A floating photovoltaic platform

Abstract

This invention proposes a floating photovoltaic platform, comprising a photovoltaic support platform, a flexible membrane, and several floats. The photovoltaic support platform includes buoys floating on the water surface and a deck positioned above the buoys. The buoys provide buoyancy, and the deck is used to mount photovoltaic modules. The floats are fixed around the photovoltaic support platform by mooring lines connected to the seabed and are spaced apart from the platform. The flexible membrane connects the deck and the floats, surrounding the photovoltaic support platform. This invention can buffer wave energy in advance using the flexible membrane, while simultaneously guiding water flow to cool the photovoltaic modules, thereby improving photovoltaic power generation efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of offshore photovoltaic power generation technology, and more particularly to a floating photovoltaic platform. Background Technology

[0002] With the growing global demand for renewable energy, offshore photovoltaic (PV) power generation is gradually becoming an important way to solve energy problems. However, offshore PV platforms face many challenges, especially the impact of ocean waves and the disturbance of wind and waves. If the design of an offshore PV platform lacks effective wave damping devices, it can lead to instability in high sea states, thereby affecting the power generation efficiency of PV modules and the structural stability of the platform. At the same time, due to the large impact force of waves on the platform, the supporting structure of the PV platform usually needs to be designed to be very robust, resulting in high construction and maintenance costs. In addition, the power generation efficiency of PV modules will decrease significantly when operating in high-temperature environments.

[0003] Currently, existing wave-cutting designs for photovoltaic (PV) platforms mainly include high-air-gap platform designs (such as Solar Duck) and low-air-gap designs (such as Ocean Sun). High-air-gap platform designs avoid the impact of waves by increasing the platform depth, but this significantly increases costs and reduces the benefit of water cooling to PV panel power generation. Low-air-gap designs, on the other hand, are in direct contact with the wave surface, resulting in significant displacement of the thin-film structure and challenges such as water accumulation from waves.

[0004] How to solve these problems through innovative design, reduce wave-induced motion response in a low-cost manner, and improve photovoltaic power generation efficiency has become an urgent technical challenge. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a floating photovoltaic platform to solve the above-mentioned problems. It can buffer wave energy in advance through a flexible membrane, and at the same time guide water flow to cool the photovoltaic modules, thereby improving the photovoltaic power generation efficiency.

[0006] This invention proposes a floating photovoltaic platform, comprising a photovoltaic support platform, a flexible membrane, and several floats;

[0007] The photovoltaic support platform includes a pontoon floating on the water surface and a deck disposed above the pontoon. The pontoon is used to provide buoyancy, and the deck is used to install photovoltaic modules.

[0008] The floats are fixed around the photovoltaic support platform by mooring lines connected to the bottom of the water, and are spaced apart from the photovoltaic support platform.

[0009] The flexible membrane is connected between the deck and the float, and is arranged around the photovoltaic support platform.

[0010] In one embodiment, the inner side of the flexible membrane is fixedly connected to the edge of the deck, the outer side is connected to each float, and the sidewall is provided with a number of water flow holes;

[0011] The inner side refers to the side closer to the photovoltaic support platform, and the outer side refers to the side farther away from the photovoltaic support platform.

[0012] In one embodiment, the flexible membrane is a one-piece structure with an opening in the middle, and a plurality of strip-shaped water flow holes are provided on the sidewall of the flexible membrane.

[0013] In one embodiment, the flexible membrane is composed of a plurality of trapezoidal membranes arranged at intervals, the inner edges of the trapezoidal membranes are respectively fixedly connected to the deck, the outer edges of each trapezoidal membrane are connected to each other, and the water flow through hole is located between two adjacent trapezoidal membranes.

[0014] In one embodiment, the photovoltaic support platform further includes multiple support rods, the pontoon is placed horizontally and floats on the water surface, the deck is set horizontally, the support rods are set vertically between the pontoon and the deck, and the length of the support rods is determined according to the preset depth of the photovoltaic support platform.

[0015] In one embodiment, the float is at the same height as the pontoon, and the inner side of the flexible membrane is higher than the outer side.

[0016] In one embodiment, the deck is square, and the photovoltaic support platform includes four pontoons. The four pontoons are joined end to end to form a square area, and the area of ​​the square enclosed by the pontoons is smaller than the area of ​​the deck.

