Floating solar installation, as well as a maintenance procedure for such a solar installation.

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a floating solar installation (1), comprising: - floats (11) providing buoyancy to the installation, - at least one row (R1, R2) of photovoltaic panels and a trolley system configured for the maintenance of the photovoltaic (PV) panels, comprising: - maintenance rails (12, 13, 14) - at least one maintenance trolley (2) comprising a chassis (20) provided with first rolling / sliding members and second rolling / sliding members configured respectively to travel while guided by the two rails, and wherein the trolley is configured to be moved along the rails, the chassis configured to pass astride, over the photovoltaic panels of said at least one row (R1, R2). Abstract figure: Figure 1 *

Description

Title of the invention: The present disclosure relates to a floating solar installation, as well as to a method for maintaining such a solar installation. technical field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of floating solar installations configured to support photovoltaic panels. During their lifetime, a photovoltaic panel may fail, for example, due to approaching the end of its service life, or the electrical wiring or structural fixings may require inspection / repair.

[0002] Maintenance of the installation therefore requires access to the components of the installation for inspection or maintenance purposes, and for example: - the ability to remove a worn panel to replace it with a photovoltaic panel in good working order, - to be able to inspect, and if necessary, reattach or replace the electrical wiring, or even tighten or replace the various fasteners, for example, fasteners ensuring the stability of the structure Previous technique

[0003] There is a first type of prior art for floating solar installations which provides for the presence of a maintenance corridor between two rows of photovoltaic panels. Application WO2012 / 139998A2 is an example of such an installation according to this first type.

[0004] This maintenance corridor is arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the panel rows, interposed between the two rows. An operator can then move along this maintenance corridor to access the individual photovoltaic panels in the row, and potentially replace them, or even inspect the wiring and / or fixings. This maintenance corridor has a width, in a direction transverse to the row, typically greater than 40 cm (for example, 45 cm), in order to leave sufficient clearance for an operator to move between the two rows of photovoltaic panels.

[0005] A first limitation of this type of installation is that it requires the presence of these physical maintenance corridors, in particular the presence of floats forming the maintenance corridor, as disclosed by WO2012 / 139998A2 and which must be sized to ensure the resumption of the load of an operator.

[0006] A second limitation related to this solution with a maintenance corridor is that it requires spacing between the two rows of photovoltaic panels for allowing the movement of an operator, which is a surface not covered by photovoltaic panels, consequently reducing the electrical energy production yield per unit area occupied by the installation.

[0007] A second type of floating solar installation is known, for example, from document WO 2021 / 219948, in which a bracing structure provides spacing between a first row of photovoltaic panels and a second photovoltaic row. This bracing structure is configured to be submerged to allow the movement of a floating service unit along a waterway between the two rows of panels.

[0008] In such a prior art, maintenance therefore requires the use of a floating service unit configured to travel along waterways. This prior art makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of the floats of the floating solar installation, and therefore the amount of material required for their manufacture, compared to the prior art of the first type.

[0009] On the other hand, there is still a need for a non-negligible spacing between rows of photovoltaic panels to allow the creation of a waterway whose width dimension allows the passage of a hull of the service unit intended to give the buoyancy of the service unit by taking up the load of the service unit and the operator. Summary

[0010] This disclosure improves the situation.

[0011] A floating solar installation is proposed comprising: - floats providing buoyancy to the installation - at least one row of photovoltaic panels extending in a longitudinal direction, attached to the floats, the photovoltaic panels being kept out of the water by the floats and a trolley system configured for the maintenance of photovoltaic panels, including: - maintenance rails comprising at least a first rail and a second rail, extending parallel to each other, on either side of said at least one row of photovoltaic panels, in the longitudinal direction, spaced apart in a transverse direction - at least one maintenance trolley comprising a chassis provided with first rolling / sliding elements and second rolling / sliding elements configured respectively to travel along a first rail and the second rail while being guided by the two rails, and in which the trolley is configured to be moved along the rails, the chassis configured to pass astride, over the photovoltaic panels of said at least one row.

[0012] According to this disclosure, the maintenance rails are configured to ensure the movement of said chassis of said at least one maintenance trolley over the locations of the photovoltaic panels of the row of photovoltaic panels, even if one or more of the photovoltaic panels are removed, or even, according to at least one embodiment, if all of the photovoltaic panels are removed.

[0013] Such a maintenance trolley thus allows the maintenance of the panels, typically by removing one or more worn panels, their removal by the movement of the maintenance trolley along the rails and their replacement by one or more new panels

[0014] The features described in the following paragraphs may optionally be implemented. They may be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other:

