WO2009015221A2 - Rolling motion tracking solar assembly - Google Patents
Rolling motion tracking solar assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2009015221A2 WO2009015221A2 PCT/US2008/070912 US2008070912W WO2009015221A2 WO 2009015221 A2 WO2009015221 A2 WO 2009015221A2 US 2008070912 W US2008070912 W US 2008070912W WO 2009015221 A2 WO2009015221 A2 WO 2009015221A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- base
- support
- assembly
- assembly according
- orientation
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 45
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 claims description 22
- 239000004567 concrete Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 21
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 21
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011150 reinforced concrete Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241001061260 Emmelichthys struhsakeri Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000001413 cellular effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012552 review Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
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
-
- 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
- F24S30/48—Arrangements for moving or orienting solar heat collector modules for rotary movement with three or more rotation axes or with multiple degrees of freedom
-
- 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
-
- 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
- Y02B10/10—Photovoltaic [PV]
-
- 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
-
- 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
- Photovoltaic arrays are used for a variety of purposes, including as a utility interactive power system, a power supply for a remote or unmanned site, a cellular phone switch- site power supply, or a village power supply. These arrays can have a capacity from a few kilowatts to a hundred kilowatts or more, and are typically installed where there is a reasonably flat area with exposure to the sun for significant portions of the day.
- tracking solar collector systems have their solar panels, typically photovoltaic panels, in the form of rows supported on a torque tube that serves as an axis.
- a tracker drive system may be used to rotate or rock the rows about their tilt axes to keep the panels as square to the sun as possible.
- the rows are arranged with their axes disposed in a north-south direction, and the trackers gradually rotate the rows of panels throughout the day from an east- facing direction in the morning to a west- facing direction in the afternoon. The rows of panels are brought back to the east- facing orientation for the next day.
- One solar collector arrangement of this type is shown in Barker et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,924.
- each row of panels has its own drive mechanism.
- Other designs such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,058, 930, employ a single actuator to control multiple rows of solar panels.
- PV photovoltaic
- Other designs such as that shown in U.S. Patent No. 6,058, 930, employ a single actuator to control multiple rows of solar panels.
- Much work has been done in the design and evaluation of arrays of PV assemblies to minimize wind forces. See U.S. Patent Nos. 5,316,592; 5,505,788; 5,746,839; 6,061,978; 6,148,570; 6,495,750; 6,534,703; 6,501,013 and 6,570,084.
- a first example of a tracking solar assembly for use with a support surface, includes a base, a first support and a second support.
- a solar panel can be mounted to and supported by the base.
- the first support comprises a first curved, rolling surface fixed relative to the base.
- the first and second supports are engageable with the support surface.
- the first curved surface can be rolled along the support surface to move the base between first and second orientations.
- the base and any solar panel therewith has sufficient weight to be inherently stable and resist wind loads without securing the tracking solar assembly to the support surface.
- the tracking solar assembly has a weight and a center of gravity; the weight of the tracking solar assembly acts as a restoring force by virtue of the center of gravity becoming vertically misaligned with the pivot axis during said movement between the generally east- facing and generally west-facing orientations, such misalignment tending to cause the tracking solar assembly to move towards an equilibrium position with the center of gravity generally directly vertically aligned with the pivot axis.
- the invention further comprises means for at least periodically moving the base during a daylight period from the first orientation to the second orientation, the first and second orientations being generally east-facing and generally west-facing orientations respectively.
- the invention further comprises means for biasing the base to a chosen orientation at or between the first orientation and the second orientation, the first and second orientations being generally east-facing and generally west-facing orientations respectively.
- the base comprises an upper surface and open regions extending into the base from the upper surface; the solar panels can be mounted within the open regions spaced apart from the upper surface with the open regions acting as solar concentrators for the solar panels.
- a second example of a tracking solar assembly for use with a support surface, comprises a support assembly comprising a base and a base support.
- a solar panel is mounted to and supported by the base.
- the base support is placeable on the support surface without securement thereto so to support the base for movement of the base between first and second orientations.
