A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of floating photovoltaic power generation, and particularly relates to a telescopic floating photovoltaic structure, comprising a floating platform, a photovoltaic module group, a floating member and a mooring system; the photovoltaic module group comprises a central photovoltaic module fixed at the center of the floating platform and peripheral photovoltaic modules distributed around the central photovoltaic module; the floating platform is provided with a movable sliding groove system corresponding to each peripheral photovoltaic module, and the peripheral photovoltaic modules are slidably assembled in the sliding grooves through pulleys; the floating platform is provided with a telescopic driving device for driving the peripheral photovoltaic modules to horizontally translate along the sliding grooves towards or away from the central photovoltaic module; and the floating member is a cylindrical pontoon. The present application reduces the wind area under extreme weather by stacking the peripheral modules towards the center, and adjusts the pontoon ballast through a linkage of a hierarchical controller to maintain the stability of the platform, and has the advantages of simple structure, high degree of modularization, strong wind and wave resistance, etc., and is suitable for photovoltaic power generation in reservoirs, lakes and offshore waters.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of floating photovoltaic power generation technology, and particularly relates to a telescopic floating photovoltaic structure. Background Technology

[0002] Floating photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems are a new form of clean energy development that involves placing PV devices on water surfaces. They are primarily suitable for aquatic environments such as reservoirs, lakes, mining subsidence areas, and controlled nearshore waters. Their core advantage lies in not occupying land resources, while also offering additional benefits such as inhibiting water evaporation, improving component heat dissipation, and increasing power generation efficiency. Currently, the mainstream technology is based on a modular floating structure, typically consisting of a polymer float, a PV module support system, connecting components, and an anchoring system. The float is mostly made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), with individual units connected by plugs or bolts to form continuous floating islands. The PV modules are mounted at a fixed angle on supports above the float, and the entire system is anchored to the shore or seabed by cables. This structure is a typical float-frame load-bearing system, offering advantages such as modularity, lightweight design, and rapid installation.

[0003] However, traditional structures have revealed many shortcomings in practical applications. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) floats have low overall stiffness, making them prone to significant relative displacement and deformation under wind and waves. The overall coordinated load-bearing capacity of the component array is limited, resulting in severely insufficient resistance to extreme winds and waves. Under severe weather conditions such as typhoons and storm surges, there is a risk of structural failure or even capsizing. The connection points between the floats and the support structure are constantly subjected to alternating loads and humid, hot environments, making them susceptible to fatigue damage, loosening, or aging, affecting long-term durability. Traditional structures are mostly suitable for inland calm waters or areas with low winds and waves, but have poor adaptability in medium to high winds and waves, complex flow fields, or nearshore environments. Furthermore, existing structures are relatively weak in terms of overall stress mechanisms, collision resistance, and redundant safety design; once a local failure occurs, it may trigger a chain reaction of damage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a telescopic floating photovoltaic structure to solve the technical problems of traditional floating photovoltaic structures, such as low overall stiffness, insufficient resistance to wind and waves, and susceptibility to structural failure or even capsizing in severe sea conditions.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the specific technical solution of the present invention for a telescopic floating photovoltaic structure is as follows: A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure includes a floating platform, a photovoltaic module group disposed on the floating platform, a floating component that provides buoyancy to the overall structure, and a mooring system for anchoring the platform; the photovoltaic module group includes a central photovoltaic module fixedly disposed at the center of the floating platform, and a number of peripheral photovoltaic modules distributed around the central photovoltaic module; The floating platform is equipped with a movable slide system corresponding to each peripheral photovoltaic module, and the peripheral photovoltaic modules are slidably assembled on the movable slide system. The floating platform is also equipped with a telescopic drive device, which is used to drive each peripheral photovoltaic module to move horizontally along the movable slide system towards or away from the central photovoltaic module, so that the peripheral photovoltaic modules can switch between a fully extended power generation state and a retracted protective state stacked on top of the central photovoltaic module. The floating body component consists of four cylindrical floats, which are fixedly installed at the four corners of the floating body platform.

[0006] Furthermore, both the peripheral photovoltaic module and the central photovoltaic module are rectangular structures, with the area of ​​the central photovoltaic module being smaller than that of the peripheral photovoltaic module. Multiple photovoltaic panels can be arranged on the photovoltaic module group, and several drainage slits are opened on the surface of the photovoltaic module group to drain surface water and compensate for thermal expansion and contraction. Each peripheral photovoltaic module has non-metallic pulleys on its edge, and the peripheral photovoltaic modules are fitted into the movable sliding groove system through the pulleys to form a sliding fit.

[0007] Furthermore, the movable chute system includes a movable chute, which is composed of a horizontal chute and a vertical chute arranged in upper and lower layers. The movable chute is welded and fixed to the floating platform as a whole and is made of corrosion-resistant steel. An elastic buffer pad is provided between the horizontal chute and the vertical chute. The elastic buffer pad is made of seawater-resistant rubber, polyurethane or spring damping pad, which is used to elastically deform during the stacking of modules and wave impact to absorb impact energy.

