Ballasting system for photovoltaic systems with removable central ballast

Abstract

Installation system of photovoltaic systems comprising a plurality of different kinds of ballasts in cement conglomerate, configured to install at least two arrays of photovoltaic modules (12), comprising a plurality of "alignments of ballasts", each alignment being constituted by a group of ballasts which, when the system is installed, are substantially aligned to each other in orthogonal direction to the development direction of said arrays of photovoltaic modules, and each alignment comprises: a front block (1), at least a couple comprising a high central block (7) and a low central block (6); a rear block ( 4 ), said blocks being configured each to fasten at least a tightening clamp for photovoltaic modules, characterized in that said high central blocks (7) and said low central blocks (6, 9) comprise a couple of coupling surfaces (7e, 6e) configured to be overlapped to each other when said blocks (6, 7) are aligned and close behind each other, and in that said blocks comprise also fixing means configured to allow their assembly.

Description

[0001] BALLASTING SYSTEM FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS WITH

[0002] REMOVABLE CENTRAL BALLAST

[0003] The present invention relates to an installation and ballasting system for reali zing photovoltaic systems on flat surfaces .

[0004] In particular, the present invention relates to an installation system of photovoltaic systems allowing to reali ze rapidly and ef ficiently a plurality of di f ferent kinds of installations , as a function of the dimensions and orientation of the panel and of the relative distance between the various arrays of panels provided in the design .

[0005] State of the art

[0006] At the state of the art , it is known the usage of ballasts in cement conglomerate for the installation of photovoltaic systems on flat surfaces , such as for example buildings roofs or squares . Generally, a photovoltaic system comprises a plurality of arrays of photovoltaic modules , installed in parallel to each other at a definite distance in the design phase as a function of the available space and of the location where the system is to be installed . Each module of the photovoltaic array is also installed with a certain inclination to the flat surface on which the system is installed . The inclination of the module as well to the flat surface is defined in the design phase as a function of the inclination of the flat surface to the hori zontal and of the location where the system is to be installed .

[0007] Technical problem

[0008] A problem usually occurring in the installation of photovoltaic systems is to optimi ze the ef ficiency and rapidity of installation of ballasting systems . In fact , even i f it is known that fastening adj acent arrays of photovoltaic modules to each other increases resistance to turnover by the wind, such measure has anyway some practical di f ficulties since the ballasts known at the state of the art are not configured to allow a rapid coupling of ballasts relative to adj acent arrays , or are not configured to allow the variation of the distance between two arrays , or do not allow to vary easily the mounting kind as a function of the dimensions and orientation of the photovoltaic modules used . Aim of the invention

[0009] Therefore , aim of the present invention is to provide a ballasting system for the installation of photovoltaic systems on flat surfaces which overcomes the limits linked to the embodiments of the state of the art, and in particular which allows to realize different kind of installations, both by fastening adjacent arrays of photovoltaic modules to each other by means of direct fastening of the respective ballasts, and by installing the modules with greater relative distances, without the direct fastening of the ballasts of adjacent arrays but by using fastening fittings.

[0010] Brief description of the invention

[0011] The invention realizes the prefixed aims since it is an installation system of photovoltaic systems comprising a plurality of different kinds of ballasts in cement conglomerate, configured to install at least two arrays of photovoltaic modules (12) , comprising a plurality of "alignments of ballasts", each alignment being constituted by a group of ballasts which, when the system is installed, are substantially aligned to each other in orthogonal direction to the development direction of said arrays of photovoltaic modules, and each alignment comprises: a front block (1) , at least a couple comprising a high central block (7) and a low central block (6) ; a rear block (4) , said blocks being configured each to fasten at least a tightening clamp for photovoltaic modules, characterized in that said high central blocks (7) and said low central blocks (6, 9) comprise a couple of coupling surfaces (7e, 6e) configured to be overlapped to each other when said blocks (6, 7) are aligned and close behind each other, and in that said blocks comprise also fixing means configured to allow their assembly.

[0012] Brief description of the figures

[0013] The following description will refer to the appended drawings .