- the base and the solar panel therewith have sufficient weight to be inherently stable and resist wind loads without securing the support assembly to the support surface.
- a third example of a tracking solar assembly comprises a support surface and a support assembly.
- the support assembly comprises a base, a first support and a second support.
- a solar panel can be mounted to and supported by the base.
- the first support is supportable by the support surface at a fixed position on the support surface.
- the first support comprises a first curved, rolling surface supporting and engaging the base.
- the first curved, rolling surface is fixed relative to the support surface.
- the second support is engageable with the support surface.
- the base is movable between first and second orientations as the first curved, rolling surface engages and rolls along the base.
- FIG. 1 is an overall view of an example of a tracking solar assembly viewed from the underside of the base;
- Fig. 2 is a partially exploded view of the assembly of Fig. 1 showing one solar panel spaced apart from the base;
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembly of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 4 is a side elevation will view of the assembly of Fig. 1 showing a drive line and a pulley connected to the base;
- Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the assembly of Fig. 4 showing the morning, noon and evening pivot axes shown in dashed lines;
- Fig. 6 is a simplified top plan view of a row of the tracking solar assemblies of Fig. 4 at a noontime orientation;
- Fig. 7 is a simplified side, South-facing view of the row of solar assemblies of Fig. 6 at the noontime orientation;
- Fig. 8 shows the rover of solar assemblies of Fig. 7 in a morning, East-facing orientation
- Figs. 9 and 10 are side and bottom plan views of a tracking solar assembly similar to that of Fig. 1 but including a linear weight drive used to change the center of gravity and thus change the East- West orientation to permit the assembly to follow the sun from morning to evening;
- FIGs. 11 and 12 illustrate an alternative to the assembly of Figs. 9 and 10 in which the center of gravity is changed using a pendulum type of driver;
- FIGS. 13 and 14 show another alternative to the assembly of Figs. 9 and 10 in which the center of gravity is changed using a liquid ballast assembly
- Fig. 15 is a top use similar to that of Fig. 3 but in which the lateral edges are not parallel but converge as they extend from the equatorial edge and towards the polar edge;
- Fig. 16 illustrates a further example using an extension at the polar edge, the extension having a curved outer edge acting as the curved rolling support;
- Fig. 17 shows an example summer to that of Fig. 16 but including both the polar edge extension of Fig. 16 and an equatorial edge extension, the curved, rolling surfaces of the extensions riding within tracks;
- Figs. 18 in 19 are top and side views showing example of a quasi-stable tracking solar assembly;
- Fig. 19A is a side view of an alternative to the quasi-stable tracking solar assembly of
- Fig. 20 is a partially exploded view of an alternative to the example of Figs. 1-5 with open regions formed in the base beneath the solar panels;
- Figs. 21 and 22 are bottom and top partially exploded views of a further alternative to the example of Figs. 1-5 in which the base has solar-concentrating open areas for each of the reduced-size solar panels;
- This invention relates to solar energy collection, and in particular to a rolling motion tracking solar assembly which can track the motion of the sun relative to the earth.
- the invention is more particularly directed to improvements in structure which provides inherent stability to effectively prevent wind loads from damaging the tracking solar assemblies.
- the invention applies to solar assemblies in which the solar panels include arrays of photovoltaic cells for generating electrical power, but the same principles can be applied to arrangements for solar heating, for example.
- Figs. 1-5 are several views of one example of a rolling motion tracking solar assembly 10 comprising broadly a solar panel support assembly 12 and at least one solar panel 14. Although a single solar panel 14 could be used with assembly 10, multiple solar panels 14 are shown in the various examples.
- Solar panel support assembly 12 includes a base 16 and a support leg 18 rigidly attached to and extending from the lower surface 20 of base 16. Solar panels 14 are mounted to the upper surface 21 of base 16.
- Support assembly 12 includes a first support 22 and a second support 24.
- base 16 is preferably made of reinforced concrete or some other heavy material.