[0008] Furthermore, a limiter is provided at the end of the movable chute system. The limiter is an electromagnetic snap-fit ​​structure and is uniformly controlled by the telescopic drive device. It is used to trigger locking after the outer photovoltaic modules are stacked in place, forming a rigid limiting connection between the modules. An anti-detachment limiting block is provided between the lower end of the movable chute system and the floating platform.

[0009] Furthermore, the telescopic drive device is located below the central photovoltaic module, and the device is covered with a waterproof and corrosion-resistant outer shell; the telescopic drive device adopts a motor-driven lead screw transmission method to drive the peripheral photovoltaic module to complete translational telescopic movement along the movable slide system.

[0010] Furthermore, the floating platform is a truss structure built of circular steel pipes, with an overall rectangular outline, which is used to reduce the self-weight of the structure and improve the overall wind and wave resistance. At the same time, the circular steel pipe cross-section can reduce wind load resistance.

[0011] Furthermore, the cylindrical pontoons are made of high-density polyethylene and have a hollow internal structure; each cylindrical pontoon integrates a variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism, which includes a ballast water tank, a water pump or solenoid valve group, a liquid level sensor, and connecting pipelines. The ballast water tank is built inside the cylindrical pontoon or integrally formed with the pontoon.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a tiered controller, which is connected to the telescopic drive device, the variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism respectively. The tiered controller adjusts the water volume of each ballast tank by regulating the water pump or solenoid valve group according to the current position of the peripheral photovoltaic modules, the platform tilt angle, the wave incident direction and the draft of each cylindrical float: when it is necessary to lower the overall center of gravity or increase the restoring torque, it controls the outer perimeter or wave-facing cylindrical float to enter water; when the platform tilts to one side, it controls the corresponding cylindrical float to drain water or the opposite cylindrical float to enter water, so that the draft difference of each cylindrical float is kept within the allowable range, and the center of gravity rise caused by the stacking of modules is offset.

[0013] Furthermore, an environmental sensing unit is installed below the outer edge of the peripheral photovoltaic module. This environmental sensing unit is connected to the graded controller and is used to collect wind speed, wave height, wave period, platform tilt angle, and liquid level parameters of each float in real time. The graded controller has a built-in four-level protection status control logic, which classifies the protection level based on real-time collected parameters, preset sea state thresholds, or external weather forecast information. Level 0 represents the normal deployment state, where the outer photovoltaic modules are fully deployed and generating electricity. Level I is a warning contraction state, which controls the peripheral photovoltaic modules to contract along the slide rail towards the center by a first preset distance; Level II is the protective retraction state, which controls the outer photovoltaic modules to continue moving towards the central photovoltaic module, forming a partial stacking; Level III is the extreme protection state, which controls the outer photovoltaic modules to be completely stacked on top of the central photovoltaic module, and simultaneously triggers the limit switch locking and ballast buoyancy compensation actions.

[0014] Furthermore, the mooring system includes a mooring cable and a bottom mooring point. The upper end of the mooring cable is connected to the bottom of the cylindrical buoy, and the lower end is fixed to the bottom mooring point. The mooring cable is made of nylon rope or iron chain and is used to restrain the planar displacement of the floating platform to adapt to changes in water level.

[0015] The telescopic floating photovoltaic structure of the present invention has the following advantages: By dividing the photovoltaic modules into a central fixed module and peripheral sliding modules, the peripheral modules can be horizontally stacked towards the center along a chute under extreme sea conditions, significantly reducing the windward area and wave-impact area of ​​the photovoltaic array, thereby effectively reducing the impact of wind and wave loads on the structure. Compared with existing folding or lifting and retraction schemes, the horizontal centripetal stacking method eliminates the need for grooves or complex hinge mechanisms. After stacking, the peripheral modules completely cover the central module, forming a multi-layered protective structure. This avoids the risk of long-term immersion and moisture damage to the photovoltaic panels, eliminates the hidden danger of hinges loosening under wave swaying, and improves the system's resistance to extreme weather conditions such as typhoons and storm surges.

[0016] The chute-driven translational mechanism is simpler and more efficient than gear folding or lifting and retraction mechanisms. The pulley-chute mating structure has low friction and stable transmission. Made of corrosion-resistant steel and seawater-resistant rubber, it offers excellent weather and corrosion resistance. The clearly defined functional modules facilitate factory prefabrication, rapid on-site assembly, and subsequent maintenance and replacement, reducing manufacturing and operation costs and making it suitable for large-scale application.

[0017] This structure incorporates an environmental sensing unit and a four-level protection status control logic. It can determine the sea state level based on real-time collected parameters such as wind speed, wave height, and wave period, and control the degree of retraction of peripheral modules in stages, achieving a tiered protection response from fully deployed for power generation, to early warning retraction, and finally, full stacking. Compared to the simple on / off control of existing solutions, this tiered strategy ensures safety while also considering power generation efficiency, preventing excessive retraction from impacting normal power generation revenue.

