WO2014175803A1 - Solar panel support structure & method - Google Patents

Solar panel support structure & method Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014175803A1
WO2014175803A1 PCT/SE2014/050111 SE2014050111W WO2014175803A1 WO 2014175803 A1 WO2014175803 A1 WO 2014175803A1 SE 2014050111 W SE2014050111 W SE 2014050111W WO 2014175803 A1 WO2014175803 A1 WO 2014175803A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
solar panel
post
support structure
mounting device
cables
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2014/050111
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Håkan Nilsson
Original Assignee
Blue Systems Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Blue Systems Ab filed Critical Blue Systems Ab
Publication of WO2014175803A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014175803A1/en

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Classifications

    • 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
    • H02S20/10—Supporting structures directly fixed to the ground
    • 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
    • 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
    • F24S25/50—Arrangement of stationary mountings or supports for solar heat collector modules comprising elongate non-rigid elements, e.g. straps, wires or ropes
    • 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
    • F24S25/60—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S25/61—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules for fixing to the ground or to building structures
    • F24S25/617—Elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements; Connectors for connecting supporting structures to the ground or to flat horizontal surfaces
    • 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
    • F24S25/60—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S25/63—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules for fixing modules or their peripheral frames to supporting elements
    • 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
    • F24S25/60—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules
    • F24S25/65—Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules for coupling adjacent supporting elements, e.g. for connecting profiles together
    • 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

  • the present invention concerns a solar panel support structure.
  • the present invention also concerns a method for mounting at least one solar panel on such a solar panel support structure.
  • a solar panel is a collection of solar cells that are interconnected to achieve a higher voltage or current intensity.
  • the most common configuration for such interconnections is a framework, thereby constituting a solar panel.
  • a solar cell park often comprises a plurality of support structures that are usually constituted of a metal frame, such as an aluminium frame, on which a plurality of solar panels are mounted. These support structures must be constructed and anchored in the ground, and each solar panel must thereafter be mounted on the support structure. The construction of such a solar cell park can therefore be a time demanding process.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an improved solar panel support structure, and a method for mounting at least one solar panel on such a solar panel support structure.
  • a solar panel support structure that comprises at least two cables and at least one solar panel that is mounted on said at least two cables via at least one mounting device.
  • Said mounting device comprises a support element that extends between said at least two cables, and first fastening means for fastening said support element to said at least two cables, and a panel that is arranged to be fastened to said support element via second fastening means.
  • At least one edge of said at least one solar panel is arranged to lie against said support element and is clamped between said support element and said panel when said at least one solar panel is mounted on said solar panel support structure.
  • the word "clamped” is intended to mean that at least one edge of at least one solar panel is pressed and securely held between the support element and the panel.
  • the panel and support element namely constitute parts of a clamping device, which parts are brought together to compress and thereby press and hold at least one edge of at least one solar panel therebetween.
  • a solar panel support structure is simple and fast to construct and mount a plurality of solar panels thereon, which results in savings in both time and costs.
  • the solar panel support structure according to the present invention one does not need to consider a solar panel's size and/or thickness on mounting solar panels on the solar panel support structure.
  • the same mounting device can namely be used to mount a plurality of solar panels with different sizes and/or thicknesses on at least two cables.
  • One edge of a solar panel must only be clamped between a support element of the mounting device and a panel.
  • said mounting device is arranged to be fastened to said at least two cables when they are in a tensioned state.
  • the tension applied to the at least two cables can be at least 5 kN, at least 10 kN, at least 20 kN, at least 30 kN or higher when the solar panel support structure is in use, depending on the amount and the weight of the solar panels that are to be mounted thereon and on the wind and weather conditions where the solar panel support structure is to be mounted.
  • a tension can for example be achieved by using an anchor that is arranged to at least partly be located in the ground/underlying surface.
  • An anchor can be placed at the cables' start and end and the cables can be fastened to the anchor and be tensioned to the right tensioning force.
  • the word "cable” as it is used in this document can be a lead, a wire or a line, or a plurality or mixture of any suitable material(s), for example a steel line.
  • said support element comprises a first flange that is arranged to lie against a first end of said solar panel.
  • said support element comprises a second flange that is arranged to lie against a second end of a solar panel.
  • the length of said mounting device is arranged to be adjustable, whereby the distance between said first flange and said second flange is adjustable.
  • said first fastening means is the same as said second fastening means. Alternatively, said first fastening means is not the same as said second fastening means.
  • said at least two cables are arranged to extend substantially parallel and said mounting device is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to said at least two cables.
  • said mounting device comprises at least one hole, and said first fastening means is arranged to extend around a cable and said at least one hole in the mounting device.
  • said support element and/or said panel of the mounting device comprise(s) said at least one hole.
  • said first and/or second fastening means comprise(s) at least one U-shaped bolt.
  • said at least one solar panel is arranged to have a curved surface when it is mounted on said solar panel support structure.
  • a flexible solar panel can namely be bent in order to increase its stiffness and be mounted on the solar panel support structure in a curved state.
  • said mounting device is arranged to be fastened to said at least two cables when they are in a tensioned state.
  • the solar panel support structure comprises a plurality of posts arranged at a distance from each other and a plurality of post-anchoring-blocks, whereby said at least two cables are arranged on said plurality of posts arranged at a distance from each other.
  • Each post-anchoring-block comprises at least one opening for receiving a part of the at least one post, such as an end or a flange of a post, and fastening components to fasten said part of the at least one post to said post-anchoring-block.
  • a post-anchoring-block can comprise concrete, steel, sand or any other material, which material constitutes a weight that holds said posts in place and counteracts forces that could tip over, or lift up the solar panel support structure.
  • said at least one opening is arranged to extend through the whole post-anchoring-block and a part of said at least one post is arranged to extend through the whole post-anchoring-block and down into the ground or other underlying surface under the post-anchoring-block.