- a base 16 having an upper surface 21 with a surface area of 160 square feet (14.9 square meters) may have the weight of about 4000 to 6000 pounds.
- the choice of weight to surface area will depend primarily on site conditions including the range of angular orientations, the shape of base 16 and expected wind speeds. If the wind speed were large enough to cause assembly 10 to pivot to a maximum east- facing or West- facing orientation, the weight of assembly 10 can be sufficient to prevent any further movement. That is, it is highly unlikely that under normal circumstances wind alone would be sufficient to flip assembly 10 over or otherwise move the assembly from its desired location.
- first support 22 comprises a first curved, rolling surface 26 formed along one end of base 16, while second support 24 comprises support leg 18 with a second curved, rolling support 28 at the distal end of support leg 18.
- second support 24 comprises support leg 18 with a second curved, rolling support 28 at the distal end of support leg 18.
- a joint could be used at either end of support leg 18 or along the length of support leg 18.
- rolling surface 26 and rolling support 28 are both supported by a support surface 30.
- Surface 30 will typically include prepared areas for contact with rolling surface 26 and rolling support 28.
- a strip of compacted gravel or concrete may be used to support rolling surface 26 while rolling support 28 could be supported by a concave bearing surface, such as a semi-spherical stainless steel cup supported within a concrete block or by a strip pad of compacted gravel.
- FIG. 1-5 solar assembly 10 has a centrally located center of gravity 34.
- Base 16 will typically be oriented with its longitudinal centerline 36 oriented on a polar axis.
- In the Northern Hemisphere rolling surface 26 is oriented towards the south while in the Southern Hemisphere rolling surface 26 is oriented to the north.
- the examples will be described as used in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Solar assembly 10 defines a moving instantaneous pivot axis.
- the instantaneous pivot axis extends from North pivot point 38, where rolling support 28 contacts support surface 30, and the location along first curved, rolling surface 26 which rests against support surface 30.
- Three such locations are identified in Figs. 2 and 5 as the morning South pivot point 40, the noon South pivot point 41 and the evening South pivot point 42 to define the morning pivot axis 44, the noon pivot axis 45 and the evening pivot axis 46.
- Assembly 10 is moved between the morning orientation, at which morning South pivot point 40 is contacting support surface 30, and evening South pivot point 42 by a drive assembly 48, an example of which is shown in simplified form in Fig. 6 and 7.
- Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a row 50 of solar assemblies 10 all being driven simultaneously by drive assembly 48.
- Drive assembly 48 includes drive lines 52 which engage guide pulleys 54 and connect adjacent solar assemblies 10 to one another.
- Drive assembly 48 also includes a driver 56 connected to a tracking solar assembly 57 at one end of a row 50 by a driver drive line 58.
- the tracking solar assembly 59 at the opposite end of row 50 is, in some examples, connected to a tension source 60, such as a spring, counterweight, et cetera, by a tension source drive line 62.
- a tension source 60 such as a spring, counterweight, et cetera
- each assembly 10 would tend to orient itself with center of gravity 34 vertically aligned with the pivot axis. As shown in Fig. 5, when a center of gravity 34 is aligned with centerline 36, this occurs when solar assembly 10 is it a noontime orientation with noon south pivot point 41 resting on support surface 30.
- driver 56 When assembly 10 is tilted one way or the other, that is towards its evening orientation or its morning orientation, a restoring force is created by virtue of the misalignment of center of gravity 34 with the instantaneous pivot axis.
- driver 56 pulls on driver drive line 58 thus causing the row of assemblies tend to simultaneously become oriented into the morning, east- facing orientation as shown in Fig. 8. In doing so driver 56 typically overcomes both the restoring force created by the weight of each assembly 10 and the force exerted by tension source 62. Movement of row 50 of assemblies 10 from the morning orientation of Fig.
- tension source 60 pulling on tension source drive line 62 and by the appropriate release of driver drive line 58 from driver 56 as the day progresses from morning to evening.
