WO2022010373A1

WO2022010373A1 - Floating module for photovoltaic panel

Info

Publication number: WO2022010373A1
Application number: PCT/RU2020/000340
Authority: WO
Inventors: Полина Игоревна ВАСИЛЕНКО; Алвес Марко Аурелио ДЕ АРАУХО
Original assignee: Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "ХелиоРэк"
Priority date: 2020-07-08
Filing date: 2020-07-10
Publication date: 2022-01-13
Also published as: RU2739876C1

Abstract

The invention relates to the production of renewable energy, more particularly to devices such as floating solar power plants, and even more particularly to a floating module on which a photovoltaic panel is placed. The claimed module for a photovoltaic panel is configured in the form of a single hollow structure and comprises a hollow base formed by lateral walls and a top wall, hollow supporting elements arranged on the base so as to form a single internal cavity with the base, and a photovoltaic panel arranged on the supporting elements. The module is designed to permit air to be discharged through a valve for controlling the height of the floating module. The single internal cavity is capable of being partially filled with water, which can be used as water ballast, and with air. The result achieved is an increase in the stability of the floating module with a photovoltaic panel on bodies of water.

Description

Floating module for photovoltaic panel

The field of technology to which the invention belongs

The present invention relates to the production of renewable energy, namely to devices such as floating solar power plants, and in particular to a floating module on which a photovoltaic panel is placed, which ensures that this structure is based on the water surface. These floating modules with a photovoltaic panel will be used to assemble the power plant.

State of the art

The document (WO 2012139998, H01L31/042, publ. 10/18/2012) discloses a floating structure, which itself is the attachment of solar panels. The device for supporting the photovoltaic panel consists of a sealed plastic shell forming a bottom wall, a top wall, and four side walls. The device contains a means for attaching the photovoltaic panel to the specified upper wall of the plastic shell.

The disadvantage of this analogue is the lack of a water ballast system in the floating module. A water-baplast system is required to increase the stability of the floating module, for use in waves or with water level changes and wind.

Also known from the prior art is a supporting structure for photovoltaic panels. US 20170201206 A1, B63B 35/44, publ. 08/14/2018. A supporting structure for photovoltaic generation on water is provided. The supporting structure includes at least one floating bracket. The floating bracket includes a floating platform and a plurality of support members provided on the top surface of the floating platform, a ventilation space is provided between at least two adjacent support members, whereby the plurality of support members is configured to secure the photovoltaic cell panel. The bottom surface of the photovoltaic panel is separated from the top surface of the floating platform.

The system is much more structurally complex and consists of several parts, while the HelioRack system consists of a single floating module that supports a photovoltaic panel, which allows building power plants of various geometries and fast assembly.

A support device for a photovoltaic panel is known from the prior art. (CN103597737 A, published on February 19, 2014). The support device for supporting the photovoltaic panel consists of a sealed plastic shell formed bottom wall, top wall and four side walls. The device contains a means for attaching the photovoltaic panel to the specified upper wall of the specified plastic shell.

A floating photovoltaic system is also known from the prior art. (WO2018157704 A1, published 09/07/2018). The floating photovoltaic system comprises a box floating on the surface of the water. A frameless photovoltaic assembly (3) is fixedly located on the upper surface of the floating box. The photovoltaic assembly is fixedly located on the protrusion of the floating box and is held by restrictive elements fixedly located on the upper surface of the floating box and distributed along the perimeter of the photovoltaic assembly.

Disclosure of the essence of the invention

The objective of the claimed technical solution is to create a floating module to support a photovoltaic panel and a floating solar power plant from the above modules, with the possibility of installation on the water surface and with the ability to withstand loads associated with sea amplitude waves, water level differences and wind, as well as the task of the claimed solution is the creation of floating modules that provide ease of transportation.

The technical result of the claimed invention is to increase the stability of a floating module with photovoltaic panels on water bodies, including water bodies, with the possibility of wave formation, due to stabilization by means of water ballast, and also consists in increasing the strength of the product.

The claimed technical result is achieved due to the fact that a floating module for a photovoltaic panel, containing a hollow base formed by the side and top walls, hollow supporting elements located on the base with the formation of a single internal cavity, a photovoltaic panel located on the supporting elements, while formed a single the internal cavity is made with the possibility of partial filling with water used as water ballast and air, wherein the module is made with the possibility of lowering and/or increasing the height of the floating module in the water surface by supplying or discharging air through the height control valve of the floating module. In a particular case of implementation of the claimed technical solution, the photovoltaic panel is located at an angle to the horizon.

