A flexible photovoltaic support and its array structure and angle adjustment method

Abstract

The present invention discloses a flexible photovoltaic support and its array structure and angle adjustment method. The flexible photovoltaic support includes a T-shaped transmission rod and inclined support rods hinged to both ends of the transverse arm of the T-shaped transmission rod. The free end of the vertical arm of the T-shaped transmission rod is connected to a driving structure, and the free end of the inclined support rod is hinged to a fixed support. A load-bearing cable for carrying a photovoltaic panel assembly is connected to the transverse arm. Under the drive of the driving structure, the photovoltaic panel assembly performs a tilting movement that is a coupling of rotation and translation. By respectively hinging the two ends of the transverse arm of the T-shaped transmission rod and the free end of the vertical arm to the inclined support rod and the driving structure, when the vertical arm moves, it will be restricted by the inclined support rod, thereby driving the photovoltaic panel assembly to perform a tilting movement that is a coupling of rotation and translation, optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the flexible photovoltaic support, and enabling the flexible photovoltaic support to have both flexibility and rigidity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of photovoltaic technology, and in particular to a flexible photovoltaic bracket and an array structure and an angle adjustment method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Photovoltaic system is the main means of converting solar energy into electrical energy. Among them, photovoltaic support is an important component of photovoltaic system and plays a vital role in the utilization of solar energy.

[0003] For example, a Chinese patent application with publication number CN 107491102A discloses a solar photovoltaic panel support with coupled rotation and angle feedback functions, including a base, multiple connecting rods, multiple shafts, a driver, a reducer, an angular displacement sensor, and a synchronous pulley. The device improves the power generation capacity of the photovoltaic panel by adjusting the tilt angle of the solar photovoltaic panel according to different sunshine conditions, and realizes real-time feedback of the rotation angle of the solar photovoltaic panel through a mechanical angle feedback device. However, from the perspective of the composition of the scheme, the support of the photovoltaic panel adopts a rigid structure, which has the defects of large steel consumption, large floor space, and high cost.

[0004] In the prior art, there are photovoltaic brackets with flexible structures, which can solve the above problems faced by traditional brackets, and have good adaptability to complex terrains, are flexible and adjustable, and have small footprints. Flexible photovoltaic brackets have a wide range of applications and are increasingly widely used. However, flexible photovoltaic brackets also have disadvantages.

[0005] For example, the Chinese patent application publication number CN 114726301 A discloses a photovoltaic support, photovoltaic array and photovoltaic panel assembly angle adjustment method, the photovoltaic support includes: two rows of support columns, the two rows of support columns are installed side by side on the foundation; the first turntable is rotatably installed on the two rows of support columns, and the first turntable is provided with a load-bearing cable anchor point; the load-bearing cable is set between the two rows of support columns, and the two ends of the load-bearing cable pass through the load-bearing cable anchor point and are anchored and connected to the first turntable; the solar tracking controller is connected to the control motor, and the control motor is connected to the first turntable. The solar tracking controller senses sunlight and adjusts the rotation angle of the first turntable through the control motor according to the incident angle of sunlight. This scheme uses the rotation of the first turntable to adjust the inclination angle of the photovoltaic panel assembly. This adjustment method belongs to a single rotation method and has the characteristics of rigidity. It does not match the flexible photovoltaic support structure, which will cause the problem of large local rigidity and low overall rigidity.

[0006] Therefore, how to improve the overall structural rigidity of the flexible photovoltaic bracket and combine the advantages of flexibility and rigidity is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a flexible photovoltaic support and its array structure and angle adjustment method to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art. By respectively hinging the two end parts of the horizontal arm of the T-shaped transmission rod and the free end of the vertical arm to the inclined support rod and the driving structure, when the free end of the vertical arm is driven to move, it will be restricted by the inclined support rod, so that the horizontal arm drives the load-bearing cable and the photovoltaic panel assembly connected thereto to perform a tilting motion that combines rotation and translation, optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the flexible photovoltaic support and enabling the flexible photovoltaic support to have both flexibility and rigidity.

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0009] The present invention provides a flexible photovoltaic support, including a T-shaped transmission rod and inclined support rods hinged to both end parts of the horizontal arm of the T-shaped transmission rod. The free end of the vertical arm of the T-shaped transmission rod is connected to a driving structure, and the free end of the inclined support rod is hinged to a fixed support; a load-bearing cable for carrying a photovoltaic panel assembly is connected to the horizontal arm. Under the drive of the driving structure, the photovoltaic panel assembly performs a tilting motion that combines rotation and translation.