[0015] According to one embodiment, the maintenance trolley and the maintenance rails are configured to move at least one operator on board the chassis of the maintenance trolley: in particular the maintenance trolley, as well as the maintenance rails (and in general said installation) can typically be configured to withstand the load of one operator, or even two operators on board the trolley, and typically a weight greater than or equal to 100 kg typically for two operators.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the maintenance trolley is motorized and includes a control module to ensure its autonomous or remote-controlled movement, following the maintenance rails.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the installation may comprise several rows of panels, extending parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction, the panels of the different rows spaced apart along the transverse direction and comprising a plurality of pairs of rails, spaced along the transverse direction, including at least a first pair of rails allowing the maintenance trolley to travel astride the photovoltaic panels of a first row and at least a second pair of rails allowing the maintenance trolley to travel astride the photovoltaic panels of another row of panels, distinct from the first row, in particular a second row.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the first row of photovoltaic panels and the second row of photovoltaic panels are spaced, along the transverse direction, by a gap θ, allowing the movement of the first rolling / sliding elements or the second rolling / sliding elements, on an intermediate maintenance rail, and wherein the dimension of the gap θ is less than 40 cm, or even less than 35 cm, or even less than 25 cm, or for example less than 15 cm. Such a small gap ô allows to maximize and densify the energy yield of electricity production per unit area of ​​the floating solar installation, minimizing the areas not used for capturing solar radiation, and by comparison to floating solar installations with maintenance walkways between rows of panels for which this gap is typically greater than 40 cm to allow the movement of an operator.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the trolley system comprises a transshipment trolley, movable along transshipment rails extending lengthwise in the transverse direction, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the transshipment trolley is configured to support the maintenance trolley and ensure the transfer of the maintenance trolley from a first position of the transshipment trolley configured to ensure the loading of the maintenance trolley from the first pair of rails, and to a second position of the transshipment trolley configured to ensure the unloading of the maintenance trolley on the other pair of rails, in particular the second pair.

[0020] In particular, the chassis of the transfer trolley includes support rails configured to cooperate with the maintenance trolley. These support rails are configured to be aligned with the rails of the first pair of rails in the first position of the transfer trolley, and to be aligned with the rails of the other pair of rails in the second position of the transfer trolley. Generally, the transfer trolley advantageously allows a single maintenance trolley to travel successively over different rows of panels, facilitating the transfer of the maintenance trolley from one pair of rails to another.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the panel maintenance trolley comprises an inverted U-shaped gantry structure, including:

[0022] - a first vertical structure, providing support for the first organs of rolling / sliding, - a second vertical structure providing support for the second rolling / sliding components - a transverse structure, extending along the transverse direction, intended to circulate above the panels of said at least row, the transverse structure connecting the first vertical structure and the second vertical structure.

[0023] The first rolling / sliding members and the second rolling / sliding members are configured to run on the first rail and the second rail, arranged in whole or in part at a height below the level of the panels of said at least row.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the maintenance trolley includes an extension folding configured to move from a retracted position, with less bulk on the gantry structure, to a deployed position in which said extension extends cantilevered from the gantry structure of the trolley to straddle a row of photovoltaic panels, following said at least one row over which the transverse structure travels.

[0025] In one possibility, the maintenance trolley is a simple maintenance trolley extending in the transverse direction to straddle a single row of photovoltaic panels. In another possibility, the maintenance trolley is a multiple maintenance trolley extending in the transverse direction to straddle a plurality of rows of solar panels.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the photovoltaic panels of said at least one row are fixed to the maintenance rails, above the maintenance rails, by means of mechanical interfaces such as fixing brackets, leaving a free clearance along the rails for the movement of the sliding / rolling elements, first sliding / rolling elements and second sliding / rolling elements.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the maintenance rails are attached to the floats.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the maintenance trolley is equipped with a system of Cleaning includes: - spray nozzles, oriented to project a cleaning fluid onto the photovoltaic panels of the row above which the maintenance trolley moves, and / or - brushing means such as a brush, configured to brush the photovoltaic panels of the row above which the maintenance trolley moves.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the installation includes an inverter configured to transform the direct current from the photovoltaic panels into alternating current usable by the network supported by one or more floats, and in which the installation includes secondary maintenance rails, oriented in the transverse direction, spaced in the longitudinal direction on either side of the inverter, as well as an inverter maintenance trolley traveling on the secondary rails configured to lift the inverter and remove it.

[0030] The present disclosure further relates to a method of maintenance of a solar installation according to the present disclosure comprising a movement of the maintenance trolley, along the longitudinal direction X, over a row of photovoltaic panels, suitable for the replacement of a photovoltaic panel, the inspection of the installation, or the cleaning of the photovoltaic panels.

[0031] In particular, the maintenance process may typically include: - the removal of at least one worn photovoltaic panel from a worn panel location on said floating solar installation, and its removal by means of a worn panel support by the maintenance trolley, and a movement of the maintenance trolley at least along the longitudinal direction X of the maintenance rails, and / or - the installation of a photovoltaic panel, in particular a new one, by supporting it with the maintenance trolley, and the movement of the maintenance trolley along the maintenance rails to a mounting location on said floating solar installation. Brief description of the drawings

[0032] Other features, details and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description below, and upon analysis of the accompanying drawings, on which: Fig. 1

[0033] [Fig. 1] illustrates in perspective an embodiment of a floating solar installation according to the present disclosure comprising floats, and two rows of panels, parallel to each other, extending lengthwise along a longitudinal direction, the two rows spaced along a transverse direction, as well as a trolley system comprising: - a maintenance trolley, configured to move along the longitudinal direction, straddling, for example, a row of panels, along a maintenance rail, - a transshipment trolley movable along transshipment rails, oriented in a transverse direction configured to transship the maintenance trolley from a first pair of maintenance rails, to a second pair of maintenance rails. Fig. IA