  • a part of a post can for example be arranged to extend 10-50 cm under the ground or other underlying surface before it is fastened to the post-anchoring-block.
  • the weight of the post-anchoring-block and the length that a post extends down into the ground or other underlying surface can be selected depending on the weight of the solar panel support structure and the solar panels, and on the wind and weather conditions where the solar panel support structure is to be mounted, i.e.
  • a post-anchoring-block does not necessarily need to have a uniform thickness.
  • the thickness of a post-anchoring-block can vary, for example in order to even out irregularities in the ground or the underlying surface.
  • the length of the at least one post of said plurality of posts is arranged to be adjustable.
  • the post can for example comprise extendable telescopic rails.
  • the solar panel support structure comprises at least one fastener that is arranged to fasten said part of at least one post to said post-anchoring-block in order to create a fastening joint, whereby said at least one fastener comprises a part whose maximum transverse dimension is greater than the maximum transverse dimension of said opening of said post-anchoring-block, which part is arranged to lie against a surface of said post-anchoring-block when said at least one fastener fastens said part of at least one post to said post-anchoring-block.
  • the fastener's diameter is greater than the opening's diameter. It should however be noted that both the fastener and the opening of the post anchoring block can have any cross sectional geometry.
  • a post-anchoring-block, or “base plate”, at least one post and the fastener such as is described in this patent document could be used to anchor at least one part of any structure and not only a solar panel support structure, or a solar panel support structure according to the present invention.
  • such a post-anchoring- block could be used to anchor at least a part of a civil engineering construction, such as a road, a safety fence, a railway, a bridge, a tunnel, a harbour, a jetty, a ferry berth, a canal, a lock, a monument, a lighthouse, an airport, a fence, a fortification, a building, a portal, a lamp post, a sign, such as a road sign, a flagpole, a renewable energy construction, or a floating or non-floating platform for a wind energy installation for example, or any other structure that comprises at least one post that must be anchored in the ground or another underlying surface.
  • a civil engineering construction such as a road, a safety fence, a railway, a bridge, a tunnel, a harbour, a jetty, a ferry berth, a canal, a lock, a monument, a lighthouse, an airport, a fence, a fortification, a
  • two adjacent solar panels are arranged to be mounted on a mounting device.
  • said first and/or second fastening means is/are arranged between said two adjacent solar panels.
  • the present invention also concerns a method for mounting at least one solar panel on a solar panel support structure according to the present invention.
  • the solar panel support structure comprises at least two cables, via at least one mounting device.
  • Said mounting device comprises a support element that extends between said at least two cables.
  • the method comprises the steps of fastening said support element to said at least two cables with first fastening means, and fastening a panel to said support element via second fastening means, whereby one edge of said at least one solar panel is placed between said support element and said panel so that said at least one solar panel is clamped between said support element and said panel.
  • said at least one solar pane is bent before one edge of said at least one solar panel is placed between said support element and said panel.
  • said support element comprises a first flange that is arranged to lie against a first end of said solar panel.
  • said support element comprises a second flange that is arranged to lie against a second end of a solar panel.
  • the length of said mounting device is arranged to be adjustable, whereby the distance between said first flange and said second flange is adjustable.
  • said first fastening means is the same as said second fastening means.
  • two adjacent solar panels are arranged to be mounted on a mounting device.
  • said first and/or second fastening means is/are arranged between said two adjacent solar panels.
  • said at least two cables are arranged to extend substantially parallel and said mounting device is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to said at least two cables.
  • said mounting device comprises at least one hole, and said fastening means is arranged to extend around a cable and said at least one hole in the mounting device.
  • said support element and/or said panel of the mounting device comprise(s) said at least one hole.
  • said first and/or second fastening means comprise(s) at least en U-shaped bolt.
  • FIG. 3 shows a solar panel mounted on a solar panel support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS 4 & 5 show a mounting device of a solar panel support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 6 & 7 show a solar panel support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention which comprises strengthening blocks
  • Figure 8 shows fastening means that can be used to clamp a post against an anchoring block 32 according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 9 shows a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a part of a solar panel support structure 10 that comprises two parallel horizontal tensioned cables 12, such as steel lines, and a plurality of solar panels 14 that are mounted on the two tensioned cables 14 via a plurality of mounting devices 16.
  • the solar panel support structure 10 also comprises an anchor 18 that has been buried below ground level 20 to tension the cables 12 which are arranged on a plurality of posts arranged at a distance from each other 22 and intended to be anchored substantially vertically in the ground or another underlying surface with or without some sort of post anchoring means.
  • the cables 12 are fastened to the posts 22 and to the anchor and are tensioned to the right tensioning force preferably, but not necessarily, before the solar panels 14 are mounted thereon.
  • the anchor 18 comprises at least one surface that is intended to at least partly be covered with material so that the weight of this material that acts on said at least one surface gives the anchor 18 the capacity to tension the cables 12. Any anchor or any other solution can however be used to tension the cables 12.
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a part of a solar panel support structure 10 according to an embodiment of the invention diagonally from the back. It should be noted that the mounting devices 16 can be arranged so that they do not extend past the outer edges of the solar panels or past the solar cells of the solar panels 14, but the mounting devices can have a vertical extension that is less than the vertical extension of the solar panels 14.
  • FIG 3 shows a solar panel 14 mounted on two tensioned cables 12 from the side.
  • the cables 12 are held up by a plurality of posts 22.
  • a solar panel 14 can be arranged at any suitable angle, ⁇ .
  • the angle ⁇ can be any angle from 0-90° or more depending on where the solar panel support structure 10 shall be mounted, whereby the angle ⁇ is measured in relation to a plane parallel to the horizontal plane.
  • Figures 4 and 5 show a mounting device 16 that comprises a support element 24 that is arranged to extend between at least two cables 12.
