Floating solar system

Abstract

Floating solar power system (1) comprising: - Floating bodies (11) which give the system its buoyancy, - at least one row (R1, R2) of photovoltaic panels extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and attached to the floating bodies, the photovoltaic panels being held out of the water by the floating bodies, and a trolley system configured for the maintenance of the photovoltaic panels (PV), comprising: - maintenance rails (12, 13, 14) comprising at least a first rail (12) and a second rail (13) extending parallel on both sides of the at least one row of photovoltaic panels (R1, R2) in the longitudinal direction (X) and spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction (Y), - at least one maintenance trolley (2) comprising a chassis (20) equipped with first rolling / sliding elements (21) and second rolling / sliding elements (22), each configured to move along a first rail (12) and the second rail (13), respectively, while being guided by the two rails, and wherein the trolley is configured to be displaced along the rails, wherein the chassis is configured to run astride the photovoltaic panels of the at least one row (R1, R2), and wherein the maintenance rails are separate components independent of the photovoltaic panels and configured to ensure the movement of the chassis (20) of the at least one maintenance trolley (2) over the locations of the photovoltaic panels of the row (R1; R2) of photovoltaic panels, even when one or more of the photovoltaic panels are removed.

Description

Technical FieldThe present disclosure relates to the field of floating solar installations configured to support photovoltaic panels. During the lifetime, it may happen that a photovoltaic panel is defective, for example because the end approaches its lifetime, or the electrical wiring or possibly the fastening elements of the structure have to be checked / repaired.For the maintenance of the plant, it is therefore necessary that the components of the plant can be accessed with regard to inspection and maintenance work, respectively, and for example:a used panel can be disassembled in order to be replaceable by a functional photovoltaic panel,the electrical wiring can be checked and optionally re-fastened and exchanged, and optionally the various fastening elements, for example fastening elements for ensuring the stability of the structure, can be re-tightened and exchanged.Prior ArtThere is a first type of prior art for floating solar installations in which a maintenance corridor is present between two rows of photovoltaic panels. Application WO2012 / 139998A2 is an example of such a plant according to this first type.This maintenance corridor is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rows of panels and is arranged between the two rows. An operator can thus move in this maintenance corridor in order to gain access to the various photovoltaic panels of the row and, if appropriate, in order to be able to replace them and to check the cabling and / or the fastening elements. The service corridor has a width that is typically more than 40 cm (for example 45 cm) in a transverse direction to the row to allow sufficient clearance for an operator to move between the two rows of photovoltaic panels.A first limitation of this type of plant is that it requires the presence of these physical maintenance corridors, and in particular the presence of floats forming the maintenance corridor, as disclosed in WO2012 / 139998A2, and which must be dimensioned to allow to absorb the load of an operator.A second limitation associated with this solution with a maintenance corridor is that it requires a space between the two rows of photovoltaic panels to allow the movement of an operator who is an area not covered by photovoltaic panels, thus reducing the power generation energy efficiency per unit area occupied by the plant.Furthermore, a second type of floating solar plant is known, for example, from document WO 2021 / 219948, wherein a spacer structure of the plant ensures an intermediate space between a first row of photovoltaic panels and a second row of photovoltaics. This spacing structure is configured to be submerged under water to allow a floating service unit to travel along a water path between the two rows of panels.In such a prior art, maintenance therefore requires the use of a floating maintenance unit configured to travel along water paths. Such a prior art makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of the floating bodies of the floating solar installation and thus also the amount of material required for their production in comparison with the prior art of the first type.On the other hand, there is still a need for a not negligible space between rows of photovoltaic panels to allow the creation of a waterway whose width dimension allows to ensure the passage of a casing body of the service unit intended to give the service unit the buoyancy by receiving the load of the service unit and the operator.From document KR20200106655, a device for monitoring and cleaning the surface of an offshore floating solar module is also known, comprising a frame sliding along two edges of a floating solar module. The device is in particular equipped with a brush module suitable for cleaning the surface of the solar panel.SummaryThe present disclosure aims to improve the situation.It proposes a floating solar installation comprising:floating bodies which provide the installation with floating capability,at least one row of photovoltaic panels extending in a longitudinal direction and attached to the floats, the photovoltaic panels being kept outside the water by the floats, and a carriage system configured for maintenance of the photovoltaic panels, comprising:service rails comprising at least a first rail and a second rail extending parallel on both sides of the at least one row of photovoltaic panels in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction,at least one maintenance trolley comprising a chassis provided with first rolling / sliding elements and second rolling / sliding elements, each configured to move along a first rail and the second rail respectively, while being guided by the two