Integrated protection system of a solar panel

Abstract

An integrated protection system of a solar panel is disclosed, comprising one or more solar panels (P) having an operating surface, a housing frame comprising at least two support shoulders (1a, 1b) equipped with cross-bars that jointly connect said support shoulders (1a, 1b), which are arranged underneath panel (P) and which serve as supports for said one or more solar panels (P), a pair of transmission shafts (3, 4), held in rotation by said support shoulders (1a, 1b), parallel to and arranged transversely to opposing sides of one or more solar panels (P), a pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b), closed in a loop around said transmission shafts (3, 4), in planes parallel and substantially orthogonal to said operating surface, a drive unit to set that pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) in motion, and a plurality of slender slats (6), bound at the ends to said pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b), arranged adjacent to each other to form a flexible cover of a length similar to a length of said opposing sides of one or more solar panels (P), wherein said pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) have upper branches running on a plane arranged at a certain distance above said operating surface and lower branches running on a plane arranged below the one or more solar panels (8) and wherein a brush (7) with cylindrical shape is further provided, mounted integral in translation with said flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b).

Description

[0001] INTEGRATED PROTECTION SYSTEM OF A SOLAR PANEL

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a protection system for a solar panel , in particular an improved shielding system to ensure full operability of the solar panel . BACKGROUND ART

[0005] As is well known, solar panels - whether they are waterheating panels or, above all, photovoltaic cells - are fragile devices that are sensitive to overheating and to the presence of sediments ( soiling) that filter solar radiation ( dirt that is deposited by atmospheric events reduces the energy yield of the panels over time ) .

[0006] The intrinsic fragility of these panels makes them particularly susceptible to damage due to impact with heavy bodies transported by the environment . Regarding the relevance of these aspects , it is suf ficient to observe the frequency with which extreme weather events have occurred in recent years . For example, in just a few days at the end of July 2023 , 46 violent hailstorms struck Italy, particularly in the regions of Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy . Hailstones the size of tennis balls caused extensive damage to crops , greenhouses , agricultural facilities , industrial roofs and, of course , to photovoltaic panels , which are now widespread . Even the latest generation panels , which are particularly robust , did not withstand the impact . Rather than exceptional events , the trend and frequency with which these phenomena occur paint a picture of a new normality : according to the latest data from Legambiente ' s Climate City Observatory, released on World Environment Day, the trend is growing, with 122 extreme weather phenomena occurring in the first five months of 2023 (+134% ) compared to the same months in 2022 .

[0007] In addition to these disruptive effects , there are also completely natural phenomena that inevitably impair the performance of photovoltaic panels , such as rainwater, dirt spots , dew formation or drying cycles , snow, sand or dust .

[0008] There is a clear dif ficulty in quantifying the loss of electricity production due to soiling, which lies in the fact that it is a highly variable , site-specific phenomenon that depends on dif ferent environmental polluting factors in each geographical area of the planet .

[0009] There is no single answer to the problem of maintenance and inefficiency recovery of photovoltaic systems : it is generally common to adopt a periodic cleaning plan . While important , this solution does not provide a satis factory answer, as panels once cleaned only retain their benefits for an indefinite, often very short time .

[0010] There is also an inef ficiency effect related to panel overheating . A recent MIT report (" The Impact of Global Warming on Silicon PV Energy Yield in 2100" , Ian Marius Peters , Tonio Buonassisi - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge , USA) found that as temperatures rise, all photovoltaic technologies produce less energy . The high heat of the summer has a significant impact on the performance of photovoltaic systems . Taking into account the phenomena associated with overheating and adopting appropriate solutions is essential to ensure optimal power production during the summer .

[0011] The ' maximum power temperature coef ficient ' (PMTC) is used to put these aspects into context : it is a fundamental parameter for understanding the impact of high temperatures on the capacity of the photovoltaic system .