- driver 56 and tension source 60 can be reversed with driver 56 at the west end of row 50 and tension source 60 at the east end. Assuming tension source 60 does not require a power source, such an arrangement will allow row 50 of assemblies 10 to naturally return to their East facing orientations at the end of the day without the application of power to driver 56.
- tension source 60 may be a powered driver so that the amount of force exerted by tension source 60 on tension source drive line 62 can be controlled.
- the center of gravity be aligned with the instantaneous pivot axis at other than noontime, such as when in the morning orientation.
- weight can be added to, for example, lower surface 20 so that the center of gravity is aligned with morning pivot axis 44, or, the center of gravity could be modified by altering the geometry of the base 16 or the position of support leg 18. With driver 56 at the west end of row 50, this may eliminate the need for tension source 60, or at least reduce the amount of feree that must be exerted by tension source 60.
- Figs. 9-14 illustrate three examples of individually driven assemblies 10 by shifting the center of gravity of the assembly throughout day.
- Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a linear weight drive 66 mounted to lower surface 20 of assembly 10.
- Drive 66 includes a weight 68 threadably mounted to an East- West oriented threaded shaft or worm 70.
- Worm 70 is rotated by a worm drive 72 causing weight 68 to move laterally, that is an East- West direction. This causes assembly 10 to orient itself in the proper orientation for the maximum solar exposure.
- the control of worm drive can be by a variety of conventional or unconventional manners.
- control can be preprogrammed into worm drive 72 based on the time of day.
- Appropriate sun tracking devices can be used to control the operation of worm drive 72.
- a separate tracking device can be associated with each assembly 10 or a common tracking device can be used with information provided to each worm drive 72 through wires or wireless connections.
- the power to drive worm drives 72 can be obtained from solar panels 14.
- One solar panel 14 of each assembly 10 may be dedicated to powering worm drive 72.
- Figs. 11 and 12 show another example of an individually driven solar assembly 10.
- the example of Figs. 11 and 12 is a pendulum type in which weight 68 is mounted to one end of an arm 74.
- arm 74 is connected to a pendulum driver 76 secured to support leg 18 adjacent to lower surface 20.
- pendulum driver 76 causes arm 74 to rotate over a predetermined arc length thus moving weight 68 and changing the location of the center of gravity 34 tracking solar assembly 10.
- this causes rolling surface 26 to roll along support surface 30 to permit assembly 10 to follow the movement of the sun during the day.
- Fig. 13 and 14 illustrate a still further example of an individually driven solar assembly 10.
- a liquid ballast assembly 80 is secured to lower surface 20 and includes first and second bladders 82, 83, or other liquid containers, spaced apart from one another in an East- West orientation.
- Bladders 82, 83 are connected by a liquid line 84 which has a pump 86 situated along line 84. Pumping liquid back and forth between bladders 82, 83 changes the location of the center of gravity of assembly 10 thus permitting assembly 10 to track the movement of the sun from a morning orientation to an evening orientation.
- base 16 includes rolling surface 26 along equatorial edge 89 and parallel lateral edges 88 extending from edge 89 to polar edge 90.
- lateral edges 88 are not parallel but start to converge as they extend away from equatorial edge 89 and towards polar edge 90.
- This configuration provides several primary differences relative to the examples of Figs. 1-14.
- the maximum tilted orientation to the east or west can be greater with the example of Fig. 15 because of the converging lateral edges 88.
- the surface area towards polar edge 90 is less with the Fig. 15 example than with the earlier examples to help reduce wind resistance.
- the assembly can be configured to point to the NE in the morning and the NW in the afternoon, to improve the summer energy productivity.
- FIG. 16 illustrates a further example in which second support 24 comprises a polar end body extension 92 along polar edge 90.
- Body extension 92 has an outer curved edge acting as second, curved rolling support 28.
- Rolling support 28 extends between lateral edges 88.
- the Fig. 17 example is similar to the Fig. 16 example in that it includes a polar end body extension 92; however, first support 22 comprises an equatorial end body extension 94.
- Body extension 94 has an outer curved edge acting as first curved, rolling surface 26.