[0017] In one embodiment, there are four floats, each located at one of the four corners of the deck.

[0018] In one embodiment, the deck is composed of crisscrossing openwork trusses.

[0019] In one embodiment, the flexible membrane is made of high-density polyethylene.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the floating photovoltaic platform of the present invention are as follows:

[0021] 1) This invention introduces a flexible membrane design. Through the interaction between the flexible membrane and the waves, the waves first come into contact with the flexible membrane. The structure and design of the flexible membrane effectively reduce the kinetic energy of the waves, thereby significantly reducing the wave energy transmitted to the photovoltaic support platform and buffering the wave energy in advance. At the same time, the photovoltaic modules are cooled by guiding the water flow.

[0022] 2) This invention effectively reduces wave capability, thereby simplifying the design of photovoltaic support structures, reducing material usage and construction difficulty, while improving power generation efficiency.

[0023] 3) This invention guides water flow to make waves climb on the flexible membrane, directing some of the water flow to the top of the photovoltaic module. The high heat capacity of water carries away the heat generated by the photovoltaic module, and the water cooling mechanism reduces the operating temperature of the photovoltaic module, thereby improving the photovoltaic power generation efficiency.

[0024] 4) This invention can change the way waves act, reduce the impact of waves on the rotation of the photovoltaic platform, reduce the rotation amplitude of the photovoltaic platform, and improve the overall stability and safety of the platform. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a floating photovoltaic platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a side view of a floating photovoltaic platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a top view of a floating photovoltaic platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the flexible membrane structure in a floating photovoltaic platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the photovoltaic support platform in a floating photovoltaic platform according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6a This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of a floating photovoltaic platform for wave buffering and flow diversion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 6b This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of reducing the wave rotation effect of a floating photovoltaic platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure Labels

[0033] 1. Float, 2. Flexible membrane, 21. Trapezoidal membrane, 22. Water flow through hole, 3. Photovoltaic support platform, 31. Deck, 32. Support rod, 33. Float. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention more readily understood, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that while many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the invention, the invention can also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the invention; therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0035] Secondly, the present invention is described in detail with reference to the schematic diagrams. When detailing the embodiments of the present invention, for ease of explanation, the cross-sectional views illustrating the device structure may be partially enlarged, not adhering to the usual scale. Furthermore, the schematic diagrams are merely examples and should not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. In addition, actual fabrication should include three-dimensional spatial dimensions of length, width, and depth.

[0036] Secondly, the phrase "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" in this application refers to a specific feature, structure, or characteristic that may be included in at least one implementation of the invention. The phrases "in one embodiment" and "an embodiment" appearing in different places in this specification do not all refer to the same embodiment, nor are they embodiments that are mutually exclusive, either alone or selectively, with other embodiments. The terms "comprising" or "including" indicate the presence of the claimed feature but do not exclude the presence of one or more other features. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0037] This invention proposes a floating photovoltaic platform for participating in... Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 It includes a photovoltaic support platform 3, a flexible membrane 2, and several floats 1. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the photovoltaic support platform 3 includes a pontoon 33 floating on the water surface, a deck 31 positioned above the pontoon, and multiple support rods 12. The pontoon 31 floats horizontally on the water surface to provide buoyancy. The deck 31 is horizontally positioned for installing photovoltaic modules, such as photovoltaic panels. The support rods 12 are vertically positioned between the pontoon 33 and the deck 31. The length of the support rods 12 is determined according to the preset depth of the photovoltaic support platform 3, ensuring that the photovoltaic support platform 3 has a certain depth. It should be noted that the waterline of the entire floating photovoltaic platform should be located near the pontoon 13. The floats 1 are fixed around the photovoltaic support platform 3 by mooring lines connected to the bottom of the water. The mooring lines limit the movement of the floats 1, and the floats 1 are positioned at a certain distance from the photovoltaic support platform 3. A flexible membrane 2 is fixedly connected (e.g., bound) between the deck 31 and the floats 1, surrounding and covering the photovoltaic support platform 3. The flexible membrane 2 interacts with the waves in advance, buffering and blocking wave energy to reduce the kinetic energy transferred to the photovoltaic support platform 3, thus avoiding excessive impact on the platform. Simultaneously, it can divert some water flow to the deck 31, covering the photovoltaic modules for cooling. Furthermore, thanks to the wave energy reduction achieved by the flexible membrane, the photovoltaic platform's support structure no longer needs to be excessively robust, significantly reducing material usage and construction complexity.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible membrane 2 is fixedly connected to the edge of the deck 31 on its inner side and to each float 1 on its outer side. Several water flow holes 22 are provided on the sidewall. The design of the water flow holes 22 allows some water to pass through the flexible membrane 2 and directly reach the rear when encountering short-term large waves, avoiding damage to the flexible membrane 2 from excessive impact and the deterioration of its hydrodynamic performance. The inner side refers to the side closer to the photovoltaic support platform 3, and the outer side refers to the side farther from the photovoltaic support platform 3. The floats 1 and the float cylinder 33 are at approximately the same height, with the inner side of the flexible membrane 2 being higher than the outer side.

