Photovoltaic power generation device and use of the device

Abstract

To provide a PV device in which multiple bifacial PV modules can be incorporated in a vertical arrangement and which satisfies special requirements of bifacial PV modules.SOLUTION: For economical and energy-efficient use of a PV device 1 having upright, in particular bifacial, PV modules, and particularly to substantially avoid shading of the PV modules, a supporting structure 3 being extremely simple to manufacture and install is proposed which is formed by vertical posts 4 connected to one another at intersecting points and by horizontally running cross-members 5, so that rectangular mounting areas can be provided for the individual PV modules.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a photovoltaic (PV) device comprising a plurality of bifacial solar power generation modules vertically arranged on a support structure. The present invention further relates to a PV device comprising at least one bifacial PV module vertically arranged on a support structure.

[0002] The present invention further relates to the use of such PV devices for power generation in a given installation.

[0003] Conventional PV devices that use single-sided PV modules for power generation are often installed in an inclined form. In this case, the only working surface of each PV module that can convert solar radiant energy into electrical energy is usually oriented south. Such devices have the drawback of discharging their peak output around noon. Thus, in the case of such an over-supply of power, the power grid may be overloaded.

[0004] Therefore, for several years, PV devices with PV modules having working surfaces on both sides have also been tried. These PV modules, called bifacial, are arranged vertically, whereby the front and back surfaces are each irradiated by the sun. If the bifacial PV modules of such a PV device are installed in the north-south direction, this PV device can receive sunlight from the east and west directions, especially in the early morning and late evening. Thereby, an output discharge is achieved that complements conventional devices, reaching peak values in the early morning and evening while slightly decreasing around noon. Such a daily power characteristic curve is advantageously distributed over the day for the purpose of a uniform power supply in the power grid. However, furthermore, PV devices with bifacial PV modules can also be advantageously installed in orientations different from the north-south direction.

[0005] In the case of a bifacial PV module, different from a single-sided PV module, since the back surface of the module should also be utilized for power generation, new types of technical problems have arisen. Therefore, the support structures and installation concepts developed so far for single-sided PV modules can only be used in a limited way, or require time-consuming and thus costly adaptation.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a PV device that can assemble a plurality of bifacial PV modules in a vertical arrangement and is adapted to the special requirements of bifacial PV modules. For this purpose, in particular, a support structure should be provided that can not only be manufactured inexpensively but also enables smooth and thus inexpensive installation of the PV device. Furthermore, it is desirable that the support structure has sufficient stability under typical climatic conditions.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to improve the conversion efficiency of sunlight into electrical energy for the PV device.

[0008] To solve this problem, according to the present invention, in a photovoltaic power generation device, the features of claim 1 are provided. In particular, therefore, according to the present invention, to solve this problem, in a photovoltaic power generation device of the type described at the beginning, the support structure has a plurality of struts that are mounted on or in the ground, in particular bolted down, and to these struts, beams are attached that connect two adjacent struts to each other, and two struts and two beams each define a substantially square mounting area, and it is proposed that at least one PV module is arranged within this mounting area.

[0009] Accordingly, the assembly area according to the invention can accommodate one PV module or a plurality of PV modules, and it can also be envisaged that the assembly area is further divided, for example, by additional beams and / or vertically extending intermediate struts. If the assembly area is suitable for accommodating PV modules with a rectangular outer contour, the assembly area according to the invention can in particular be regarded as being substantially rectangular. Thus, in particular according to the invention, two struts and two beams each define an assembly area, at least one PV module is arranged within this assembly area, and the struts and the edges of the beams defining the assembly area are preferably uniformly spaced from the outer contour of at least one PV module.

[0010] In most installation situations, it is suitable if a plurality of bifacial photovoltaic modules are arranged vertically on one support structure.

[0011] Thus, in other words, the invention provides a support structure in which struts and beams are preferably connected to each other at regular intervals and preferably at right angles, whereby two struts and two beams each define a rectangular assembly area, and bifacial PV modules are mounted within this assembly area by vertical suspension. Thereby, the PV modules can collect sunlight converted into electrical energy on both sides.

[0012] According to the invention, it is suitable due to the high rigidity of the support structure if at least the individual beams are attached to the struts on both sides by attachment means. In this case, suitable beam attachment in the sense of the invention can in particular be achieved by screws, in particular tapping screws or threaded screws, by rivets, pins, and by welding, gluing, or by simple form-fitting connections.

[0013] In this case, preferably, the PV device according to the invention having the features of claim 1 can be manufactured at low cost and can be installed efficiently and thus inexpensively. At the same time, the support structure according to the invention ensures particularly high stability against wind loads and effective utilization of the active surfaces of the bifacial modules.

[0014] According to the invention, the support structure can form a foundation, for example, by means of anchor bolt fixing on the ground. This can be achieved, for example, by means of ground anchors, ground screws, driven piles, or concrete foundations, in which case bracing members may be provided complementarily. For example, when installing the PV device on a landfill, if anchor bolt fixing to the ground is avoided, according to the invention, the foundation structure of the support structure can be achieved by weighting the columns on the ground. Furthermore, the columns and beams can be formed as elongated profiles, for example, as aluminum extruded profiles, which can particularly save the materials used and thus enable a lightweight support structure. According to the invention, the support structure may be made, for example, from C-shaped, S-shaped, U-shaped, Σ-shaped, Ω-shaped profiles, particularly from combinations of these profiles. In this case, for example, in order to minimize shadow formation on the PV module, diagonal and / or circular forming elements may be provided in the columns and / or beams. In another aspect according to the invention, columns and / or beams made of hot-rolled steel or cold-rolled steel are provided, which are preferably provided with a corrosion protection material.

[0015] According to the invention, this problem is also solved by another preferred embodiment of the dependent claims.

[0016] For example, according to the present invention, it is preferable that the support columns are substantially vertically oriented and / or the beams are substantially horizontally oriented at the location where the PV device is used. Such orientations of the support columns and the beams ensure that the edges defining the individual assembly areas, particularly the edges of the support columns and the beams facing the PV modules, are preferably uniformly spaced from the outer edges of the square PV modules of the PV device. Thereby, the spacing between the support columns and the beams with respect to the PV modules can be selected to be as small as possible, so that for commercially available square PV modules, savings in the materials used for the support structure and / or good area utilization can be achieved. Different from the conventional PV devices for single-sided PV modules, in this case, in particular, the extension of the support columns and the beams below or behind the PV modules, which may cause undesirable shadow formation on the PV modules, is avoided.

[0017] Furthermore, in the PV device according to the present invention, for example, it may be assumed that a plurality of, particularly up to four, PV modules are arranged vertically stacked in the vertical direction. Therefore, by providing a plurality of rows of PV modules extending vertically stacked, the effective active area can be enlarged as a whole without the need to install additional support columns. According to the present invention, the installation of more than four PV modules arranged vertically stacked has the drawback that the wind load increases significantly, so that the foundation structure of the support columns becomes significantly more complicated and, consequently, inevitably a more expensive structure. Therefore, the present invention proposes to limit the number of modules arranged vertically stacked to four or less. According to the present invention, the optimal number of rows of PV modules arranged vertically stacked is two to three.

[0018] According to the present invention, it is more preferable if the PV modules adjacent in the horizontal direction are arranged with a vertical offset from each other. Such a configuration, which is not typical in conventional devices, enables a particularly effective configuration of the support structure. This is particularly the case when the vertical offset between horizontally adjacent PV modules is at least the height of one beam. Thereby, the beams can be assembled to the columns such that they are vertically positioned above and below each other, which is advantageous for a number of configurations according to the present invention of the support structure. Thus, in particular, the respective fixing points of horizontally adjacent beams on one column can be arranged such that they are vertically positioned above and below each other. Thereby, as will be described in more detail later, an efficient use of the flanges and tongues on the columns is possible.