- Assemblies including body extensions 92, 94 might be useful when the assemblies are mounted on a roof; in such situations the curved outer edges of extensions 92, 94 may roll within or on tracks 95 as illustrated in Fig.
- any of the driven solar assemblies could be envisioned as a fixed-tilt (non-tracking) solar assembly but which might in high winds be caused to roll into a position that has lower wind loads than in the normal position.
- Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate an example of an assembly 10 in which base 16 is circular with a center of gravity 34 aligned with North pivot point 38 so that the pivot axis always passes through the center of gravity. This permits assembly 10 to be quasi-stable at any orientation. This configuration would reduce the amount of force necessary to tilt base 16.
- Fig. 19A illustrates an alternative embodiment of assembly 10 of Figs. 18 and 19. Assembly 10 of Fig. 19A is also quasi-stable and has a support leg 18 fixed to and extending from base 16.
- Fig. 20 illustrates an alternative to the example of Figs. 1-5. Assembly 10 of Fig. 20 has open regions 96 extending from upper surface 21 of base 16. Base 16 is typically made of concrete.
- Open regions 96 extend completely through base 16 in this example. Open regions 96 are sized and located to permit solar panels 14 to be mounted on upper surface 21 and overlie the open regions. This helps to keep solar panels 14 cool by allowing cooling air currents to contact the upper and lower surfaces of solar panels 14.
- Figs. 21 and 22 illustrate a further example in which base 16 has numerous solar- concentrating open regions 98 extending completely through base 16.
- Solar panels 14 are mounted at the bottom of open regions 98, typically by being secured directly to lower surface 20 of base 16.
- the sidewalls defining open regions 98 are configured to direct solar radiation onto solar panels 14 so to concentrate the solar radiation on the solar panels.
- air can freely circulate on both sides of solar panels 14 to help cool the solar panels and thus increase operating efficiencies.
- the open regions also can be used to reduce the weight of base 16 and the cost of the concrete from which it is typically made.
- Figs. 23-25 are directed to further examples in which a first support 22 is a component separate and apart from base 16.
- first support 22 is supported on support surface 30 and includes first, curved rolling surface 26.
- Rolling surface 26 contacts lower surface 20 of base 16 along equatorial edge 89.
- the example of Fig. 24 switches the locations of first and second supports 22, 24 relative to the example of Fig. 23.
- rolling surface 26 engages lower surface 20 of base 16 along polar edge 90.
- Fig. 25 illustrates an embodiment in which both the first and second supports 22, 24 are part of a single assembly 100.
- Assembly 100 includes a cylindrical base 102 having first curved, rolling surface 26 formed along its upper edge and a support leg 18 extending from its upper end.
- Rolling support 28 is formed at the end of support leg 18 and engages a semi-spherical opening 104 formed in lower surface 20 of base 16.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP08796492A EP2176888A2 (en) | 2007-07-24 | 2008-07-23 | Rolling motion tracking solar assembly |
JP2010518359A JP2010534820A (en) | 2007-07-24 | 2008-07-23 | Rolling tracking solar assembly |
AU2008279154A AU2008279154B2 (en) | 2007-07-24 | 2008-07-23 | Rolling motion tracking solar assembly |
CN2008801001199A CN101755342B (en) | 2007-07-24 | 2008-07-23 | Rolling motion tracking solar assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US95154807P | 2007-07-24 | 2007-07-24 | |
US60/951,548 | 2007-07-24 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2009015221A2 true WO2009015221A2 (en) | 2009-01-29 |
WO2009015221A3 WO2009015221A3 (en) | 2009-04-02 |
Family
ID=40282134