In a particular case of the implementation of the claimed technical solution, it is equipped with four support elements located on the base with provision of ventilation space between them and with provision of a ventilation gap between the upper wall of the base and the back side of the photovoltaic panel.

In a particular case of implementing the claimed technical solution, the module is configured to be connected to at least one similar module to form a system of floating modules, with photovoltaic panels located on each floating module, connected by electric cables to a solar power plant, while the modules are interconnected through a track, at the same time, the extreme tracks formed by the system of floating modules are provided with anchor lines.

In a particular case of the implementation of the claimed technical solution, the additional side wall of the base is provided with a horizontal stiffening rib made along the lower edge of the said side wall.

In a particular case of implementation of the claimed technical solution, the support elements and the base are additionally provided with vertical stiffeners.

In a particular case of the implementation of the claimed technical solution, the support elements and the base are made in the form of polygons, while the corner faces of said polygons are chamfered.

In a particular case of implementation of the claimed technical solution, the height control valve of the floating module is installed either in the upper or in the lower part of the support element.

In a particular case of the implementation of the claimed technical solution, the module is connected to the track by means of quick-release hinged connecting elements.

In a particular case of the implementation of the claimed technical solution, the track is made with an internal cavity that provides positive buoyancy and is made in the form of a single structural element.

In a particular case of implementation of the claimed technical solution, the track is made with a corrugated upper surface.

In a particular case of the implementation of the claimed technical solution, the floating module is made from recycled secondary raw materials or is made from a mixture of primary and secondary raw materials or from primary raw materials, while the raw materials are polyethylene terephthalate, low-pressure polyethylene, high-pressure polyethylene, polypropylene.

In a particular case of the implementation of the claimed technical solution, the track is made from recycled secondary raw materials or is made from a mixture of primary and secondary raw materials, or from primary raw materials, while the raw materials are polyethylene terephthalate, low-pressure polyethylene, high-pressure polyethylene, polypropylene.

Unlike the above analogs, the claimed technical solution will ensure the stability of the floating module and the system of floating modules due to the design features without a bottom wall, with the possibility of partially filling the internal cavity with water used as water ballast and air, as well as through the use of automated or mechanical pump to control the height of the floating module. The claimed technical solution implies that the design of the floating module with a photovoltaic panel on it is in itself a floating system and is configured to control the height of the floating module above the water surface. The absence of the bottom wall in the claimed floating module allows you to increase the number of floating modules for transportation in a container, reduce the weight of the floating module.

Brief description of the drawings

Details, features, and advantages of the present invention follow from the following description of the embodiments of the claimed technical solution using the drawings, which show:

1 is a general view of the floating module connected to the track and with the installed photovoltaic panel;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the floating module connected to the track and with the installed photovoltaic panel;

Fig.Z - floating module, rear view. Without photovoltaic panel;

Figure 4 - floating module, side view. Without photovoltaic panel;

Fig.5 - View A and View B, marked in Fig.4;

Fig.6 - floating module, top view. Without photovoltaic panel;

Fig.7 - track for service;

Fig.8 - track for service;; a) top view; b) bottom view;

Fig.9 - connecting elements;

Fig.10 - fastening for anchor lines;

Fig.11 - connection of floating modules with tracks to form a system of floating modules;

12 is an example of a circuit diagram of a grid system of a 30kW solar power plant formed from photovoltaic panels placed on floating modules.

Fig.13 - General view of the floating module installed on the water surface and connected to the track, a) isometry; b) side view.

The figures indicate the following positions:

1 - track for maintenance of the power plant; 2 - fastening for installation of anchor lines with a standardized connection; 3 - connecting element;

4 - fastening brackets installed along the perimeter of the track and installed on each side of the floating module for fastening the system components to each other;

5 - mounts for photovoltaic panels; 6 - gap for cooling photovoltaic panels; 7 - pin connector for quick connection of service tracks and floating module; 8 - floating module height control valve; 9 - vertical wall of the floating module; 10 - photovoltaic panel, 11 - connector for connecting photovoltaic panels; 12 - angle of inclination of holders of photovoltaic panels; 13 - chamfer along the perimeter of the floating module for load distribution; 14 - spacers for photovoltaic panels; 15 - recess for installing anchor lines; 16 - corrugated surface of the service track; 17 - hollow construction of the track for maintenance; 18 - upper wall; 19 - supporting elements for a photovoltaic panel; 20 - horizontal stiffener; 21 - vertical stiffener; 22 - track stiffeners.