  • the support element 24 can for example have a length of 70-200 cm, a width of 5-10 cm and a thickness of 1-5 cm.
  • the support element 24 comprises a first flange 25 that is arranged to lie against a first end of a solar panel 14. Such a first flange 25 can for example bear the weight of a solar panel 14 that is mounted on the solar panel support structure 10 at an angle ⁇ greater than 0°.
  • the support element 24 also comprises a second flange 27 that is arranged to lie against a second end of the solar panel 14. These flanges 25 and 27 prevent the solar panel 14 from moving when it is mounted on the solar panel support structure 10.
  • the mounting device 16 can be arranged to be adjustable, whereby the distance between the first flange 25 and the second flange 27 is adjustable in order to accommodate solar panels 14 of different sizes.
  • the support element 24 can for example comprise extendable telescopic rails. It should be noted that the support element 24 and the panel 28 do not necessarily need to be a continuous flat surface but can have any form and can for example be constituted of at least one panel, grid, beam or some other component, and comprise metal, plastic, composite material or any other material(s).
  • the solar cells 14 can also be of any shape and size and often weigh between 9-20 kg.
  • the mounting device 16 comprises first fastening means 26, two U-shaped bolts in the illustrated embodiment, in order to fasten said support element 24 to said at least two cables 12.
  • the mounting device 16 also comprises two panels 28 that are arranged to be fastened to said support element 24 via said U-shaped bolts, i.e. the same fastening means 26 is used in order to fasten the support element 24 to the cables 12 and the panels 28 to the support element 24.
  • a panel can for example have a length of 5-30 cm, a width of 5-15 cm and a thickness of 1-5 cm.
  • One edge of a solar panel 14 is arranged to lie against said support element 24 and is clamped between said support element 24 and said panel 28 when a solar panel is mounted on a solar panel support structure 10 according to the present invention.
  • the mounting device 16 comprises a plurality of holes 30 in both the support element 24 and in the panel 28.
  • Each U-shaped bolt 26 is arranged to extend around a cable 12 and through two holes 30 in the support surface 24 and two holes 30 in the panel 28.
  • the same fastening means 26 does not need to be used to fasten the support element 24 to the cables 12 and the panel 28 to the support element 24. If first fastening means 26 that are not the same as said second fastening means are used, the whole mounting device 16 does not need to be dismounted from the cables 12 if one wants to remove a solar panel 14 from the solar panel support structure 10 for maintenance or repair work. It is simpler to dismount a solar cell 14 from such a solar panel support structure 10 since only the panel 28 has to be loosened or removed in order to be able to remove the solar cell 10 from the mounting device 16.
  • At least one solar panel 14 can be arranged to have a curved surface when it is mounted on said solar panel support structure 10, i.e. the solar panel 14 is bent and placed in the mounting device in a curved state.
  • a flexible solar panel 14 can for example have a concave surface facing the sun/a light source.
  • a plurality of solar panels 14 can be mounted on a mounting device 16, for example two, three, four or more solar panels 14 can be mounted on the same mounting device 16.
  • Figure 6 shows a solar panel support structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention which comprises a plurality of posts 22 arranged at a distance from each other and two post-anchoring-blocks 32 in which the posts 22 are arranged in pairs.
  • the posts 22 that support a cable can be arranged 2-10 m from each other, or preferably 3-5 meters from each other, or most preferably 4 m from each other.
  • the solar panel support structure's two cables 12 are arranged on the posts 22.
  • the cables 12 are tensioned to the posts 22 with a certain friction so that the cables 12 do not only lie against the posts 22.
  • Each post-anchoring-block 32 comprises at least one opening for receiving a part of at least one post 22, such as one end or a flange of a post 22.
  • each post-anchoring-block 32 comprises two openings on its upper side and an end of the respective post 22 is arranged in the respective openings.
  • each post-anchoring-block 32 anchors two posts 22 that support two different cables 12.
  • a post-anchoring-block 32 can however be arranged to support a plurality of posts 22 that support the same cable 12. It should be noted that not all of the posts necessarily need to be arranged in post-anchoring-blocks 32.
  • the solar panel support structure 10 also comprises fastening components, such as one or more screws or some other clamping device (not shown) in order to fasten a part of the posts 22 to the post-anchoring-block 32.
  • the post-anchoring-blocks 32 can comprise concrete, steel, sand or any other material which constitutes a weight that holds the anchoring block 32 in place.
  • the weight and dimensions of post-anchoring-blocks 32 can be selected depending on the weight and dimensions of the solar panel support structure 10 and the solar panels 14 and the location where the solar panel support structure 10 is mounted, and the wind and weather conditions where it is to be mounted, i.e. depending on how much wind, rain or snow there is in the location where the solar panel support structure 10 stands.
  • the post- anchoring-blocks 32 can have any form and a post-anchoring-block 32 can be used to anchor one or more posts 22.
  • the length of the at least one post 22 of said plurality of posts 22 is arranged to be adjustable.
  • the post can for example comprise extendable telescopic rails.
  • one of the post parts 22a and 22b includes a number of holes (i.e. one or more holes) which are aligned with one or more holes in the other of the post parts 22b and 22a and then fastened thereto in order to achieve the desired length of the post 22.
  • Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention where said at least one opening in a post-anchoring-block 32 of the solar panel support structure 10, such as the one that is shown in figure 6, is arranged to extend through the whole post-anchoring-block 32 and a part 22c of at least one post 22 is arranged to extend through the whole of the anchoring block 32 and down into the ground or other underlying surface under the post-anchoring- block 32.
  • a part 22c of a post 22 can for example be arranged to extend 10-50 cm down into the ground 20 or other underlying surface, i.e. 10-50 cm below ground level 20, or any other desired distance, before the post 22 is fastened to the post-anchoring-block 32.