[0018] The invention features a modular design, allowing for the independent prefabrication and assembly of photovoltaic modules, movable chutes, floating platforms, and pontoons. This facilitates transportation and installation, and allows for flexible adjustments to the scale based on actual water conditions and power generation capacity requirements. It is suitable for both still water environments such as inland reservoirs and lakes, as well as complex coastal waters with strong winds and waves, demonstrating broad application prospects and good economic efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the contracted state structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a top view of the structure of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the floating platform installation structure of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the photovoltaic module structure of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the movable chute system structure of the present invention; Figure 7This is a schematic diagram of the limiter structure of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the mooring system connection structure of the present invention; The markings in the diagram are as follows: 1. Photovoltaic module group; 11. Peripheral photovoltaic module; 12. Central photovoltaic module; 13. Environmental sensing unit; 14. Drainage gap; 15. Pulley; 2. Movable chute system; 21. Movable chute; 22. Limiter; 23. Elastic buffer pad; 24. Anti-detachment limit block; 3. Floating platform; 4. Cylindrical float; 5. Telescopic drive device; 61. Mooring cable; 62. Underwater mooring point. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To better understand the purpose, structure, and function of this invention, a telescopic floating photovoltaic structure of this invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] like Figure 1-8 As shown, the present invention discloses a telescopic floating photovoltaic structure, comprising a floating platform 3, a photovoltaic module group 1 disposed on the floating platform 3, a floating component providing buoyancy for the overall structure, and a mooring system for anchoring the platform; the photovoltaic module group 1 includes a central photovoltaic module 12 fixedly disposed at the center of the floating platform 3, and a plurality of peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 distributed around the central photovoltaic module 12; the floating platform 3 is provided with a movable chute system 2 corresponding to each peripheral photovoltaic module 11, and the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 are slidably assembled on the movable chute system 2; the floating platform 3 is also provided with a telescopic drive device 5, which is used to drive each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to move horizontally along the movable chute system 2 towards or away from the central photovoltaic module 12, so that the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 switch between a fully deployed power generation state and a retracted protective state stacked above the central photovoltaic module 12; the floating component consists of four cylindrical floats 4, which are respectively fixedly installed at the four corners of the floating platform 3.

[0022] Combination Figure 1-8 As shown, a telescopic floating photovoltaic structure includes a floating platform 3, a photovoltaic module group 1 mounted on the floating platform 3, floating components that provide buoyancy for the overall structure, and a mooring system for anchoring the platform. The floating components consist of four cylindrical buoys 4, which are fixedly installed at the four corners of the floating platform 3. The four cylindrical buoys 4 together provide buoyancy support for the entire structure, allowing the floating platform 3 and the photovoltaic module group 1 on top to float on the water surface. The mooring system is connected to the bottom of the cylindrical buoys 4 to anchor the overall structure to the seabed, restrict the horizontal displacement of the floating platform 3 on the water surface, and adapt to changes in water level.

[0023] The photovoltaic module group 1 includes a central photovoltaic module 12 fixedly installed at the center of the floating platform 3, and several peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 distributed around the central photovoltaic module 12. The central photovoltaic module 12 is fixedly installed at the center of the floating platform 3, serving as the fixed foundation for the entire photovoltaic module group 1. The peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 are distributed around the central photovoltaic module 12, and each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 can slide independently relative to the central photovoltaic module 12. The central photovoltaic module 12, fixed at the center, provides a stable positioning reference for the entire photovoltaic module group 1. The peripheral photovoltaic modules 11, distributed around the perimeter, can form a complete photovoltaic power generation array in the fully deployed state, maximizing the utilization of the area of ​​the floating platform 3 for power generation. In the retracted state, the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 converge towards the center and stack on top of the central photovoltaic module 12, thereby significantly reducing the overall wind-exposed area and wave-impacted area of ​​the photovoltaic module group 1.

[0024] like Figure 1-3 As shown, both the outer photovoltaic module 11 and the central photovoltaic module 12 are rectangular structures. The area of ​​the central photovoltaic module 12 is smaller than that of the outer photovoltaic module 11 to ensure that each outer photovoltaic module 11 can completely cover the central photovoltaic module 12 when fully stacked, forming a multi-layered protective structure. Multiple photovoltaic panels can be installed on a single photovoltaic module to form a complete photovoltaic power generation unit.

[0025] The surface of the photovoltaic module group 1 is provided with several drainage slots 14. Under normal power generation conditions, the drainage slots 14 can promptly drain water accumulated on the surface of the photovoltaic panels, preventing water accumulation from reducing power generation efficiency or causing water stains. During the shrinking and stacking of the photovoltaic modules, the drainage slots 14 can quickly drain water accumulated in the stacking gaps, preventing water from stagnating between modules and causing water hammer or adding extra load. Under high-temperature environments, the drainage slots 14 can provide compensation space for the thermal expansion and contraction of the photovoltaic panels, preventing the photovoltaic panels from cracking or the module frame from deforming and being damaged due to thermal stress concentration.