Implementation of the invention

Floating module for a photovoltaic panel, consisting of four supporting elements, which are hollow racks, located parallel to the base in the shape of a rectangle. The base of the floating module is made in the form of a vertical wall (9) closed into a rectangle. At the corners of the mentioned closed rectangle there are four hollow support elements (19). Between the supporting elements (19) along the upper edge of the vertical wall (9) there is an upper wall (18). Hollow supporting elements (19) are installed at a distance from each other, providing a ventilation space (6) between them. Hollow supporting elements (19) are made to rise above the upper wall (18), providing a ventilation gap (6) for air circulation between the photovoltaic panel (10) mounted on the supporting elements (19) and the upper wall (18).

The vertical wall (9) along the lower edge is additionally provided with a horizontal stiffener (20). The horizontal stiffener (20) is an external corner and is a continuation of the vertical wall and is designed to give strength to the lower part of the product.

The floating module is additionally provided with vertical stiffening ribs (21). Vertical stiffening ribs (21) are made along the perimeter of the floating module and are made both in the supporting elements (19) and in the vertical wall (9). Vertical ribs (21) are recesses. The ribs are added to increase the rigidity of the structure, and reduce the deformation of the flat parts of the structure.

Stiffeners also add strength to the structure under various loads. This design feature allows you to make a floating module without a bottom, but at the same time allows you to maintain a high level of safety factor. Support elements (19) are made with the possibility of placing and fixing photovoltaic panels (10). The support elements (19) are designed to allow installation of the photovoltaic panel (10) at an angle to the horizon. To do this, one pair of support elements (19) is made higher than the other pair of support elements (19). At the top of each support element (19) there are spacers (14) for mounting photovoltaic panels (10), which are fixed to the support elements using fasteners (5).

Inside the floating module, when it is installed on the water surface, due to the lack of a lower wall in the structure as such, water is collected, which makes the structure heavier and, accordingly, more stable on the waves. The use of water ballast inside the floating module is necessary to make the floating module heavier, control inertia and thereby stabilize the system on the water surface.

In one or two supporting elements (19) of the floating module, a hole is made for installing a height control valve inside the floating module (8), into which the said valve is directly installed. Said valve (8) in the embodiment of the claimed technical solution is installed in the upper part of the support element (19) of the floating module. In another variant, said valve (8) can also be placed in the lower part of the floating module.

At the same time, the hollow structure of the floating module, when the said module is installed on the water surface, is made with the possibility of containing air inside. Air is contained in the upper part of the internal volume of the hollow structure of the floating module and the water surface, while the vertical wall (9) is immersed in water. The immersion depth is controlled by the valve (8) and the applied load. The air inside the floating module allows the floating module to stay afloat at the required height.

The air pump and height control valve (8) are designed to create water ballast and create system stability.

When operating a floating power plant, it may be necessary to pump air into the inside of the floating module. In the embodiment of the claimed technical solution, air is pumped in manual mode, by means of a mechanical pump connected by the operator directly to the floating module through the said height control valve (8).

The floating module is designed to cool the photovoltaic panel (10) placed on the said module by means of passive cooling. The lower the temperature of the photovoltaic panel, the higher the efficiency. Passive cooling of the photovoltaic panel is provided by air circulation in the gap between the photovoltaic panel (10) and the upper wall (18) of the floating module.

This circulation of air cools the photovoltaic panel (10), resulting in more efficient operation.

The floating module is connected to the service lane (1) by means of quick couplings. The track is a single structural element with an internal cavity (17). Track (1) is made as a one-piece structure. The track is equipped with vertical fasteners (4) located perpendicular to the main plane of the track.

In an embodiment of the claimed invention, the upper surface of the track is made with a corrugated surface (16). The corrugated upper (16) surface of the track (1) is necessary to further reduce the likelihood of injury to the employees of the floating power plant.

The track design contains stiffeners (22), which are recesses in the main structure of the product. The ribs add strength to the structure under various loads. The hollow structure of the track (1) allows the system to stay afloat and support the weight of a person with an additional safety factor and additionally provides buoyancy to the system of floating modules combined into a floating power plant.

The floating module is configured to be connected to at least one similar floating module. The floating modules are connected to each other through said track (1). The floating module is connected to the track, as well as the track is connected to the floating module through connecting elements (3) and brackets (4). The connecting elements (3) are made in the form of quick-release swivel joints, and are an elongated element with two holes along the edges. Brackets (4) are located on all ends of the track on the side walls of the floating module. The brackets (4) also have a hole. The connecting elements (3) are connected to the bracket (4) by aligning the above holes in the bracket and the connecting element and installing the pin connector (7) into the aligned holes. This connection provides quick disconnection and connection if necessary.