[0034] [Fig.l] is a view from below of [Fig.l], illustrating the positioning of the photovoltaic panels fixed to longitudinal beams of the structure, the beams connecting floats to each other, spaced apart along the longitudinal direction, positioning the photovoltaic panels above the water at the level of empty spaces promoting the cooling of the panels. Fig. 2

[0035] [Fig.2] is a detail view which includes the transshipment trolley, as well as the maintenance trolley, which has been unloaded from the transshipment trolley, the maintenance trolley being by way of non-limiting example a simple maintenance trolley, configured to travel astride a single row of photovoltaic panels. Fig. 3

[0036] [Fig.3] is a detailed view illustrating the simple maintenance trolley, under the chassis from which is suspended a photovoltaic panel, sandwiched between the first vertical structure and the second vertical structure of the frame. Fig. 4

[0037] [Fig.4] shows on the right a partial cross-sectional view, illustrating the suspension of the panel held by a flexible link, the link locked in a cam cleat on the chassis of the trolley, and on the left a detail view of the cam cleat. Fig. 5

[0038] [Fig. 5] shows a multi-service trolley, in that it is configured to straddle several rows of photovoltaic panels, following the transverse direction, in particular straddling two rows of panels, the two rows of panels extending in parallel along the longitudinal direction spaced apart from each other along the transverse direction. Fig. 5a

[0039] [Fig.5a] is a view of an alternative maintenance trolley, which is illustrated as multiple, but which may be simple, notably provided with a folding extension, or even two folding extensions as illustrated, on the sides of the maintenance trolley, said folding extension configured to move from a retracted position of less bulk on the trolley (along the transverse direction) to a deployed position for which the extension extends cantilevered from the trolley gantry to extend over a row of consecutive photovoltaic panels, [Fig.5a] illustrating by way of example, a first extension, left, in its deployed position giving access to a row of panels (not illustrated), on the left, and a second extension, right, in its retracted, less bulky position, folded over the trolley gantry. Fig. 6

[0040] [Fig.6] is a view of an inverter configured to transform the direct current from photovoltaic panels in alternating current usable by the network, said inverter supported by one or more floats, with the presence of second maintenance rails, oriented in the transverse direction, spaced in the longitudinal direction on either side of the inverter, for an inverter maintenance trolley circulating on the second rails, configured to support the inverter and evacuate it. Fig. 7

[0041] [Fig.7] is an example of an inverter maintenance trolley. Fig. 8

[0042] [Fig.8] is an advantageous configuration allowing to limit the spacing between two rows of panels, with the presence of an intermediate rail necessary for the movement of the maintenance trolley which is inserted between the two rows, the two rows of panels being inclined along a simple inclination. Fig. 9

[0043] [Fig.9] is an advantageous configuration, allowing the spacing between two rows of panels, with an intermediate rail necessary for the movement of the maintenance trolley which is inserted between the two rows, the two rows of panels being inclined along a double inclination, the intermediate rail in line with a vertex at the intersection of the planes passing through the panels of the two rows. Description of the implementation methods

[0044] The drawings and description below contain, essentially, elements of a definite nature. They may therefore not only serve to better understand this disclosure, but also contribute to its definition, if necessary.

[0045] Reference is now made to [Fig. 1] which illustrates by way of example a floating solar installation according to the present disclosure.

[0046] Also, the installation according to this disclosure includes: - 11 floats providing buoyancy to the installation, - at least one row RI, R2 of photovoltaic panels extending along a longitudinal direction X, fixed to the floats, the photovoltaic panels being kept out of the water by the floats.

[0047] In general, photovoltaic panels have a length dimension, larger dimension and a width dimension, smaller dimension.

[0048] According to one illustrated possibility, the photovoltaic panels can be oriented, along their length, along the longitudinal direction X, the width of the panel being inclined with respect to the horizontal. According to another possibility (not illustrated), the panels can be oriented along their width along the longitudinal direction X, the length of the panel being inclined with respect to the horizontal.

[0049] Generally, the longitudinal direction X can be oriented along the East-West direction, and the transverse direction Y can be oriented along the North-South direction. The photovoltaic panels can be inclined with respect to the horizontal. The inclinations of the panels between the rows RI, R2 can be identical, or different, or the panels can even be inclined at opposite angles. In this last case, the direction X can generally be oriented along the North / South direction and the Y direction oriented along the East-West direction.

[0050] However, preferably, the photovoltaic PV panels belonging to the same row have substantially the same inclination and are coplanar. This can facilitate their cleaning by the movement of a robot along the row.

[0051] An installation typically comprises several rows of photovoltaic panels, particularly depending on the production capacity. Figure 1 illustrates a non-limiting example comprising only two rows, with a first row RI of photovoltaic panels and a second row R2 of photovoltaic panels. It is understood that the number of rows can be greater than 2, for example, 3, 4, 5, or more.