[0019] For an as efficient as possible installation of the columns of the PV device, according to the present invention, it can be assumed that the column is divided into at least a mounting section connected to the ground and a holding section connectable to or connected to this mounting section. In this case, the holding section extends above the mounting section. In this case, preferably, the mounting section can first be provided as a foundation in or on the ground independently of the holding section. Such a thing is advantageous, for example, when the mounting section is to be founded by driving it into the ground. For this purpose, the mounting section may in particular be shaped in the form of a driven profile, whereby the mounting section has sufficient strength for driving.

[0020] According to the present invention, the holding section and the mounting section may preferably be formed as an elongated shaped member made of metal. In this case, preferably, various shaped members can be combined with each other. For example, a C-shaped, U-shaped, or Σ-shaped shaped member suitable for driving can be combined as the mounting section with an S-shaped or Ω-shaped shaped member that is not very suitable for driving as the holding section of the column. Further, for material saving, the holding section can be formed thinner than the mounting section. This can be achieved, for example, by another shape selection, particularly by another shape dimension setting, or by thinning the material.

[0021] After the mounting section is based, the holding section can be aligned with the mounting section and firmly connected to the mounting section, for example, by a tapping screw that can be screwed into a pre-drilled hole in some cases. For this purpose, according to the present invention, it is preferable that contact surfaces corresponding to the mounting section and the holding section are respectively formed. At this contact surface, both sections can contact each other and thus overlap. Thereby, the deviation in the height of the mounting section can be compensated by aligning the holding section with respect to the mounting section. For this purpose, the holding section may be particularly configured to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the mounting section while being in contact with the mounting section at the contact surface.

[0022] According to the present invention, the overlapping portion between the mounting section and the holding section may be additionally formed to be rotatable. Thereby, with the corresponding contact surfaces in contact with each other, both sections of one column can rotate relative to each other or may have been rotated. This can be achieved, for example, by a flat configuration of the contact surface, so that the mounting section and the holding section are in contact with each other's backs in the assembled state. Due to the rotatable configuration of the overlapping portion, the longitudinal axes of both sections of the column can rotate relative to each other, thereby improving the compensation for the inclined orientation of the mounting section that may occur in the base process of the mounting section.

[0023] According to the invention, it is furthermore particularly advantageous if the individual PV modules, i.e. in particular the outer edges of the PV modules, are arranged spaced apart from the struts and / or beams. This is because it is thereby possible to prevent shadows from being formed on the active surface of the PV module by the struts and / or beams. In this case, according to the invention, it is suitable to select the spacing to be of such a size that shadow formation is excluded up to an angle of incidence of up to 75°. Thereby, excessive required space for the spacing can be avoided, and thereby effective area utilization is possible. Generally according to the invention, it is suitable if the PV module is assembled in the middle with respect to the outer edges of the struts and / or beams. This is because it is thereby possible to minimize shadow formation on both sides of the bifacial PV module.

[0024] The angle of incidence is understood in this case, hereinafter, to be the angle formed by the incident sunlight and the perpendicular to the active surface of the PV module. Thus, light incident perpendicularly on the active surface of the PV module corresponds to an angle of incidence of 0°. Since the PV module is arranged vertically, the angle of incidence may in particular be an angle of incidence from the side.

[0025] According to the invention, a highly efficient PV device is obtained if the active surface of the PV module is arranged spaced apart from the struts and / or beams. Thereby, when the incident light is inclined, it is substantially avoided that the struts or beams create a shadow in the edge region of the active surface of the PV module. Shadow formation has a negative effect on the efficiency of the device.

[0026] According to the invention, in this case it is particularly suitable if the active surface of the PV module is spaced apart from the struts such that shadow formation on the active surface by the struts is excluded up to an angle of incidence of at least 20°, particularly preferably up to an angle of incidence of at least 30°. Optionally or additionally, it may be assumed that the active surface of the PV module is arranged spaced apart from the beams such that shadow formation on the active surface by the beams is excluded up to an angle of incidence of at least 25°, preferably up to an angle of incidence of at least 30° or 40°.

[0027] According to the present invention, a more compact PV device is obtained by arranging the working surfaces of the PV modules asymmetrically spaced from the struts and / or beams on the side where the working surfaces of the PV modules face each other. For example, in the north direction, each PV module is spaced from the strut so that shading of this working surface is eliminated up to an incident angle of at least 20°, preferably up to an incident angle of at least 30°, with respect to the working surface of the PV module, and in the south direction, it is spaced from the strut so that shading of this working surface is eliminated up to an incident angle of at least 45°, preferably up to an incident angle of at least 60°, with respect to the working surface of the PV module.

[0028] When the beam extends horizontally, according to the present invention, it is sufficient if the PV modules are arranged spaced only from the beam extending above the PV modules. Thereby, shading of the working surface by the beam extending above is avoided. On the other hand, for the module arranged above the horizontally extending beam, there is no risk of shading being formed by the beam extending below this module. This is because the directly incident sunlight enters the working surface obliquely from above. As a result, according to the present invention, the working surface of the PV module above the horizontally extending beam can be brought closer to this beam in order to reduce the required space of the PV device in the vertical direction.

[0029] If the PV device is to be installed especially in a location where the influence of wind is large, according to the present invention, the PV module can be suspended from the support structure so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis. In this case, if the rotation axis extends parallel to the beam, this is advantageous because it can ensure the possibility of rotation in a compact assembly area. The possibility of rotation of the PV module about the rotation axis can be achieved, for example, by suspending the PV module only rotatably from the beam above the support structure. Based on the possibility of rotation, the PV module can move out of the plane formed by the support columns under strong wind. Therefore, through the gaps generated thereby in the assembly area, the wind can blow through almost unobstructed, whereby the wind load acting on the support structure is significantly reduced. In this case, it is only necessary to form the support structure as a whole with lower stability, whereby, for example, the rigidity of the support columns can be formed to be low, and thus there is an advantage that the material cost can be saved as a whole.

[0030] In order to enable the simplest possible assembly of the PV device, according to the present invention, it is assumed that a support surface that can be attached to the beam in a planar manner is formed on the support column. By the planar contact of the beam with the support surface, the force and moment introduced from the beam can be effectively absorbed by the support column.

[0031] According to the present invention, the support surface can be formed particularly simply as a flange on the molding material and / or as a tongue on an opening provided on the outer surface of the molding material, for example. For this purpose, it can also be assumed that the support surface is formed as a flange on one side of the support column and as a tongue on the other side. Therefore, the tongue or flange is considered to be optional according to the present invention. In this case, according to the present invention, if it projects perpendicularly from the support column and / or extends preferably laterally offset with respect to the plane formed by the PV module in the direction of this plane, either the tongue or the flange is suitable. Furthermore, holes, slots, etc. can be provided in the tongue and / or flange to facilitate the attachment of the beam by screws or the like.

[0032] According to the present invention, the flange acting as a support surface may in particular extend along the entire support section of the support column; thus, the flange may be a part of the profiling; however, the flange can also be joined to the support column later, for example by welding. When using a profiling having only a single flange at the end of the profiling, for example an S-shaped profiling, according to the present invention, an additional angled connecting member that can be screwed to the profiling can be provided. Thereby, when connecting and coupling the beam to the single flange and the angled connecting member, a closed annular force flow can be formed, and thus the rigidity of the structure can be increased. Additionally, according to the present invention, the flange can also be provided on the support column only for increasing the bending rigidity of the support column.

