A foldable portable load-distributed lightweight dual-axis solar cell tracker

Abstract

A foldable portable load distributed light weight dual axis solar cell tracker consists of a foldable base with spokes and tracks, a foldable rotating spoke platform with sprocket and spokes on top of the base, a motor with sprocket, a front support structure with hinges and a rear support structure with sprocket connected to chain and a solar panel with cables. The motor is connected to the hub platform through the chain. The motor drives the spoke platform to rotate around the vertical axis at the center of the base. The sprocket and chain lift the solar panel to rotate around the hinges mounted on the front support structure. The foldable hub platform is expanded by foldable lattice beams. The load of the tracker is distributed on the wheels on the tracks of the base.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to solar trackers, and more specifically to a foldable, portable, lightweight, dual-axis solar tracker with distributed load. Background Technology

[0002] Faced with environmental and energy crises, modern society is accelerating its transition to renewable energy. Renewable energy resources, such as solar energy, are abundant, clean, and ubiquitous worldwide. Undoubtedly, renewable energy will eventually replace fossil fuels. However, currently, renewable energy is not economically competitive with fossil fuels. This is due to energy density and continuity. Fossil fuels have an energy density several orders of magnitude higher than renewable energy, and they are a constant energy source. The average solar radiation intensity on Earth is approximately 800 W / m², varying with location, weather, and season. Compared to fossil fuels, the main problem causing low efficiency and high cost in solar energy systems stems from the low current density of solar radiation energy. When installing flat-panel photovoltaic panels to intercept sunlight, large-area semiconductor devices are used directly to collect and convert diffused solar energy. The large area and high cost of semiconductors make traditional solar energy systems expensive. To reduce the area of ​​the semiconductor converter, large-area solar concentrators are typically used to concentrate solar radiation before converting it into electricity. The relatively low cost of solar concentrators significantly reduces the cost of solar energy collection. With the development of traditional silicon photovoltaic technology and the widespread adoption of flat-plate photovoltaic systems, the decreasing cost of traditional silicon photovoltaic systems has made any concentrator system impractical. The cost of flat-plate silicon photovoltaic panels is approaching that of traditional concentrator systems. However, the cost of solar power generation remains far higher than that of fossil fuel power generation. Traditional flat-plate photovoltaic technology has reached its theoretical limits, with no further room for significant cost reduction and efficiency improvement. New approaches must be explored to drastically reduce the cost of solar concentrators to maintain the downward trend in the cost of solar power generation systems. Inflatable solar concentrators can concentrate sunlight using diaphragms or films and reflective coatings at extremely low cost. Therefore, inflatable solar concentrators offer a path to ultra-low-cost solar power generation systems, fundamentally reducing the cost of solar energy utilization. Yonghua Wang's U.S. Patent No. 11,365,903B2 discloses an "inflatable non-imaging solar concentrator" that has the potential to drastically reduce the cost of solar concentrators to extremely low levels. Due to the ultra-lightweight nature of inflatable non-imaging solar concentrators, ultra-lightweight foldable portable trackers are needed to fully exploit the potential of such solar concentrators and achieve ultra-high efficiency and ultra-low cost solar energy conversion.

[0003] Baer's U.S. Patent No. 4,832,001 discloses a "lightweight solar panel mount" for one or more solar panels. In Baer's disclosure, a compression frame is mounted to a support surface, and tension members extend laterally from the frame in a direction opposite to the support surface. The solar panel is connected to one of the tension members in a manner that allows the solar panel to rotate so that the panel can follow the sun all day. Clearly, Baer's solar panel mount is lightweight enough, but it is neither foldable nor portable. Furthermore, Baer's lightweight solar tracker is unsuitable for constructing concentrated solar power (CSP) systems based on inflatable non-imaging solar concentrators.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 8,237,098B2 to Saldana discloses a dual-axis solar tracker. Saldana's solar tracker consists of a movable support system for solar panels that maximizes the power generation of the panels. This system is formed by a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, with the system rotating relative to these two axes to track the path of the sun. The aforementioned axes are components that are centrally supported and peripherally supported on wheels located on a track or the ground. This structure rotates about a fixed center point on the vertical axis supporting the tracker. At least one plate is positioned on the horizontal axis of this structure to receive a solar module or panel, and this plate can rotate about the horizontal axis so that the solar panel remains perpendicular to the sunlight. In Saldana's invention, all the loads of the moving parts are distributed to the wheels located on the ground-based running track, unlike the structure of a single-pole solar tracker, where all the loads of the moving parts are transferred to a drive mechanism located at the top of the pole. The design of the single-pole tracker results in a bulky support structure and a drive mechanism prone to damage. However, Saldana's structure remains bulky, and its drive mechanism is still not reliable enough. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an ultralight, foldable, and portable dual-axis tracker for building a CSP system based on an inflatable non-imaging solar concentrator, thereby achieving ultra-high efficiency and extremely low cost solar energy conversion.