rails, and wherein the trolley is configured to be slid along the rails, wherein the chassis is configured to ride astride the photovoltaic panels of the at least one row.The service rails in the sense of the present disclosure are therefore separate components independent of the photovoltaic panels, which are configured such that they ensure the movement of the chassis of the at least one service cart over the position regions of the photovoltaic panels of the row of photovoltaic panels, even if one or more of the photovoltaic panels are removed.According to the present disclosure, the service rails are configured to ensure movement of the at least one service cart over the locations of the photovoltaic panels of the row of photovoltaic panels even when one or more of the photovoltaic panels are removed, and, according to at least one embodiment, even when all of the photovoltaic panels are removed.Such a service cart thus enables the panels to be maintained, typically by removing one or more used panels, transporting them off by moving the service cart along the rails and replacing them with one or more new panels.The features described in the following sections may be optionally implemented. They can be implemented independently of one another or in combination with one another:According to one embodiment, the service cart and the service rails are configured to move at least one operator located on board the chassis of the service cart: in particular, the service cart and the service rails (and generally the plant) may typically be configured to withstand the load of one operator, possibly two operators located on board the cart, and typically a weight of 100 kg or more, typically two operators.According to one embodiment, the service cart is powered and includes a control module to ensure its autonomous or remote movement along the service rails.According to an embodiment, the plant may comprise a plurality of rows of panels extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein the panels of the different rows are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction and comprise a plurality of rail pairs spaced apart in the transverse direction, including at least a first rail pair allowing the movement of the service car astride the photovoltaic panels of a first row and at least a second rail pair allowing the movement of the service car astride the photovoltaic panels of another row of panels different from the first row, in particular a second row.According to an embodiment, the first row of photovoltaic panels and the second row of photovoltaic panels are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction by a distance δ allowing the movement of the first rolling / sliding elements or the second rolling / sliding elements on an intermediate service rail, and wherein the dimension of the distance δ is smaller than 40 cm, even smaller than 35 cm, even smaller than 25 cm and for example even smaller than 15 cm. Such a small distance δ makes it possible to maximize and compress the power generation energy efficiency per unit area of the floating solar plant by minimizing the areas not used for capturing the solar rays, as compared to floating solar plants with maintenance corridors between the rows of panels, where this distance is typically greater than 40 cm, in order to allow the movement of an operator.According to an embodiment, the carriage system comprises a transfer carriage that can be moved along the transfer rails that extend lengthwise along the transverse direction and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the transfer carriage is configured to support the maintenance carriage and to ensure the transfer of the maintenance carriage from a first position of the transfer carriage configured to ensure the loading of the maintenance carriage from the first pair of rails to a second position of the transfer carriage configured to ensure the unloading of the maintenance carriage onto the other pair of rails, in particular onto the second pair.In particular, the chassis of the transfer car has carrier rails configured to cooperate with the service car, wherein the carrier rails are configured to be respectively aligned with the rails of the first pair of rails in the first position of the transfer car and respectively aligned with the rails of the other pair of rails in the second position of the transfer car. Generally, the transfer truck advantageously allows a single service truck to travel sequentially on different rows of panels, thereby facilitating transfer operations of the service truck from one pair of rails to another pair of rails.According to an embodiment, the panel maintenance cart has an inverted U-shaped frame structure comprising:a first vertical structure ensuring the support of the first rolling / sliding elements,a second vertical structure ensuring the support of the second rolling / sliding elements,a transverse structure extending in the transverse direction and intended to face above the panels of the at least one row, the transverse structure connecting the first vertical structure and the second vertical structure.The first rolling / sliding elements and the second rolling / sliding elements are configured to ride on the first rail and the second rail, which are arranged fully or partially at a height below the plane of the panels of the at least one row.According to an embodiment, the service cart comprises a collapsible extension configured to transition from a retracted position occupying less space on the frame structure to an extended position in which the extension extends cantilevered away from the frame structure of the cart to straddle a row of photovoltaic panels following the at least one row over which the transverse structure is travelling.According to one possibility, the service cart is a simple service cart that extends in the transverse direction to straddle a single row of photovoltaic panels. According to another possibility, the maintenance trolley is a multiple maintenance trolley extending in the transverse direction to sit astride a plurality of rows of solar panels.According to an embodiment, the photovoltaic panels of the at least one row are attached