[0033] According to the present invention, by forming an opening and a tongue belonging to this opening on the support column at low cost by means of a process such as bending or forming together with a process such as punching or laser cutting, the shape of the tongue can be provided on the profiling according to the shape of the belonging opening. In this case, one opening can also form a pair of tongues arranged on both sides of this opening, whereby one beam can be gripped from both sides.

[0034] If the support surfaces are formed in pairs, the robustness and rigidity of the support structure are further improved according to the present invention. Since the pair consisting of the support surfaces can grip the beam inserted between these support surfaces on both sides, the force derivation is further improved. In order to facilitate the gripping of one beam from both sides by the support surface, it is even more advantageous if the beam is thinner than the support column, in particular thinner than the distance between the support surfaces formed in pairs.

[0035] Optionally or additionally, the beam can also be attached to the support column by means of an angled connecting member. In this case, according to the present invention, an angled connecting member having support surfaces that can be connected to the support column in a planar manner on both sides of the beam to be attached is suitable.

[0036] Another possible configuration of the present invention assumes forming through-insertion openings in the struts to receive one beam or the ends thereof, respectively. The configuration of the through-insertion openings has the advantage that by inserting the beam more or less deeply into the through-insertion openings, tilting of the struts relative to each other and thus variation in the spacing between the struts associated therewith can be easily compensated for.

[0037] In this case, it can be seen that if the through-insertion openings are formed somewhat larger than the beam to be received by this opening, it is suitable for easy assembly. However, according to the present invention, it can be assumed that the through-insertion openings have a height that is at least 1.25 times, preferably at least 1.5 times, that of the beam in the vertical direction. Thereby, for example, it is possible to at least partially compensate for different height positions of the struts on a wavy site by assembling the beams at various heights.

[0038] Different from the through-insertion passage formed by the attached angled connecting member on the outer side of the strut, the through-insertion opening further provides the advantage that according to the present invention, the through-insertion opening can be arranged in the middle of the strut. Thereby, in particular, it is possible to easily achieve arranging the PV module in the middle with respect to the strut and / or the beam. Such an arrangement is suitable according to the present invention because shadow formation on both sides of the PV module is minimized.

[0039] When using a through-insertion opening, it is particularly advantageous if at least the support section of the support column is formed in the form of an Ω-shaped profile. This is because when using an Ω-shaped profile, two horizontally adjacent beams can be gripped from both sides by the two open ends of the Ω-shaped profile that can be formed by a pair of parallel flanges extending along the profile. This enables the formation of a closed force flow in the Ω-shaped profile. In this case, the individual beams can be guided through the through-insertion openings formed on the side surfaces of the Ω-shaped profile. Therefore, in such a configuration, the beams extending to the left and right of the support column formed as an Ω-shaped profile can be attached to a pair of flanges extending on one side of the support column. This results in a particularly simple and robust configuration of the support structure.

[0040] If at least the support section of the support column is formed in the form of a C-shaped or U-shaped profile, according to the present invention, a similarly robust connection between the support column and the beam is achieved under the use of the through-insertion opening. In this case, through-insertion openings having tongue pieces raised by bending are formed on the side surfaces of each profile, and the tongue pieces themselves provide a support surface for attaching the beam.

[0041] When two beams extending to the left and right of the support column are to be assembled to one tongue piece, it is advantageous if the height of the tongue piece is 1.25 times or more, preferably at least 1.5 times the height of the beam. Therefore, with such a configuration, the tongue piece or pair of tongue pieces of the through-insertion opening is of sufficient height to hold the two beams. To enable improved compensation for the assembly height by the beam, according to the present invention, additionally higher configured through-insertion openings can be even more effective.

[0042] In the configuration of the present invention, the through-insertion opening can have one or more tongue pieces as described above, which provide a support surface for assembling one beam, preferably two beams. Thereby, various configurations can be obtained even when connected to the Ω-shaped molding material. For the angular connecting member attached separately, the tongue piece does not need to be attached to the molding material like the angular connecting member, so it provides the advantage of reducing the assembly effort. Furthermore, the tongue piece raised by bending is usually non-rotatably connected to the vertical surface of the molding material, thereby easily obtaining a high torsional rigidity of the support structure.

[0043] Generally, in all the above-described configurations of the through-insertion opening, it can be assumed that, in particular, each through-insertion opening has at least twice, particularly at least three times, the height of one beam. With such a configuration, one beam or particularly two beams can be arranged in one through-insertion opening. By configuring the through-insertion opening relatively large, the assembly height of one or a plurality of beams can be made variable with respect to the through-insertion opening, that is, particularly can be changed during assembly. Thereby, height compensation is achieved, which is particularly advantageous in an uneven installation site.

[0044] Optionally, while receiving at least two beams in one through-insertion opening, in another configuration of the present invention, only one beam is arranged in one through-insertion opening, and another beam is assumed to be assembled on the surface of the support column opposite to the through-insertion opening by a support surface formed on the support column without using the through-insertion opening. In this case, in particular, the beam guided through the through-insertion opening may be assembled on the same support surface as another beam on the side of the support column opposite to this through-insertion opening. In other words, according to the configuration of the present invention, in particular, a beam inserted through the through-insertion opening and another beam can be attached to one support surface.

[0045] Another configuration according to the present invention assumes that the support has a shaped member having a C-shaped or U-shaped basic shape in at least said holding section or in one holding section. In this case, an additional support surface as a flange may be formed at the end of the shaped member. The flange can be formed during the production of the shaped member or can be attached to the shaped member later.

[0046] According to yet another configuration according to the present invention, the support may have a shaped member having a Z-shaped or S-shaped basic shape in at least said holding section or in one holding section. In this case, an additional support surface as a flange may be formed at the end of the shaped member. The S-shaped shaped member is also known in part in commercial transactions as a "Z-plus" shaped member. The "additional support surface / flange" in this case is to be understood as being such that even if the support surface / flange is already formed during the manufacture of the shaped member, as in the case of the C-shaped or U-shaped shaped member already described above, the basic shape of the shaped member is already provided without a flange.

[0047] For a particularly simple and more robust assembly of the PV module, according to the present invention, it is preferred that the PV module is attached to the beam. When the module is assembled horizontally / vertically, this allows the module to be held along its long / short side. For this purpose, according to the present invention, a special holding element can be provided. Preferably, this holding element provides a groove section into which the edge of each PV module is inserted or can be inserted, preferably omitting a frictionally connecting bond. In this case, in order to protect the PV module from damage, the groove section is coated with a plastically deformable or elastic material, preferably EPDM. Additionally, the PV module can be adhered to the holding element in order to prevent the PV module from slipping within the groove section.

[0048] According to the present invention, the holding element can be produced, for example, as a cold-formed steel part, preferably from corrosion-resistant steel and / or corrosion-protected, or from plastic, or from a lightweight metal such as aluminum, and may in particular have a rubber coating. The holding element may further be produced in the form of a molding or as an injection-molded or die-cast part.

[0049] According to the present invention, the PV module is held by the respective holding elements from both sides in the region of the groove section, so that reliable holding of the PV module can be ensured.

[0050] It goes without saying that the holding element as described above can also be used for the attachment of the PV module on the support in a similar use of the present invention.