[0006] The entire tracker consists of four main parts: 1) a foldable platform that can rotate about a vertical axis; 2) a foldable support structure with at least two sets of sprocket assemblies; 3) a plate that can rotate about a horizontal axis for mounting solar panels; and 4) a motor with sprockets for driving the chain. In the tracker's structure, the plate is mounted on the foldable platform, with a hinge at one end and the support structure with sprocket assemblies at the other end, allowing the plate to rotate about an axis along the hinge via the sprocket assemblies. In operation, the motor drives the foldable platform via a chain that connects the sprockets to the sprockets of the foldable platform; the solar panel plate is driven by the sprocket assemblies mounted on the support structure.

[0007] The foldable platform consists of a central shaft with a bearing ring, multiple hubs with sprockets at one end and joints at the other, foldable grid beams between the hubs, and a chain. One end of each hub is connected to the bearing ring on the central shaft, and the other ends of all hubs are interconnected via the chain. The entire foldable platform is connected to a motor via the chain and sprockets. A foldable support structure is mounted on the foldable platform via hinges. A plate is mounted on the foldable platform at one end via hinges located around its perimeter. This plate is connected to the foldable support structure at the other end via a sprocket assembly.

[0008] As can be seen from the tracker's structure and working principle, the load of the entire system is distributed on the wheels that are in contact with the track or the ground, so structural components (such as wheel hubs) can be made very thin and light; due to the long torque arm, the driving force required to drive the foldable platform and solar panels can be small; the whole system is foldable and portable.

[0009] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings and consideration of the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0011] Figure 1 This is an overview of a foldable, portable, lightweight dual-axis tracker with a solar panel and load distribution.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a foldable, portable, lightweight, dual-axis tracker with load distribution and no solar panel.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a foldable, portable, lightweight, dual-axis tracker with load distribution, without solar panels, front and rear support structures, or a rotating mechanism around a horizontal axis.

[0014] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of a movable and foldable spoked platform, in which the hub is equipped with a sprocket.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a foldable portable base with rails.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a detailed view of the hub of the hub-type platform, showing the sprocket and the wheel located on the track on the base.

[0017] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a foldable hub platform with foldable lattice beams.

[0018] Figure 8 This is a detailed view of the foldable lattice beam.

[0019] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a foldable hub platform without foldable lattice beams.

[0020] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a folding base without tracks.

[0021] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the front support structure used for the horizontal rotation of solar panels.

[0022] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the rear support structure used for the horizontal rotation of solar panels. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to this exemplary embodiment, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts.

[0024] refer to Figure 1 As shown, the foldable portable load distribution lightweight dual-axis tracker with a solar panel includes: 1) a motor 100 with a motor sprocket 120; 2) a base 230 with spoke-pedestal spokes 220 and a track 210; 3) a rotational spoke-platform with: a bearing ring 310; spoke-platform spokes 320 fitted with spoke-platform spoke sprockets 340; and wheels 330; and a drive ring chain 110; 4) a front support structure 410, a rear support structure 420, and a rear support structure sprocket 430 and a rear support structure chain 440; 5) a solar panel 510 with a solar panel connector 520 and a cable 530; and 6) a vehicle seat belt 600.

[0025] The motor 100 is connected to the rotating spoke platform via the drive ring chain 110; the rotating spoke platform is mounted on top of the base 230 via the bearing ring 310, the base shaft, and the wheel 330 located on the track 210; the front support structure (which has a horizontal hinge shaft) 410 and the rear support structure (which has a rear support structure sprocket 430 connected to the rear support structure chain 440) 420 are mounted on the spoke platform near the spoke platform sprocket 340 and the wheel 330; the solar panel 510 is mounted on the support structure and connected to the rear support structure chain 440 via the solar panel connector 520 and the cable 530; the solar panel is also connected to the rear support structure 420 via the vehicle seat belt 600.

[0026] In operation, motor 100 drives the spoked platform to rotate about the vertical axis of base 230; rear support structure sprocket 430 drives rear support structure chain 440 to lift the solar panel, causing the solar panel to rotate about a hinge mounted on front support structure 410. When wind blows from behind the solar panel, the vehicle's seatbelt helps hold the solar panel on the support structure.

[0027] refer to Figure 2 The motor sprocket 120 on top of the motor 100 is connected to the spoke platform sprocket 340 on top of the spoke platform spoke 320 via a drive ring chain 110 to form a ring, thereby driving the spoke platform to rotate about an axis at the base 230.

[0028] refer to Figure 3 The structure of the motor sprocket and the rear support structure chain is shown.

[0029] refer to Figure 4 The structure of a spoked platform with a bearing ring 310, spoked platform spokes 320 and spoked platform sprockets 340 is shown.