to the service rails above the service rails via mechanical interfaces, such as attachment brackets, leaving a clearance along the rails for the movement of the sliding / rolling elements, the first rolling / sliding elements and the second rolling / sliding elements.According to one embodiment, the maintenance rails are fastened to the floating bodies.According to an embodiment, the service cart is equipped with a cleaning system comprising:spray nozzles oriented to spray a cleaning liquid onto the photovoltaic panels of the row over which the service cart moves; and / orbrush means, such as a brush, configured to brush the photovoltaic panels of the row over which the service cart moves.According to one embodiment, the installation comprises an inverter configured to convert the direct current originating from the photovoltaic panels into an alternating current that can be used by the grid supported by one or more floats, and wherein the installation comprises second service rails oriented in the transverse direction and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the inverter device, and a service trolley of the inverter, which runs on the second rails and is configured to support and transport away the inverter.Brief Description of the DrawingsOther features, details and advantages will become apparent from reading the following detailed description and from analyzing the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 perspectively illustrates an embodiment of a floating solar plant according to the present disclosure, comprising floating bodies and two rows of panels extending in length parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, the two rows being spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction, and a carriage system comprising:a service cart configured to move astride in the longitudinal direction, for example across a row of panels, along service rails,a transfer truck slidable along transfer rails oriented in a transverse direction and configured to transfer the maintenance truck from a first pair of maintenance rails to a second pair of maintenance rails. FIG. 1A is a bottom view of FIG. 1 illustrating the positioning of the photovoltaic panels attached to the side rails of the structure, the side rails interconnecting floats and being longitudinally spaced apart from each other by positioning the photovoltaic panels at the free locations above the water, thus promoting cooling of the panels. FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of the transfer truck and the service truck unloaded from the transfer truck, the service truck being, for example and not by way of limitation, a simple service truck traveling astride a single row of photovoltaic panels. FIG. 3 is a detailed view illustrating the simple service cart, below the chassis of which a photovoltaic panel is suspended, which is arranged between the first vertical structure and the second vertical structure of the chassis. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view on the right illustrating the suspension of the panel supported by a flexible link, the link being locked in a cam clamp on the chassis of the carriage, and a detailed view of the cam clamp on the left. FIG. 5 shows a multiple service cart in that it is configured to sit astride multiple rows of photovoltaic panels in the transverse direction, in particular astride two rows of panels, the two rows of panels extending parallel in the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction. Figure 5a is a view of an alternative of the maintenance trolley shown as a multiple maintenance trolley, but may also be a simple maintenance trolley, and in particular provided with a collapsible extension or possibly two collapsible extensions as shown here on the sides of the maintenance trolley. This collapsible extension is configured to transition from a less space in the cart retracted position (in the transverse direction) to an extended position in which the extension extends cantilevered away from the chassis of the cart to extend astride a row of photovoltaic panels to extend over a subsequent row of photovoltaic panels, with Figure 5a illustratively illustrating a first left extension in its extended position providing access to a row of panels (not shown) on the left side and a second right extension in its less space in its retracted position folded onto the chassis of the cart. FIG. 6 is a view of an inverter configured to convert the direct current from the photovoltaic panels into an alternating current that can be used by the grid, wherein the inverter is supported by one or more floats and there are second service rails extending in the transverse direction and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the inverter in order that a service cart of the inverter can travel on the second rails configured to support and transport the inverter. FIG. 7 is an example of a service cart of the inverter. FIG. 8 is an advantageous configuration enabling the space between two rows of panels to be limited, an intermediate rail having to be present for the movement of the maintenance trolley, which rail is arranged between the two rows, the two rows of panels being inclined with a simple inclination. Fig. 9 is an advantageous configuration enabling the limitation of the space between two rows of panels, there having to be an intermediate rail for the movement of the maintenance trolley, which is arranged between the two rows, the two rows of panels being inclined at a double inclination, the intermediate rail being perpendicular to an apex at the intersection of the planes passing through the panels of the two rows.DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTSThe drawings and the following description substantially contain certain feature elements. They therefore serve not only for better understanding of the present disclosure, but also, where appropriate, contribute to their definition.Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustratively illustrates a floating solar plant in accordance with the present disclosure.Furthermore, the plant according to the present disclosure comprises:floating bodies 11 which provide the installation with floating capability,at least one row R1, R2 of photovoltaic panels extending in a longitudinal direction X and attached to the floats, said photovoltaic panels being kept outside the water by the floats.Generally, the photovoltaic panels have a larger length dimension and a smaller width dimension.According to a possibility illustrated, the photovoltaic panels may be oriented in their longitudinal direction along the longitudinal direction X, wherein the width direction of the panel is inclined with respect to the horizontal. According to another possibility (not shown), the panels can be oriented in their width direction along the longitudinal direction X, wherein the longitudinal direction is inclined with respect to the horizontal.Generally, the longitudinal direction X may be oriented in the east-west direction and the transverse direction Y may be oriented in the north-south direction. The photovoltaic panels may be inclined with respect to the horizontal. The slopes of the panels between the rows R1, R2 may be the same or different, and the panels may optionally also be oriented in opposite slopes. In the latter case, the direction X may be generally oriented in the north-south direction and the direction Y in the east-west direction.Preferably, however, the photovoltaic panels PV of the same row have substantially the same inclination and are coplanar. This can facilitate its cleaning by moving a robot across the row.A plant typically includes several rows of photovoltaic panels, in particular depending on the production capacities. FIG. 1 shows a non-limiting example that includes only two rows, including a first row R 1 of photovoltaic panels and a second row R 2 of photovoltaic panels. It is understood that the number of rows may also be greater than 2, for example 3, 4, 5 or more.Such a system extends generally along its structure in a substantially horizontal XY plane and at a height along the vertical Z direction.These rows of photovoltaic panels R 1 and R 2 extend parallel in the longitudinal direction X and are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction Y.The floats 11 are typically made of plastic components which provide the system with buoyancy. The floats may be manufactured, for example, by extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, or other methods known to those skilled in the art.In general, the photovoltaic panels PV can be directly attached to the floats 11. Furthermore, the photovoltaic panels PV of the rows can be fastened to the floating bodies with the aid of carrier beams, which in turn are fastened to the floating bodies, according to an embodiment which is illustrated in particular.In general, and as illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1A, the support beams may advantageously allow the positioning of the photovoltaic panels attached to the support beams, in particular the longitudinal beam of the structure, the support beams connecting the floating bodies to each other.It should be noted that the floats 11 can be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction X by positioning the photovoltaic panels PV above the water and in particular in the area of the free areas which promote the cooling of the panels. Such free locations below the panels are clearly visible in Figure 2 in which the plant is viewed from below. They allow the water to effectively cool the underside of the panels by convection between the water surface and the underside of the photovoltaic panels.At least according to an advantageous embodiment (shown), the service rails 12, 13, 14 may advantageously form all or part of the support beams that ensure the supporting of the photovoltaic panels PV. Alternatively, the service rails and the support beams may be made from separate components.As can be seen in particular for the purpose of illustration in FIG. 1, the installation comprises a carriage system configured for the maintenance of the photovoltaic panels PV.Such a carriage system comprises above all the following:service rails 12, 13, 14 comprising at least a first rail 12 and a second rail 13 extending parallel on both sides of the at least one row of photovoltaic panels R 1, R 2 in the longitudinal direction X, wherein the first rail and the second rail are spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction Y,at least one maintenance trolley 2 comprising a chassis 20 equipped with first rolling / sliding elements 21 and second rolling / sliding elements 22. In the figures, the first and second members 21 and 22 are formed by wheels.Generally, the service rails 12, 13, 14 are typically arranged completely or partially below the plane of the photovoltaic panels. In the figures, an embodiment is shown in which all the service rails 12, 13, 14 are arranged at a height below the plane of the photovoltaic panels and typically between the photovoltaic panels of the rows. According to a further embodiment (not shown), one of the rails (the first rail 12 or the second rail 13) that cooperates with the maintenance trolley can be arranged below the level of the photovoltaic panels of the rows, while the other rail (the second rail 13 or the first rail 12) can be arranged higher, for example at the level of the upper side of the photovoltaic panels.The first elements 21 and the second elements 22 are each configured to travel along a first rail 12 and a second rail 13, respectively, while being guided by the two rails. The cart is configured to be moved along the rails. The chassis is configured to travel astride the photovoltaic panels of the at least one row R1; R2.Such a maintenance trolley 2 can thus allow at least one operator to move along the maintenance rails over the installation by sliding along the rails and advantageously moving astride the row of photovoltaic panels PV. Advantageously, this eliminates the need for a physical maintenance corridor between the rows of panels.Alternatively or additionally, the service cart may be powered and, in particular, may include a control module to ensure its autonomous or remote movement along the service rails.According to the present disclosure, the service rails 12, 13, 14 are configured to ensure the movement of the