[0051] Particularly preferably, two groove sections facing each other are formed in the holding element. Thus, each holding element can hold two PV modules located opposite each other. In this case, it is advantageous if the two groove sections extend in one common plane. Additionally or alternatively, the two groove sections can each be arranged centrally with respect to the outer side of the holding element. Such a configuration facilitates a suitable central positioning according to the present invention for all PV elements with respect to the support and / or the beam.

[0052] Furthermore, the retaining element may preferably have one cross-sectional reduction each at a right angle. Thus, at this location where the cross-section changes, a contact surface can be formed on the retaining element. Thereby, the retaining element can be inserted into the opening formed in the beam to a predetermined insertion depth or may be inserted. Therefore, for this purpose, according to the invention, the beam may have a through-insertion opening corresponding to the retaining element, particularly arranged in the middle. This through-insertion opening provided in the beam can in particular be formed so as to prevent the retaining element from slipping off in the longitudinal direction of the beam.

[0053] A substantial advantage of such a configuration is that if the retaining element is attached, for example, by screwing, in the region of the upper groove provided in the beam that houses the retaining element, it is sufficient for the secure positioning of the PV module; thus, additional attachment in the region of the second lower groove is not necessary. Thereby, not only is the assembly effort saved, but in each of the lower regions surrounding the lower retaining groove, the retaining element can be made thinner than in the upper region, which is advantageous for avoiding shadow formation on the PV module.

[0054] According to the invention, it is further advantageous if the retaining element is formed with a contact surface that contacts the beam in a planar manner to ensure the position of the retaining element during non-tilting assembly.

[0055] In an even more optimized retaining element according to the invention, the retaining element has an inclined surface on the lower surface, thereby preventing shadow formation on the PV module mounted in the lower groove of the retaining element.

[0056] According to the invention, as an alternative or supplementary configuration with respect to the separate holding elements, it is possible to form groove sections in the beam into which each PV module can be inserted. This groove may be formed, for example, only on the upper surface of the beam and / or may extend, in particular, over the entire length of the beam. In this case, it is advantageous that the PV module can be mounted directly in the groove of the beam during assembly, thereby reducing the number of holding elements to be assembled. Such a method can reduce the assembly effort and thus the cost.

[0057] Similar to the holding element, the beam may also have an inclined surface on the lower surface. Thereby, it is possible to ensure a large incident angle for each beam without shadow formation by each beam, also for the edge region of the active surface of the PV module.

[0058] The invention further recognizes that it is suitable for the support structure to be designed such that the agricultural cultivation of the surface on which the PV device is installed, especially the cultivation space between individual rows, can still continue. For this purpose, the invention provides that a space is left between the ground and the lowermost beam of the support structure. According to the invention, this space may have a height of at least 50 cm, preferably at least 60 cm, particularly preferably at least 1 m. It can thus be seen that the space is only interrupted by the necessary supports.

[0059] When installing the PV modules in a row, in this case, in particular, it can be particularly envisaged that the rows of the PV device are spaced apart such that a cultivation space with a width of at least 6 meters, at least 8 meters, or at least 10 meters is created between the rows.

[0060] For the most effective use of the area, i.e., for maximum energy generation per unit area, according to the present invention, it is preferable that the PV modules form substantially one plane together with the support structure. Therefore, for this purpose, the supports can be installed substantially along a straight line. After a predetermined minimum width of the installation surface, the PV modules can also be arranged in a plurality of rows. In this case, it is preferable if these rows are preferably uniformly spaced apart from each other. This is because according to the present invention, depending on the height of the rows of the PV device, the minimum distance to the adjacent rows in the solar direction can be selected so that the shading of the working surface of the PV modules by the adjacent rows is substantially eliminated. In this case, it is also possible to provide rows with PV modules having different heights, i.e., for example, arranged one above the other.

[0061] In a particularly preferred configuration of the present invention, the PV modules may be substantially oriented in the north-south direction. In the case of north-south orientation, the surface normals of both working surfaces of one double-sided PV module are respectively oriented east and west. In this case, according to the present invention, a deviation angle of ±30° may be provided, and thus the orientation is described as extending "substantially" in the north-south direction. With such a configuration, the PV device can obtain a current characteristic curve throughout the day without having a peak output around noon as described at the beginning. However, the PV device according to the present invention can be preferably used in a plurality of other orientations with respect to the sky direction.

[0062] According to the present invention, if the distance between two rows is at least 3 times, preferably at least 4 times, and particularly preferably at least 5 times the maximum height of one working surface of the PV device, the surface utilization of the PV device can be optimized with an acceptable loss in energy conversion efficiency. Thereby, depending on the topographical width of the installation location of the PV device, the shading of the PV modules by the adjacent rows can be substantially avoided, especially in the early morning and evening. The maximum height of the working surface of the PV device can be defined, for example, by the vertical distance between the highest point and the lowest point inside the working surface of one row of the PV device (see also the description of the drawings in this regard).

[0063] Individual cells of a PV module are usually connected in columns to form cell strings, and thus, since the weakest irradiated cell limits the actually flowing current, shading is disadvantageous as is known. In the prior art, so-called bypass diodes that are standardly provided together with the PV module are known in order to minimize the influence of partial shading on the active surface of the PV module. However, using only bypass diodes to minimize the influence of shading leads to significant drawbacks. For example, when a bypass diode is connected to electrically bridge the area where the shadow on the active surface is formed, significant heat is generated. However, in the PV device according to the present invention that takes into account daily shading, such a method is unacceptable because significant heat generation may have an adverse effect on the service life of the PV module. A further drawback is that many inverters used in the market adjust the operating point that is disadvantageous for the PV module even though bypass diodes are provided, resulting in further output losses in the PV module connected to the inverter.

[0064] Therefore, in order to increase the energy conversion efficiency of the PV device, the features of a second independent claim directed to a PV device having at least one bifacial PV module are selectively provided. Thus, in particular, according to the present invention, for a photovoltaic power generation device comprising at least one bifacial PV module that can be further formed by the above-described configuration of the support structure, in order to solve the above problems, the electrical connection of the active surface of the PV device, in particular all active surfaces, is selected such that the active surfaces in the electrical connection located at different heights can operate at various electrical operating points. In this case, in particular, it can be assumed that the upper (i.e., the upper arranged) active surface is electrically connected in parallel to the lower (i.e., the lower arranged) active surface. Optionally or additionally, the upper active surfaces may be connected in series with each other and / or the lower active surfaces may be connected in series with each other.

[0065] According to another configuration of the present invention, for such a connection, an electrical return path that does not use a module, for example, by means of a cable, can be provided, that is, the PV module does not interrupt the return path. Such an electrical return path that does not use a module may in particular be configured to correspond to PV modules connected in series. Such a return path has not been carried out in conventional PV devices with single-sided PV modules for cost reasons and technical reasons. However, the present invention recognizes that if the best electrical connection of the PV module is to be guaranteed, a large impact on shadow formation on a PV device with vertically standing PV modules may require such a return path.

[0066] The present invention further recognizes that there are great advantages in using upright double-sided PV modules for a PV device if all working surfaces located at various heights can operate at various operating points, with the exception of only the edge regions of the PV device.

[0067] Such a configuration in particular means that the current flowing through the working surfaces arranged at various heights of one or more PV modules of the PV device can be changed. That is, with such a configuration, for example, when the upper and lower working surfaces of one or more PV modules are electrically connected in series, as would be the case, for example, shadow formation on the lower working surface can be avoided from limiting the current generation on the upper working surface.