[0014] Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show views of the various kinds of ballasts used in the installation system according to the present invention; figure 5 shows the central ballasts assembled to each other; figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show views of the various installation configurations which can be realized with the system according to the invention.

[0015] Detailed description of the invention

[0016] With reference to the appended drawings, the installation system of photovoltaic systems according to the present invention comprises a plurality of many types of ballasts in cement conglomerate, configured to install at least two arrays of photovoltaic modules (12) .

[0017] As it will be described in the following, the system according to the invention is modular, meaning that it can be used for the installation of any number of modules arrays , each arrays comprising any number of modules . So , the system is now described with reference to a single ballast alignment , which can be repeated in the same way as many times as needed, as a function of the number of photovoltaic modules of each array .

[0018] The definition "ballast alignment" refers to the group of ballasts which, when the system is installed, are substantially in longitudinal direction to each other, precising that the definition " longitudinal direction" is used to indicate the main direction of development of ballasts in conglomerate , which with the system installed is orthogonal to the direction of development of the arrays of photovoltaic modules . It is to be precised that the word "panel" and the definition "photovoltaic module" are used as synonyms in the present invention, as well as the word block and the word ballast .

[0019] It is also to be speci fied that where it is indicated the presence of threaded bushings , i f not explicitly otherwise described, it is intended that these bushings are introduced in the execution step of the cement conglomerate casting and so are included in the ballasts.

[0020] As it is shown in the appended drawings, each ballast alignment of the installation system of photovoltaic systems according to the present invention comprises: a front block (1) , at least a couple comprising a high central block (7) and a low central block (6) , a rear block (4) , configured each to fasten at least a tightening clamp for photovoltaic modules.

[0021] Preferably each alignment comprises a plurality of couples of central blocks (6, 7) , so to be able to install a plurality of modules arrays, according to what described in the following.

[0022] The front block (1) comprises a supporting base (If) which allows its stable installation on a flat surface and comprises also an inclined surface (Id) configured to allow the support and fastening of the side frame of a photovoltaic module (8) . To such aim, at the inclined surface (Id) the block comprises at least a threaded bushing (lb, 1c) , to which a mounting clamp (2) of a photovoltaic module (12) can be fastened.

[0023] The inclination of the inclined surface (Id) to the supporting base (If) defines the inclination of the module to the flat installation surface, as for example a square or a building roof.

[0024] With different geometries of the ballasted blocks (both of the front block and the other ones, as it will be described in the following) , it is possible to mount the panels with different inclinations. Preferred embodiments provide inclinations of 5°, 10°, 15°.

[0025] The high central block (7) comprises a supporting base (7f) which allows its stable installation on a flat surface and comprises also an inclined surface (7d) , with the same inclination as the inclined surface (Id) of the first block, and configured to allow the fastening of a mounting clamp (2) for a photovoltaic module (12) .

[0026] Considering now a plurality of ballast alignments, it is to be observed that between front blocks (1) and high central blocks (7) a first array of photovoltaic modules can be installed. To such aim, two ballast alignments are preferably provided at each module.

[0027] As it is shown in the appended drawings, preferably but not limitingly, the system comprises also a plurality of bracings (13) , configured to connect adjacent ballasts alignments to each other. The bracings, realized with metal profiles, are useful to optimize the distribution of stresses on the various components without overloading the panel frames, in addition to determine precisely the distance between the various ballast alignments.

[0028] In order to allow an easy mounting of the bracings (13) , all kinds of the blocks comprise threaded bushings (1-a) buried in concrete of each block, to which the bracings (13) can be fastened with suitable fixing means.

[0029] Each ballast alignment comprises also at least a low central block (6, 9) and a rear block (4) .

[0030] The low central block (6) comprises a supporting base (6f) which allows its stable installation on a flat surface and comprises also an inclined surface (6d) configured to allow the fastening of a mounting clamp (2) for a photovoltaic module (12) . The height and orientation of the inclined surface (6d) of the low central block (6) are preferably identical to the ones of the inclined surface (Id) of the front block (1) , so that the installation conditions of the second array of the photovoltaic modules are identical to the ones of the first one, in particular with reference to their inclination to the supporting surface. The rear block (4) comprises a supporting base (4f) which allows its stable installation on a flat surface and comprises also an inclined surface (4e) , with the same inclination as the inclined surface (6d) of the low central block, and configured to allow the fastening of a mounting clamp (2) for photovoltaic modules (12) . The height and orientation of the inclined surface (4e) of the rear block (4) are preferably identical to the ones of the inclined surface (7d) of the high central block (7) , so that the installation conditions of the second array of photovoltaic modules are identical to the ones of the first one, in particular with reference to their inclination to the supporting surface.