chassis 20 of the at least one service cart 2 over the locations of the photovoltaic panels of the row R 1; R 2 of the photovoltaic panels, even when one or more photovoltaic panels are removed, possibly even when all the photovoltaic panels are removed, and in particular in that they can ensure the service of the panels, typically the removal of one or more used panels and their replacement with one or more new panels.Thus, for purposes of the present disclosure, the service rails are separate components independent of the photovoltaic panels, extending over a length corresponding to at least one photovoltaic panel and typically may be greater than the length of several panels of the row in the longitudinal direction X. If the photovoltaic panels typically comprise silicon cells and a metal frame, typically of aluminium, consisting of four metal profile parts surrounding the four sides of the cells, in particular and consequently the service rails 12, 13, 14 for purposes of the present disclosure are not formed by the profile parts of the frame of the photovoltaic panels.A further advantage of this solution is that it can be implemented with a small distance, denoted δ in Figure 2, in the transverse direction Y between two consecutive rows R1, R2 of photovoltaic panels, even if a maintenance rail should be provided for the movement of the carriage between these two rows R1, R2. Such a small distance, typically less than or equal to 40 cm, for example less than or equal to 25 cm, contributes to obtaining a solar floating installation having a substantially improved energy efficiency per unit area occupied by the installation, in particular compared to the above mentioned prior art of the first type (with a maintenance corridor) or of the second type (with a floating service unit).The service cart 2 as well as the service rails 12, 13 (and generally the plant) may typically be configured to withstand the load of one operator, possibly two operators located on board the cart, and typically a weight of 100 kg or more, typically two operators.The panel maintenance trolley 2 may generally comprise an inverted U-shaped frame structure comprising a first vertical structure S 1 ensuring the support of the first rolling / sliding elements 21 (for example a pair of wheels), a second vertical structure S 2 ensuring the support of the second rolling / sliding elements 22 (for example a pair of wheels), and a transverse structure 23 extending in the transverse direction Y and intended to travel over the photovoltaic panels PV of the at least one row R 1, R 2. The transverse structure 23 connects the first vertical structure S 1 and the second vertical structure S 2 to one another, preferably in the upper region of the vertical structures S 1 and S 2.The first rolling / sliding members 21 may include two rolling / sliding members spaced apart in the longitudinal direction X and held at the lower portion of the first vertical structure S 1.The second rolling / sliding members 22 may include two rolling / sliding members spaced apart in the longitudinal direction X and held at the lower portion of the second vertical structure S 2.The first rolling / sliding elements 21 and the second rolling / sliding elements 22 are configured to travel on the first rail 12 and the second rail 13, which are arranged completely or partially below the plane of the panels of the at least one row R 1; R 2, in particular between the rows R 1 and R 2.Generally, the dimension of the first vertical structure S 1 or the second vertical structure S 2 in the transverse direction Y is smaller than the distance δ in order to ensure the movement of the vertical structure (the first S 1 or the second S 2) in the region of the free space between two rows of panels.According to an advantageous embodiment, the maintenance trolley 2 may comprise a collapsible extension EXT configured to transition from a retracted position P2 occupying less space on the frame structure to an extended position P1 in which the extension EXT extends in the transverse direction Y in a cantilevered manner away from the frame structure of the trolley, to straddle a row of photovoltaic panels following the at least one row R1, R2 over which the transverse structure 23 passes.Figure 5a shows a service trolley containing two of the collapsible extensions EXT on both sides of the chassis structure of the trolley. The collapsible extensions EXT may be generally pivotally hinged to the frame and extend the transverse structure 23 in the extended position P 1.As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3 or 4 and generally, the service cart 2 may comprise a suspension system including one or more flexible links LS configured to suspend a photovoltaic panel PV below the transverse structure 23 of the frame structure, the photovoltaic panel PV being interposed between the first vertical structure S 1 and the second vertical structure S 2.Such a suspension system enables the panel to be securely suspended below the transverse structure 23, while an operator can be carried above the transverse structure 23.The suspension system may comprise a cam clamp 4 comprising two clamping cams C1, C2 elastically biased against each other, between which the flexible link (for example a cable) may be clamped.The return direction of the cams allows the flexible link to be pulled to ensure sliding of the flexible link between the two cams in a first direction so as to tension the flexible link. Tensioning the flexible link LS ensures that the photovoltaic panel is held between the underside of the transverse structure 23 and the tensioned flexible link LS. The return direction of the cams counteracts a release of the flexible connecting member by moving the flexible connecting member in the direction opposite to the first direction. Such a cam clamp is known from the field of nautics and its construction will not be explained in detail here.According to an embodiment, the maintenance trolley 2 of the panels may be a simple maintenance trolley 2 aextending in the transverse direction Y for straddled a single row of photovoltaic panels R 1 or R 2. The dimension of the service cart 2a in the transverse direction is therefore (typically slightly) greater than the dimension of one row (R1 or R2) in the transverse direction, but smaller than the dimensions of two rows of panels (R1 and R2) in this transverse direction.According to an embodiment, the maintenance trolley 2 of the panels may be a multiple maintenance trolley 2 bextending in the transverse direction Y for straddled a plurality of rows of solar panels R 1, R 2. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the carriage extends only over two rows of panels R1 and R2. The multiple service cart may extend over a number of panels that is greater than 2, for example 3, 4 or 5.The floating solar plant may typically comprise a plurality of rows of panels R 1, R 2, wherein the rows extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction X and the panels of the different rows are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction Y.The installation may comprise a plurality of pairs of rails 12, 13; 13, 14 spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction, including at least one first pair of rails 12, 13 enabling the movement of the service cart 2 astride the photovoltaic panels PV of a first row R 1 and at least one second pair of rails 13, 14 enabling the movement of the service cart 2 astride the photovoltaic panels of another row of panels different from the first row R 1, in particular a second row R 2.Two consecutive pairs may optionally share a common rail, in this case the rail 13 between the first and second pairs. Specifically, the first pair of rails may include the first rail 12 and the second rail 13, and the second pair of rails may include the second rail 13 and the third rail 14. The second rail is a rail extending between the first row R 1 and the second row R 2.According to an advantageous embodiment, the carriage system comprises a transfer carriage 3 which can be moved along transfer rails 15, 16 which extend in length along the transverse direction Y and are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction X.The transfer truck is configured to support the maintenance truck 2, 2 a, 2 band to ensure the transfer of the maintenance truck 2 from a first position of the transfer truck, which is configured to ensure the loading of the maintenance truck from the first rail pair 12, 13, to a second position of the transfer truck 3, which is configured to ensure the unloading of the maintenance truck onto the other rail pair 13, 14, in particular the second rail pair, or vice versa.For this purpose, the chassis 30 of the transfer car can comprise carrier rails 17 a, 18 a; 17 b, 18 b, which are configured to be aligned with the rails of the first rail pair 12, 13 in each case in the first position of the transfer car 3 in order to enable loading / unloading of the maintenance car by the car being rolled from the first rail pair 12, 13 to the carrier rails 17 a, 18 a: 17 b, 18 bor vice versa during unloading, and to be aligned with the rails of the other rail pair 13, 14 in each case in the second position of the transfer car 3 in order to enable loading / unloading of the maintenance car by the car being rolled from the second rail pair 13, 14 to the carrier rails 17 a, 18 awhen loading; 17b, 18b or vice versa during unloading.In FIG. 2, the rails 17 a, 18 aare carrier rails which are assigned to the wheel base of the single maintenance truck 2 a, while the rails 17 b, 18 bare carrier rails which are assigned to the wheel base of the multiple maintenance truck 2B.Generally, the transfer car 3 allows a single service car to sequentially travel across different rows of panels by facilitating transfer operations of the service car 2 from one pair of rails to another pair of rails. Alternatively, the operator may transport the carriage between pairs of rails associated with each row to move it from one row R1 of panels to the other row R2 of panels. This preferably eliminates the need for a plurality of maintenance carriages associated with the different rail pairs in order to ensure maintenance of all the panel rows.In general, the maintenance carriage 2 and / or the transfer carriage 3 can comprise a motor drive which is located in particular on board the carriage. The motor drive may for example comprise a motor driven wheel, typically an electric wheel, typically associated with the rolling elements and configured to roll on the rails 12, 13, 14. The motor drive may also include a drive system, typically with a motor driven cable.The first row of photovoltaic panels R 1 and the second row of photovoltaic panels R 2 are generally spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction Y by a distance δ that allows the movement of the first rolling / sliding members 21 or the second rolling / sliding members on a service rail 13 arranged between the two rows R 1 and R 2. The distance δ is preferably less than 40 cm, preferably less than 35 cm, optionally less than 30 cm, optionally less than 25 cm and optionally less than 15 cm.FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the photovoltaic panels are simply aligned, i.e. inclined with the same inclination between the two rows R 1, R 2. As can be seen in FIG. 8, it is possible to significantly reduce the distance δ by adjusting the shape of the vertical structures S 1, S 2. In general, the distance δ may be so small that the rails 12, 13 are at least partially hidden by the photovoltaic panels PV of the rows in the transverse direction Y. In particular, it is possible to reduce the distance δ as is absolutely necessary for a simple alignment, i.e. the different photovoltaic panels inclined with the same inclination are spaced apart from each other by the distance δ which is absolutely necessary to avoid shading effects between the panels of the two rows R 1, R 2 and which is typically in the order of 250 mm to 300 mm for an inclination of 10° to 15°, such as 12°, and typically of 100 mm to 150 mm for an inclination of the panels in the order of 3° to 7°, such as 5°.FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the photovoltaic panels of the two rows R 1, R 2 are aligned in double alignment, i.e. with opposite inclination. The photovoltaic panels PV of the two rows are aligned along two planes inclined with