[0068] For several years, furthermore, rectangular double-sided PV modules having two electrically separated working surfaces have been available on the market. In this case, usually, each of these working surfaces has a plurality of cell strings, and the electrical separation extends parallel to the short side of the module. The present invention proposes to install such a double-sided PV module having electrically separated working surfaces vertically, thereby forming the upper and lower working surfaces as in the present invention.

[0069] The expression "working surfaces that are electrically separated from each other" in the context of the present invention particularly means that the working surfaces are not connected in series with each other; in contrast, an electrical parallel connection of the working surfaces can also exist inside the PV module.

[0070] The present invention further proposes electrically connecting and operating the upper working surface of each such bifacial PV module in parallel with respect to the lower working surface, whereby the upper working surface can operate at an electrical operating point different from the electrical operating point of the lower working surface. Thus, when one of the lower working surfaces is already shaded, the current passing through one or more upper working surfaces forms a current path parallel to the shaded lower working surface through the upper working surfaces and is thus not affected by the upper working surfaces. That is, in particular, the electrical operating point in the sense of the present invention can be defined by the current flowing through the corresponding working surface.

[0071] It is understood that in the sense of the present invention, working surfaces arranged at approximately the same height, i.e., in particular the PV module as a whole, may be connected in series. When the working surfaces of PV modules arranged at approximately the same height are connected in series, this can be referred to as an electrical line according to the present invention.

[0072] Therefore, the configuration of the present invention proposes providing a plurality of electrical lines that are electrically separated from each other by connecting the working surfaces in series, arranging these electrical lines at different heights, and preferably connecting and operating the electrical lines in parallel. Therefore, the amount of current flowing through each individual electrical line can be changed, which has the same meaning as that the working surfaces in different electrical lines can operate at different operating points, i.e., in particular, can operate under different currents.

[0073] Therefore, the realization of a PV device according to the second independent claim, having an upper working surface and a lower working surface that can operate at different operating points, consists in connecting PV modules in series to form an electrical circuit path that is preferably arranged one above the other, and operating such an electrical circuit path by connecting it in parallel, for example, to a common inverter input or different inverter inputs.

[0074] The utilization of the electrically separated working surfaces of one or more PV modules by the operation of the PV modules in electrically separated circuit paths is particularly advantageous at sunrise and sunset because when the sun is low, partial shadowing of the PV modules occurs, usually only the lower circuit path has a reduced effect, and the upper circuit path that is still fully irradiated can operate in normal operation. In contrast, the lateral installation of PV modules as described above with electrically separated working surfaces results in partial shadowing on both working surfaces, reducing the efficiency of the entire module.

[0075] According to the invention, the circuit paths arranged one above the other can be connected in parallel and operated, so that the shadowing of one circuit path and the associated limitation of the current in this circuit path are avoided from affecting the adjacent (typically the upper) circuit path. The circuit paths according to the invention can be formed, for example, by one of the two electrically separated working surfaces of one PV module.

[0076] According to another configuration of the invention, a high output of the PV device can be obtained particularly inexpensively if the circuit paths as described above are formed by a series connection of the working surfaces of at least two bifacial PV modules. As described above, by electrically dividing the circuit path, the current can be made independent of each other / displaced from each other by different circuit paths.

[0077] Thus, the wire path can be formed, in particular, by the working surfaces of horizontally adjacent PV modules. For this purpose, according to the invention, it is preferably suitable if such working surfaces of the PV modules are electrically connected to each other in rows arranged at approximately the same height. Inside the PV modules, on the other hand, it is preferably suitable if the working surfaces are electrically connected in parallel, especially if they are arranged so as to be vertically stacked on top of each other in the vertical direction.

[0078] In the present invention, it is particularly preferable if each wire path is electrically connected to one inverter input section. In this case, according to the invention, the individual wire paths can be connected to the inverter input sections of different inverters or to the inverter input section of one common inverter.

[0079] Thus, the present invention has the recognition that one wire path can be formed across a plurality of bifacial PV modules, whereby in particular it is not necessary to connect each bifacial PV module to a dedicated inverter, thereby reducing costs. In this case, one wire path may in particular be shorter than a row of a plurality of struts provided with PV modules assembled therebetween. When the working surfaces are connected in series, the generated voltage increases, so typically the number of working surfaces to be connected to each other in a row must be limited.

[0080] Without limitation or contradiction of the present invention, for example, in the edge region of one row, according to the present invention, the working surfaces arranged vertically stacked on top of each other can also be connected to each other in series inside one PV module or across a plurality of PV modules. Thus, even in the edge region, it is possible to guarantee effective and inexpensive power generation, especially under a sufficiently high voltage. In this case, it is accepted that the efficiency of the entire PV device is partially reduced during the formation of shadows in a part of the edge region.

[0081] According to another configuration of the present invention, it is particularly advantageous if the PV module, preferably each PV module, has at least two working surfaces that are electrically separated from each other and are respectively assigned to different electrical circuits. Thereby, even when a part of a PV module is shaded, the high efficiency of the conversion of the light rays entering the PV module into electrical energy can be maintained for the entire PV device.

[0082] Finally, according to the present invention, a plurality of PV devices configured according to the present invention, in particular PV devices having two electrical circuits, including the features as described above and / or one or both of the features of claims 16 and 17, may also be assumed to have a support structure including one or more features according to the present invention as described above and / or of claims 1 to 15.

[0083] In order to solve the problems described at the beginning, a special use of the PV device according to the present invention as described above is also assumed. Thus, in particular, according to the present invention, the PV device according to the present invention, in particular the PV device according to any one of the claims regarding a solar power generation device as described above and / or, is used such that the PV module is oriented substantially in the north-south direction during power generation. In this case, according to the present invention, a deviation angle of ±30° may be provided, and thus the orientation is described as extending "substantially" in the north-south direction. When the PV module is oriented north-south, the surface normals of both working surfaces of one double-sided PV module are respectively oriented east and west. By such a special use, with the PV device according to the present invention, a current characteristic curve throughout the day without a peak output around noon as described at the beginning can be obtained.

[0084] The present invention will be described and illustrated in more detail by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0085] Another embodiment is obtained by the combination of the features of individual or multiple claims with each other and / or by the combination with the individual or multiple features of each embodiment. Thus, in particular, the configuration of the present invention is obtained by the combination of the following description of the preferred embodiments with the entire detailed description, the claims, and the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0086]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

[0087] In the following description of various embodiments of the present invention, elements that coincide in their functions have the same reference numerals even if they are in different forms or shapes.

[0088] In FIG. 1, a photovoltaic (PV) device, generally designated by reference numeral 1, is shown which has a plurality of bifacial PV modules 2 standing upright on a support structure 3. The support structure 3 is formed by a plurality of columns 4 installed in a row. More specifically, each column 4 is divided into a mounting section 7 and a holding section 8 coupled to this mounting section. As shown by a horizontal plane representing the ground surface, the support structure 3 is anchored to the ground by the mounting section 7.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 1, between the columns 4, a plurality of beams 5 extend substantially horizontally. Therefore, since the columns 4 are assembled so as to stand substantially vertically, each two adjacent columns 4 and two adjacent beams 5 define a substantially square mounting area 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, one PV module 2 is arranged in each of these square mounting areas 6, that is, standing vertically. By the vertical arrangement of the PV modules 2 having working surfaces 9 on both sides, sunlight from the west and east directions can be effectively received and converted into electric power by the PV device.