[0031] Considering a plurality of ballast alignments, it is to be observed that between the low central blocks (6, 9) and the rear blocks (4) a second array of photovoltaic modules can be installed.

[0032] The installation system of photovoltaic systems according to the present invention is characterized in that said high central blocks (7) and said low central blocks (6, 9) comprise a couple of coupling surfaces (7e, 6e) configured to be overlapped to each other when said blocks are aligned behind each other, and in that said blocks comprise also fixing means configured to allow their assembly.

[0033] Preferably, said fixing means comprise a threaded bushing (7c) provided on the coupling surface (7 e) of the high central block (7) and a through hole (6c) provided on the low central block and configured to be coaxial to said threaded bushing (7-c) when said blocks (6 7) are aligned and side by side, thus allowing the fixing to each other by means of a screw (8) .

[0034] Preferably, said coupling surfaces (7e, 6e) are inclined to the vertical, so that the introduction of the tool for screw tightening is easier and the screw can work along a direction transmitting both side and longitudinal efforts.

[0035] In this way the central blocks (7, 6) can constitute, according to installation needs, both a functionally united ballast (when they are assembled to each other as shown in figure 5) and ballasts separated from each other, as shown for example in the embodiment of figure 9.

[0036] Figure 5-b shows also two embodiments of the low central block (6, 9) with different lengths to which different distances of the arrays of photovoltaic modules (12) correspond, in case of using modules as functionally united ballast.

[0037] Both embodiments (6, 9) of the low central block can be used not assembled to each other, according to what shown in figure 9.

[0038] In the following various possible mounting configurations with the ballast system according to the present invention are described.

[0039] The first mounting configuration (shown in figure 6) is particularly apt to install panels of great dimensions with horizontal orientation (i.e. having the long side in longitudinal direction) , and provides the blocking of each panel with four tightening clamps (2) on the long sides, and in particular with two clamps on each long side.

[0040] Each panel (12) of the first row rests and is blocked on four ballasts: the lower long side of each module is fastened, by means of tightening clamps (2) , to two front blocks (1) , while the higher long side is fastened, by means of tightening clamps (2) , on two high central ballasts (7) .

[0041] The single photovoltaic panels of the intermediate rows are fastened to two low central blocks (6) and two high central blocks (7) , always by using the respective clamps (2) . In this manner of installation, the high central blocks (7) of the first row are linked to the low central blocks (6) of the second row, and similarly, for all the intermediate following rows. The panels of the last row are instead fastened, always by means of tightening clamps (2) , to the lower long side at the low central ballasts (6) and to the higher long side at the rear ballasts (4) .

[0042] The second possible mounting configuration with horizontal orientation of the panel (shown in figure 7) provides the blocking of the single panel with four clamps on the short sides. The installation is similar to just described one, but the ballasts, in this case, are spaced differently to each other, so that each ballast is positioned at the position in which the terminal portions of two photovoltaic modules are side by side, and that the tightening clamp (2) can fasten the modules by engaging the shorts sides of the panels. Suitably, at the ballasts not at the end, and on which so a module rests to the right and a module rests to the left, tightening clamps (5) are used configured to fix two photovoltaic modules, one to the right and one to the left. This kind of clamp is also called central clamp". Another installation possibility is shown in figure 8, and it is particularly apt for panels of great dimensions with horizontal orientation. This installation mode is identical to the just described one (and shown in figure 7) but for the fact that, at the middle of each photovoltaic module it is provided another ballast alignment, which fastens the module on the long side. So, each photovoltaic module is fastened by means of suitable tightening clamps on six ballasts.