[0026] like Figure 7 As shown, each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 is equipped with a pulley 15 at its edge, and the pulley 15 is made of a non-metallic material. The peripheral photovoltaic module 11 is embedded in the movable sliding groove system 2 through the pulley 15 to form a sliding fit. The pulley 15 is made of a non-metallic material, which on the one hand can avoid electrochemical corrosion caused by metal-to-metal contact, and prevent the reliability of the telescopic action from being affected by increased sliding resistance due to rust after long-term use; on the other hand, it can reduce the frictional resistance during sliding, reduce the energy consumption of the telescopic drive device 5, and also prevent debris generated by friction from scratching the surface of the sliding groove, thus extending the service life of the system.

[0027] A movable slide system 2 is provided on the floating platform 3 for each peripheral photovoltaic module 11, and the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 are slidably assembled on the movable slide system 2. The movable slide system 2 includes a movable slide 21, which is composed of a horizontal slide and a vertical slide arranged in upper and lower layers. The upper and lower layers of slide structure correspond to sliding guidance in different directions: one layer of slide extends horizontally to guide the translation of the corresponding peripheral photovoltaic module 11 in the horizontal direction; the other layer of slide extends vertically to guide the translation of the corresponding peripheral photovoltaic module 11 in the vertical direction. Through this horizontal and vertical layered slide layout, each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 can move independently in its own sliding direction without interfering with each other. Finally, all peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 can translate along their corresponding slides towards the center and stack on top of the central photovoltaic module 12.

[0028] Combination Figure 1-6 As shown, the movable chute 21 is integrally welded and fixed to the floating platform 3, ensuring a strong rigid connection between the chute and the floating platform 3. This guarantees that the chute maintains its relative positional accuracy with the floating platform 3 during frequent sliding guidance. The movable chute 21 is made of corrosion-resistant steel, which can maintain its structural strength and dimensional stability for a long time under high humidity and wave impact conditions on the water surface. It resists electrochemical corrosion in seawater or freshwater environments, ensuring the sliding accuracy and load-bearing capacity of the chute throughout its service life.

[0029] like Figure 6 As shown, elastic buffer pads 23 are provided between the movable chutes 21, that is, elastic buffer pads 23 are provided at the intersection of the transverse and longitudinal chutes or at the end of the movable chutes 21. The elastic buffer pads 23 are made of any one of the following materials: seawater resistant rubber, polyurethane, or spring damping pads. During the sliding of the outer photovoltaic modules 11 along the chutes towards the center and during the stacking of photovoltaic modules and wave impact, elastic deformation occurs. The elastic buffer pads 23 absorb the impact energy and absorb the kinetic energy of the outer photovoltaic modules 11 at the sliding end through elastic deformation, so that the modules decelerate smoothly and stop at the predetermined stacking position, avoiding rigid collisions that could damage the modules or the ends of the chutes. When the floating platform 3 sways and vibrates due to wave impact, the elastic buffer pads 23 can absorb the relative vibration energy between the modules and the chutes, reduce the peak impact load, and protect the edge structure of the chutes and modules from damage. Through elastic deformation, the contact stress is evenly distributed, avoiding crushing deformation of the edges of the outer photovoltaic modules 11 or the inner wall of the chutes due to local stress concentration.

[0030] Combination Figure 6 , 7As shown, a limiter 22 is provided at the end of the movable chute system 2. The limiter 22 is an electromagnetic latch structure, which is uniformly controlled by the telescopic drive device 5. When the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 slides along the movable chute 21 to the stacked position, the limiter 22 is triggered by the telescopic drive device 5 to lock. The electromagnetic latch engages and fixes the pulley 15 or frame edge of the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to the predetermined locking position at the end of the chute, forming a rigid limiting connection between the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 and the movable chute system 2. In the locked state, each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 is firmly held in the stacked position and will not slip, shift, or collide with adjacent modules due to the impact of wind and waves or the swaying vibration of the floating platform 3. When it is necessary to release the stacked state and restore the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to the fully deployed power generation state, the telescopic drive device 5 sends an unlocking signal to the limiter 22, the electromagnetic latch releases, and the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 can slide in the opposite direction along the chute to the deployed position under the drive of the telescopic drive device 5.

[0031] like Figure 6 As shown, an anti-detachment limiting block 24 is provided between the lower end of the movable chute system 2 and the floating platform 3. The anti-detachment limiting block 24 is located at the end of the movable chute 21 near the floating platform 3 and is used to limit the excessive displacement of the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 along the direction of the movable chute 21. When the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 slides along the movable chute 21 towards the center to the predetermined stacking position, the anti-detachment limiting block 24 physically interferes with and blocks the edge of the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to prevent the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 from sliding beyond the stacking position due to excessive inertia or wave impact vibration. In the stacked locked state, the anti-detachment limiting block 24 and the limiter 22 together form a double limiting protection, where the limiter 22 provides active electromagnetic locking and the anti-detachment limiting block 24 provides passive mechanical stopping, thereby preventing the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 from slipping, colliding with each other, or causing secondary damage after stacking.