[0090] As shown in the detailed view of the PV device 1 in FIG. 2, a plurality of PV modules 2 in the vertical direction, that is, precisely two PV modules, are arranged stacked one above the other. Further, as can be better seen from FIG. 2, for example, the uppermost beams 5 are arranged shifted from each other in the vertical direction. Since the PV modules 2 are attached to the beams 5 by the holding elements 15, the horizontally adjacent PV modules 2 are also arranged shifted from each other in the vertical direction. Such a configuration is suitable according to the present invention because it can thereby be easily adapted to the extending surfaces of various sites.

[0091] As well shown by FIG. 2, the mounting section 7 and the holding section 8, each formed by a C-shaped profile, have their backs in contact with each other and thus overlap in the overlap region. In this case, according to the present invention, if the overlap region is located above the ground, this makes it easy to assemble the holding section 8 to the mounting section 7, and further, the mounting section 7 can be fixed to the ground, for example by driving in, to the anchor bolts independently of the holding section 8, which is suitable.

[0092] FIG. 3 shows the configuration according to the present invention of the connection of the support column 4, more specifically its upper holding section 8, and two horizontally extending beams 5. The beams 5 are each formed from a U-shaped profile 22, and the holding section 8 of the support column 4 is formed by a C-shaped profile 12.

[0093] To attach both beams 5, the support column 4 in FIG. 3 is provided with an opening 14 formed as a through-insertion opening, through which the beam 5 is guided through or inserted. The opening 14 itself is formed by punching in the C-shaped profile 12 of the support column 4. By a single punching process, the two tongue pieces 13 shown in FIG. 3 can be formed in a relatively simple form, and these tongue pieces are used as the support surface 10 according to the present invention. For example, both beams 5 can be attached to the two tongue pieces 13 in a very simple and variable height by tapping screws and corresponding through-holes.

[0094] FIG. 4 shows a configuration of the support surface 10 according to the invention, which is selectively provided thereon. For this purpose, the support column 4, more particularly its upper holding section 8, is formed by an Ω-shaped profile 12. The Ω-shaped profile 12 has two flanges 11 at its two free ends, and these flanges, unlike the tongue 13 in FIG. 3, extend along the entire length of the Ω-shaped profile 12 and can preferably be used as the support surface 10 according to the invention. Accordingly, the left beam 5 is only inserted into the Ω-shaped profile 12, and the right beam 5 is guided through a through-insertion opening 14 formed in the side surface of the support column 4. As is well shown, the two beams 5 may be mounted one above the other on the support surface 10 formed as a pair of Ω-shaped profiles 12. By configuring the support surface 10 in pairs on both side surfaces of one beam 5 respectively, a particularly stable connection, and thus a particularly stable support structure 3, can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 4, the support surface 10 configured in pairs grips the beam 5 from both sides.

[0095] From FIGS. 3 and 4, the advantage of another assumed configuration of the invention is apparent, namely that the beam 5 is formed thinner than the support column 4. With such a configuration, it is extremely easy for the beam 5 to be guided by the through-insertion opening 14 of the support column 4 and at the same time to be gripped from both sides, i.e., particularly from the outside as in FIG. 4, by the support surface 10 formed by the support column 4.

[0096] Figure 5 shows yet another configuration of the connection according to the present invention between two beams 5 and one support column 4. The support column 4 in Figure 5 is formed as an S-shaped profile 12. This profile has only one flange 11 at each of its two ends, and the beam 5 can be attached to this flange in a planar manner as shown in Figure 5. Such a configuration has the advantage, on the one hand, that there is no need to form through-insertion openings 14 in order to attach the beams 5 extending to the left and right of the support column 4 to the support column 4. However, on the other hand, the S-shaped profile 12, which is also partly called a "Z-shaped" or "Z+-shaped" profile in the prior art, does not provide flanges 11 that are paired left and right as is done on at least one side with the Ω-shaped profile 12 shown in Figure 4. However, according to the present invention, even in the case of an S-shaped profile, for example, by attaching additional flanges 11 or known angle connectors to the S-shaped profile, support surfaces 10 can be formed on both sides of one beam, i.e., as a pair.

[0097] According to the present invention, two beams can be arranged in the through-insertion openings 14 as shown in Figure 3, or only one beam can be arranged as shown in the embodiment of Figure 4. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, another beam 5 adjacent to the first beam 5 arranged in the through-insertion opening 14 can be assembled on the opposite side of the support column 4 to the through-insertion opening 14, i.e., without using the through-insertion opening 14, i.e., via the support surface 10 formed by the flange 11 in Figure 4 and formed on the support column. Such a configuration is extremely effective, for example, for compensating for different heights on an uneven site.

[0098] For example, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 may alternatively be construed such that the support column 4, at least its holding section 8, is formed by a shaped member 12 having a C-shaped or U-shaped basic form, in which case, in the case of a U-shape, the free end of the shaped member 12 can be regarded as the flange 11. However, preferably, the flange 11 which is to function as the support surface 10 is formed as shown in FIG. 4 according to the present invention, that is, the flange 11 preferably extends in the direction of the beam 5. Such a configuration enables a planar contact with the beam 5. The Ω-shaped shaped member 12 of the support column 4 shown in FIG. 4 may also be considered as a shaped member 12 having a C-shaped basic form, in which case, at the end of this shaped member 12, the support surface 10 shown in the figure is formed as the flange 11.

[0099] Similarly, the support column 4 shown in FIG. 5, more specifically its upper holding section 8, may be construed as being formed by a shaped member 12 having a Z-shaped or S-shaped basic form, and in this case also, an additional support surface 10 as the flange 11 is formed at the end of the shaped member 12.

[0100] As already shown in FIG. 2, according to the present invention, the PV module 2 is preferably attached to the beam 5, and in this case, the holding element 15 shown in FIG. 2 may be provided therefor.

[0101] FIG. 6 shows an alternative configuration according to the present invention, in which a groove section 16 for accommodating and holding the PV module 2 is provided in the beam 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the groove section 16 is generally suitable according to the present invention if it is located on opposite sides of each other and / or in one common plane. With this configuration, the PV module 2 is positioned in the middle with respect to the support structure 3. According to FIG. 6, the inclined surface 24 according to the present invention on the lower surface of the beam 5 is also well shown. This inclined surface 24 minimizes the shadow cast by the beam 5 on the lower PV module 2.

[0102] FIG. 7 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the holding element 15 according to the present invention. The holding element 15 is inserted into a through-insertion opening 23 formed in the bottom surface of the beam 5 formed by the U-shaped profile 22. In this case, the holding element 15 is formed with an abutment surface 18, and the holding element 15 is in planar contact with the inner surface of the beam 5 at this abutment surface. Due to the cross-sectional reduction portion 17 formed at the height of the abutment surface 18, the holding element 15 can be introduced into the through-insertion opening 23 up to a predetermined insertion depth. Thereby, in particular, the working surfaces 9 of both PV modules 2 can be attached to the beam 5 at a predetermined interval, thereby effectively avoiding the formation of shadows in particular. As shown well in FIG. 7, the PV modules 2 are inserted into both groove sections 16 of the holding element 15 that face each other at their edges. In this case, the insertion depth is selected such that the working surface 9 of the PV module 2 is not covered by the holding element 15 and / or the beam 5 up to a predetermined incident angle or does not cast a shadow.

[0103] The features of the holding element 15 according to the present invention described as above are also illustrated in the perspective view of FIG. 8. In particular, as is clear from FIG. 8, in order to ensure reliable holding, the holding element 15 preferably grips the PV module 2 from both sides. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the holding element 15 grips the PV module from both sides only along a predetermined edge section as shown in FIG.

