
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic section, along B, of the rolling and locking elements 20, 2_T, 22, 23.
• the arm 18 carries at its end a mechanical part 27 consolidated by a spacer 20.
• This part 27 comprises in a first housing two free rollers 29 and 30, movable around the axes 31 and 32, these rollers enclose a metal ring 33 sufficiently thick to withstand the forces applied to it by the rollers 29 and 30.
• the ring 33 is fixed to a circular support 34, which is fixed on the base 12, the circular support 34 and the base 12 being advantageously made of reinforced concrete.
• the crown 33 constitutes, with the circular support 34 to which it is securely fixed, the tread 9.
• An electro-mechanical device 35 implements a brake shoe 36, either to remove the contact between the brake shoe 36 and the crown 33, that is to apply the shoe 36 on the crown 33 with sufficient force to prevent any rotational movement of the movable assembly around the axis 15, thus achieving the locking device.
• the rollers 29 and 30 roll freely on the crown 33, the four upper rollers 29 35 support the weight of the mobile part, the four lower rollers 30 intervene in the case where, by the effect of the wind, one or two of the elements of bearing 20, 21, 22 and 23 would have tendency to lift. In addition, they exert the counterforce necessary for the pressure of the pad 36.
• Fig. 4 there is shown a schematic section of the superstructure of the mobile part, there we recognize the side members 4 and 5 belonging to the rectangular base 3 (Fig. 1 and 2).
• the chassis is made up substantially like a roof structure comprising rafters 45 and 45 'supported by struts 46 and 46' and joined at the top by a recess 37 clearing the vent 44.
• Breakdowns 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43 support the solar panels 1 and the hull 2.
• the arrows FI, F2 on the left side of the figure correspond to the direction of the incident light, the vertical arrows F3, F4 at the top of the frame indicate the direction of the air circulation.
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragment of all the solar panels fitted with concentration mirrors.
• two panels 47, 48, the rectangular mirrors 49, 50 relate to the panel 48.
• the lower sides 53, 54 of these mirrors bear on the panel 48, at the limit of the active part of the panel.
• photovoltaic or thermal solar panels always have, for construction reasons, margins 55 which do not contribute to their function, these margins occupy approximately 15% of their width, it is therefore unnecessary to light them, and the structure conforms to the present invention allows an appreciable gain in surface area for all of the panels.
• the mirrors 49 and 50 reflect sunlight so that the reflected beam covers the entire active surface of the panel 48, when the angle D, defined above, is less than a value chosen by the manufacturer.
• D was zero, so that a ray 51, striking the mirror 50 on its upper side, has a reflection 52 which strikes the useful part of the panel 48 at its limit 53 -
• Dm_ ⁇ 0 Dm_ ⁇ 0
• the mirrors 49 and 50 can be produced with very diverse materials. However, for the photovoltaic use which is the main application of the present invention, they will preferably consist of aluminized plastic sheets which guarantee a reflectivity of at least 80% and which, in the event of deterioration, can be replaced easily. For this, each alignment of mirrors will rest on a support, not shown in FIG. 5, built according to the rules of the art, so that it is easy to fix the mirrors and to replace them.
• the gain in surface obtained substantially compensates for the losses by reflectivity due when using mirrors, so that, for the same area of contiguous panels or panels with mirrors arranged according to FIG. 5, the usable power is the same in direct light, the savings on panels being around 30%.
• Fig. 6 shows the general appearance of the upper chassis provided with 20 panels 48 and mirrors 49. The hull which is behind the chassis is not shown; on the other hand, we see at the right end of the chassis the obturation panel 56 which prevents the penetration of the wind at the end of the dihedral formed by the assembly of the panels and the bottom 25
• 57 represents the angle sensor
• 58 the torque sensor
• 59 an engine control member 61
• 60 a member for processing angular information
• 62 a member triggering in the event of excessive torque the blocking of the rotation by means of the blocking device 63, 64 a sun direction sensor.
• Two types of tracking of the sun in azimuth can be envisaged, either using the astronomical data which make it possible to calculate the azimuth of the sun at all times, or implementing a direct method of aiming the sun in azimuth by a sensor designed for effect.