  • the length that said del 22c of a post 22 extends under the ground or other underlying surface, i.e. below ground- or underlying surface-level 20 can be selected depending on the weight of the solar panel support structure 10 and the solar panels, and on the location where the solar panel support structure 10 is mounted and the wind and weather conditions where it is to be mounted.
  • Figure 7 shows a fastener 34 that is arranged to be driven into the openings in a post- anchoring-block 32 and a post 22 and fasten the post 22 to said post-anchoring-block 32.
  • the fastener 34 is also shown in figure 8.
  • the fasteners 34 are arranged to fasten a part of at least one post 22 to a post-anchoring- block 32, for example by clamping or tensioning and hold said post part against the post- anchoring-block 32 in order to create a fastening joint.
  • the fastener 34 comprises a (wider) part 34a whose maximum transverse dimension is greater than the maximum transverse dimension of an opening of a post-anchoring-block 32, and another (narrower) part 34b whose maximum transverse dimension is substantially the same as the maximum transverse dimension of an opening of a post-anchoring-block 32, which opening shall receive said narrower part del 34b.
  • the narrower part 34a has a circular cross section and the wider part 34b has a square cross section. It should be noted that both parts 34a and 34b can have any cross section.
  • the narrower part 34a is arranged to be driven into a circular opening of a post- anchoring-block 32, which opening has substantially the same diameter as the narrower part 34a.
  • a side of the wider part 34b is arranged to lie against a corresponding surface of a post-anchoring-block 32 when the narrower part 34b has been driven into the opening of the post-anchoring-block 32.
  • the fastener 34 is held in place using a nut 34c in the illustrated embodiment.
  • the nut 34c is namely screwed on an end of the narrower part 34b when it has been driven through the post-anchoring-block 32.
  • Figure 9 shows a method for mounting at least one solar panel on a solar panel support structure that comprises at least two cables via at least one mounting device that comprises a support element that extends between said at least two cables.
  • the cables can be tensioned or non-tensioned when at least one solar panel is mounted on the solar panel support structure.
  • the method comprises the steps of fastening said support element to said at least two cables with first fastening means, and fastening a panel to said support element via second fastening means, whereby one edge of said at least one solar panel is placed between said support element and said panel so that said at least one solar panel is clamped between said support element and said panel.
  • At least one solar panel can be placed between said support element and said panel before the panel is fixedly fastened to the support element.
  • a solar panel or a curved solar panel can be placed between said support element and said panel after the panel has been fixedly fastened to the support element.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Solar panel support structure (10) that comprises at least two cables (12) and at least one solar panel (14) that is mounted on said at least two cables (12) via at least one mounting device (16). Said mounting device (16) comprises a support element (24) that extends between said at least two cables (12), and first fastening means (26) for fastening said support element (24) to said at least two cables (12), and a panel (28) that is arranged to be fastened to said support element (24) via second fastening means. At least one edge of said at least one solar panel (14) is arranged to lie against said support element (24) and is clamped between said support element (24) and said panel (28) when said at least one solar panel (14) is mounted on said solar panel support structure (10).

Description

SOLAR PANEL SUPPORT STRUCTURE & METHOD
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention concerns a solar panel support structure. The present invention also concerns a method for mounting at least one solar panel on such a solar panel support structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A solar panel is a collection of solar cells that are interconnected to achieve a higher voltage or current intensity. The most common configuration for such interconnections is a framework, thereby constituting a solar panel.
A solar cell park often comprises a plurality of support structures that are usually constituted of a metal frame, such as an aluminium frame, on which a plurality of solar panels are mounted. These support structures must be constructed and anchored in the ground, and each solar panel must thereafter be mounted on the support structure. The construction of such a solar cell park can therefore be a time demanding process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved solar panel support structure, and a method for mounting at least one solar panel on such a solar panel support structure.
This object is achieved by a solar panel support structure that comprises at least two cables and at least one solar panel that is mounted on said at least two cables via at least one mounting device. Said mounting device comprises a support element that extends between said at least two cables, and first fastening means for fastening said support element to said at least two cables, and a panel that is arranged to be fastened to said support element via second fastening means. At least one edge of said at least one solar panel is arranged to lie against said support element and is clamped between said support element and said panel when said at least one solar panel is mounted on said solar panel support structure. The word "clamped" is intended to mean that at least one edge of at least one solar panel is pressed and securely held between the support element and the panel. The panel and support element namely constitute parts of a clamping device, which parts are brought together to compress and thereby press and hold at least one edge of at least one solar panel therebetween. Such a solar panel support structure is simple and fast to construct and mount a plurality of solar panels thereon, which results in savings in both time and costs.
In the solar panel support structure according to the present invention one does not need to consider a solar panel's size and/or thickness on mounting solar panels on the solar panel support structure. The same mounting device can namely be used to mount a plurality of solar panels with different sizes and/or thicknesses on at least two cables. One edge of a solar panel must only be clamped between a support element of the mounting device and a panel. According to an embodiment of the invention said mounting device is arranged to be fastened to said at least two cables when they are in a tensioned state. The tension applied to the at least two cables can be at least 5 kN, at least 10 kN, at least 20 kN, at least 30 kN or higher when the solar panel support structure is in use, depending on the amount and the weight of the solar panels that are to be mounted thereon and on the wind and weather conditions where the solar panel support structure is to be mounted. Such a tension can for example be achieved by using an anchor that is arranged to at least partly be located in the ground/underlying surface. An anchor can be placed at the cables' start and end and the cables can be fastened to the anchor and be tensioned to the right tensioning force.
The word "cable" as it is used in this document can be a lead, a wire or a line, or a plurality or mixture of any suitable material(s), for example a steel line.
According to an embodiment of the invention said support element comprises a first flange that is arranged to lie against a first end of said solar panel.