[0104] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another central aspect of the present invention, namely, the working surface 9 of the PV module 2 is arranged at a distance from the support column 4 and / or the beam 5. As shown in the plan view of the support column 4 in FIG. 9, the working surfaces 9 of both PV modules 2 arranged on the left and right of the support column 4 are arranged at a distance from the support column 4 so that sunlight can reach the working surface 9 without being shaded by the support column 4 up to a predetermined incident angle. The incident angle in FIG. 9 corresponds to the angle formed by the two illustrated sunlight rays and the perpendicular to the working surface 9 (extending horizontally in FIG. 9).

[0105] Looking closely at both adjacent side edges of both PV modules 2, it can be seen that the left and right working surfaces 9 of the support columns do not have the same spacing with respect to the support column 4. Rather, they are arranged at an asymmetric spacing with respect to the support column. Due to the larger spacing of the working surface 9 of the PV module 2 arranged above FIG. 9 with respect to the support column 4, for sunlight from the south direction, shading of the working surface 9 is eliminated over a larger incident angle than the incident angle for the PV module 2 arranged below FIG. 9 that receives sunlight from the north direction. In other words, as shown for both PV modules 2 in FIG. 9, at the south edge of the PV module 2, the spacing between the PV module 2, more specifically its working surface 9, and the support column 4 is selected to be larger than that at the north edge.

[0106] In contrast, FIG. 10 shows how the separation according to the present invention of the working surfaces 9 of both PV modules 2 shown from the laterally extending beam 5 can prevent shading of the working surface 9. Since FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of the horizontally extending beam 5, the sunlight rays shown are incident on the lower PV module 2 obliquely from above and usually in the lateral direction. Therefore, due to the working surface 9 of the lower PV module 2 being separated from the beam 5, as shown in FIG. 10, the maximum incident angle at which sunlight can enter the working surface 9 without being shaded is defined. In FIG. 10, this incident angle corresponds to the angle formed by the incident sunlight rays shown by projection onto the vertically extending cutting plane of FIG. 10 and the perpendicular to the working surface 9 (extending horizontally in FIG. 10). Therefore, it is understood that the actual incident angle between the sunlight rays and the incident perpendicular may usually be larger than the angle formed by the projection of this ray in the cutting plane (shown in FIG. 10) and the incident perpendicular.

[0107] In the PV module shown in Fig. 10, in the rare case where the incident perpendicular to the working surface is exactly in the direction of the sun, the angle of incidence indicated by the sunlight in Fig. 10 corresponds to the position (height) of the sun, that is, the height of the sun above the horizon expressed in degrees. However, usually sunlight enters the PV module from the oblique side, so the height of the sun and the angle of incidence are offset from each other. Both sunbeams shown in Fig. 9 also enter the PV module from the oblique side, and in this case as well, the projection diagrams of these light beams onto the cutting plane of Fig. 9 extending horizontally are shown respectively.

[0108] Also in the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, according to the present invention, an asymmetric separation of the PV module from the beam 5 may be set. For example, according to the present invention, it is preferable to pull the upper PV module 2, more specifically its working surface 9, closer to the beam 5. Thereby, on the one hand, the maximum structural height of the support structure 3 and thus the acting wind force are reduced; on the other hand, since sunlight always enters the PV module 2 from the oblique upper side, it is impossible for the upper working surface 9 to be in the shadow of the beam 5 located below it. That is, according to the present invention, the upper PV module 2 may be pulled closer to the beam 5 until the working surface 9 is not covered by the beam 5.

[0109] Finally, with reference to FIG. 11, another configuration according to the present invention of the solar power generation device 1 will be described, particularly the separation according to the present invention of the rows 20 of the PV device 1. As already explained in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to the present invention, the PV modules 2 can form substantially one plane together with the support structure 3. For effective area utilization, according to the present invention, the PV modules 2 are arranged in rows 20 spaced apart from each other as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, the PV modules 2 of one row 20 also form substantially one plane, and in this case, this plane may be particularly oriented in the north-south direction as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, for example, when sunlight enters from the west direction (when entering from the left side of FIG. 11), the state shown in FIG. 11 can occur, that is, a partial region of the row 20 (in this case, the PV module below the right row 20) is in the shadow of the adjacent row 20 (in this case, the left row 20).

[0110] As shown by both sunlight rays in FIG. 11, in this case, the lower the height of the sun, the more the shadow increases. Therefore, a configuration as shown in FIG. 11, in which the distance B between both rows 20, indicated by the reference sign B, is greater than three times the maximum height of the working surface 9 of the PV device 1, is preferred. This maximum height corresponds exactly in FIG. 11 to the vertical distance A that defines the distance between the highest and lowest points inside the working surface 9 of the left row 20 respectively. Thus, due to the horizontally selected distance B, which is larger according to the present invention, between both rows 20, as shown by the upper sunlight in FIG. 11, even when the height of the sun is low, only a partial region of the right row 20 is in the shadow, so that at least the upper working surface 9 of the right row 20 in FIG. 11 can still be used for power generation is guaranteed.

[0111] A further advantage of the spacing of the rows 20 of the PV device 1 lies in the cultivation space 19 created between the rows. This is because this space can be utilized, for example, for agricultural purposes. For this reason, the present invention particularly envisages making the cultivation space 19 shown by width B in FIG. 11 available by leaving a space 26 between the posts 4 of the support structure 3 and between the lower beam 5 and the ground surface in each row respectively. Thus, by arranging the PV modules 2 at least at a height C above the ground (see FIG. 11), on the one hand, damage to the PV modules by crushed stones during agricultural use of the cultivation space 19 is avoided. On the other hand, such a configuration substantially avoids the formation of shadows on the working surface 9 below the PV device due to the growth or planting of plants in the cultivation space 19. Thus, the free space 26 provides the necessary conditions for agricultural use of the cultivation space 19 with little loss in power generation.

[0112] From FIG. 11, the advantage of dividing the PV device according to the present invention into electrical lines 21 arranged one above the other is also understood. By electrically separating the lower row 21 below the right row 20 in FIG. 11 from the upper row 21 above the right row 20 in FIG. 11, that is, in particular, by assigning them to separate inverter input parts respectively, the shadow formation in the lower row 21 does not affect the power generated by the upper row 21. Similarly, in FIG. 11, according to the present invention, the effect of the partial shadow of the upper PV modules 2 in the right row 20 is minimized by the PV modules 2 having two horizontally extending electrical lines arranged one above the other and electrically separated from each other, for example, by two working surfaces 9 electrically separated from each other inside the PV modules 2.

[0113] Figures 12 and 13 show the electrical connections according to the invention of the upper and lower working surfaces 9 of the PV device 1 shown in the upper or lower half of the drawing, respectively. The working surfaces 9, 9' shown in Figures 12 and 13 belong to separate PV modules 2 in this case. However, the connections of the working surfaces 9, 9' described below are also applicable to PV modules 2 having a plurality of working surfaces 9, 9' that are electrically separated from each other, especially if these working surfaces are not adjacent to each other but are arranged one above the other and are arranged in the PV device.

[0114] In the connection shown in Figure 12, the upper working surface 9 is connected in parallel to the lower working surface 9' arranged immediately below it. Therefore, for example, the current passing through the upper left working surface 9 may be different from the current passing through the lower left working surface 9'. As a result, the lower working surface 9' located at a height different from that of the upper working surface 9 located above it can operate at an electrical operating point different from that of the upper working surface 9.

[0115] Another similar parallel connection consisting of both working surfaces 9, 9' on the right side is connected in series to such a parallel connection. Based on the double parallel connection, the current can be changed individually for the illustrated working surfaces 9, 9'.