[0039] The flexible membrane 2 in the first embodiment of the present invention is a one-piece structure with an opening in the middle, and a plurality of strip-shaped water flow holes 22 are provided on the side wall of the flexible membrane 2.

[0040] The flexible membrane 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention is composed of a plurality of trapezoidal membranes 21 arranged at intervals, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4 The inner edges of the trapezoidal membranes 22 are fixedly connected to the deck 31, and the outer edges of each trapezoidal membrane 22 are connected to each other. The water flow through hole 22 is located between two adjacent trapezoidal membranes 21.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, the deck 31 is square, and the photovoltaic support platform 3 includes four pontoons 33. The four pontoons 33 are joined end to end to form a square area, the area of ​​which is smaller than the area of ​​the deck 31. This structural design is more stable, not only able to support the photovoltaic modules, but also effectively disperses the load of wind and waves at sea, providing excellent buoyancy and wind and wave resistance. The pontoons 33 are cylindrical and wrapped inside a flexible membrane. Because the flexible membrane weakens wave energy, the strength requirements of the pontoons 33 can be appropriately reduced; for example, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), composite foam materials, polyurethane foam, etc., can be selected. Support rods 32 are respectively set between the four corners of the deck and the ends of the pontoons, between the midpoint of each side of the deck and the midpoint of the corresponding lower pontoon, and between the midpoints of the oppositely set pontoons. Of course, for the stability of the photovoltaic support platform, the support rods 32 can also be installed in different positions as needed. The shape of the deck 31 and the shape of the pontoons 33 can also be other shapes besides square.

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, there are four floats 1, which are respectively arranged at the four corners of the deck 31.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the deck 31 is composed of a crisscrossing openwork truss structure.

[0044] In one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible membrane 2 is made of high-density polyethylene. Of course, other corrosion-resistant materials with certain strength and toughness can also be selected.

[0045] like Figure 6aAs shown, when large waves impact the photovoltaic platform, the waves first contact the flexible membrane. Seawater rises along the membrane surface, generating potential energy, which gradually reduces its kinetic energy, eventually reaching the deck at a slow speed. Direct contact between the water and the photovoltaic panels removes a significant amount of heat, increasing water cooling efficiency. Simultaneously, because the waves have already interacted with the flexible membrane and the floats, the waves reaching the photovoltaic platform will be significantly smaller than the original waves. Secondly, when the original waves directly contact the photovoltaic platform, they will generate considerable rotational motion. However, with the flexible membrane design incorporating flexible vias 22, as... Figure 6b As shown, some waves pass through the water flow through the through-hole 22 and through the flexible membrane 2, directly reaching the rear. This causes the waves to generate mainly lateral thrust when interacting with the flexible membrane, reducing rotational impact. Since this lateral thrust load is located in the horizontal plane and is borne by the mooring system, the rotation amplitude of the platform can be significantly reduced.

[0046] It should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. Such expressions are only for the purpose of making the description of the present invention simpler and more convenient, and do not indicate or imply that the component referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0047] In addition, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, terms such as “connection” and “setup” should be interpreted broadly in this application. For example, “connection” can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can also be a connection between the internal components of two elements. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0048] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0049] 1) This invention introduces a flexible membrane design. Through the interaction between the flexible membrane and the waves, the waves first come into contact with the flexible membrane. The structure and design of the flexible membrane effectively reduce the kinetic energy of the waves, thereby significantly reducing the wave energy transmitted to the photovoltaic support platform and buffering the wave energy in advance. At the same time, the photovoltaic modules are cooled by guiding the water flow.