• olution which consists in calculating the azimuth of the sun at all times, requires a clock and a calculator into which the geographic data of the place and the astronomical constants are entered.
• the sensor 64 is not used, the organ 60 includes the clock and the azimuth calculator; this azimuth is compared by the comparator 59 to the real azimuth given by the angle sensor 57 and, according to the sign of the difference between these two values, the motor 61 is started in one direction or in the other until the two values supplied by 57 and 60 are equal to each other, with a tolerance determined in advance.
• a device is well known and those skilled in the art can make a certain number of improvements or variants.
• Another solution consists in having a sensor 64.
• this sensor preferably of the "drop shadow” type, is, in the field of the present invention, limited to the sole pursuit in azimuth.
• the sensor 64 then sends two analog signals to the member 60, signals whose difference depends on the difference in azimuth between the sun and the sensor, and the sum of which makes it possible to know whether the sun is shining or not. If the sun is shining, the member 60 is content to transmit to the member 59, after shaping, the direction of rotation that the member 59 must transmit to the motor 61, as long as the difference between the analog signals is less to a certain value depending on the desired tolerance for the error on the viewing angle.
• the angular information processing unit 60 in the case of the use of a sun direction sensor, always comprises a clock and has in memory a certain number, two for example, of azimuth values which are waiting positions for the panels and consequently the sensor 64, these positions being such, in the absence of direct sun, that if the sun shines again, the sensor 64 can provide a correct signal to control the orientation of the panels .
• the processing unit 60 When the sun is clouded or when it is dark, the sum of the analog signals supplied by the sensor 64 becomes less than a certain threshold, the processing unit 60 then sends to the comparator 59 a signal indicating the value of the azimuth forecast for the time at which the operation takes place and, as in the previous case, the comparator actuates the motor 61, so that the angle sensor 57 displays the same value of the azimuth introduced.
• the viewing azimuth of the panels corresponds to the waiting position scheduled for the next sunrise.
• a blocking device in the event of wind, swirling or irregular, producing on the mobile part a torque with vertical axis.
• the torque detector 58 sends a signal to the blocking release member 62.
• This member on the one hand, actuates the locking device 63, on the other hand hand, inhibits the member 59 which stops the motor 61 or prevents it from starting. The mobile part thus remains blocked until a new intervention reactivates the member 62.
• the member 62 includes a clock which automatically ensures this reactivation after a certain period, even if after a possibly very short time, the blocking process takes place again.
• the present invention can bring advantageous advantages in the use of planar thermal solar panels, the invention relates essentially to planar photovoltaic solar panels, whatever the technology used in the latter. ⁇
• the device according to the invention allows the use of a dihedral resistant to the wind and formed from a light frame.
• the device can thus reach a great length far exceeding the cruciform supporting structure as shown in FIG. 2.
• it is possible to obtain larger areas of energy capture than with the devices currently in use.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
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Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9287898

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (4)

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Citations (8)

• 1983
  • 1983-04-15 FR FR8306180A patent/FR2544551B1/fr not_active Expired
• 1984
  • 1984-04-10 CA CA000451615A patent/CA1255557A/fr not_active Expired
  • 1984-04-10 WO PCT/FR1984/000098 patent/WO1984004152A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1984-04-10 AU AU28128/84A patent/AU2812884A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1984-04-10 EP EP84901373A patent/EP0139691A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1984-04-13 IT IT20524/84A patent/IT1176040B/it active
  • 1984-04-13 GR GR74412A patent/GR81979B/el unknown
  • 1984-04-13 OA OA58277A patent/OA07704A/xx unknown
  • 1984-04-13 ES ES531612A patent/ES8602303A1/es not_active Expired
  • 1984-07-10 IN IN562/DEL/84A patent/IN160784B/en unknown

Patent Citations (8)

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