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2008/070912 WO2009015221A2 (en) | 2007-07-24 | 2008-07-23 | Rolling motion tracking solar assembly |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090025708A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2176888A2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2010534820A (en) |
KR (1) | KR101596052B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101755342B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2008279154B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009015221A2 (en) |
Cited By (2)
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WO2012152344A2 (en) | 2011-05-11 | 2012-11-15 | Contour-Track Gmbh | Alignment and/or tracking device for solar collectors |
EP2886974A1 (en) * | 2013-12-23 | 2015-06-24 | Qingsun Developpement SAS | Improved sun-tracking system for objects |
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US8274028B2 (en) * | 2008-02-27 | 2012-09-25 | Sunedison, Llc | Counterweighted active tracking solar panel rack |
US8256169B2 (en) | 2009-03-20 | 2012-09-04 | Northern States Metals Company | Support system for solar panels |
US8316590B2 (en) | 2009-03-20 | 2012-11-27 | Northern States Metals Company | Support system for solar panels |
US20100139741A1 (en) * | 2009-10-12 | 2010-06-10 | Wares Brian S | Frame-Integrated Pivot Bearing For Solar Collector Assembly |
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US8455806B2 (en) | 2010-01-18 | 2013-06-04 | Sunpower Corporation | Photovoltaic assembly for use in diffuse weather conditions and related methods |
US8839573B2 (en) | 2011-02-11 | 2014-09-23 | Northern States Metals Company | Spring clip |
WO2013010091A1 (en) * | 2011-07-13 | 2013-01-17 | A. Raymond Et Cie | Support for solar energy capture device |
US10158322B2 (en) * | 2012-09-13 | 2018-12-18 | Sunsaluter | Systems and methods for weight-based repositioning of solar energy collection devices |
US9466749B1 (en) | 2012-12-10 | 2016-10-11 | Nextracker Inc. | Balanced solar tracker clamp |
US9766319B2 (en) | 2012-12-10 | 2017-09-19 | Nextracker Inc. | Off-set drive assembly for solar tracker |
US10008975B2 (en) | 2012-12-10 | 2018-06-26 | Nextracker Inc. | Clamp assembly for solar tracker |
CN109713991B (en) | 2012-12-10 | 2020-05-29 | 耐克斯特拉克尔有限公司 | Tracker device |
US9347691B2 (en) | 2013-02-26 | 2016-05-24 | Solarcity Corporation | Torque Tube Mounted Photovoltaic Apparatus, System, and Method |
US9303663B2 (en) | 2013-04-11 | 2016-04-05 | Northern States Metals Company | Locking rail alignment system |
US9995506B2 (en) | 2013-10-20 | 2018-06-12 | Sulas Industries, Inc. | Cable drive system for solar tracking |
CN204597866U (en) * | 2014-09-17 | 2015-08-26 | 耐克斯特拉克尔有限公司 | Solar energy tracking equipment and the module fixture for solar tracking device torque tube |
CN114257163A (en) * | 2016-06-17 | 2022-03-29 | 力场能源有限责任公司 | Solar module mounting and support system |
US11283395B2 (en) | 2018-03-23 | 2022-03-22 | Nextracker Inc. | Multiple actuator system for solar tracker |
US11387771B2 (en) | 2018-06-07 | 2022-07-12 | Nextracker Llc | Helical actuator system for solar tracker |
CN109328760B (en) * | 2018-10-30 | 2020-12-11 | 倪萌蔚 | Three-dimensional planting greenhouse |
WO2020185271A1 (en) * | 2019-03-09 | 2020-09-17 | Palmer Darin | Rocking solar panel sun tracking mounting system |
US11050383B2 (en) | 2019-05-21 | 2021-06-29 | Nextracker Inc | Radial cam helix with 0 degree stow for solar tracker |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2010534820A (en) | 2010-11-11 |
AU2008279154A1 (en) | 2009-01-29 |
US20090025708A1 (en) | 2009-01-29 |
CN101755342B (en) | 2011-07-13 |
KR20100046028A (en) | 2010-05-04 |
KR101596052B1 (en) | 2016-02-19 |
AU2008279154B2 (en) | 2011-09-08 |
CN101755342A (en) | 2010-06-23 |
WO2009015221A3 (en) | 2009-04-02 |
EP2176888A2 (en) | 2010-04-21 |
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