[0032] It should be noted that the electromagnetic latch structure and its control circuit of the limiter 22 are conventional technologies in the art. The basic working principle of the electromagnetic latch, which uses an electromagnetic coil to drive an armature to extend or retract the locking pin, thus achieving locking and unlocking, is well known to those skilled in the art. Based on actual working parameters such as locking force and response speed, those skilled in the art can determine the specific selection of the electromagnetic latch and the driving control method without creative effort. The above content is not the core innovation of this invention; therefore, it will not be described in detail here. Those skilled in the art can implement it by combining common knowledge in the field, and there is no situation that would make the technical solution of this invention unclear or impossible to implement.

[0033] like Figure 4As shown, a telescopic drive device 5 is installed on the floating platform 3. The telescopic drive device 5 drives each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to move horizontally along the movable slide system 2 towards or away from the central photovoltaic module 12, switching the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 between a fully extended power generation state and a retracted protective state stacked above the central photovoltaic module 12. The telescopic drive device 5 is located below the central photovoltaic module 12. Positioning the telescopic drive device 5 centrally, ensuring equal straight-line distances between it and each peripheral photovoltaic module 11, helps guarantee the symmetry and consistency of the driving force transmission path for each peripheral photovoltaic module 11, avoiding uneven driving force or torque imbalance caused by offset arrangement. The telescopic drive device 5 is externally covered with a waterproof and corrosion-resistant shell, effectively preventing high humidity environments, wave splashes, and rainwater erosion from entering the device, protecting precision transmission components such as motors and lead screws from moisture and salt spray corrosion, and ensuring long-term reliable operation of the telescopic drive device 5 in harsh environments.

[0034] The telescopic drive device 5 uses a motor-driven lead screw transmission method to drive the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to complete translational telescopic movement along the movable slide system 2. The specific transmission path is as follows: the motor outputs rotational torque, which is transmitted to the lead screw through a reduction mechanism. The lead screw converts the rotational motion into linear motion. The nut or push rod on the lead screw is fixedly connected to the bottom of the frame of the peripheral photovoltaic module 11, thereby driving the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to perform horizontal translational movement along the slide. The lead screw transmission method has the advantages of high transmission accuracy, smooth movement, and good self-locking performance. When the floating platform 3 tilts or sways due to wind and waves, the self-locking characteristic of the lead screw can prevent the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 from accidentally sliding in the non-driven state, improving the safety of the system.

[0035] The telescopic drive device 5 adopts a transmission method of motor driving lead screw. The motor selection, lead screw lead and reduction ratio and other parameters are determined by those skilled in the art according to the actual working conditions such as load weight and telescopic speed by conventional methods. They are not the core innovation of this invention, so they will not be described in detail. Those skilled in the art can implement them by combining common common sense.

[0036] The floating platform 3 is a truss structure built of circular steel pipes, with an overall rectangular outline. The use of circular steel pipes to construct the truss structure creates a spatial triangular stable system, offering higher bending and torsional stiffness for the same material usage. This effectively resists bending and torsional deformation caused by wind and wave loads, ensuring that the photovoltaic module group 1 installed on it maintains good flatness and relative positional accuracy. The truss structure has numerous internal gaps, allowing water flow and waves to pass freely. Compared to solid floating boxes or plate structures, this significantly reduces the direct impact area and upward force of waves on the floating platform 3, mitigating the impact of wave loads on the overall structure. The truss structure is welded from circular steel pipes, whose cross-sections exhibit the same and relatively low wind load drag coefficient in any direction, effectively reducing the lateral thrust of wind loads on the floating platform 3. The overall rectangular outline of the floating platform 3 provides a good shape match with the rectangularly arranged photovoltaic module group 1, maximizing platform area utilization efficiency and ensuring uniform stress distribution on the four corner cylindrical floats 4.

[0037] The cylindrical pontoon 4 is made of high-density polyethylene and has a hollow internal structure. High-density polyethylene has advantages such as low density, strong corrosion resistance, and good aging resistance. The hollow structure can provide a large drainage volume, thereby generating sufficient buoyancy to support the overall structure.

[0038] Each cylindrical pontoon 4 integrates a variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism. This mechanism includes a ballast tank, a water pump or solenoid valve assembly, a level sensor, and connecting pipes. The ballast tank is either built into the cylindrical pontoon 4 or integrally formed with it. Specifically, the ballast tank is an independent, sealed chamber inside the cylindrical pontoon 4, separated from the hollow buoyancy cavity of the pontoon by a partition; alternatively, the ballast tank and the cylindrical pontoon 4 are integrally injection molded, forming a ballast cavity within the pontoon wall. The water pump or solenoid valve assembly is located on the connecting pipes and is used to control the water transfer between the ballast tanks or the exchange with external water. The level sensor is located inside each ballast tank and is used to monitor the water level in each tank in real time, transmitting the level signal to the grading controller. The connecting pipes connect the ballast tanks inside each cylindrical pontoon 4 to the external water body.