[0012] Finally, the photovoltaic hotspot phenomenon : it is among the first causes of damage , malfunctioning and premature ageing of a photovoltaic panel . This is a very common situation in photovoltaic panels and occurs when a photovoltaic cell does not receive enough sunlight . Since all photovoltaic cells are interconnected, the malfunctioning of one will af fect all the others , altering the entire energy production . When a photovoltaic cell is shaded, the current does not arrive and is forced to reach only the functioning cells . In this case , the hotspot effect is created, i . e . several cells overheat because of other shaded cells .

[0013] The damage caused by hotspots in photovoltaic panels is often irreparable: when the cells overheat and degrade, they damage the entire photovoltaic panel.

[0014] In addition to these problems, for solar thermal panels there is the problem of stagnation. This phenomenon can be caused by a variety of causes: low or no hot water consumption (e.g. holidays) , an oversized absorber surface, the shutdown of the solar circulation pump (electrical blackout) . All these causes simply prevent the heat transfer fluid (solar fluid or glycol) from transferring thermal energy from the solar collector to the cylinder or thermo-accumulator. Under these conditions, the energy captured by the absorber is transferred to a small amount of the heat transfer fluid, overheating it (it can easily exceed 200 °C) until it evaporates.

[0015] There are a number of systems to stem the damage due to the stagnation effect, most of which, however, manage to intervene after overheating has occurred.

[0016] In order to avoid the negative effects of these general weaknesses of the panels, various protection solutions have already been offered, both for cleaning the panels (when it is not possible to do so manually) , and to avoid failures or risks of damage, both technological and weather-related (hail, sand, . . . ) .

[0017] For example, self-propelled robots have been proposed that operate with and without water and allow cleaning maintenance to be carried out on a large park of panels. It is understood that these are complex, expensive machines, often too heavy for the normal support structures of photovoltaic panels, applicable in large solar panel parks .

[0018] Panel shielding solutions have also been proposed (e.g. CN112737491, FR3017196, EP2808617, WO2013 / 156650, US20100229916, EP1757873, EP1818626) , typically using roll-up curtain shutters, but these have not been optimised to define an overall effective system in all aspects of protection.

[0019] A panel covering system with movable shutter is also described in WO2021 / 195078, ES2320842, EP2642216, EP2808617, US2010 / 0229916 and IT102010901823279 .

[0020] A sliding panel washing system is shown in DE202007006491

[0021] Finally, there is currently no convincing solution to avoid hotspot damage .

[0022] The need is therefore felt for a system that of fers complete protection against the inherent weaknesses of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal panels , that is easy to install and maintain, that can also be applied on small systems , that has a low economic impact and eventually, where there is a problem with water consumption ( in large systems ) , allows the water used for washing to be recovered .

[0023] Summary of the invention

[0024] The above-mentioned purposes are achieved by means of a system as described in its essential terms in the attached main claim . Other preferred and advantageous features are described in the dependent claims .

[0025] In fact , the system according to the invention comprises a series of optimally integrated elements , which suitably house the solar panel ( s ) , which perform the following functions :

[0026] 1 . They protect the surface of the panel from atmospheric events by means of a mobile , motorised mechanical protection, which can be operated with extreme speed and flexibility if required .

[0027] 2 . They perform surface washing of the panels using brushes suitably configured to take advantage of the same motorisation as the mechanical protection .

[0028] 3 . Excess water is removed by means of a mobile squeegee that also uses the same motorisation, avoiding leaving residues that would af fect the transparency of the panel ' s surface sheet over time .

[0029] 4 . They use wash water from specific hydraulic lances placed in three dif ferent possible solutions : a ) Parallel to the axis of the brush and close to the brush, with one or more nozzles , having a structure which advantageously guarantees movement thereof ; b) By means of one or more lances positioned statically, parallel to the brush axis, which are switched on and off depending on the position of the brush. c) By means of one or more lances positioned statically along the sides parallel to the brush, i.e. with the nozzles dispensing in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the brush.

[0030] In all three solutions, water is distributed by means of special nozzles, preferably with a blade jet, at low pressure; it is activated by means of solenoid valves appropriately managed by the control logic (software, firmware) installed in the system control unit.

[0031] 5. The water used for washing the surface can be advantageously recovered with a hopper located at a bottom edge of the panel, filtered and reused, in order to minimise waste .

