SOLAR TRACKER SUPPORT STRUCTURE

Abstract

The solar panel support structure shown here will consist of triangular substructures made of wooden posts and beams, with one half of the apex of the triangle hollowed out to allow the panels to be horizontally positioned. The substructures will be installed in rows facing south. A tracking system will be placed on the south side of each substructure and will orient the panels towards the sun throughout the day using a servomotor rotating at a constant speed around an axis parallel to the Earth's north-south axis. A positioning actuator will allow the panels to be oriented according to the day of the year, using a sinusoidal function. This positioning actuator will also be able to horizontalize the panels in case of strong winds and verticalize them in case of hail or snow. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure [9].

Description

Title of the invention: SOLAR TRACKER SUPPORT STRUCTURE technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a support for solar panels allowing them to be permanently oriented towards the sun. Previous technique

[0002] Ground-mounted photovoltaic solar parks often use fixed structures supporting fixed panels, which cannot orient themselves to face the sun throughout the day and across the seasons. More recently, support structures that allow the panels to follow the sun's path throughout the day, using a rotation axis, have emerged, increasing the amount of electrical energy produced per square meter of panel. These systems rely on irradiance sensors and / or algorithms for calculating the sun's position. However, these structures cannot position the panels exactly facing the sun throughout the seasons. These structures allow the panels to be oriented horizontally in case of strong winds and vertically in case of hail or snow. Finally, other solar panel support structures allow for precise tracking of the sun, in azimuth and altitude, thanks to two rotation axes.These latest structures, which optimize the amount of electrical energy produced per square meter of panel, rely on light sensors and / or advanced algorithms to calculate the sun's position and ensure precise panel placement. These structures allow the panels to be positioned horizontally in strong winds and vertically in hail or snow. The support structures for these solar panels, whether fixed or tracking the sun along one or two axes, are primarily based on vertical metal poles anchored to minimal foundations, which may require concrete in certain soil types. Description of the invention

[0003] The invention presented here would make it possible to create large solar parks, with azimuth and altitude tracking of the sun using two axes of rotation. One of these axes of rotation is judiciously defined based on the latitude of the location in order to greatly simplify the tracking control, which can be achieved without an irradiance sensor and with two simple equations of motion. In addition, the invention presented here would facilitate the integration of solar projects due to the shape of the panel support structures, resembling fir trees in a fir forest. These structures would ideally be made of wood. Finally, the numerous ground supports of these Support structures for solar panels would make it possible to reduce or even avoid the use of concrete for their foundations. Technical problem

[0004] The structures, which optimize the amount of electrical energy produced per square meter of panel using two axes of rotation, rely on illumination sensors and / or advanced algorithms for calculating the sun's position to ensure the precise positioning of the panels. These techniques increase the technical complexity and thus the cost of tracking the sun by the panels.

[0005] The metal poles supporting existing solar panel structures are partly prefabricated off-site in a factory, but require on-site assembly of the structure. Large solar parks are developing rapidly worldwide. However, their development is sometimes hampered by opposition from local residents who consider their appearance unsightly, particularly when planned for natural areas, due to the predominant use of vertical metal poles to support the structure, the environmental impact of which must be taken into account. Finally, such solar parks use relatively few foundations, but these sometimes require the use of concrete, which can be poorly received by those concerned with protecting natural areas. Technical solution

[0006] The solar panel support structure presented herein will consist of flat, triangular substructures lying in a plane passing through the Earth's North and South Poles. These substructures will be constructed with posts and beams, ideally made of wood, although they can be made of other materials such as metal, concrete, or composite materials. More specifically, these substructures will consist of an isosceles triangle (1), one or more vertical supports (2) anchored in the ground, a vertical post (3) along the axis of the triangle, and horizontal beams (4), with one half of the triangle's apex hollowed out to allow the solar panels (5) to be positioned horizontally in high winds. The substructures will be installed parallel to each other, forming rows on terrain that is not necessarily flat, and held together by horizontal or oblique beams (6).Depending on the length of the vertical post or the oblique sides of the triangle, it will or will not be possible for people, animals, or vehicles to pass under the substructures. If the central post is short, the substructures, triangular in shape and resting on the ground, will be anchored to the ground by metal ground screws placed at the base of the central post and at the base of the triangle. If the central post is long, the substructures, triangular in shape and raised several meters above the ground, will be anchored to the ground by metal ground screws placed at the base of the central post and horizontal beams (11) connecting the rows of substructures. structures. The sloping sides of the triangle can also be extended to the ground and anchored with screws to stabilize the structure, thus avoiding the use of beams (11), with or without a central post. A sun-tracking system will be placed on the south-facing side of each substructure. This system, mounted on a support (7) made of wood or metal, will support the plane carrying the flat-plate solar panel(s) and orient them towards the sun throughout the day using a servomotor (8) rotating around an axis (9) parallel to the Earth's north-south axis. This axis of rotation will be easily determined from the latitude of the location: this axis must be inclined to the horizontal at an angle equal to the latitude of the location. This servomotor will then compensate for the Earth's rotation throughout the day with a simple, uniform rotation at the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation.This servomotor will complete less than one rotation per day, from east to west, and will return to the east during the following night. A positioning actuator (10), or another servomotor, will simultaneously orient the solar panels towards the sun according to the day of the year, for example, by performing only one movement per day. The sun's altitude that the solar panels must follow over the course of a year is modeled by a sinusoidal function, dependent on the latitude of the location. This positioning actuator will also be able to position the solar panels horizontally in case of strong winds and vertically in case of hail or snow.