[0052] Such an installation extends globally along its structure in an XY plane, substantially horizontal, and vertically along the Z-direction.

[0053] These rows of photovoltaic panels RI, R2 extend lengthwise, parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction X, and are spaced apart along the transverse direction Y

[0054] The floats 11 can typically be plastic components providing buoyancy to the installation. The floats can, for example, be obtained by extrusion blow molding, injection blow molding, or any other techniques known to those skilled in the art.

[0055] In general, PV photovoltaic panels can be fixed directly to the floats 11. According to one embodiment in particular illustrated, the PV photovoltaic panels of the rows can be fixed to the floats by means of beams, themselves fixed to the floats.

[0056] In general, and as illustrated by way of example in [Fig. IA], the beams can advantageously allow the positioning of photovoltaic panels fixed to said beams, in particular longitudinal beams of the structure, the beams connecting floats together.

[0057] It can be seen that the floats 11 can be spaced apart along the longitudinal direction X by positioning the photovoltaic PV panels above the water and notably at the level of the void space, thus promoting panel cooling. Such void spaces under the panels are clearly visible in [Fig. 2], where the installation is viewed from below. They allow the water to efficiently cool the underside of the panels through convection between the water surface and the underside of the photovoltaic panels.

[0058] At least according to an advantageous embodiment (illustrated), the maintenance rails 12, 13, 14 can advantageously constitute all or part of the beams supporting the PV photovoltaic panels. Alternatively, the maintenance rails and The support beams can be made up of separate components.

[0059] As can be seen by way of example in [Fig.1], notably, the installation includes a trolley system configured for the maintenance of PV photovoltaic panels.

[0060] Such a trolley system notably comprises: - maintenance rails 12, 13, 14 comprising at least a first rail 12 and a second rail 13, extending parallel to each other on either side of said row of photovoltaic panels RI, R2, along the longitudinal direction X, the first rail and the second rail spaced apart along 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 elements 21 and 22 are both made up of wheels.

[0061] Generally, the maintenance rails 12, 13, 14 are typically arranged below the level of the photovoltaic panels, either wholly or partially. The figures show an embodiment in which the maintenance rails 12, 13, 14 are all arranged vertically below the level of the photovoltaic panels, and typically between the photovoltaic panels in the rows. According to another embodiment (not shown), one of the rails (first rail 12 or second rail 13) cooperating with the maintenance trolley may be arranged below the level of the photovoltaic panels in the rows, while the other rail (respectively second rail 13 or first rail 12) may be arranged at a higher height, for example, at the level of the top of the photovoltaic panels.

[0062] The first organs 21 and the second organs 22 are configured respectively to travel along a first rail 12 and the second rail 13 respectively, being guided by the two rails, the carriage being configured to be moved along the rails, the chassis configured to pass over the photovoltaic panels of said at least one row RI; R2.

[0063] Such a maintenance trolley 2 can thus allow at least one operator to move around the installation along the maintenance rails, sliding along the rails, and advantageously moving astride the row of PV photovoltaic panels. Advantageously, the need for a physical maintenance aisle between the rows of panels is eliminated.

[0064] Alternatively or additionally, the maintenance trolley can be motorized and in particular include a control module to ensure its autonomous or remote-controlled movement, following the maintenance rails.

[0065] According to this disclosure, the maintenance rails 12, 13, 14 are configured to ensure the movement of said chassis 20 of said at least one maintenance trolley 2 above the locations of the photovoltaic panels in row RI; R2 of photovoltaic panels, even if one or more of the photovoltaic panels are removed, or even if all of the photovoltaic panels are removed, and in particular in order to be able to authorise maintenance of the panels, typically the removal of one or more worn panels, and their replacement with one or more new panels.

[0066] The maintenance rails within the meaning of this disclosure are therefore separate and independent components of the photovoltaic panels, extending over a length equal to at least one photovoltaic panel, or even typically greater than the length of several panels in the row along the longitudinal direction X. In particular and as a consequence, when the photovoltaic panels comprise typically silicon cells and a metal frame, typically aluminum, consisting of four metal profiles, bordering the four sides of the cells, the maintenance rails 12, 13, 14 within the meaning of this disclosure are not constituted by the profiles of the frame of the photovoltaic panels.

[0067] Another advantage of this solution is that it can be implemented, with a small gap, identified as ô in [Fig.2], along the transverse direction Y between two consecutive rows RI, R2 of photovoltaic panels, even when a maintenance rail has to be arranged for the movement of the trolley between these two rows RI, R2. Such a small gap, typically less than or equal to 40 cm, for example less than or equal to 25 cm, contributes to obtaining a floating solar installation with a significantly improved electrical yield per unit area occupied by the installation, in particular compared to the aforementioned prior art of the first type (with maintenance aisle) or the second type (with floating service unit).

[0068] The maintenance trolley 2, as well as the maintenance rails 12, 13, (and generally the said installation) can typically be configured to withstand the load of one operator, or even two operators mounted on the trolley, and typically a weight greater than or equal to 100 kg for two operators.