respect to one another, which intersect along a common edge in the region of the apex of the panels of the two rows R 1, R 2. The rails 12, 13 are oriented perpendicular to the vertices of the panels. The vertical structures of the frame of the maintenance truck pass through the panel rows in the region of the vertices.According to an advantageous embodiment, the panels of the at least one row R 1, R 2 are fastened to the service rails 12, 13, 14 above the service rails 12, 13, 14 with the aid of mechanical interfaces Eq, such as fastening angles. These mechanical interfaces, which are U-shaped as shown in the figures, leave a free space along the rails for the movement of the sliding / rolling elements, the first rolling / sliding elements 21 and the second rolling / sliding elements 22.According to this embodiment, the service rails extending in the longitudinal direction X not only perform a guiding function for the service cart 2, but also serve as structural support beams for supporting and fastening the photovoltaic panels PV of the row(s) of photovoltaic panels R 1, R 2.According to an embodiment, the plant may comprise an inverter 4 configured to convert the direct current originating from the photovoltaic panels into an alternating current that can be used by the grid, the inverter 4 being supported by one or more floats.Advantageously, the installation may comprise second service rails 40, 41 typically oriented in the transverse direction Y and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction X on either side of the inverter 4, and a service trolley 43 of the inverter, which runs on the second service rails 40, 41 and is configured to sit astride the inverter in order to support and transport it away.The service cart may include a motor drive that provides motor driven movement along the second rails 40, 41. For example, the motor drive 43 of the carriage may comprise a motor driven wheel, typically an electric wheel, associated with the rolling elements and configured to roll on the second rails 40, 41. The motor drive may also include a drive system, typically with a motor driven cable.Alternatively, the inverter may be carried away from the cart using the rails 12, 13, 14 extending in the longitudinal direction X between the rows of photovoltaic panels.Industrial ApplicationAdvantageously, the installation according to the present disclosure enables a maintenance corridor to be omitted for the operators, which forms the surfaces of the floating solar installation not covered by the photovoltaic panels, i.e. surfaces not used for solar radiation.Rather, the service car 2 which is traveling astride the panels allows the power generation energy efficiency per unit area of the floating solar plant to be maximized and compressed by minimizing the areas not used for capturing the solar rays.In comparison with a plant according to the prior art of the first type, the plant also offers the advantage that the immersion depth and thus the material and volume requirement for the floating bodies can be reduced due to a better distribution of the operator's load by the carriage and the rails.In general, the maintenance truck can be used for cleaning the photovoltaic panels of the row of photovoltaic panels.For this purpose, the maintenance truck may be equipped with a cleaning system comprising:spray nozzles which are oriented such that they spray a cleaning liquid onto the photovoltaic panels PV of the at least one row R 1, R 2 of photovoltaic panels over which the maintenance carriage 2 moves, and / orbrush means, such as a brush, configured to brush the photovoltaic panels PV of the at least one row R1, R2 over which the maintenance trolley 2 moves.When the service cart becomes powered, electronics, such as a programmable controller, may be configured to fully or partially automate the cleaning cycle of the cart and its powered movement.List of Reference Numerals1 Floating solar installation, 11 Floating body, 12, 13, 14 Maintenance rails, 15, 16 Transfer rails, 2 Maintenance carriages of the panels, 2a Simple maintenance carriage, 2b Multiple maintenance carriages, S1, S2 First vertical structure or second vertical structure, 21, 22 First rolling / sliding elements or second rolling / sliding elements, 23 Transverse structure, 3 Transfer carriages, 30 Chassis (carriages 3), 17a, 18a; 18a, 18b Carrier rails (belonging to the transfer carriage), LS Flexible(s) Connecting member(s), X Longitudinal direction, Y Transverse direction, Z Vertical direction, R1, R2First or second row of photovoltaic panels, PV Photovoltaic panels.References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedWO 2012 / 139998A2 [0003, 0005]WO 2021 / 219948

[0007] KR 20200106655

[0010]

Claims

A floating solar plant (1) comprising: - floats (11) providing the plant with buoyancy, - at least one row (R1, R2) of photovoltaic panels extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and attached to the floats, the photovoltaic panels being kept outside the water by the floats, and a carriage system configured for the maintenance of the photovoltaic panels (PV) and comprising: - maintenance rails (12, 13, 14) comprising at least a first rail (12) and a second rail (13) extending parallel on both sides of the at least one row of photovoltaic panels (R1, R2) in the longitudinal direction (X) and spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction (Y), - at least one maintenance carriage (2) comprising a chassis (20), which is equipped with first rolling / sliding elements (21) and second rolling / sliding elements (22), each configured to move along a first rail (12) and the second rail (13), respectively, while being guided by the two rails, and wherein the carriage is configured to be slid along the rails, wherein the chassis is configured to ride astride the photovoltaic panels of the at least one row (R1, R2), and wherein the maintenance rails are separate components independent of the photovoltaic panels, which are configured to ensure the movement of the chassis (20) of the at least one maintenance carriage (2) over the location areas of the photovoltaic panels of the row (R1; R2) of photovoltaic panels, even if one or more of the photovoltaic panels are removed.The plant of claim 1, wherein the service cart (2) and the service rails (12, 13, 14) are configured to move at least one operator located on board the chassis of the service cart (2).The installation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the service car is motorized and includes a control module for ensuring its autonomous or remote movement along the service rails (12, 13, 14).Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of rows of panels (R1, R2) extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction (X), the panels of the different rows being spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (Y) and comprising a plurality of pairs of rails (12, 13; 13, 14) spaced apart in the transverse direction and comprising at least one first pair of rails (12, 13) enabling the movement of the maintenance trolley (2) astride the photovoltaic panels (PV) of a first row (R1) and at least one second pair of rails (13, 14) enabling the movement of the maintenance trolley (2) astride the photovoltaic panels of another row of panels different from the first row (R1), in particular a second row (R2).Plant according to claim 4, wherein the first row of photovoltaic panels (R1) and the second row of photovoltaic panels (R2) are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction (Y) by a distance δ allowing the movement of the first rolling / sliding members (21) or the second rolling / sliding members (22) on an intermediate service rail (13), and wherein the dimension of the distance δ is smaller than 40 cm.The plant according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the carriage system comprises a transfer carriage (3) movable along transfer rails (15, 16) extending lengthwise along the transverse direction (Y) and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction (X), and wherein the transfer carriage is configured to support the maintenance carriage (2, 2a, 2b) and to ensure the transfer of the maintenance carriage (2) from a first position of the transfer carriage (3) configured to ensure the loading of the maintenance carriage from the first pair of rails (12, 13) to a second position of the transfer carriage (3) configured to ensure the unloading of the maintenance carriage onto the other pair of rails (13, 14), in particular onto the second pair.Installation according to claim 6, wherein the chassis (30) of the transfer car comprises support rails (17a, 18a; 17b, 18b) configured to cooperate with the maintenance car (2), the support rails being configured to be respectively aligned with the rails of the first pair of rails (12, 13) in the first position of the transfer car (3) and respectively aligned with the rails of the other pair of rails (13, 14) in the second position of the transfer car (3).Floating solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the panel maintenance trolley (2) has an inverted U-shaped frame structure comprising a first vertical structure (S1) ensuring the support of the first rolling / sliding elements (21), a second vertical structure (S2) ensuring the support of the second rolling / sliding elements (22), the first rolling / sliding elements (21) and the second rolling / sliding elements being configured to travel on the first rail (12) and the second rail (13), all or part of which is at a level below the level of the panels of the at least one row (R1; R2) and a transverse structure (23) extending in the transverse direction (Y) and intended to face above the panels of the at least one row (R1; R2), said transverse structure connecting the first vertical structure (S1) and the second vertical structure (S2).Plant according to claim 8, wherein the maintenance trolley (2) comprises a collapsible extension (EXT) configured to transition from a retracted position (P2) occupying less space on the frame structure to an extended position (P1), in which the extension (EXT) extends cantilevered away from the frame structure of the trolley to straddle a row of photovoltaic panels following the at least one row (R1, R2) over which the transverse structure (23) travels.Floating solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the maintenance trolley (2) of the panel is a simple maintenance trolley (2a) extending in the transverse direction (Y) to sit astride a single row of photovoltaic panels (R1 or R2), or wherein the maintenance trolley (2) of the panels is even a multiple maintenance trolley (2b) extending in the transverse direction (Y) to sit astride a plurality of rows of solar panels (R1, R2).Floating solar plant according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the photovoltaic panels of the at least one row (R1, R2) are attached to the maintenance rails above the maintenance rails (12, 13, 14) via mechanical interfaces (Eq), such as attachment angles, leaving a free space along the rails for the movement of the sliding / rolling elements, the first rolling / sliding elements (21) and the second rolling / sliding elements (22).The installation according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the service rails (12, 13, 14) are attached to the float bodies (11).Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the maintenance trolley is equipped with a cleaning system comprising: - spray nozzles oriented to spray a cleaning liquid onto the photovoltaic panels (PV) of the row (R1, R2) over which the maintenance trolley (2) moves, and / or - brush means, such as a brush, configured to brush the photovoltaic panels (PV) of the row (R1, R2) over which the maintenance trolley (2) moves.The floating solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising an inverter (4) configured to convert the direct current originating from the photovoltaic panels into an alternating current that can be used by the grid supported by one or more floating bodies, and wherein the installation comprises second service rails (40, 41) oriented in the transverse direction (Y) and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (X) on either side of the inverter device, and a service trolley (43) of the inverter that is installed on the second rails (40, 41) and configured to support and transport away the inverter.

Images