According to another embodiment of the invention said support element comprises a second flange that is arranged to lie against a second end of a solar panel. According to a further embodiment of the invention the length of said mounting device is arranged to be adjustable, whereby the distance between said first flange and said second flange is adjustable. According to an embodiment of the invention said first fastening means is the same as said second fastening means. Alternatively, said first fastening means is not the same as said second fastening means.
According to another embodiment of the invention said at least two cables are arranged to extend substantially parallel and said mounting device is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to said at least two cables.
According to a further embodiment of the invention said mounting device comprises at least one hole, and said first fastening means is arranged to extend around a cable and said at least one hole in the mounting device.
According to an embodiment of the invention said support element and/or said panel of the mounting device comprise(s) said at least one hole. According to another embodiment of the invention said first and/or second fastening means comprise(s) at least one U-shaped bolt.
According to a further embodiment of the invention said at least one solar panel is arranged to have a curved surface when it is mounted on said solar panel support structure. A flexible solar panel can namely be bent in order to increase its stiffness and be mounted on the solar panel support structure in a curved state.
According to an embodiment of the invention said mounting device is arranged to be fastened to said at least two cables when they are in a tensioned state.
According to another embodiment of the invention the solar panel support structure comprises a plurality of posts arranged at a distance from each other and a plurality of post-anchoring-blocks, whereby said at least two cables are arranged on said plurality of posts arranged at a distance from each other. Each post-anchoring-block comprises at least one opening for receiving a part of the at least one post, such as an end or a flange of a post, and fastening components to fasten said part of the at least one post to said post-anchoring-block.
A post-anchoring-block can comprise concrete, steel, sand or any other material, which material constitutes a weight that holds said posts in place and counteracts forces that could tip over, or lift up the solar panel support structure.
According to a further embodiment of the invention said at least one opening is arranged to extend through the whole post-anchoring-block and a part of said at least one post is arranged to extend through the whole post-anchoring-block and down into the ground or other underlying surface under the post-anchoring-block. A part of a post can for example be arranged to extend 10-50 cm under the ground or other underlying surface before it is fastened to the post-anchoring-block. The weight of the post-anchoring-block and the length that a post extends down into the ground or other underlying surface can be selected depending on the weight of the solar panel support structure and the solar panels, and on the wind and weather conditions where the solar panel support structure is to be mounted, i.e. depending on how much wind, rain or snow there is in the location where the solar panel support structure stands. A post-anchoring-block does not necessarily need to have a uniform thickness. The thickness of a post-anchoring-block can vary, for example in order to even out irregularities in the ground or the underlying surface.
According to an embodiment of the invention the length of the at least one post of said plurality of posts is arranged to be adjustable. The post can for example comprise extendable telescopic rails.
According to another embodiment of the invention the solar panel support structure comprises at least one fastener that is arranged to fasten said part of at least one post to said post-anchoring-block in order to create a fastening joint, whereby said at least one fastener comprises a part whose maximum transverse dimension is greater than the maximum transverse dimension of said opening of said post-anchoring-block, which part is arranged to lie against a surface of said post-anchoring-block when said at least one fastener fastens said part of at least one post to said post-anchoring-block. The following can be mentioned as an example; if said part of the fastener and said opening has a circular cross section, the fastener's diameter is greater than the opening's diameter. It should however be noted that both the fastener and the opening of the post anchoring block can have any cross sectional geometry.
It should be noted that a post-anchoring-block, or "base plate", at least one post and the fastener such as is described in this patent document could be used to anchor at least one part of any structure and not only a solar panel support structure, or a solar panel support structure according to the present invention. For example, such a post-anchoring- block could be used to anchor at least a part of a civil engineering construction, such as a road, a safety fence, a railway, a bridge, a tunnel, a harbour, a jetty, a ferry berth, a canal, a lock, a monument, a lighthouse, an airport, a fence, a fortification, a building, a portal, a lamp post, a sign, such as a road sign, a flagpole, a renewable energy construction, or a floating or non-floating platform for a wind energy installation for example, or any other structure that comprises at least one post that must be anchored in the ground or another underlying surface.
According to another embodiment of the invention two adjacent solar panels are arranged to be mounted on a mounting device.
According to a further embodiment of the invention said first and/or second fastening means is/are arranged between said two adjacent solar panels.
The present invention also concerns a method for mounting at least one solar panel on a solar panel support structure according to the present invention. The solar panel support structure comprises at least two cables, via at least one mounting device. Said mounting device comprises a support element that extends between said at least two cables. The method comprises the steps of fastening said support element to said at least two cables with first fastening means, and fastening a panel to said support element via second fastening means, whereby one edge of said at least one solar panel is placed between said support element and said panel so that said at least one solar panel is clamped between said support element and said panel.
According to an embodiment of the invention said at least one solar pane is bent before one edge of said at least one solar panel is placed between said support element and said panel. According to another embodiment of the invention said support element comprises a first flange that is arranged to lie against a first end of said solar panel.
According to a further embodiment of the invention said support element comprises a second flange that is arranged to lie against a second end of a solar panel.
According to an embodiment of the invention the length of said mounting device is arranged to be adjustable, whereby the distance between said first flange and said second flange is adjustable.
According to another embodiment of the invention said first fastening means is the same as said second fastening means.
According to a further embodiment of the invention two adjacent solar panels are arranged to be mounted on a mounting device.
According to an embodiment of the invention said first and/or second fastening means is/are arranged between said two adjacent solar panels. According to another embodiment of the invention said at least two cables are arranged to extend substantially parallel and said mounting device is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to said at least two cables.
According to a further embodiment of the invention said mounting device comprises at least one hole, and said fastening means is arranged to extend around a cable and said at least one hole in the mounting device.
According to an embodiment of the invention said support element and/or said panel of the mounting device comprise(s) said at least one hole.