[0069] Generally, the maintenance trolley for the panels 2 may comprise an inverted U-shaped gantry structure, including a first vertical structure SI, providing support for the first rolling / sliding elements 21 (for example, a pair of wheels), a second vertical structure S2 providing support for the second rolling / sliding elements 22 (for example, a pair of wheels), and a transverse structure 23, extending in the transverse direction Y, intended to travel above the photovoltaic PV panels of said at least row RI, R2. The transverse structure 23 connects the first vertical structure SI and the second vertical structure S2, preferably at an upper part of the vertical structures S1, S2.

[0070] The first rolling / sliding members 21 may comprise two rolling / sliding members, spaced along the longitudinal direction X and held in the lower part of the first vertical structure SI.

[0071] The second rolling / sliding members 22 can comprise two rolling / sliding members, spaced along the longitudinal direction X and held in the lower part of the second vertical structure S2.

[0072] The first rolling / sliding members 21 and the second rolling / sliding members are configured to run on the first rail 12 and the second rail 13 arranged in whole or in part below the level of the panels of said at least row RI; R2, in particular between the rows RI, R2.

[0073] Generally, the dimension of the first vertical structure SI or the second vertical structure S2, along the transverse direction Y is less than the gap ô, and in order to allow the circulation of the vertical structure (first SI or second S2) at the level of the clearance between two rows of panels.

[0074] According to an advantageous embodiment, the maintenance trolley 2 may include a folding extension EXT configured to move from a retracted position P2, with less bulk on the gantry structure, to a deployed position PI for which said extension EXT extends along the transverse direction Y, cantilevered from the gantry structure of the trolley to straddle a row of photovoltaic panels, following said at least one row RI, R2 over which the transverse structure 23 travels.

[0075] Figure 5a illustrates a maintenance trolley comprising two folding EXT extensions on either side of the trolley's gantry structure. Generally, the folding EXT extension(s) can be pivotally articulated to the gantry and extend the transverse structure 23 in the deployed position PL.

[0076] As can be understood from figures 3 or 4 in particular, and in general, the maintenance trolley 2 may include a suspension system comprising one or more flexible links LS, configured to suspend a photovoltaic panel under the transverse structure 23 of the gantry structure, the PV photovoltaic panel interposed between the first vertical structure SI and the second vertical structure S2.

[0077] Such a suspension system allows the panel to be securely suspended under the transverse structure 23, and while an operator can be supported above the transverse structure 23.

[0078] The suspension system may include a cam cleat 4, which includes two clamping cams Cl, C2, elastically drawn back towards each other between which the flexible link (for example a rope) can be pinched.

[0079] The cam return direction allows the flexible link to be pulled, so as to permit the The flexible link slides between the two cams in a first direction to tighten it. The tension of the flexible link LS secures the photovoltaic panel, which is sandwiched between the underside of the transverse structure 23 and the tensioned flexible link LS. The cams return in the opposite direction to the first, preventing the flexible link from loosening. This type of cam cleat is well-known in the nautical world, and its structure is not described in further detail.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the panel maintenance trolley 2 can be a simple maintenance trolley 2a extending along the transverse direction Y to straddle a single row of photovoltaic panels RI or R2. The dimension of the maintenance trolley 2a along the transverse direction is therefore greater (typically slightly) than the dimension of one row (RI or R2), along the transverse direction, but nevertheless less than two rows of panels (RI and R2), along this transverse direction.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the panel maintenance trolley 2 can be a multi-service trolley 2b extending along the transverse direction Y to straddle a plurality of rows of solar panels RI, R2. Figure 2 gives an example in which the trolley extends over only two rows of panels RI and R2. The multi-service trolley can extend over more than 2 panels, such as 3, 4, or 5.

[0082] The floating solar installation can typically include several rows of RI, R2 panels, the rows extending parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction X, the panels of the different rows spaced apart from each other along the transverse direction Y.

[0083] The installation may include a plurality of pairs of rails 12,13; 13,14, spaced along the transverse direction, including at least a first pair of rails 12,13 allowing the maintenance trolley 2 to travel astride the PV photovoltaic panels of a first row RI and at least a second pair of rails 13,14 allowing the maintenance trolley 2 to travel astride the photovoltaic panels of another row of panels, distinct from the first row RI, in particular a second row R2.

[0084] Two successive pairs of rails may optionally share a common rail, in this case rail 13 between the first and second pairs. In particular, the first pair of rails may comprise the first rail 12 and the second rail 13, and the second pair of rails may comprise the second rail 13 and the third rail 14. The second rail is an extending rail inserted between the first row RI and the second row R2.

[0085] According to an advantageous embodiment, the trolley system comprises a trolley transshipment 3, movable along transshipment rails 15, 16 extending lengthwise along the transverse direction Y, spaced along the longitudinal direction X.

[0086] The transfer trolley is configured to support the maintenance trolley 2, 2a, 2b and to ensure the transfer of the maintenance trolley 2 from a first position of the transfer trolley configured to ensure the loading of the maintenance trolley from the first pair of rails 12,13, and to a second position of the transfer trolley 3 configured to ensure the unloading of the maintenance trolley on the other pair of rails 13,14, in particular the second pair, or vice versa.

