WEIGHTING TRAY FOR POSITIONING PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS ON THE GROUND.
A modular, lightweight support system using galvanized steel bins with aluminum rails addresses the challenge of complex ground-based photovoltaic panel installations by enabling easy, stable, and optimal orientation/inclination setup without heavy infrastructure, facilitating efficient panel installation.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023011302
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-19
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-25
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable · inactive patent
AI Technical Summary
Existing photovoltaic panel installations face challenges in optimally managing orientation and inclination, particularly in ground-based setups, and often require complex and heavy infrastructure, making them cumbersome and fragile.
A modular, lightweight, and robust support system using galvanized steel bins with aluminum rails, designed for easy assembly and adjustment to terrain topography, allowing for simple installation of photovoltaic panels without heavy machinery, with each bin capable of supporting multiple panels and stabilized by sand or gravel.
Enables efficient, maneuverable, and stable installation of photovoltaic panels on various terrains, facilitating setup by two people and ensuring optimal orientation and inclination, regardless of surface or power requirements.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: WEIGHTING TRAY FOR POSITIONING PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS ON THE GROUND.
[0001] The invention relates to a support for installing photovoltaic or solar thermal panels on the ground or on flat roofs. There are two main types of installation for these panels. The most common is roof mounting; however, its drawback is that the orientation and tilt of the panels cannot be optimally controlled.
[0002] The second technique consists of placing the panels on the ground; it is then possible to control the due South orientation, but also the optimal inclination according to the latitude under which they are positioned.
[0003] The invention therefore aims to provide a simple, manageable, and modular solution without the need for heavy infrastructure such as concrete, beams or steel, cranes, or transport trucks for installing ground-mounted photovoltaic panels, regardless of the surface area and power output of the solar array. With this ballast tray system, two people are sufficient to install a complete solar array without complexity or specialized tools. The invention is further developed within this framework: the trays are made of galvanized steel and assembled using plates and screws, which facilitates transport and on-site installation. Each ballast tray is composed of four elements to be assembled. Due to the light weight of each element, assembly can be carried out by a single person.
[0004] Once assembled, each tray is fitted with two aluminum rails to support the photovoltaic panels (2 to 3 panels per tray). Then, several trays are positioned in a line on the same plane according to the number of solar panels to be installed. For example, 3 trays for 7 solar panels of 425 kWp, i.e., approximately 3 kWp of solar power.
[0005] The advantages of this invention lie in its ease of handling, robustness, and modular design; the ballast trays can be positioned according to the terrain's topography, either in small or large rows, thus allowing for the installation of a small or large solar array, depending on the specific site. Once the solar array is in place, the trays supporting the solar panels are simply ballasted with sand, gravel, pebbles, or any heavy material that stabilizes each tray.
[0006] Existing ballast tanks on the market are sometimes cumbersome and complex to assemble and install, or are fragile. My invention consists of designing each ballast tank with 4 manageable and robust galvanized elements, rails, and screws. The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given by way of non-limiting example. See the schematic drawings. Brief description of the figures:
[0007] [Fig. 1]: An assembled tray surmounted by 2 rails for positioning solar panels (possibility of carrying 2 or 3 panels if positioned in line with other trays)
[0008] [Fig.2]: Detailed plan of the lower support B
[0009] [Fig.3]: Plan of an angle bracket placed at each end of the support B
[0010] [Fig. 4]: Detailed plan of element A which is the cover of the assembly and which supports the rails that carry solar panels
[0011] [Fig. 5]: Detailed plan of element C, which is the large element bolted to element B and supporting element A
[0012] [Fig.6]: Detailed drawing of element D, which is the small element bolted to element B and supporting element A
[0013] Referring to [Fig. 1], a container designed to support photovoltaic panels can be seen. This support is placed and weighted on the ground and thus constitutes a mass suitable for receiving photovoltaic panels.
[0014] It comprises an open U-shaped element B [Fig.2] positioned on the ground, consisting of a base plate B1 and two perpendicular lateral plates B2 and B3 reinforced on their outer lateral sides by a fold B' and B”. 2 angle brackets [Fig.3] are positioned respectively at the bottom of element B at each end to reinforce the bottom of element B by means of screws.
[0015] This element B will be weighted with a load such as sand, gravel or pebbles to ensure optimal support and anchoring to the ground.
[0016] It also comprises two front and rear plates of different sizes, C and D [Fig. 5][Fig. 6], both of which are also in the form of a base plate (C1 and D1) with two side walls (respectively C2, C3 and D2, D3) also reinforced on their lateral sides by an internal fold (respectively C', C”, D', D”). The larger element C and the smaller element D are positioned at the ends and inside the support B. They are bolted together by means of 12 bolts: 3 bolts per edge.
[0017] It also includes a plate A [Fig. 4] similarly constructed of a U-shaped plate with a base A1 and two edges A2 and A3 (reinforced on their sides by an external fold A' and A"). This plate A covers the two elements C and D. It is bolted to the elements C and D by means of four bolts, one bolt positioned on each edge of the sides.
[0018] Once all these steps have been followed, the support is assembled; two aluminum rails [Fig. 1] are positioned at each horizontal end of plate A. These rails are used to position the solar panels using mounting brackets that slide into the rails. These rails are bolted to plate A with screws. As soon as the solar panels are clamped onto the rails the system is finished being arranged.
[0019] All that remains is to fill the B containers with sand, gravel or other material in order to ballast the entire structure on the ground.
[0020] In the case where it is desired to install 7 solar panels of 425 Wp i.e. a kit of approximately 3 Kwc it is necessary to arrange 3 supports with their rail, to position them on the same line, rail end to end connected to each other by connecting connectors.
[0021] Note that elements C and D are designed according to the latitude of the location where the system is positioned; indeed, in our latitudes the inclination of support A is placed at 45 degrees relative to the ground, whereas a system installed at the equator is placed almost parallel to the ground, i.e. about 5 degrees.
Claims
Claims
1. Ballasted support for positioning photovoltaic panels on the ground, characterized in that it is obtained by mounting on a lower support (B) open in a U-shape consisting of a bottom (Bl) and two perpendicular lateral plates (B2, B3) reinforced on their lateral sides by an external fold (B', B”), two front and rear plates (C, D) bolted respectively to the lower support (B) and which are both also in the form of a bottom plate (Cl, Dl) with two lateral walls (C2, C3, D2, D3) also reinforced on their lateral sides by an internal fold (C', C”, D', D”), a cover element (A) consisting in the same way of a U-shaped plate with a bottom (Al) and two edges (A2, A3) reinforced on their lateral sides by an external fold (A', A”) being arranged on the front and rear plates (C, D) and serving as a support for two aluminum rails which will support the photovoltaic panels.
2. Ballast support according to claim 1 characterized in that an angle iron is arranged on each side at the bottom of the lower support (B) to reinforce the latter.
3. Ballasted support according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the front and rear plates have different dimensions, so that the angle (Alpha) of the slope of the photovoltaic panels is variable depending on the geographical location of installation.