[0030] refer to Figure 5 The structure of the base 230 with spoke-type base spokes 220 and rails 210 is shown.

[0031] refer to Figure 6 The spoked platform sprocket 340 and wheel 330 are mounted on one end of the spoke 320 of the spoked platform.

[0032] refer to Figure 7 A foldable lattice beam 350 is added to the structure of the foldable spoke platform to secure the foldable spoke platform.

[0033] refer to Figure 8 The foldable grating beam is formed through joint 351.

[0034] refer to Figure 9 The foldable spoked platform without lattice beams is folded.

[0035] refer to Figure 10 The trackless, foldable base is folded.

[0036] refer to Figure 11 The front support structure 410 has a hinge 411, which allows the solar panel to rotate around the hinge 411 by lifting the other end of the solar panel.

[0037] refer to Figure 12 The rear support structure sprocket 430 drives the rear support structure chain 440 to lift the solar panel, which is tied to the rear support structure chain at one end with a cable, so that the solar panel rotates around the hinge on the front support structure.

[0038] From the above description, the many advantages of the solar tracker become apparent. All the loads of the structure are distributed on the wheels positioned peripherally on the track and on the base at the center of the system, allowing all hubs, grid beams, and support structures to be made of thin, lightweight materials. The entire system is foldable and portable. The sprockets and chains used for the drive system provide a reliable drive mechanism. Due to the large arm of the drive structure, a small force is required to generate the same torque to drive the system to track the sun.

[0039] Various preferred embodiments have been described in the foregoing description with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be apparent that various other modifications and changes can be made thereto, and additional embodiments can be implemented without departing from the broad scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Therefore, the description and drawings should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0040] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the description and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The description and embodiments are intended to be illustrative only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A foldable, portable, lightweight biaxial solar cell tracker with distributed load, comprising: 1) Motor, including motor sprocket; 2) Drive the ring chain; 3) Base, including base spokes and base track; 4) A rotating spoke platform, comprising: a bearing ring; a plurality of rotating spokes connected to a plurality of spoke platform sprockets, each of the spoke platform sprockets being associated with a spoke platform wheel; 5) Front support structure; 6) Rear support structure, featuring a rear support sprocket and a rear support chain; 7) Solar panels and solar panel cables; 8) Vehicle seat belts; The rotating spoke platform is mounted on top of the base via a vertical axis connected to the base by the bearing ring, and multiple spoke platform wheels are located on the base track. The motor sprocket and the spoked platform sprocket are engaged with the drive ring chain, and the motor is connected to the rotating spoked platform. The front support structure includes a horizontal hinge and is mounted on top of the spoke platform. The front support structure is connected to the spokes of the spoke platform via two of the multiple spoke platform sprockets and associated spoke platform wheels. The rear support structure, including the rear support sprocket and the rear support structure chain, is also installed on the top of the spoke platform and connected to the spoke platform spokes via two different spoke platform sprockets and related spoke platform wheels. The solar panel is mounted on the front support structure and connected to the rear support structure via a cable chain. The solar panel is also connected to the rear support structure via a vehicle seatbelt; In operation, the motor drives the spoke platform via the drive ring chain to rotate around the vertical axis of the base. The rear support sprocket drives the rear support chain to lift the solar panel and rotate the solar panel around the hinge mounted on the front support structure. When wind blows from behind the solar panel, the vehicle seat belt helps to hold the solar panel on the support structure.

2. The foldable portable load-distribution lightweight biaxial solar cell tracker according to claim 1, wherein, The motor, including the motor sprocket, is connected to the spoke platform sprocket on the spoke of the spoke platform via the drive ring chain, thereby forming a drive circuit.

3. The foldable portable load-distribution lightweight biaxial solar cell tracker according to claim 1, wherein, The spokes of the spoked platform are connected to the foldable grid beam.

4. The foldable portable load-distribution lightweight biaxial solar cell tracker according to claim 1, wherein, The rear support structure has two columns, wherein two rear support structure sprockets are mounted on the top of the two columns and two rear support structure sprockets are mounted on the bottom of the two columns. The two rear support structure sprockets on each column are connected by the rear support chain. Both or all of the rear support structure sprockets contain a motor.

5. The foldable portable lightweight biaxial solar cell tracker with distributed load according to claim 1, wherein, The solar panel is connected to the rear support structure chain via a cable located at one end of the solar panel, and the rear support structure chain is connected to the rear support structure sprocket on the rear support structure.

6. The foldable portable load-distribution lightweight biaxial solar cell tracker according to claim 1, wherein, The spokes of the spoked platform are connected to the bearing ring via spoked platform joints, so that the spoked platform can be folded.

7. The foldable portable lightweight solar cell dual-axis tracker with distributed load according to claim 1, wherein, The spokes of the spoked base are connected to the base via a base joint, so that the spoked base is foldable.

Images