[0087] For this purpose, the chassis 30 of the transshipment trolley may include support rails 17a,18a; 17b, 18b, configured to be aligned respectively with the rails of the first pair of rails 12,13 in the first position of the transshipment trolley 3 to allow the loading / unloading of the maintenance trolley by rolling the trolley from the first pair of rails 12,13 to the support rails 17a,18a: 17b, 18b during loading, or vice versa during unloading, and to be aligned respectively with the rails of the other pair of rails 13,14, in the second position of the transshipment trolley 3 to allow the loading / unloading of the maintenance trolley by rolling the trolley from the second pair of rails 13,14 to the support rails 17a,18a: 17b, 18b, during loading, or vice versa during unloading.

[0088] In [Fig.2], the rails 17a, 18a are the support rails associated with the center distance of the single maintenance trolley 2a, while the rails 17b, 18b are the support rails with the center distance of the multiple maintenance trolley 2B.

[0089] In general, the transfer trolley 3 advantageously allows a single maintenance trolley to travel successively over different rows of panels, facilitating the transfer of the maintenance trolley 2 from one pair of rails to another pair of rails. Alternatively, the operator can carry the trolley between the pairs of rails associated with each row, respectively, to move the maintenance trolley from one row RI of panels to the other row of panels R2. Preferably, the need for several maintenance trolleys, associated with the different pairs of rails to perform maintenance on all the rows of panels is avoided.

[0090] Generally, the maintenance trolley 2 and / or the transshipment trolley 3 may include a motor, in particular one mounted on the trolley. For example, the motor may include a motorized wheel, typically electric, typically belonging to the rolling elements, configured to run on the rails 12, 13, 14. The motor may also include a traction system typically motorized cable.

[0091] Generally, the first row of photovoltaic panels RI and the second row of photovoltaic panels R2 are spaced, along the transverse direction Y, by a gap ô, allowing the first rolling / sliding elements 21 or the second rolling / sliding elements to move on a maintenance rail 13, inserted between the two rows RI and R2. The dimension ô is preferably less than 40 cm, preferably less than 35 cm, or even less than 30 cm, or even less than 25 cm, or even less than 15 cm.

[0092] Figure 8 illustrates one embodiment where the photovoltaic panels are in a single orientation, namely inclined at the same angle between the two rows RI, R2. As can be seen in Figure 8, it is possible to significantly reduce the spacing θ by adjusting the shape of the vertical structures SI, S2. Generally, it can be observed that the spacing θ can be so small that the rails 12, 13 are at least partially covered, along the transverse direction Y, by the PV photovoltaic panels in the rows.It is notably possible to reduce the gap θ to what is strictly necessary in simple orientation, namely that the different photovoltaic panels inclined at the same angle are separated from the gap θ strictly necessary to avoid shading effects between the panels of the two rows RI R2, which is typically on the order of 250 mm to 300 mm for an inclination of 10° to 15° such as 2° and typically 100 mm to 150 mm for a panel inclination of the order of 3° to 7° such as 5°. .

[0093] Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment where the photovoltaic panels of the two rows RI, R2 are inclined in a double orientation, namely, in opposite directions. The PV photovoltaic panels of the two rows are oriented along two planes, inclined to each other, which intersect along a common edge at the top of the panels in the two rows RI, R2. The rails 12 and 13 are aligned vertically with the tops of the panels. The vertical structures of the maintenance trolley gantries pass through the rows of panels at the tops.

[0094] According to an advantageous embodiment, the panels of said at least one row RI, R2 are fixed to the maintenance rails 12, 13, 14, above the maintenance rails 12, 13, 14, by means of mechanical interfaces Eq such as fixing brackets. These U-shaped mechanical interfaces, as illustrated in the figures, leave a free clearance along the rails for the movement of the sliding / rolling elements, first sliding / rolling elements 21 and second sliding / rolling elements 22. The maintenance rails 12, 13, 14 are typically fixed to the floats 11, preferably directly.

[0095] According to this embodiment, the maintenance rails which extend along the longitudinal direction X combine not only a guide function for the maintenance trolley 2, but also structural support beams for the support and fixing of the PV photovoltaic panels of the RI, R2 photovoltaic panel rows.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the installation may include an inverter 4 configured to transform the direct current from the photovoltaic panels into alternating current usable by the network, said inverter 4 supported by one or more floats.

[0097] Advantageously, the installation may include second maintenance rails 40, 41, typically oriented along the transverse direction Y, spaced along the longitudinal direction X on either side of the inverter 4, and a maintenance trolley 43 for the inverter traveling on the second rails 40, 41 configured to straddle the inverter, in order to lift and remove it.

[0098] The maintenance trolley may include a motorization ensuring motorized movement along the second rails 40, 41. For example, the motorization 43 of the trolley may include a motorized wheel, typically electric, belonging to the rolling elements, configured to run on the second rails 40, 41. The motorization may also include a traction system typically motorized cable.

[0099] Alternatively, the inverter can be evacuated by the trolley using the rails 12, 13, 14 extending along the longitudinal direction X between the rows of photovoltaic panels.