In this embodiment of the claimed technical solution, air pumping can be performed both in an automated form and carried out through a system of pumps connected to each floating module via air supply hoses, and in manual mode, while pumping is carried out by the operator. In any embodiment of the claimed solution, air is pumped through the said pressure control valve (b).

The connecting elements (3) between the floating modules and the tracks (1) for maintenance are selected in such a way as to reduce the loads when the system oscillates on waves and are made to ensure movement in the direction of maximum loads, i.e. flex with hinged joints.

Connectors (3), brackets (4) and pin connectors (7) are made of rubber or plastic or metal or a combination of these materials.

The stability of the solar power plant on the waves is additionally ensured by a large number of floating modules in a bundle using connecting elements. Additionally, the system is anchored at the bottom of the reservoir or on the shore by means of anchor lines. Anchor lines are fastened to the tracks located along the edges of the floating power plant. For this purpose, a recess (15) is provided in the track design, into which a fastening for anchor lines (2) is installed. Floating modules with photovoltaic panels (10) installed on them are connected to each other to form a system of floating modules. Photovoltaic panels are equipped with a connector (11) for connecting photovoltaic panels to each other. Photovoltaic panels are connected to a single solar power plant through electrical cables. At the same time, floating modules provide positive buoyancy of the formed power plant.

This floating power plant is made with the possibility of being based on water and generating electricity by photovoltaic panels located on floating modules. The number of floating modules with photovoltaic panels in one power plant depends on the required installed capacity.

One floating module contains one photovoltaic panel, with a power of, for example, 280-430 watts. The power of photovoltaic panels can be different.

The design of the floating module ensures the stability of the power plant due to the water ballast system, connecting elements and anchor lines. A photovoltaic panel placed on a floating module has a more efficient power generation, because. the station is on the water, which already increases the efficiency of power generation compared to being based on land (about 10-13%), and due to the gap under the panel, additional cooling of the photovoltaic panel is carried out compared to the floating modules known from the prior art.

The design of the floating module makes it possible to transport said floating modules by stacking them on top of each other, which significantly saves space.

The device works as follows:

A floating module with a photovoltaic panel installed on it is placed on the water, a valve on the floating module is opened, a load is applied to lower the floating module to a predetermined depth, and the module is submerged in water to the required depth, the height control valve is closed, and the water remains inside the module, which gives weight and stability to the whole system.

Claims

CLAIM

1. A floating module for a photovoltaic panel, containing a hollow base formed by the side and top walls, hollow support elements located on the base to form a single internal cavity with the base, a photovoltaic panel located on the support elements, while the formed single internal cavity is configured to partial filling with water used as water ballast and air, wherein the module is configured to discharge air through the height control valve of the floating module.

2. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the photovoltaic panel is located at an angle to the horizon.

3. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with four support elements located on the base with ventilation space between them and with the ventilation gap between the top wall of the base and the back side of the photovoltaic panel.

4. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the module is configured to be connected with at least one similar module to form a system of floating modules, with photovoltaic panels located on each floating module, connected by means of electrical cables to the power plant, while the modules are connected between themselves through the track, while the extreme tracks of the formed system of floating modules are provided with anchor lines.

5. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the side wall of the base is additionally provided with a horizontal stiffener made along the lower edge of the said side wall.

6. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting elements and the base are additionally provided with vertical stiffeners.

7. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting elements and the base are made in the form of polygons, while chamfers are made on the corner faces of said polygons.

8. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the height control valve is installed either in the upper or lower part of the support element.

9. Module according to claim 4, characterized in that the module is connected to the track by means of quick-release hinged connectors.

10. The module according to claim 4, characterized in that the track is made with an internal cavity that provides positive buoyancy and is made in the form of a single structural element.

11. Module according to claim 4, characterized in that the track is made with a corrugated upper surface.

12. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the floating module is made from recycled secondary raw materials or is made from a mixture of primary and secondary raw materials or from primary raw materials, while the raw materials are polyethylene terephthalate, low pressure polyethylene, high pressure polyethylene, polypropylene.

13. The module according to claim 4, characterized in that the track is made from recycled secondary raw materials or is made from a mixture of primary and secondary raw materials, or from primary raw materials, while the raw materials are polyethylene terephthalate, low pressure polyethylene, high pressure polyethylene, polypropylene.