According to another embodiment of the invention said first and/or second fastening means comprise(s) at least en U-shaped bolt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying schematic figures, in which: Figures 1 & 2 show a solar panel support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 3 shows a solar panel mounted on a solar panel support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figures 4 & 5 show a mounting device of a solar panel support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figures 6 & 7 show a solar panel support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention which comprises strengthening blocks,
Figure 8 shows fastening means that can be used to clamp a post against an anchoring block 32 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
Figure 9 shows a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It should be noted that the drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale and that the dimensions of certain features may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity.
It should also be noted that a feature that is described in relation to one embodiment of the invention can be applied to any other embodiment of the invention if the description does not explicitly exclude this possibility.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows a part of a solar panel support structure 10 that comprises two parallel horizontal tensioned cables 12, such as steel lines, and a plurality of solar panels 14 that are mounted on the two tensioned cables 14 via a plurality of mounting devices 16. The solar panel support structure 10 also comprises an anchor 18 that has been buried below ground level 20 to tension the cables 12 which are arranged on a plurality of posts arranged at a distance from each other 22 and intended to be anchored substantially vertically in the ground or another underlying surface with or without some sort of post anchoring means. The cables 12 are fastened to the posts 22 and to the anchor and are tensioned to the right tensioning force preferably, but not necessarily, before the solar panels 14 are mounted thereon.
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the anchor 18 comprises at least one surface that is intended to at least partly be covered with material so that the weight of this material that acts on said at least one surface gives the anchor 18 the capacity to tension the cables 12. Any anchor or any other solution can however be used to tension the cables 12. Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a part of a solar panel support structure 10 according to an embodiment of the invention diagonally from the back. It should be noted that the mounting devices 16 can be arranged so that they do not extend past the outer edges of the solar panels or past the solar cells of the solar panels 14, but the mounting devices can have a vertical extension that is less than the vertical extension of the solar panels 14.
Figure 3 shows a solar panel 14 mounted on two tensioned cables 12 from the side. The cables 12 are held up by a plurality of posts 22. A solar panel 14 can be arranged at any suitable angle, Θ. The angle Θ can be any angle from 0-90° or more depending on where the solar panel support structure 10 shall be mounted, whereby the angle Θ is measured in relation to a plane parallel to the horizontal plane.
Figures 4 and 5 show a mounting device 16 that comprises a support element 24 that is arranged to extend between at least two cables 12. The support element 24 can for example have a length of 70-200 cm, a width of 5-10 cm and a thickness of 1-5 cm. The support element 24 comprises a first flange 25 that is arranged to lie against a first end of a solar panel 14. Such a first flange 25 can for example bear the weight of a solar panel 14 that is mounted on the solar panel support structure 10 at an angle Θ greater than 0°. The support element 24 also comprises a second flange 27 that is arranged to lie against a second end of the solar panel 14. These flanges 25 and 27 prevent the solar panel 14 from moving when it is mounted on the solar panel support structure 10. The mounting device 16 can be arranged to be adjustable, whereby the distance between the first flange 25 and the second flange 27 is adjustable in order to accommodate solar panels 14 of different sizes. The support element 24 can for example comprise extendable telescopic rails. It should be noted that the support element 24 and the panel 28 do not necessarily need to be a continuous flat surface but can have any form and can for example be constituted of at least one panel, grid, beam or some other component, and comprise metal, plastic, composite material or any other material(s). The solar cells 14 can also be of any shape and size and often weigh between 9-20 kg.
The mounting device 16 comprises first fastening means 26, two U-shaped bolts in the illustrated embodiment, in order to fasten said support element 24 to said at least two cables 12. The mounting device 16 also comprises two panels 28 that are arranged to be fastened to said support element 24 via said U-shaped bolts, i.e. the same fastening means 26 is used in order to fasten the support element 24 to the cables 12 and the panels 28 to the support element 24. A panel can for example have a length of 5-30 cm, a width of 5-15 cm and a thickness of 1-5 cm. One edge of a solar panel 14 is arranged to lie against said support element 24 and is clamped between said support element 24 and said panel 28 when a solar panel is mounted on a solar panel support structure 10 according to the present invention.
The mounting device 16 comprises a plurality of holes 30 in both the support element 24 and in the panel 28. Each U-shaped bolt 26 is arranged to extend around a cable 12 and through two holes 30 in the support surface 24 and two holes 30 in the panel 28.
It should be noted that the same fastening means 26 does not need to be used to fasten the support element 24 to the cables 12 and the panel 28 to the support element 24. If first fastening means 26 that are not the same as said second fastening means are used, the whole mounting device 16 does not need to be dismounted from the cables 12 if one wants to remove a solar panel 14 from the solar panel support structure 10 for maintenance or repair work. It is simpler to dismount a solar cell 14 from such a solar panel support structure 10 since only the panel 28 has to be loosened or removed in order to be able to remove the solar cell 10 from the mounting device 16.
According to an embodiment of the invention at least one solar panel 14 can be arranged to have a curved surface when it is mounted on said solar panel support structure 10, i.e. the solar panel 14 is bent and placed in the mounting device in a curved state. Such a flexible solar panel 14 can for example have a concave surface facing the sun/a light source. It should be noted that a plurality of solar panels 14 can be mounted on a mounting device 16, for example two, three, four or more solar panels 14 can be mounted on the same mounting device 16. Figure 6 shows a solar panel support structure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention which comprises a plurality of posts 22 arranged at a distance from each other and two post-anchoring-blocks 32 in which the posts 22 are arranged in pairs. The posts 22 that support a cable can be arranged 2-10 m from each other, or preferably 3-5 meters from each other, or most preferably 4 m from each other. The solar panel support structure's two cables 12 are arranged on the posts 22. The cables 12 are tensioned to the posts 22 with a certain friction so that the cables 12 do not only lie against the posts 22. Each post-anchoring-block 32 comprises at least one opening for receiving a part of at least one post 22, such as one end or a flange of a post 22. In the illustrated embodiment each post-anchoring-block 32 comprises two openings on its upper side and an end of the respective post 22 is arranged in the respective openings.