[0007] The substructures can be prefabricated almost entirely in a factory, off-site, for faster installation of solar parks. Benefits provided

[0008] The invention presented herein will allow solar panels to be oriented along two axes for precise tracking of the sun, using a system simpler than current systems with two actuators. The first actuator is a servomotor rotating daily at a constant speed around an axis parallel to the Earth's North-South axis, easily defined by the latitude of the location. The second actuator is a positioning cylinder, or another servomotor, ensuring the simple sinusoidal variation of the sun's altitude throughout the year. The control of these two actuators can be easily programmed by a technician. The use of sensors and advanced control systems is thus avoided, reducing the cost of the sun tracking system.Furthermore, the solar panel support substructures designed in this way are shaped like fir trees, made of wood, and the structure itself resembles a fir forest, thus improving the solar park's acceptance by local communities and enhancing its carbon footprint. Finally, the structure's stability in both directions of the horizontal plane allows for the rapid installation of hundreds of prefabricated substructures on uneven, potentially sloping terrain, without the use of concrete foundations, relying solely on steel ground screws. Brief description of the drawings

[0009] Fig. 1 presents a west view of a substructure, with a central post, at noon when the sun is at a height of 71°.

[0010] Fig. 2 presents a west view of a substructure, without a central post, at noon when the sun is at a height of 71°.

[0011] Fig. 3 presents a west view of a substructure, with a central post, at noon when the sun is at a height of 16°.

[0012] Fig. 4 presents a west view of a substructure with the panels in a horizontal position in a very windy situation.

[0013] Fig. 5 presents a west view of a substructure with the panels in a vertical position in a snow or hail situation.

[0014] Fig. 6 presents a south-noon view of a substructure composed of five substructures.

[0015] Fig. 7 presents a west view of two substructures at noon, with short vertical posts.

[0016] Fig. 8 presents a west view of two substructures at noon, with long vertical posts, joined together by beams.

[0017] Fig. 9 presents a west view of two substructures at noon, with long vertical posts, and the oblique sides of the triangle extended to the ground.

[0018] Fig. 10 presents a west view of two substructures at noon, without vertical posts, and the oblique sides of the triangle extended to the ground. Best way of implementing the invention

[0019] The solar panel support structure presented herein will consist of flat, triangular substructures lying in a plane passing through the Earth's North and South Poles. These substructures will be constructed with wooden posts and beams. They will be formed with an isosceles triangle (1), several vertical supports (2) anchored in the ground, a vertical post (3) along the axis of the triangle, and horizontal beams (4), with one half of the triangle's apex hollowed out to allow the solar panels (5) to be positioned horizontally in strong winds. The substructures will be installed parallel to each other, forming rows on uneven ground, and held together by horizontal or angled beams (6).With the sloping sides of the triangle extended to the ground and anchored with screws in the ground, the triangular substructures can be raised sufficiently above the ground to allow animals, people, or vehicles to pass underneath. A sun-tracking system will be placed on the south-facing slope of each substructure. This system will be mounted on a support (7), made of wood or metal, which will support the plane bearing the panel(s). The solar panels are positioned and oriented towards the sun each day by means of a servomotor (8) rotating around an axis (9) parallel to the Earth's North-South axis. This servomotor compensates for the Earth's rotation throughout the day with a simple, uniform rotation at the Earth's angular velocity. This servomotor completes less than one rotation per day, from east to west, and returns to the east during the following night. A positioning actuator (10), or another servomotor, simultaneously orients the solar panels towards the sun according to the day of the year, for example, by performing only one movement per day. The altitude of the sun that the solar panels must follow over the course of a year is modeled by a simple sinusoidal function, dependent on the latitude of the location.This positioning jack can horizontalize the solar panels in strong winds and vertically in hail or snow. The substructures can be prefabricated almost entirely off-site in a factory for faster installation of the solar farms.

Claims

Demands

1. Solar panel support structure, characterized in that it is in the shape of fir trees in a fir forest, formed of triangular substructures (1) composed of oblique and horizontal beams, supporting a possible vertical post in its plane and horizontal beams in its plane, with half of the apex of the triangle hollowed out, and allowing tracking of the sun throughout each day and throughout the year, as well as horizontal placement of the panels in case of wind and vertical placement in case of snow or hail.

2. A solar panel sun tracking system, installed on a support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that it does not use any illumination sensor, rotates the panels at a constant speed around an axis parallel to the North-South axis of the Earth for daily tracking, and uses a positioning jack or a servo motor, driven using a sinusoidal function, for seasonal tracking.

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