[0032] 6. A plant consisting of multiple of devices (e.g. a photovoltaic park) can be equipped with an industrial water filtration and reverse osmosis treatment plant for the purpose of receiving the recovered water and making it available for subsequent washing. In this way, a closed-circuit hydraulic system is realised, using water of optimal quality for washing the panels (e.g. demineralised and limescale-free) and with almost zero consumption.

[0033] 7. The integrated system with the various devices and the panel (s) can be attached to structures quite the same as those normally used for direct panel mounting (e.g. to a removable, modular frame) .

[0034] 8. The system is designed with a modular structure that allows several panels to be assembled together, as shown as an example in Fig. 14.

[0035] From a constructional point of view, the device consists of a load-bearing and functional structure, with a series of optimally integrated elements, which centrally houses and holds one or more panels, depending on the modularity considered.

[0036] The structure consists of: A. Two opposing load-bearing shoulders, which may be made of press-bended steel or aluminium sheet, or extruded aluminium profiles, or any other construction method.

[0037] B. One or more crosspieces, which act as structural and support elements of the panel (or panels depending on the modularity) , connecting the two opposing shoulders. The cross-pieces can be made, for example, from extruded aluminium profiles or any other structural solution (pressbent metal sheet, steel rods, etc. ) .

[0038] C. At least one drive unit, which drives a pair of catenaries (or toothed belts, or any other motion transmission system) closed in a ring, mounted on the supporting shoulders and parallel to them. Preferably, the drive unit is a compact gearmotor, embedded in an extruded profile, which transmits motion to end pinions for the transmission of motion to the catenaries. Other solutions are valid, e.g. with an external geared motor and separate transmission, e.g. chain, or with a geared motor and movable lever arm or other. The control of the drive's operating positions is either by means of adjustable position sensors (e.g. mechanical, inductive or other proximity switches) or by means of encoders (absolute or incremental type) , or a hybrid solution: position sensors to determine the starting position (the zero of the system) plus encoders to detect the relative position with respect to the starting position. The rotation of the geared motor can be continuous or reversible .

[0039] D. As mentioned above, a pair of catenaries and their transmission elements (e.g. sprockets) , equipped with catenary drive means. The catenaries are driven in motion by the drive unit. Preferably the catenaries are of the double pitch type with lateral attachments on a single side, but other systems can also be used, e.g. simple or special toothed belts (e.g. with flights or engaged teeth) or others. The lateral attachments of the catenaries can be full-length (one attachment per pitch) or arranged as required, i.e. only in the areas useful for mounting the integrated operating elements , described below . The purpose of chain guiding elements is to guide the catenaries in the linear sections , both in the tensioned part (e . g . on the upper side of the panel ) and in the released part , in order to have a perfectly guided movement , regardless of the direction of travel . They are preferably made of self-lubricating material suitable for a high temperature range (-30 °C / +130 °C ) .

[0040] E . A pair of static chain strands or, preferably, a pair of racks ( or similar static transmission system, such as a static toothed belt strand or simply a sequence of holes drilled directly into the shoulder or into an element carried on the shoulder, capable of engaging with corresponding transmission elements of a cleaning brush, as will be shown later) are integral with the load-bearing shoulders of the frame . The purpose of the static chain section is to cooperate with a cleaning brush ( as will be shown later ) to induce the rotation of the idler brush during its translation integral to the catenary . In the case of the racks , they are preferably mounted with the toothing facing downwards to prevent blockages that would occur in the case of an opposite mounting, due to debris that could fall between the teeth . The static chain ( s ) are made of stainless steel , or alloy steel, or hybrid stainless steel / technical plastic . The rack ( s ) are preferably made of self-lubricating material suitable for a high temperature range (-30 °C / +130 °C) , or of other materials such as alloy steel or similar .