[0100] The present disclosure further relates to a method of maintenance of a solar installation comprising a movement of the trolley along the longitudinal direction X, over a row of panels, for example for the replacement of a photovoltaic panel, the inspection of the installation, or the cleaning of the PV photovoltaic panels.

[0101] This movement and maintenance / inspection / cleaning can be carried out by at least one operator on board the trolley, or alternatively be automated in whole or in part by the trolley which moves autonomously, i.e. without an operator on board.

[0102] For this purpose, the maintenance trolley is motorized and includes a control module to ensure its movement autonomously, or remotely controlled by an operator, along the maintenance rails.

[0103] This disclosure further relates to a method for maintaining a solar installation according to this disclosure, which includes: - the removal of at least one worn photovoltaic PV panel from a location of the worn panel on said floating solar installation, and its removal by supporting the worn panel with maintenance trolley 2, movement of maintenance trolley 2 at least along the longitudinal direction X of the maintenance rails 12, 13, 14, and / or - the installation of a photovoltaic panel P, in particular a new one, by its support by the maintenance trolley 2, and the movement of the maintenance trolley 2 along the maintenance rails to a mounting location on said floating solar installation. Industrial application

[0104] The installation according to this disclosure advantageously eliminates the need for a maintenance walkway for operators, which constitutes surfaces of the floating solar installation not covered by the photovoltaic panels, namely surfaces not used for capturing solar radiation.

[0105] On the contrary, the maintenance trolley 2, traveling astride the panels, makes it possible to maximize and densify the energy yield of electricity production per unit area of ​​the floating solar installation, by minimizing the areas not used for capturing solar radiation.

[0106] The installation also has the advantage, compared to a prior art installation of the first type, of being able to reduce the flotation and therefore the quantity of material and the volume for the floats, thanks to a better distribution of the load of the operator via the trolley and the rails.

[0107] In general, the maintenance trolley can be used for cleaning the photovoltaic panels of the photovoltaic panel row.

[0108] For this purpose, the maintenance trolley may be equipped with a cleaning system comprising: - spray nozzles, oriented so as to project a cleaning fluid onto the PV photovoltaic panels of said at least one row RI, R2 of photovoltaic panels over which the maintenance trolley 2 moves, and / or - brushing means such as a brush, configured so as to brush the PV photovoltaic panels of said at least one row RI, R2 over which the maintenance trolley 2 moves.

[0109] When the maintenance trolley is motorized, electronics such as a programmable logic controller can be configured to automate the cleaning cycle of the trolley and its motorized movement, in whole or in part. List of reference signs

[0110] - 1. Floating solar installation, - 11. Floats, - 12, 13, 14. Maintenance rails, - 15,16. Transshipment rails, - 2. Panel maintenance trolley, - 2a. Simple maintenance trolley, - 2b. Multi-purpose maintenance trolley, -SI, S2. Respectively first vertical structure and second vertical structure, -21, 22. Respectively first rolling / sliding members and second rolling / sliding members, - 23. Transverse structure, - 3. Transshipment trolley, - 30. Chassis (Chariot 3), - 17a, 18a; 18a, 18b. Support rails (belonging to the transshipment trolley), - LS. Flexible connection(s), - X. Longitudinal direction, - Y. Transverse direction - Z. Vertical direction - RI, R2. Respectively first and second row of photovoltaic panels, - PV. Photovoltaic panels.

Claims

Demands

1. Floating solar installation (1), comprising: - floats (11) providing buoyancy to the installation, - at least one row (RI, R2) of photovoltaic panels extending along a longitudinal direction (X), fixed to the floats, the photovoltaic panels being kept out of the water by the floats and a trolley system configured for the maintenance of the photovoltaic (PV) panels, comprising: - maintenance rails (12, 13, 14) comprising at least a first rail (12) and a second rail (13), extending parallel to each other on either side of said at least one row of photovoltaic panels (RI, R2), along the longitudinal direction (X),spaced apart along a transverse direction (Y) - at least one maintenance trolley (2) comprising a chassis (20) provided with first rolling / sliding members (21) and second rolling / sliding members (22) configured respectively to travel along a first rail (12) and the second rail (13) guided by the two rails, and wherein the trolley is configured to be moved along the rails, the chassis configured to pass astride, over the photovoltaic panels of said at least one row (RI, R2) and wherein the maintenance rails are separate and independent components of the photovoltaic panels, configured to ensure the movement of said chassis (20) of said at least one maintenance trolley (2) over the locations of the photovoltaic panels of the row (RI; R2) of photovoltaic panels, even if one or more of the photovoltaic panels are removed.

2. Installation according to claim 1 wherein the maintenance trolley (2) and the maintenance rails (12, 13, 14) are configured to move at least one operator mounted on the chassis of the maintenance trolley (2).

3. Installation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maintenance trolley is motorized and includes a control module to ensure its autonomous or remote-controlled movement, along the maintenance rails (12, 13, 14).

4. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising several rows of panels (RI, R2), extending parallel to each other along the longitudinal direction (X), the panels of the different rows spaced apart from each other along the transverse direction (Y) and comprising a plurality of pairs of rails (12,13; 13,14), spaced along the transverse direction, including at least a first pair of rails (12,13) ​​allowing the maintenance trolley (2) to travel astride the photovoltaic (PV) panels of a first row (RI) and at least a second pair of rails (13,14) allowing the maintenance trolley (2) to travel astride the photovoltaic panels of another row of panels, distinct from the first row (RI) in particular a second row (R2).

5. Installation according to claim 4 wherein the first row of photovoltaic panels (RI) and the second row of photovoltaic panels (R2) are spaced, along the transverse direction (Y) by a gap ô, permitting the movement of the first rolling / sliding members (21) or the second rolling / sliding members (22), on an intermediate maintenance rail (13), and wherein the dimension of the gap ô is less than 40 cm.

6. An installation according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the trolley system comprises a transshipment trolley (3), movable along transshipment rails (15, 16) extending lengthwise in the transverse direction (Y), spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (X), and wherein the transshipment trolley is configured to support the maintenance trolley (2, 2a, 2b) and to ensure the transfer of the maintenance trolley (2) from a first position of the transshipment trolley (3) configured to ensure the loading of the maintenance trolley from the first pair of rails (12, 13), and to a second position of the transshipment trolley (3) configured to ensure the unloading of the maintenance trolley onto the other pair of rails (13, 14), in particular the second pair.

7. Installation according to claim 6, wherein the chassis (30) of the transfer trolley comprises support rails (17a,18a; 17b, 18b) configured to cooperate with the maintenance trolley (2), the support rails configured to be aligned respectively with the rails of the first pair of rails (12,13) ​​in the first position of the transfer trolley (3), and to be aligned respectively with the rails of the other pair of rails (13,14), in the second position of the transfer trolley (3).

8. Floating solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the panel maintenance trolley (2) comprises an inverted U-shaped gantry structure, comprising a first vertical structure (SI), providing support for the first rolling / sliding members (21), a second vertical structure (S2) providing support for the second rolling / sliding members (22), the first rolling / sliding members (21) and the second rolling / sliding members configured to travel on the first rail (12) and the second rail (13) arranged in whole or in part at a height below the level of the panels of said at least row (RI; R2), and a transverse structure (23), extending in the transverse direction (Y), intended to travel above the panels of said at least row (RI; R2), the transverse structure connecting the first vertical structure (SI) and the second vertical structure (S2).

9. Installation according to claim 8, wherein the maintenance trolley (2) includes a folding extension (EXT) configured to move from a retracted position (P2), with less bulk on the gantry structure, to a deployed position (PI) for which said extension (EXT) extends cantilevered from the gantry structure of the trolley to straddle a row of photovoltaic panels, consecutive to said at least one row (RI, R2) over which the transverse structure (23) travels.

10. Floating solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the panel maintenance trolley (2) is a single maintenance trolley (2a) extending along the transverse direction (Y) to straddle a single row of photovoltaic panels (RI or R2) or the panel maintenance trolley (2) is a multiple maintenance trolley (2b) extending along the transverse direction (Y) to straddle a plurality of rows of solar panels (RI, R2).

11. Floating solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the photovoltaic panels of said at least one row (RI, R2) are fixed to the maintenance rails, above the maintenance rails (12,13,14), by means of mechanical interfaces (Eq) such as fixing brackets, leaving a free clearance along the rails for the movement of the sliding / rolling members, first sliding / rolling members (21) and second sliding / rolling members (22).

12. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the rails maintenance (12, 13, 14) are fixed to the floats (11).

13. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the maintenance trolley is provided with a cleaning system comprising: - spray nozzles, oriented so as to project a cleaning fluid onto the photovoltaic (PV) panels of the row (RI, R2) over which the maintenance trolley (2) moves, and / or - brushing means such as a brush, configured so as to brush the photovoltaic (PV) panels of the row (RI, R2) over which the maintenance trolley (2) moves.

14. Floating solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising an inverter (4) configured to transform the direct current from the photovoltaic panels into alternating current usable by the network supported by one or more floats, and in which the installation includes secondary maintenance rails (40, 41), oriented along the transverse direction (Y), spaced along the longitudinal direction (X) on either side of the inverter device, and an inverter maintenance trolley (43) traveling on the secondary rails (40, 41) configured to support and evacuate the inverter.

15. A method for maintaining a solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising moving the maintenance trolley (2) along the longitudinal direction X over a row of photovoltaic panels, suitable for replacing a photovoltaic panel, inspecting the installation, or cleaning the photovoltaic panels.

16. A method for maintaining a solar installation according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising: - removing at least one worn photovoltaic (PV) panel from a worn panel location on said floating solar installation, and removing it by means of a support for the worn panel by the maintenance trolley (2), and moving the maintenance trolley (2) at least along the longitudinal direction X of the maintenance rails (12, 13, 14), and / or - installing a photovoltaic (PV) panel, in particular a new one, by means of its support by the maintenance trolley (2), and moving the maintenance trolley (2) along the maintenance rails up to a mounting location on said floating solar installation.

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