[0039] The ballast water tanks, pumps or solenoid valve assemblies, level sensors, and connecting pipelines in the variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism are all conventional components and equipment in the art. The ballast water tanks, as sealed compartments inside the hull used to load ballast water, have sealing designs and structural strength calculations well-known to those skilled in the art. The pumps or solenoid valve assemblies control the flow and direction of water in the pipelines and are standard actuators in the field of fluid control. The level sensors are used to detect the water level in the tanks in real time, and their selection and installation methods are common knowledge in the art. The connecting pipelines connect the various ballast water tanks to the external water body; their pipe diameter design and pipeline layout can be determined according to actual flow requirements using conventional engineering methods. Those skilled in the art can determine the specific models, quantities, and installation methods of the above components without creative effort based on the internal space dimensions of the cylindrical buoy 4, the required total ballast water volume, and the adjustment rate, among other actual operating parameters. The above content is common knowledge in the field and is not the core innovation of this invention. Therefore, it will not be described in detail. Those skilled in the art can realize the ballast adjustment function of the variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism by combining common knowledge in the field.

[0040] The invention also includes a graded controller. The graded controller is connected to the telescopic drive device 5 and the variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism via signals. Based on the current position of the peripheral photovoltaic module 11, the platform tilt angle, the wave incident direction, and the draft of each pontoon, the graded controller regulates the water volume of each ballast tank by adjusting the water pump or solenoid valve group: when it is necessary to lower the overall center of gravity or increase the restoring torque, it controls the water intake of the outer perimeter or wave-facing pontoons; when the platform tilts to one side, it controls the corresponding side pontoons to drain water or the opposite side pontoons to enter water, so that the draft difference of each pontoon is kept within the allowable range, thus offsetting the rise in the center of gravity caused by the stacking of modules.

[0041] As the central control unit of the entire system, the hierarchical controller can receive various environmental parameters collected by the environmental sensing unit 13 and the position information of the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 fed back from the telescopic drive device 5 in real time. It makes judgments at the decision-making level and synchronously sends execution commands to the telescopic drive device 5 and the variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism. The hierarchical controller simultaneously controls the telescopic movement and ballast adjustment movement of the photovoltaic module group 1, ensuring that the two subsystems are precisely coordinated in timing and amplitude: the telescopic movement of the photovoltaic module group 1 causes a change in the center of gravity, and the ballast adjustment synchronously follows to compensate for this change, thereby always maintaining the optimal stability of the platform.

[0042] like Figure 5As shown, an environmental sensing unit 13 is disposed below the outer edge of the peripheral photovoltaic module 11. Positioning the environmental sensing unit 13 below the outer edge of the peripheral photovoltaic module 11 allows the sensor to directly perceive the wind direction and wave propagation direction, improving the representativeness and response speed of environmental parameter acquisition. Simultaneously, its placement below reduces the risk of erosion and damage from long-term exposure to sunlight and rain, extending the service life of the environmental sensing unit 13 and ensuring its acquisition accuracy.

[0043] The environmental sensing unit 13 is connected to the hierarchical controller and is used to collect wind speed, wave height, wave period, platform tilt angle, and liquid level parameters of each float in real time. The environmental sensing unit 13 includes a wind speed sensor, a wave height sensor, a wave period sensor, a tilt angle sensor, and a liquid level sensor. The data from these multiple sensors together constitute the complete input information for hierarchical control decision-making.

[0044] It should be noted that the parameters collected by the environmental sensing unit 13, such as wind speed, wave height, wave period, platform tilt angle, and float level, are all conventional data acquisition objects in monitoring systems in this field. These parameters are detected by wind speed sensors, wave height sensors, wave period sensors, tilt angle sensors, and level sensors, respectively. The selection, installation methods, and signal acquisition principles of these sensors are all common knowledge in this field. The signal connection between the sensors and the graded controller adopts conventional wired or wireless communication methods in this field, and the signal conditioning and data transmission protocols are mature technologies in this field. Those skilled in the art can determine the appropriate sensor model and installation method based on the required acquisition accuracy, measurement range, and protection level, etc., and this is not the core innovation of this invention.

[0045] The graded controller has a built-in four-level protection status control logic, which combines real-time collected parameters, preset sea state thresholds, or external weather forecast information to classify the protection level: Level 0 represents the normal deployment state. At this time, sea conditions are good, the outer photovoltaic modules 11 are fully deployed, and all photovoltaic modules work together to generate electricity. At this point, the photovoltaic module group 1 has the largest light-receiving area and the highest power generation efficiency. Figure 1 As shown.

[0046] Level I is the warning and retraction state. When the wind speed or wave height parameters collected by the environmental sensing unit 13 reach the preset warning threshold, the graded controller controls the telescopic drive device 5 to start, driving each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to retract a first preset distance towards the center along the movable slide system 2. In this state, the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 partially retract, and the wind-receiving area is reduced, but most of the power generation capacity is still retained, balancing power generation efficiency and safety margin.