[0041] F . One or more washing lances , whose purpose is to bring water (which could be osmotic / demineralised) directly onto the upper surface of the panel , even in the vicinity of the brush, with as even a distribution as possible over the surface . According to a preferred variant , one or more lances parallel to the axis of rotation of the brush and integral to the movement of the brush are used : in this case , the supply of water to the lances is from a hose that is guided in a special ' cable chain ' arranged on a supporting shoulder of the structure . The lances can be in the form of tubular elements with a round or square cross-section or any other shape and are provided with holes that can be directly used to pro ject the water onto the panel , but preferably made to accommodate specific noz zles that are commercially available or made to design .

[0042] G . Water flow control solenoid valves , in an adequate number to manage the flow of water to the lances and from the recovery hopper, if any . Preferably there should also be a device for draining, either by gravity (three-way solenoid valve ) or by means of an electric pump, the hydraulic system in case of need, for example to prevent freezing when the environment temperature falls below predetermined minimum temperatures .

[0043] H . Various functional and support elements such as sliding bushes , bearings , screws , mounting and clamping brackets , etc .

[0044] I . An electrical box, to which electrical control cables converge to connect electrotechnical devices with the control logic and the power supply network .

[0045] J . A data transfer unit , connected to electromechanical devices and to a plurality of sensors (temperature , humidity, transmittance, . . . ) , which can be wired or wireless , suitable for transferring the data collected in the field to the control logic unit .

[0046] K . Optionally, there is also a collection arrangement for the water used for washing, which is conveyed for subsequent filtering or micro-filtration and possibly reverse osmosis treatment before reuse of the same water . Basically, it is a closed-circuit hydraulic system, intended for large installations , especially those located in areas where water consumption is critical . Along the bottom edge of the panels there is provided a hopper, in the form of a small gutter, which houses an auger with an axis parallel to the side of the panel . The hopper collects everything that is removed from the panel (water, debris , sand, organic material . . . ) and is pushed downwards . The liquid part and all that is dissolved in it passes through a coarse filter and is conveyed into a general collection pipe that takes the water to be treated for subsequent use in a specific purification area . The solid part is retained by the coarse filter and removed by means of the auger, which has an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the sprockets and receives motion from the drive unit illustrated above, or has its own drive unit .

[0047] L . As a preferred variant , it is envisaged that the support frame is equipped with a thermal sensing device, capable of viewing the surface of the panel ( s ) exposed to the sun . For example, the sensing device is a thermal minicamera, with an adjustable viewing field and adaptable to the modularity of the device, suitable for detecting temperatures at a number of independent positions on the solar panel .

[0048] M . Transmission catenaries are used to bring modular protective slats , rigid or elastic, into motion, which are brought above the upper surface of the panel or, vice versa, removed from the upper surface to expose it to sunlight . Preferably, the modular protection slats are rectangular- section aluminium tubular bars placed adj acent to each other along the longer sides to form a sort of flexible shutter . Other shapes and materials with the same purpose are suitable , e . g . slats made from extruded profiles used for normal commercial roller shutters , in this case connected to each other . These modular slats are mounted on the transverse side of the panel surface , with their respective ends attached to the two opposing catenaries , only for a part of the catenary extension, so that there is a section of the catenary extension that is free of these protective slats and which allows a covered and an uncovered zone to be established . The length of the covered zone corresponds to slightly more than the length of the panel (or series of panels in the case of modular assembly ) and the geared motor . During the solar exposure phase of the panel, which is suitable for producing energy, the modular protection slats are connected to the lower branch of the catenary, i . e . below the panel . When required (e . g . in the case of weather events , or to partially cover the solar thermal panels in order to prevent stagnation issues ) , by actuating the motorisation unit , the arrangement of protective slats - which together constitute a covering area - move from the lower part of the panel to the upper part (totally or partially, as required) . The individual protection slats can be replaced individually and very easily in the event of hail damage, for example . Their number depends on the size of the solar panel to be protected .