[0050] 2) This invention effectively reduces wave capability, thereby simplifying the design of photovoltaic support structures, reducing material usage and construction difficulty, while improving power generation efficiency.

[0051] 3) This invention guides water flow to make waves climb on the flexible membrane, directing some of the water flow to the top of the photovoltaic module. The high heat capacity of water carries away the heat generated by the photovoltaic module, and the water cooling mechanism reduces the operating temperature of the photovoltaic module, thereby improving the photovoltaic power generation efficiency.

[0052] 4) This invention can change the way waves act, reduce the impact of waves on the rotation of the photovoltaic platform, reduce the rotation amplitude of the photovoltaic platform, and improve the overall stability and safety of the platform.

[0053] Although the methods described above are illustrated and depicted as a series of actions for the sake of simplicity, it should be understood and appreciated that these methods are not limited by the order of the actions, as some actions may occur in a different order and / or concurrently with other actions from the illustrations and descriptions herein or not illustrated and described herein but which may be understood by those skilled in the art, according to one or more embodiments.

[0054] The constructions and arrangements of this application shown in several different exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative. Although only a few embodiments are described in detail in this disclosure, those who consult this disclosure will readily understand that many modifications are possible (e.g., changes in size, structure, shape, and proportions, as well as parameter values, installation arrangements, use of materials, color, orientation, etc.) without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described in this application. For example, an element shown as integrally formed may be composed of multiple parts or elements, the position of the elements may be inverted or otherwise changed, and the nature or number or position of discrete elements may be altered or changed. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be changed or rearranged according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any "device plus function" clause is intended to cover the structure described herein that performs the function, and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Various corresponding modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art according to this invention without departing from the spirit and essence of the invention, but such corresponding modifications and variations should fall within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A floating photovoltaic platform, characterized in that, It includes a photovoltaic support platform, a flexible membrane, and several floats; The photovoltaic support platform includes a pontoon floating on the water surface and a deck disposed above the pontoon. The pontoon is used to provide buoyancy, and the deck is used to install photovoltaic modules. The floats are fixed around the photovoltaic support platform by mooring lines connected to the bottom of the water, and are spaced apart from the photovoltaic support platform. The flexible membrane is connected between the deck and the float, and is arranged around the photovoltaic support platform. The inner side of the flexible membrane is fixedly connected to the edge of the deck, and the outer side is connected to each float. The side wall is provided with several strip-shaped water flow holes. The inner side refers to the side closer to the photovoltaic support platform, and the outer side refers to the side farther away from the photovoltaic support platform.

2. The floating photovoltaic platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible membrane is a one-piece structure with an opening in the middle.

3. The floating photovoltaic platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible membrane is composed of several trapezoidal membranes arranged at intervals. The inner edges of the trapezoidal membranes are fixedly connected to the deck, and the outer edges of each trapezoidal membrane are connected to each other. The water flow through hole is located between two adjacent trapezoidal membranes.

4. The floating photovoltaic platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The photovoltaic support platform also includes multiple support rods. The pontoon is placed horizontally and floats on the water surface. The deck is set horizontally. The support rods are set vertically between the pontoon and the deck. The length of the support rods is determined according to the preset depth of the photovoltaic support platform.

5. The floating photovoltaic platform according to claim 4, characterized in that, The float is at the same height as the pontoon, and the inner side of the flexible membrane is higher than the outer side.

6. The floating photovoltaic platform according to claim 4, characterized in that, The deck is square, and the photovoltaic support platform includes four pontoons. The four pontoons are joined end to end to form a square area, and the area of ​​the square enclosed by the pontoons is smaller than the area of ​​the deck.

7. The floating photovoltaic platform according to claim 6, characterized in that, There are four floats, which are respectively located at the four corners of the deck.

8. The floating photovoltaic platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The deck is composed of crisscrossing openwork trusses.

9. The floating photovoltaic platform according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible membrane is made of high-density polyethylene.

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