In the illustrated embodiment each post-anchoring-block 32 anchors two posts 22 that support two different cables 12. A post-anchoring-block 32 can however be arranged to support a plurality of posts 22 that support the same cable 12. It should be noted that not all of the posts necessarily need to be arranged in post-anchoring-blocks 32. The solar panel support structure 10 also comprises fastening components, such as one or more screws or some other clamping device (not shown) in order to fasten a part of the posts 22 to the post-anchoring-block 32. The post-anchoring-blocks 32 can comprise concrete, steel, sand or any other material which constitutes a weight that holds the anchoring block 32 in place. The weight and dimensions of post-anchoring-blocks 32 can be selected depending on the weight and dimensions of the solar panel support structure 10 and the solar panels 14 and the location where the solar panel support structure 10 is mounted, and the wind and weather conditions where it is to be mounted, i.e. depending on how much wind, rain or snow there is in the location where the solar panel support structure 10 stands. The post- anchoring-blocks 32 can have any form and a post-anchoring-block 32 can be used to anchor one or more posts 22. According to an embodiment of the invention the length of the at least one post 22 of said plurality of posts 22 is arranged to be adjustable. The post can for example comprise extendable telescopic rails. In the illustrated embodiment one of the post parts 22a and 22b includes a number of holes (i.e. one or more holes) which are aligned with one or more holes in the other of the post parts 22b and 22a and then fastened thereto in order to achieve the desired length of the post 22.
Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention where said at least one opening in a post-anchoring-block 32 of the solar panel support structure 10, such as the one that is shown in figure 6, is arranged to extend through the whole post-anchoring-block 32 and a part 22c of at least one post 22 is arranged to extend through the whole of the anchoring block 32 and down into the ground or other underlying surface under the post-anchoring- block 32. A part 22c of a post 22 can for example be arranged to extend 10-50 cm down into the ground 20 or other underlying surface, i.e. 10-50 cm below ground level 20, or any other desired distance, before the post 22 is fastened to the post-anchoring-block 32.
The length that said del 22c of a post 22 extends under the ground or other underlying surface, i.e. below ground- or underlying surface-level 20 can be selected depending on the weight of the solar panel support structure 10 and the solar panels, and on the location where the solar panel support structure 10 is mounted and the wind and weather conditions where it is to be mounted.
Figure 7 shows a fastener 34 that is arranged to be driven into the openings in a post- anchoring-block 32 and a post 22 and fasten the post 22 to said post-anchoring-block 32. The fastener 34 is also shown in figure 8.
The fasteners 34 are arranged to fasten a part of at least one post 22 to a post-anchoring- block 32, for example by clamping or tensioning and hold said post part against the post- anchoring-block 32 in order to create a fastening joint. The fastener 34 comprises a (wider) part 34a whose maximum transverse dimension is greater than the maximum transverse dimension of an opening of a post-anchoring-block 32, and another (narrower) part 34b whose maximum transverse dimension is substantially the same as the maximum transverse dimension of an opening of a post-anchoring-block 32, which opening shall receive said narrower part del 34b. In the illustrated embodiment the narrower part 34a has a circular cross section and the wider part 34b has a square cross section. It should be noted that both parts 34a and 34b can have any cross section.
The narrower part 34a is arranged to be driven into a circular opening of a post- anchoring-block 32, which opening has substantially the same diameter as the narrower part 34a. A side of the wider part 34b is arranged to lie against a corresponding surface of a post-anchoring-block 32 when the narrower part 34b has been driven into the opening of the post-anchoring-block 32. The fastener 34 is held in place using a nut 34c in the illustrated embodiment. The nut 34c is namely screwed on an end of the narrower part 34b when it has been driven through the post-anchoring-block 32. If/when the solar panel support structure 10 or the post 22 moves due to wind the wind and weather conditions, such a fastener 34 will prevent movement in a much better way than a common nut and bolt which do not comprise a stabilizing wider part 34a. Such a fastener will therefore not rust or become worn as quickly as a common nut and bolt, and will consequently have a longer lifetime.
Figure 9 shows a method for mounting at least one solar panel on a solar panel support structure that comprises at least two cables via at least one mounting device that comprises a support element that extends between said at least two cables. The cables can be tensioned or non-tensioned when at least one solar panel is mounted on the solar panel support structure. The method comprises the steps of fastening said support element to said at least two cables with first fastening means, and fastening a panel to said support element via second fastening means, whereby one edge of said at least one solar panel is placed between said support element and said panel so that said at least one solar panel is clamped between said support element and said panel. At least one solar panel can be placed between said support element and said panel before the panel is fixedly fastened to the support element. Alternatively, a solar panel or a curved solar panel can be placed between said support element and said panel after the panel has been fixedly fastened to the support element.
Several modifications of the invention are possible within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Solar panel support structure (10) that comprises at least two cables (12) and at least one solar panel (14) that is mounted on said at least two cables (12) via at least one mounting device (16), characterized in that said mounting device (16) comprises a support element (24) that extends between said at least two cables (12), and first fastening means (26) to fasten said support element (24) to said at least two cables (12), and a panel (28) that is arranged to be fastened to said support element (24) via second fastening means, whereby at least one edge of said at least one solar panel (14) is arranged to lie against said support element (24) and be clamped between said support element (24) and said panel (28) when said at least one solar panel (14) is mounted on said solar panel support structure (10).
2. Solar panel support structure (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said support element (24) comprises a first flange (25) that is arranged to lie against a first end of said solar panel (14).
3. Solar panel support structure (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said support element (24) comprises a second flange (27) that is arranged to lie against a second end of a solar panel (14).