[0010] Preferably, the hinge point of the free end of the vertical arm and the hinge point of the free end of the inclined support rod are located on the same horizontal line.

[0011] The present invention provides an array structure applying the flexible photovoltaic support described above. The load-bearing cables are arranged in parallel, and multiple groups of the photovoltaic panel assemblies are arranged side by side in the length direction of the load-bearing cables.

[0012] Preferably, the driving structure includes a horizontal transmission rod and a driving gear located at the bottom of the horizontal transmission rod and driving the horizontal transmission rod to move reciprocally. The free end of the vertical arm is hinged to the horizontal transmission rod.

[0013] Preferably, the driving gear is installed on an elastic support. The elastic support includes two inclined rods hinged together and a return spring connected between the two inclined rods. The two inclined rods and the return spring form an A-shaped structure. The top of the A-shaped structure is used to support the driving gear, and the two legs at the bottom of the A-shaped structure are slidably connected in a chute.

[0014] Preferably, multiple groups of the flexible photovoltaic supports are arranged along the length direction of the horizontal transmission rod, and the free ends of the vertical arms of multiple groups of the flexible photovoltaic supports are hinged to the same horizontal transmission rod.

[0015] Preferably, a stabilizing cable is connected to the middle of the vertical arm, and multiple groups of inclined connecting rods are connected between the stabilizing cable and the load-bearing cable. The inclined connecting rods are hinged to the stabilizing cable.

[0016] Preferably, a group of the oblique connecting rods form a quadrangular pyramid structure, the bottom surface of the quadrangular pyramid structure is located at the bottom of the photovoltaic panel assembly, and the vertex of the quadrangular pyramid structure is hingedly connected to the stabilizing cable.

[0017] Preferably, the stabilizing cables of different flexible photovoltaic supports are connected via a transverse connecting rod.

[0018] The present invention also provides an angle adjustment method for the flexible photovoltaic bracket described above, in which the driving structure drives the T-shaped transmission rod to move, and the T-shaped transmission rod rotates while being constrained by the oblique support rod. The load-bearing cable connected to the T-shaped transmission rod drives the photovoltaic panel assembly to deflect the angle.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has achieved the following technical effects:

[0020] (1) The present invention hinges the two ends of the transverse support arm of the T-shaped transmission rod and the free end of the vertical support arm to the oblique support rod and the driving structure respectively, and while driving the free end of the vertical support arm to move, it will be constrained by the oblique support rod, so that the transverse support arm drives the load-bearing cable and the photovoltaic panel assembly connected thereto to perform a tilting motion coupled with rotation and translation, thereby optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the flexible photovoltaic bracket and enabling the flexible photovoltaic bracket to have both flexibility and rigidity;

[0021] (2) In the present invention, multiple groups of flexible photovoltaic brackets are arranged in the length direction of the horizontal transmission rod, and multiple groups of photovoltaic panel assemblies are arranged side by side in the length direction of the load-bearing cable, that is, the photovoltaic panel assemblies are arranged in an array in the horizontal and vertical directions. Under the drive of the horizontal transmission rod, the array structure can be tilted and tracked as a whole, thereby improving the utilization rate of solar energy;

[0022] (3) The driving gear for driving the horizontal transmission rod to move is installed on the elastic support, which can offset the extremely small vertical deviation generated by the horizontal transmission rod during horizontal movement, thereby improving the accuracy and stability of the driving structure operation;

[0023] (4) The stabilizing cable, the load-bearing cable and the oblique connecting rods connected thereto form a quadrangular pyramid structure, which can form a local tube truss structure, thereby improving the local stability of each photovoltaic panel assembly;

[0024] (5) The stabilizing cables of different flexible photovoltaic supports of the present invention are connected by transverse connecting rods to achieve connection between rows, thereby forming a mesh structure with the transverse connecting rods and the stabilizing cables interlaced horizontally and vertically. The formation of the mesh structure greatly enhances the integrity and stability of the flexible photovoltaic array structure, making it have better wind resistance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the connection structure of the horizontal transmission rod and the T-shaped transmission rod of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the elastic support structure of the present invention;

[0029] Among them, 1. Photovoltaic panel assembly; 2. Load-bearing cable; 3. Oblique connecting rod; 4. Stabilizing cable; 5. Transverse connecting rod; 6. Oblique support rod; 7. T-shaped transmission rod; 8. Driving structure; 81. Horizontal transmission rod; 82. Driving gear; 83. Oblique rod; 84. Return spring; 85. Chute; 86. Bolt rod; 87. Bolt guide rail. Specific embodiments