[0049] N . According to a peculiar aspect of the invention, an idle cleaning brush and a water removal doctor blade is also attached to the catenaries . This too is attached to one or more pairs of opposing side attachments of the pair of catenaries . The rotating shaft of the brush is idle and is fitted at each end with a splined drive pinion having a toothing corresponding to that of the static chain section described above . When, as a result of the catenary drive, the brush is moved on the upper part of the panel, each drive pinion engages with the static chain section or rack parallel to the linear movement ( each static chain section is integral with the shoulder of the device ) . This meshing causes a rotation to the brush which, due to the reduction ratio given by the dif ference in the diameters of the pinion and brush respectively, causes the tangential speed of the brush to be greater than the translation speed of the catenary, thus obtaining a brushing effect on the surface of the panel . There are provided different types of brushes , depending on the ef fects one wishes to obtain : for example, with cylindrical or spiral bristles , of different materials and dif ferent lengths to have a more or less intense mechanical action on the surface , compatible with the wear that the upper surfaces of the panel would suffer. The core of the brushes may be a single-piece cylindrical body or, preferably, composed of two independent halfcylinders that form a cylindrical body side by side, a solution that facilitates brush assembly and disassembly activities.

[0050] Preferably, the system also includes a residue removal doctor blade, e.g. made of rubber or plastic or both combined. It too is attached at its ends to a pair of opposite side attachments of the two catenaries. The doctor blade is positioned parallel to the brush, or at a slight angle to the axis of the brush but parallel to the sliding plane of the catenary, and its purpose is to remove any residue but also excess water, thus favouring the drying of the panel surface without the formation of residues or halos . The doctor blade is preferably mounted on a support transverse to the panel equipped with a spring compensator / dampener that allows the lower sliding edge to remain perfectly in contact with the upper surface of the panel with the desired pressure.

[0051] In addition to having manual functions, the system is set up to operate fully automatically and has a processing interface designed to analyse and download detailed functional and statistical data. The control logic unit is equipped with a control, management and measurement hardware and software system that guarantees the activation of sequences according to environmental, climatic and emergency situations. To this end, in addition to the above said mini thermo camera, a series of sensors (e.g. rain / humidity sensors, twilight sensors, ...) , verification equipment (e.g. 'soiling monitoring') , transducers (e.g. temperature, position, speed, ...) , connections to meteorological information sites (e.g. for Switzerland, via API integration with SRF Meteo - https : / / developer . srgssr . ch / api-catalog / srf- weat her / examp les -and- in format ion ) and anything else that a technician in the sector might deem useful to automatically control the operation of the system.

[0052] In this regard, it is envisaged that the control logic unit is equipped with processing software interfaced with a global network, typically the Internet, e.g. via 4G or 5G protocol or other wireless technology; in this way, a user can interact with the control logic via a specific application installed on a mobile device, e . g . a smartphone , or fixed device, e . g . a PC .

[0053] Through the specific application (WebApp ) it is thus possible, for example :

[0054] Set manual / automatic operation mode

[0055] Linking the monitoring service to specific meteorological sites

[0056] Receiving warnings from meteorological sites

[0057] Receive and manage alarm signals from the minicamera (damage and / or fire prevention )

[0058] Check the values of the sensors and transducers on board the system

[0059] Check the status and functionality of each individual operating device in the system in real time ( remote diagnostics )

[0060] Record and download device activity

[0061] Set automatic washing cycles (e . g . scheduled, using washing lances , or ecological , during natural rains )

[0062] Set up intervention situations in the event of bad weather detected by sensors and / or the weather service (automatic panel coverage )

[0063] For photovoltaic panels , set and maintain an operating temperature range for the panel itself , with automatic water cooling cycles .

[0064] Set up automatic cleaning cycles in case of hotspots .

[0065] For thermal solar panels , set and maintain the operating temperature of the glycol (no ' stagnation ' effect ) , with automatic movement of the cover and consequent proportionate reduction of irradiation .