4. Solar panel support structure (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the length of said mounting device (16) is arranged to be adjustable, whereby the distance between said first flange (25) and said second flange (27) is adjustable.
5. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first fastening means (26) is the same as said second fastening means.
6. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two cables (12) are arranged to extend substantially parallel, and said mounting device (16) is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to said at least two cables ( 2).
7. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mounting device (16) comprises at least one hole (30), and said first fastening means (26) is arranged to extend around a cable and said at least one hole (30) in the mounting device (16).
8. Solar panel support structure (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that said 5 support element (24) and/or said panel (28) of the mounting device (16) comprise(s) said at least one hole (30).
9. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and/or second fastening means comprise(s) at least one
10 U-shaped bolt.
10. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one solar panel (14) is arranged to have a curved surface when it is mounted on said solar panel support structure (10).
15
11. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said mounting device (16) is arranged to be fastened to said at least two cables (12) when they are in a tensioned state.
20 12. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of posts (22) arranged at a distance from each other and a plurality of post-anchoring-blocks (32), whereby said at least two cables (12) are arranged on said plurality of posts (22) arranged at a distance from each other, and that each post-anchoring-block (32) comprises at least one opening for receiving a
25 part of at least one post (22) and fastening components to fasten said part of the at least one post (22) to said post-anchoring-block (32).
13. Solar panel support structure (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that said at least one opening is arranged to extend through the whole post-anchoring-block
30 (32) and a part (22c) of said at least one post (22) is arranged to extend through the whole of the post-anchoring-block (32) and down into the ground or other underlying surface under the post-anchoring-block (32).
14. Solar panel support structure (10) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in 35 that the length of the at least one post (22) of said plurality of posts (22) is arranged to be adjustable.
15. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of claims 12-14, characterized in that it comprises at least one fastener (34) that is arranged to fasten said part of at least one post (22) to said post-anchoring-block (32) whereby said at least one fastener
5 (34) comprises a part (34a) whose maximum transverse dimension is greater than the maximum transverse dimension of said opening of said post-anchoring-block (32), which part (34a) is arranged to lie against a surface of said post-anchoring-block (32) when said at least one fastener (34) fastens said part of at least one post (22) to said post- anchoring-block (32).
10
16. Solar panel support structure (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that two adjacent solar panels (14) are arranged to be mounted on a mounting device (16).
15 17. Solar panel support structure (10) according to claim 16, characterized in that said first and/or second fastening means is/are arranged between said two adjacent solar panels (14).
18. Method for mounting at least one solar panel (14) on a solar panel support 20 structure (10) that comprises at least two cables (12) via at least one mounting device
(16), characterized in that said mounting device (16) comprises a support element (24) that extends between said at least two cables (12), and the method comprises the step of fastening said support element (24) to said at least two cables (12) with first fastening means (26), and fastening a panel (28) to said support element (24) via second fastening 25 means, whereby an edge of said at least one solar panel (14) is placed between said support element (24) and said panel (28) so that said at least one solar panel (14) is clamped between said support element (24) and said panel (28).
19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that said at least one solar panel 30 (14) is bent before an edge of said at least one solar panel (14) is placed between said support element (24) and said panel (28).
20. Method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that said support element (24) comprises a first flange (25) that is arranged to lie against a first end of said solar
35 panel (14).
21. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that said support element (24) comprises a second flange (27) that is arranged to lie against a second end of a solar panel (14).
5 22. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the length of said mounting device (16) is arranged to be adjustable, whereby the distance between said first flange (25) and said second flange (27) is adjustable.
23. Method according to any of claims 18-22, characterized in that said first 10 fastening means (26) is the same as said second fastening means.
24. Method according to any of claims 18-23, characterized in that two adjacent solar panels (14) are arranged to be mounted on a mounting device (16).
15 25. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that said first and/or second fastening means is/are arranged between said two adjacent solar panels (14) .
26. Method according to any of claims 18-25, characterized in that said at least two cables (12) are arranged to extend substantially parallel, and said mounting device (16) is
20 arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to said at least two cables (12).
27. Method according to any of claims 18-26, characterized in that said mounting device (16) comprises at least one hole (30), and said fastening means is arranged to extend around a cable and said at least one hole (30) in the mounting device (16).
25
28. Method according to claim 27, characterized in that said support element (24) and/or said panel (28) of the mounting device (16) comprise(s) said at least one hole (30).
29. Method according to any of claims 18-28, characterized in that said first and/or 30 second fastening means comprise(s) at least one U-shaped bolt.
30. Method according to any of claims 18-29, characterized in that said mounting device (16) is arranged to be fastened to said at least two cables (12) when they are in a tensioned state.
35
PCT/SE2014/050111 2013-04-22 2014-01-28 Solar panel support structure & method WO2014175803A1 (en)

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WO2019203710A1 (en) * 2018-04-19 2019-10-24 Blue Systems Ab Solar panel support structure, solar cell park & method
CN109560766A (en) * 2018-11-09 2019-04-02 苏州瑞得恩光能科技有限公司 A kind of robot dispatching method
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CN109560766B (en) * 2018-11-09 2020-05-22 苏州瑞得恩光能科技有限公司 Robot scheduling method
WO2022133189A1 (en) * 2020-12-18 2022-06-23 Preformed Line Products Co. Photovoltaic panel cable mount arrangement
WO2022133240A3 (en) * 2020-12-18 2022-07-28 Preformed Line Products Co. Mounting system for mounting a photovoltaic panel
GB2616570A (en) * 2020-12-18 2023-09-13 Preformed Line Products Co Mounting system for mounting a photovoltaic panel
GB2616761A (en) * 2020-12-18 2023-09-20 Preformed Line Products Co Photovoltaic panel cable mount arrangement
US11791761B2 (en) 2020-12-18 2023-10-17 Preformed Line Products Co. Photovoltaic panel cable mount arrangement
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