[0030] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a flexible photovoltaic support and its array structure and angle adjustment method to solve the problems existing in the prior art. By respectively hinging the two end parts of the transverse arm of the T-shaped transmission rod and the free end of the vertical arm, when driving the free end of the vertical arm to move, it will be restricted by the oblique support rod, so that the transverse arm drives the load-bearing cable and the photovoltaic panel assembly connected thereto to perform a tilting movement that combines rotation and translation, optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the flexible photovoltaic support and enabling the flexible photovoltaic support to have both flexibility and rigidity.

[0032] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0033] As Figures 1 to 3As shown in the figure, the present invention provides a flexible photovoltaic support, which includes a T-shaped transmission rod 7 and inclined support rods 6 hinged at both ends of the transverse arm of the T-shaped transmission rod 7. The length of the transverse arm can be set according to the size of the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 to be installed. The inclined support rods 6 and the T-shaped transmission rod 7 are in the same plane. The free end of the vertical arm of the T-shaped transmission rod 7 is connected to the driving structure 8. The free end of the inclined support rod 6 is hinged to the fixed support. And the vertical arm and the inclined support rods 6 are both on the same side of the transverse arm. Generally, the length of the inclined support rod 6 is greater than that of the vertical arm, so that the transverse arm and the two inclined support rods 6 form a trapezoidal structure. When the driving structure 8 is used to drive the T-shaped transmission rod 7 to move, due to the restraint of the two inclined support rods 6, the transverse arm will rotate while translating. The driving structure 8 can adopt a telescopic cylinder, a lead screw-nut assembly or a linear drive motor, etc., which can drive the free end of the vertical arm to move. A load-bearing cable 2 for carrying the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 is connected to the transverse arm. The other end of the load-bearing cable 2 is connected to another flexible photovoltaic support and is also installed on the transverse arm of the T-shaped transmission rod 7. Driven by the driving structure 8, the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 makes a tilting motion that couples rotation and translation. In order to achieve more stable support, the same flexible photovoltaic support can be installed in the middle of the load-bearing cable 2. It should be noted that different flexible photovoltaic supports connected to the same load-bearing cable 2 need to move synchronously during the tilting action, so as to be able to control the entire photovoltaic panel assembly 1. By hingedly connecting the two ends of the transverse arm of the T-shaped transmission rod 7 and the free end of the vertical arm to the inclined support rod 6 and the driving structure 8 respectively, when the free end of the vertical arm is driven to move, it will be restricted by the inclined support rod 6, so that the transverse arm drives the load-bearing cable 2 and the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 connected thereto to make a tilting motion that couples rotation and translation, optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the flexible photovoltaic support and enabling the flexible photovoltaic support to have both flexibility and rigidity.

[0034] To facilitate the control of the tilting angle of the solar photovoltaic module 1, that is, to achieve tracking, a solar tracking controller can be provided. The solar tracking controller is connected to the driving structure 8. The solar tracking controller can sense sunlight and adjust the moving position of the T-shaped transmission rod 7 by controlling the driving structure 8 according to the incident angle of sunlight, and then adjust the tilting angle of the photovoltaic panel assembly 1.

[0035] Furthermore, the hinge points of the free ends of the vertical arm and the inclined support rod 6 can be on the same horizontal line. At this time, the vertical arm becomes the vertical bisector segment of the trapezoidal structure composed of the transverse arm and the inclined support rod 6. The running track of the T-shaped transmission rod 7 and its transverse arm is clearer, and the angle adjustment range is larger.

[0036] Reference Figures 1 to 3As shown in the figure, the present invention provides an array structure of a flexible photovoltaic support described in the foregoing text. The photovoltaic panel assembly 1 is fixed on the load-bearing cable 2. At least two load-bearing cables 2 are connected to the same photovoltaic panel assembly 1. The load-bearing cables 2 are arranged parallel to each other, which can define and stabilize the orientation angle of the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 and can drive the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 to tilt smoothly through the load-bearing cable 2 when the lateral arm tilts. Multiple groups of photovoltaic panel assemblies 1 are arranged side by side in the length direction of the load-bearing cable 2. Therefore, when the load-bearing cable 2 moves driven by the lateral arm, multiple groups of photovoltaic panel assemblies 1 move synchronously, thereby realizing the array tracking of the flexible photovoltaic support.