[0066] In any case, a local control button panel is also provided, in order to be able to intervene even without the help of mobile devices on which the control application is executed . Brief description of the drawings

[0067] Further features and advantages of the system according to the present invention will, however, be best illustrated by the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the same, provided purely by way of example and not limitation and illustrated in the accompanying drawings , in which

[0068] Fig . 1 is a top perspective view of a single-panel system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0069] Figs . 2 and 3 are views from dif ferent perspectives of the system in Fig . 1 ;

[0070] Fig . 4 is an enlarged perspective view, with removed parts , of one end of the system in Fig . 1 ;

[0071] Figs . 5 and 7 are similar views to the one in Fig . 4 from dif ferent perspectives ; fig . 6 is an enlarged perspective view, with removed parts , of one end side opposite that of fig . 4 ; fig . 8 is a similar view to fig . 6 from a different perspective ; fig . 9 is a similar view to fig . 6 at a higher magnification;

[0072] Fig . 10 is an enlarged perspective view, with parts removed parts , of one end side of another embodiment of the system according to the invention;

[0073] Figs . 11-13 are views from dif ferent perspectives of a preferred embodiment equipped with a thermal detecting camera; and

[0074] Fig . 14 is an exemplary perspective view of a plant equipped with some systems according to the invention configured with different panel combinations .

[0075] Detailed description of preferred and exemplary embodiments

[0076] Fig . 1 shows a system according to a first embodiment of the invention, comprising a functional load-bearing frame structure housing a solar panel P of rectangular shape . It is to be understood that a complex system, depending on its modularity, may be provided with a plurality of individual systems , juxtaposed to each other and possibly j oined by means of fixing means , forming a park of solar panels (suitably electrically connected to each other for the production of balanced electrical power) .

[0077] Other modular compositions involve the use of a single loadbearing frame structure, with its associated functional devices, housing a plurality of solar panels, as well shown in Fig. 14.

[0078] The solar panel P is illustrated schematically in the figures, but it is understood that it has an operating surface (the one visible in Figs. 1 and 2) , i.e. the surface intended to be exposed to the sun's rays, which is normally arranged facing upwards in its installation.

[0079] On two opposing sides of panel P, e.g. the two longest sides (as depicted) , two opposing shoulders la and lb are coupled, which, together with their respective crossbars, form the loadbearing structure of a frame housing a series of optimally integrated elements and accommodating the panel (s) in the ideal position, depending on the modularity considered.

[0080] The two shoulders la and lb are, for example, in the form of press-folded metal sheet and are connected to each other by the cross bars arranged underneath panel P to form a sufficiently rigid structure. Panel P is supported by the cross bars by means of mechanical fastening with clamping screws, or in a more simplified version, without screws. The natural behaviour of a photovoltaic panel results in the panel taking a concave shape, due to its own weight, even if only by a few millimetres. To remedy this aspect, which would negatively affect the quality and effectiveness of cleaning operations, suitable spacers (not visible in the figures) are positioned between the cross bars and the panel P to restore the ideal plane.

[0081] At the terminal ends of shoulders la and lb, support elements

[0082] 2 are provided which rotatably support transmission shafts 3 and 4 with their respective axes of rotation. The transmission shafts

[0083] 3 and 4 are parallel to each other and transverse to the shoulders la and lb. Preferably, a first shaft 3 is mounted idle while a second shaft 4 is driven. Preferably, the first shaft 3 can be solid (it joins shoulders la and lb) or preferably consists of two independent idler half-shafts. In both cases, the first shaft also performs a chain tensioning function, as will be shown below .

[0084] The second driven shaft 4 preferably comprises a tubularshaped element , formed from an aluminium extrusion, which internally accommodates at least one drive unit consisting of at least one gear motor whose static part is tightly bound to a support element 2 or, preferably, is directly bound to one of the two supporting shoulders la or lb . The ends of the extruded aluminium housing accommodate two respective pinions , the angular position of which is in phase , in an integral manner by means of mechanical keying . The drive unit is alternatively external to the second shaft 4 .

[0085] The two transmission shafts 3 and 4 are coupled to a pair of chains 5a and 5b, which are loop closed around rollers and are provided with regularly spaced drive plates . The two chains 5a and 5b are guided at the shoulders la and lb and slide in parallel planes , orthogonal to the upper surface of panel P . The two upper branches of chains 5a and 5b slide in a plane arranged at a certain distance, for example a few centimetres , above the upper side of panel P ; the two lower branches of chains 5a and 5b slide in a plane arranged below panel P .