[0116] In the connection shown in Figure 13, both upper working surfaces 9 are connected in series with each other. Therefore, these two working surfaces 9 form the upper electrical line 21 in the sense of the present invention. Similarly, both lower working surfaces 9' are connected in series with each other to form the lower electrical line 21. The upper and lower electrical lines 21 are connected in parallel and can thus be supplied, for example, to a common inverter input.

[0117] Optionally, each of the two electrical lines 21 of the connection in Figure 13 may be arranged at a separate inverter input. Therefore, in this case, the two electrical lines 21 are electrically separated from each other.

[0118] In FIG. 13, while direct current is flowing through the upper working surfaces 9 on both sides, the current passing through the upper wire path 21 and the current flowing through the lower wire path 21 may be different. In other words, the lower working surface 9' can operate at an operating point different from the operating points at which the upper working surfaces 9 on both sides act, as is also the case with the connection shown in FIG. 12.

[0119] Finally, FIGS. 14 and 15 each show cross-sectional views of the upper and lower beams 5 respectively, indicated by the shaded surfaces of the support structure 3 according to the present invention. In this case, the double-sided PV module 2 is suspended from the support structure 3 such that it can pivot about the pivot axis 25, as indicated by the double arrow, for example, when significant wind force is applied to the PV module 2. The pivot axis 25 preferably extends substantially parallel to the beam 5 in this case. According to the present invention, it is preferable that the pivoting movement of the PV module 2 is damped by an additional device.

[0120] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, for this purpose, a holding element 15 that grips the PV module 2 from both sides is provided below the upper rectangular beam 5, and this holding element itself is rotatably attached to the upper beam 5 about the pivot axis 25.

[0121] In contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, since the beam 5 is configured to have a circular outer contour, the holding element 15 that holds the PV module 2 can surround the beam 5 in a ring shape, and thus can pivot about the pivot axis 25 formed to pass through the central axis of the upper beam 5 together with the PV module 2.

[0122] In short, for an economical and energy-efficient use of a PV device 1 having upright, in particular double-sided PV modules 2, and in particular for substantially avoiding the shading of the PV modules 2, on the one hand, there is proposed a support structure 3 which is formed by vertical struts 4 and horizontally extending beams 5 which are connected to one another at intersections, and which can thereby provide a rectangular mounting area 6 for the individual PV modules 2. In this case, the struts 4 and the beams 5 can preferably each be formed from continuous profiles 12, 22 in a material-saving manner. In this case, in particular, the division of the struts 4 into two sections 7, 8 which are connected to one another substantially facilitates the assembly as a whole. On the other hand, the invention proposes an electrical connection by means of which the working surfaces 9, 9' arranged one above the other can operate at various electrical operating points, thereby preferably forming an electrical line 21 which is preferably arranged so as to extend horizontally and which operates separately from one another. Thereby, the influence on the energy conversion efficiency of the PV device 1 due to the shading of the PV modules 2 can be further reduced.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0123] 1 Photovoltaic device 2 PV module 3 Support structure 4 Strut 5 Beam 6 Mounting area 7 Mounting section 8 Holding section 9 (Upper) working surface 9' (Lower) working surface 10 Support surface 11 Flange 12 Profile of 4 13 Tongue 14 Opening of 4 (for 5), in particular through insertion opening 15 Holding element 16 Groove section 17 Cross-sectional reduction 18 Contact surface 19 Cultivation space 20 Row 21 Electrical line Molding material of 22 5 Opening 5 for 23 (15), particularly through insertion opening Inclined surface Rotating shaft Space

Claims

1. A photovoltaic power generation device (1), comprising a plurality of double-sided PV modules (2) vertically arranged on a support structure (3). In the photovoltaic power generation device (1), the support structure (3) has a plurality of columns (4) mounted on or in the ground. Beams (5) connecting two adjacent columns (4) to each other are mounted on the columns (4). Two columns (4) and two beams (5) define a substantially square assembly area (6). At least one PV module (2) is arranged in the assembly area (6). The column (4) is at least divided into a mounting section (7) coupled to the ground and a holding section (8) extending above the mounting section (7) and connected to the mounting section (7). The mounting section (7) and the holding section (8) are formed as elongated profiles (12). Corresponding contact surfaces are formed on the mounting section (7) and the holding section (8). The two sections (7, 8) are in contact with each other and thus overlap at the contact surfaces. The overlapping portion between the mounting section (7) and the holding section (8) is configured to be rotatable. The longitudinal axes of the two sections (7, 8) of the column (4) can rotate relative to each other, thereby improving the correction of the inclination direction of the mounting section (7). A photovoltaic power generation device (1), characterized in that.

2. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the holding section (8) is aligned with the mounting section (7) and then firmly connected to the mounting section (7) by screws.

3. The holding section (8) is slidable along the longitudinal direction of the mounting section (7) while being in contact with the mounting section (7) at the contact surface. Thereby, by aligning the holding section (8) with respect to the mounting section (7) during initial assembly, the height deviation of the mounting section (7) can be compensated. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein horizontally adjacent PV modules (2) are arranged offset from each other in the vertical direction.

5. The working surface (9) of the PV module (2) is spaced apart from the support column (4) and / or the beam (5). The solar power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The opposing side edges of the working surface (9) of the PV module (2) are spaced apart asymmetrically with respect to the support column (4) and / or the beam (5), and / or the PV module (2) is suspended from the support structure (3) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (24). The solar power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The support column (4) is formed with a support surface (10) on which the beam (5) of the relevant one can be attached in a planar manner. The solar power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The support surface (10) is formed in a pair for gripping one beam (5) inserted between the support surfaces (10) from both sides, and / or the beam (5) is formed thinner than the support column (4). The solar power generation device (1) according to claim 7.

9. Through insertion openings (14) are formed in the support column (4) to receive one beam (5) or the end of the beam respectively. The solar power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Two beams (5) are arranged in one through insertion opening (14), or only one beam (5) is arranged in one through insertion opening (14), and another beam (5) is assembled by the support surface (10) formed in the support column (4) on the opposite side of the through insertion opening (14) of the support column (4) without passing through the through insertion opening (14). The solar power generation device (1) according to claim 9.

11. An additional support surface (10) as a flange (11) is formed at the end of the shaped material (12). The solar power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The PV module (2) is attached to the beam (5), and for this purpose, a holding element (15) is provided. The solar power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Since each of the holding elements (15) has a cross-sectional reduction portion (17), the holding element (15) can be inserted into the through insertion opening (14) formed in the beam to a predetermined insertion depth or is inserted therein. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to claim 12.

14. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a space (25) is left between the ground and the lowermost beam (5).

15. The PV module (2) forms substantially one plane together with the support structure (3), and / or the PV modules (2) are arranged in a plurality of rows (20) spaced apart from each other, and the PV modules (2) in one row (20) form substantially one plane. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The distance between two rows (20) is at least three times the maximum height of one working surface (9) of the photovoltaic power generation device (1). The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to claim 15.

17. The contact surface is configured to be flat such that the mounting section (7) and the holding section (8) are in contact with each other back to back in an assembled state. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. A contact surface (18) is formed on the holding element (15), and the holding element (15) is in planar contact with the beam (5) at the contact surface. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to claim 13.

19. The holding element (15) provides a groove section (16) into which the edge of each PV module (2) is inserted. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to claim 12.

20. The holding element (15) has two groove sections (16) positioned opposite to each other. The photovoltaic power generation device (1) according to claim 19.

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