[0037] Combined with Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the driving structure 8 may include a horizontal transmission rod 81 and a driving gear 82 located at the bottom of the horizontal transmission rod 81 and driving the horizontal transmission rod 81 to reciprocate. A rack may be provided at the meshing part of the horizontal transmission rod 81 and the driving gear 82. The length of the rack is determined according to the running displacement of the horizontal transmission rod 81, and it can ensure that the horizontal transmission rod 81 reciprocates within the running spacing. The free end of the vertical arm is hinged to the horizontal transmission rod 81, and when the horizontal transmission rod 81 moves, it can drive the T-shaped transmission rod 7 to perform a coupled motion of translation and rotation.

[0038] Combined with Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the driving gear 82 may be installed on an elastic support. As the horizontal transmission rod 81 moves, due to the constraint of the hinge relationship between the T-shaped transmission rod 7 and the inclined support rod 6 of the flexible photovoltaic support itself, the horizontal transmission rod 81 may shift in the vertical direction. Through the setting of the elastic support, this shift condition can be compensated, and the accuracy and stability of the operation of the driving structure 8 can be improved. The elastic support may include two inclined rods 83 connected by hinges and a return spring 84 connected between the two inclined rods 83. The two inclined rods 83 and the return spring 84 form an A-shaped structure. After the opening of the A-shaped structure expands or contracts, it can rely on the elastic force of the return spring 84 to recover. The top of the A-shaped structure is used to support the driving gear 82. The driving gear 82 is rotatably connected to the A-shaped structure and is connected with a power structure for controlling the rotation of the driving gear 82. The bottom two legs of the A-shaped structure are slidably connected in the chute 85. Bolts 86 may be provided at the ends of the two legs. The chute 85 is also provided with a horizontal bolt guide 87. Through the cooperation of the bolts 86 and the bolt guide 87, it can be ensured that the two legs can only slide in the chute 85, avoiding the A-shaped structure from detaching from the chute 85 and improving the stability of the driving structure 8.

[0039] Multiple sets of flexible photovoltaic brackets can be arranged along the length direction of the horizontal transmission rod 81. The free ends of the vertical arms of multiple sets of flexible photovoltaic brackets are hinged to the same horizontal transmission rod 81. That is to say, the same horizontal transmission rod 81 can be used to drive multiple sets of flexible photovoltaic brackets to act simultaneously. And multiple sets of photovoltaic panel assemblies 1 are arranged side by side in the length direction of the load-bearing cable 2 of each flexible photovoltaic bracket. That is, the photovoltaic panel assemblies 1 are arranged in an array in the transverse and longitudinal directions. Driven by the horizontal transmission rod 81, the integral tilting angle of the array structure can be realized, and the overall tracking can be carried out to improve the solar energy utilization rate.

[0040] A stabilizing cable 4 can be connected to the middle of the vertical arm of the T-shaped transmission rod 7. Multiple sets of diagonal connecting rods 3 are connected between the stabilizing cable 4 and the load-bearing cable 2. The diagonal connecting rods 3 are hinged to the stabilizing cable 4. At the same time, the stabilizing cable 4 is also hinged to the vertical arm. That is, the diagonal connecting rods 3 can rotate around the stabilizing cable 4, and the T-shaped transmission rod 7 can also rotate around the stabilizing cable 4. The diagonal connecting rods 3 connect the stabilizing cable 4 and the load-bearing cable 2 into a relatively stable whole, and on this basis, it will not cause interference to the tilting of the photovoltaic panel assemblies 1.

[0041] Furthermore, a set of diagonal connecting rods 3 can form a quadrangular pyramid structure. The bottom surface of the quadrangular pyramid structure is located at the bottom of the photovoltaic panel assembly 1, and the vertex of the quadrangular pyramid structure is hinged to the stabilizing cable 4. The formation of the quadrangular pyramid structure can enable a local pipe truss structure between the stabilizing cable 4, the load-bearing cable 2 and the diagonal connecting rods 3, thereby improving the local stability of each photovoltaic panel assembly 1.

[0042] Furthermore, the stabilizing cables 4 of different flexible photovoltaic brackets can also be connected by a transverse connecting rod 5. Multiple transverse connecting rods 5 are arranged in parallel in the length direction of the stabilizing cable 4 and form a vertical and horizontal criss-cross network structure with the stabilizing cable 4, greatly enhancing the integrity and stability of the flexible photovoltaic array structure and making it have better wind resistance.