[0047] Level II is the protective contraction state. When environmental parameters further deteriorate and reach the protection threshold, the graded controller controls the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 to continue moving towards the central photovoltaic module 12, forming a partial stacking. In this state, each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 has partially covered the edge above the central photovoltaic module 12, and the wind-exposed area is further significantly reduced, effectively reducing the wind load and wave impact force acting on the photovoltaic module group 1.

[0048] Level III represents the extreme protection state. When environmental parameters reach the extreme sea state threshold or extreme weather forecasts such as typhoons are received, the tiered controller controls the outer photovoltaic modules 11 to be completely stacked on top of the central photovoltaic module 12, and simultaneously triggers the limit switch 22 for locking and ballast buoyancy compensation. In this state, all outer photovoltaic modules 11 are tightly stacked on top of the central photovoltaic module 12, minimizing the wind-exposed area of ​​the entire photovoltaic module group 1. The rigid locking of the limit switch 22 ensures the stacked structure is robust and reliable. Simultaneously, the tiered controller sends ballast adjustment commands to the variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism, adjusting the ballast water volume in each cylindrical buoy 4 according to the change in the center of gravity after stacking. This ensures good platform stability even when the center of gravity rises due to module stacking, thus resisting extreme sea state attacks with minimal wind load and optimal stability. Figure 2 As shown.

[0049] like Figure 8 As shown, the mooring system includes mooring lines 61 and underwater mooring points 62. The upper end of the mooring line 61 is connected to the bottom of the cylindrical buoy 4, and the lower end is fixed to the underwater mooring point 62. The mooring line 61 is made of nylon rope or iron chain. The bottom of each of the four cylindrical buoys 4 is connected to the mooring line 61, and each mooring line 61 extends downward from the four corners to the bottom of the water, anchoring to the corresponding underwater mooring point 62. This four-point mooring method effectively restrains the planar displacement of the floating platform 3 in any horizontal direction, preventing the overall structure from drifting out of its predetermined working position under the influence of wind, waves, and currents. The mooring lines 61, made of nylon rope or iron chain, have high tensile strength and can withstand the horizontal tension under extreme sea conditions such as typhoons. The mooring lines 61 have an appropriate length allowance, allowing the floating platform 3 to float up and down with the rise and fall of the water level, adapting to water level changes without excessive mooring tension fluctuations.

[0050] Combination Figure 1-8 As shown, the overall operation includes: under normal power generation conditions, each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 is in a fully deployed position, forming a complete photovoltaic power generation array together with the central photovoltaic module 12, and performing normal power generation operations. The cylindrical buoy 4 provides full buoyancy support, the variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism maintains the balance of ballast water in each buoy, and the mooring system anchors the entire structure in the working position.

[0051] When the wind speed, wave height, and other parameters collected in real time by the environmental sensing unit 13 reach the preset warning threshold, the hierarchical controller switches the system to Level I protection state, controls the telescopic drive device 5 to start, and drives each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to retract a first preset distance along the movable chute system 2 towards the center, reducing the wind-receiving area. If the sea conditions continue to deteriorate and reach the protection threshold, the system enters Level II protection state, and the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 continue to move towards the center and form partial stacking.

[0052] When encountering extreme sea conditions such as typhoons, the graded controller switches the system to Level III protection mode, controlling each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to slide completely along the movable chute system 2 above the central photovoltaic module 12 and stack it in place. During the sliding process, the elastic buffer pad 23 absorbs impact energy at the sliding end, ensuring a smooth stop. After stacking, the limiter 22 triggers the electromagnetic latch to lock the peripheral photovoltaic modules 11 firmly in the stacked position. At the same time, the graded controller adjusts the ballast water volume in the four cylindrical buoys 4 according to the change in center of gravity after stacking, the platform tilt angle, and the wave incidence direction, keeping the draft difference between the buoys within the allowable range and maintaining the platform's stable attitude. After the extreme sea conditions have passed, the graded controller controls the limiter 22 to unlock, and the telescopic drive device 5 drives each peripheral photovoltaic module 11 to slide outward along the chute in the opposite direction, restoring it to the fully deployed power generation state.

[0053] It is understood that the present invention has been described through some embodiments, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes or equivalent substitutions can be made to these features and embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, under the teachings of the present invention, these features and embodiments can be modified to adapt to specific situations and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims of this application are within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure, characterized in that, The system includes a floating platform (3), a photovoltaic module group (1) set on the floating platform (3), a floating component that provides buoyancy to the overall structure, and a mooring system for anchoring the platform; the photovoltaic module group (1) includes a central photovoltaic module (12) fixedly set at the center of the floating platform (3), and several peripheral photovoltaic modules (11) distributed around the central photovoltaic module (12). The floating platform (3) is equipped with a movable slide system (2) corresponding to each peripheral photovoltaic module (11), and the peripheral photovoltaic module (11) is slidably mounted on the movable slide system (2); The floating platform (3) is also equipped with a telescopic drive device (5), which is used to drive each peripheral photovoltaic module (11) to move horizontally along the movable slide system (2) towards or away from the central photovoltaic module (12), so that the peripheral photovoltaic module (11) can switch between a fully extended power generation state and a retracted protective state stacked on top of the central photovoltaic module (12). The floating body component consists of four cylindrical pontoons (4), which are fixedly installed at the four corners of the floating body platform (3).