[0043] Another mounting possibility, shown in figure 9, can be used for the installation of photovoltaic modules with greater distance between arrays. In this case, the central blocks (7, 6) are not assembled to each other, and the same holes (7-c, 6-c) used for the fastening to each other of the ballasts are used to fasten bracings (13) fastening the blocks of the same array, said bracings (13) belonging to different arrays, they being fastened in turn by metal profiles positioned in longitudinal direction.

[0044] Conveniently, the bracings (13) can be fastened to the blocks (6, 7) by means of shaped metal plates, but this is not limiting, since any other fastening means among the ones known at the state of the art can be used without departing from the aims of the invention .

[0045] So, the ballasting system according to the present invention allows to install, fasten to each other, a plurality of arrays of photovoltaic modules of different dimensions, subjected to different loads by the wind, and with different distance, each time adapting the configuration of installation to the specific needs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Installation system of photovoltaic systems comprising a plurality of different kinds of ballasts in cement conglomerate, configured to install at least two arrays of photovoltaic modules (12) , comprising a plurality of "alignments of ballasts", each alignment being constituted by a group of ballasts which, when the system is installed, are substantially aligned to each other in orthogonal direction to the development direction of said arrays of photovoltaic modules, and each alignment comprises:- a front block (1) ,- at least a couple comprising a high central block (7) and a low central block (6) ,- a rear block (4) , said blocks being configured each to fasten at least a tightening clamp for photovoltaic modules, characterized in that said high central blocks (7) and said low central blocks (6, 9) comprise a couple of coupling surfaces (7e, 6e) configured to be overlapped to each other when said blocks (6, 7) are aligned and close behind each other, and in that said blocks comprise also fixing means configured to allowtheir assembly.

2. Installation system of photovoltaic systems according to claim 1, characterized in that said fixing means comprise a threaded bushing (7c) provided on the coupling surface (7 e) of said high central block (7) and a through hole (6c) provided on said low central block and configured to be coaxial to said threaded bushing (7-c) when said blocks (6, 7) are aligned and close, thus allowing the fixing to each other by means of a screw (8) .

3. Installation system of photovoltaic systems according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said coupling surfaces (7e, 6e) are inclined to the vertical .

4. Installation system of photovoltaic systems according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each alignment comprises a plurality of couples of central blocks (6, 7) , so to install a plurality of arrays of modules.

5. Installation system of photovoltaic systems according to one of the preceding claims,characterized in that said front block (1) comprises a supporting base (If) which allows its stable installation on a flat surface and comprises also an inclined surface (Id) configured to allow the support and fastening of the side frame of a photovoltaic module (8) .

6. Installation system of photovoltaic systems according to claim 5, characterized in that at said inclined surface (Id) the block comprises at least a threaded bushing (lb, 1c) , to which a mounting clamp (2) for a photovoltaic module (12) can be fastened .

7. Installation system of photovoltaic systems according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said high central block (7) comprises a supporting base (7f) which allows its stable installation on a flat surface and comprises also an inclined surface (7d) , with the same inclination as the inclined surface (Id) of the first block, and configured to allow the fastening of a mounting clamp (2) for a photovoltaic module8. Installation system of photovoltaic systems according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of bracings (13) , realized with metal profiles, configured to connect to each other alignments of adjacent ballasts and characterized in that said blocks comprise threaded bushings (1-a) buried in concrete of each block, to which said bracings (13) can be fastened with suitable fixing means.

9. Installation system of photovoltaic systems according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said low central block (6) comprises a supporting base (6f) which allows its stable installation on a flat surface and comprises also an inclined surface (6d) configured to allow the fastening of a mounting clamp (2) for a photovoltaic module (12) , in that said rear block (4) comprises a supporting base (4f) which allows its stable installation on a flat surface and comprises also an inclined surface (4e) , with the same inclination as said inclined surface (6d) of the low central block, and configured to allow the fastening of a mounting clamp (2) for photovoltaic modules (12) ,and in that the height and orientation of said inclined surface (6d) of the low central block (6) are identical to the ones of said inclined surface (Id) of said front block (1) , and the height and orientation of said inclined surface (4e) of said rear block (4) are identical to the ones of said inclined surface (7d) of said high central block (7) .

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