[0043] The local quadrangular pyramid structure of the present invention improves the local stability, and the network structure improves the overall stability. Therefore, the present invention can improve the stability both from the local structure and as a whole, greatly improving the integrity and local stability of the flexible photovoltaic array. Through the connection of the T-shaped transmission rod 7, the inclined support rod 6 to form a deformable drive trapezoidal structure and the load-bearing cable 2, not only can the flexible photovoltaic array be tracked, but also the tracking form of the traditional tracking photovoltaic bracket is changed, changing the single rotation into a combination of rotation and translation, optimizing the aerodynamic performance of the flexible photovoltaic bracket, making it both flexible and rigid, and simultaneously achieving multiple goals such as suppressing vibration (greatly improving the overall and local stiffness of the photovoltaic bracket) and improving the solar energy utilization rate (the tracking of the flexible photovoltaic array can be realized).

[0044] The present invention also provides an angle adjustment method for applying the flexible photovoltaic support described above. The driving structure 8 acts to drive the T-shaped transmission rod 7 to move. While moving, the T-shaped transmission rod 7 is restricted by the inclined support rod 6 and rotates, that is, rotates and translates simultaneously. The load-bearing cable 2 connected to the T-shaped transmission rod 7 drives the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 to deflect in angle. Specifically, the driving gear 82 can be driven to rotate by a motor. The rotation of the driving gear 82 drives the horizontal transmission rod 81 to move. The movement of the horizontal transmission rod 81 drives the T-shaped transmission rod 7 to change the angle between the inclined support rod 6 and the ground, thereby realizing the motion state in which the rotation and translation of the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 are coupled, achieving the angle change of the photovoltaic panel assembly 1 and achieving the purpose of tracking.

[0045] Specific examples are used in the present invention to elaborate on the principle and implementation manner of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manner and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. An array structure, characterized in that: It includes a flexible photovoltaic support. The flexible photovoltaic support includes a T-shaped transmission rod and inclined support rods hinged at both ends of the transverse arm of the T-shaped transmission rod. The free end of the vertical arm of the T-shaped transmission rod is connected to a driving structure, and the free end of the inclined support rod is hinged to a fixed support; a load-bearing cable for carrying a photovoltaic panel assembly is connected to the transverse arm. Driven by the driving structure, the photovoltaic panel assembly makes a tilting motion that is a coupling of rotation and translation. The load-bearing cables are arranged in parallel, and multiple groups of the photovoltaic panel assemblies are arranged side by side in the length direction of the load-bearing cables. The driving structure includes a horizontal transmission rod and a driving gear located at the bottom of the horizontal transmission rod and driving the horizontal transmission rod to move reciprocally. The free end of the vertical arm is hinged to the horizontal transmission rod. The driving gear is installed on an elastic support. The elastic support includes two inclined rods connected by hinges and a return spring connected between the two inclined rods. The two inclined rods and the return spring form an A-shaped structure. The top of the A-shaped structure is used to support the driving gear, and the two legs at the bottom of the A-shaped structure are slidably connected in a chute.

2. The array structure according to claim 1, wherein: The hinge point of the free end of the vertical arm and the hinge point of the free end of the inclined support rod are on the same horizontal line.

3. The array structure according to claim 1, wherein: Multiple groups of the flexible photovoltaic supports are arranged along the length direction of the horizontal transmission rod, and the free ends of the vertical arms of multiple groups of the flexible photovoltaic supports are hinged to the same horizontal transmission rod.

4. The array structure according to claim 3, wherein: A stabilizing cable is connected to the middle of the vertical arm. Multiple groups of diagonal connecting rods are connected between the stabilizing cable and the load-bearing cable, and the diagonal connecting rods are hinged to the stabilizing cable.

5. The array structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: One group of the diagonal connecting rods forms a quadrangular pyramid structure. The bottom surface of the quadrangular pyramid structure is located at the bottom of the photovoltaic panel assembly, and the vertex of the quadrangular pyramid structure is hinged to the stabilizing cable.

6. The array structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The stabilizing cables of different flexible photovoltaic supports are connected by a transverse connecting rod.

7. An angle adjustment method, characterized in that: Applying the array structure according to any one of claims 1-6, the driving structure acts to drive the T-shaped transmission rod to move. While moving, the T-shaped transmission rod is restricted by the inclined support rod and rotates. The load-bearing cable connected to the T-shaped transmission rod drives the photovoltaic panel assembly to deflect at an angle.

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