2. The telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the peripheral photovoltaic module (11) and the central photovoltaic module (12) are rectangular structures, and the area of ​​the central photovoltaic module (12) is smaller than that of the peripheral photovoltaic module (11). Multiple photovoltaic panels can be arranged on the photovoltaic module group (1), and several drainage slots (14) are opened on the surface of the photovoltaic module group (1) to drain surface water and compensate for thermal expansion and contraction. Each peripheral photovoltaic module (11) is provided with a non-metallic pulley (15) on its edge, and the peripheral photovoltaic module (11) is fitted into the movable sliding groove system (2) through the pulley (15) to form a sliding fit.

3. The telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable chute system (2) includes a movable chute (21), which is composed of a horizontal chute and a vertical chute arranged in upper and lower layers. The movable chute (21) is welded and fixed on the floating platform (3) as a whole, and is made of corrosion-resistant steel. An elastic buffer pad (23) is provided between the horizontal chute and the vertical chute. The elastic buffer pad (23) is made of seawater resistant rubber, polyurethane or spring damping pad, and is used to undergo elastic deformation during module stacking and wave impact to absorb impact energy.

4. A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The end of the movable chute system (2) is provided with a limiter (22), which is an electromagnetic snap-fit ​​structure and is uniformly controlled by the telescopic drive device (5). It is used to trigger locking after the outer photovoltaic module (11) is stacked in place, forming a rigid limiting connection between the modules. An anti-detachment limiting block (24) is provided between the lower side of the end of the movable chute system (2) and the floating platform (3).

5. A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic drive device (5) is located below the central photovoltaic module (12), and the device is covered with a waterproof and corrosion-resistant shell. The telescopic drive device (5) adopts a motor-driven lead screw transmission method to drive the peripheral photovoltaic module (11) to complete translational telescopic movement along the movable slide system (2).

6. A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The floating platform (3) is a truss structure built with circular steel pipes. The overall shape is rectangular, which is used to reduce the self-weight of the structure and improve the overall wind and wave resistance. At the same time, the circular steel pipe section can reduce the wind load resistance.

7. A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cylindrical pontoons (4) are made of high-density polyethylene and have a hollow structure inside. Each cylindrical pontoon (4) integrates a variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism. The variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism includes a ballast water tank, a water pump or solenoid valve group, a liquid level sensor and a connecting pipeline. The ballast water tank is built inside the cylindrical pontoon (4) or is integrally formed with the pontoon.

8. A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, It also includes a graded controller, which is connected to the telescopic drive device (5) and the variable ballast and buoyancy compensation mechanism respectively. The graded controller adjusts the water pump or solenoid valve group to regulate the water volume of each ballast tank according to the current position of the peripheral photovoltaic module (11), the platform tilt angle, the wave incident direction and the draft of each cylindrical float (4). When it is necessary to lower the overall center of gravity or increase the recovery torque, the outer periphery or the wave-facing cylindrical float (4) is controlled to take in water. When the platform tilts on one side, the corresponding cylindrical float (4) is controlled to drain water or the opposite cylindrical float (4) is controlled to take in water, so that the difference in draft of each cylindrical float (4) is kept within the allowable range, and the center of gravity rise caused by the stacking of modules is offset.

9. A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, An environmental sensing unit (13) is provided below the outer edge of the peripheral photovoltaic module (11). The environmental sensing unit (13) is connected to the graded controller signal and is used to collect wind speed, wave height, wave period, platform tilt angle and liquid level parameters of each float in real time. The graded controller has a built-in four-level protection status control logic, which combines real-time collected parameters, preset sea state thresholds or external weather forecast information to classify the protection level: Level 0 is the normal deployment state, with the outer photovoltaic module (11) fully deployed and generating electricity; Level I is a warning contraction state, which controls the peripheral photovoltaic module (11) to contract along the slide groove to the center by a first preset distance; Level II is the protective shrinkage state, which controls the outer photovoltaic module (11) to continue moving towards the central photovoltaic module (12) to form a partial stacking; Level III is the extreme protection state, which controls the outer photovoltaic module (11) to be completely stacked on top of the central photovoltaic module (12), and simultaneously triggers the limiter (22) to lock and the ballast buoyancy compensation action.

10. A telescopic floating photovoltaic structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mooring system includes a mooring cable (61) and a bottom mooring point (62). The upper end of the mooring cable (61) is connected to the bottom of the cylindrical buoy (4), and the lower end is fixed to the bottom mooring point (62). The mooring cable (61) is made of nylon rope or iron chain and is used to constrain the planar displacement of the floating platform to adapt to changes in water level.

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