[0086] According to an alternative embodiment illustrated in Fig . 10 , the first idler shaft carries two idler pinions 31 at its ends - i . e . each of the two half-shafts houses an idler pinion 31 - on which catenaries 5a and 5b are engaged .

[0087] According to the invention, slender slats 6 of a flexible cover are attached to the drive plates of the two chains 5a and 5b . The slender slats 6 are thus arranged transversally to the lying planes of the chains 5a and 5b and together define a kind of movable shutter . The slender slats 6, e . g . tubular extrusions with a rectangular cross-section of robust plastic material ( such as ABS ) or aluminium, can be simply attached next to each other to the two chains 5a and 5b, or they can also be hinged to each other with a flexible thin membrane or other element having the same purpose, or as a consequence of their cross-sectional shape (e . g . resulting from extrusion ) . As depicted in the figures , the overall length of the cover defined by the slender slats 6 corresponds approximately to the longitudinal length of the panel , so that it may constitute a cover for the entire operating surface of the panel P , but may also be displaced below the panel P ( as in Figs . 3 and 4 ) when it does not need to hide its operating surface .

[0088] A wash brush 7 , also bound to the two chains 5a and 5b, is also provided in the vicinity of a slender end slat 6 . The brush 7 is also of cylindrical profile and is constrained idle to the two chains . On the axis of rotation of the brush 7 there is provided at least a transmission pinion 8 (or two at both ends ) intended to receive the rotational motion during the translation of the brush 7 by the chains 5a and 5b . In particular, the system also has a rectilinear rack 9 ( or two racks on the two sides ) , arranged parallel to and fixed to a respective shoulder la and / or lb, preferably at a height greater than the transmission pinion 8 and provided with toothing facing downwards : with this configuration, the rotation of the brush 7 takes place in such a way as to push any debris on the surface of the panel P forward with respect to the translation movement of the brush 7 . The downward-facing toothing also has the advantage that it is not sub ject to dirt collection .

[0089] According to a dif ferent embodiment illustrated in Fig . 10 , dif ferent static meshing means are provided instead of racks , e . g . a static chain section 32 .

[0090] During the movement of the chains 5a and 5b, the brush 7 - which in the inoperative phase is kept at one end of the panel P so as not to hide the panel P from solar irradiance - is also led to brush the upper surface of the panel P , in the translation movement also performing a rotation due to the engagement of the pinion ( s ) 8 with the rack ( s ) 9 or the static chain section 32 .

[0091] The system of the invention is further provided with a plurality of water supply ducts , which supply water to the surface of the panel P during a cleaning or cooling phase . For example , there is provided a pair of fixed transverse lances 10a and 10b, mounted at the longitudinal ends of the panel P , which are those typically arranged at the top and bottom edge when the panel P is inclined with respect to the horizontal line . The lances 10a and 10b are equipped with an array of water spray noz zles .

[0092] There is also provided a mobile transverse lance 11 , mounted integral with drive chains 5a and 5b, also fitted with spray noz zles . This mobile lance 11 is arranged in close proximity to the cleaning brush 7 .

[0093] The mobile lance 11 can be fed by means of a flexible pipe positioned in a " cable chain" 12 with one end integral with the shoulder la ( or lb ) and the other end integral with the brush support 7 . An exemplary cable chain configuration 33 is shown in Fig . 10 .

[0094] A transverse doctor blade 13 ( see in particular Fig . 9 ) is also provided in the vicinity of the brush 7 , behind it and the mobile lance 11 , if any, in the forward direction . The doctor blade 13 is intended to run in contact with the surface of the panel P in order to remove the slightest residue of water and other fine pollutants .

[0095] In the optional case where the system is to provide for wash water recovery, a collection hopper 14 equipped with an outlet spout 14a, from which the recovered dirty water can be conveyed to a filtering and recirculation system, is arranged on a longitudinal end side - a side intended to be arranged in the lowest part of the system, once it is installed in the working position . The hopper 14 consists of a rectilinear gutter, open towards the top, and houses within it an auger 15 intended to push the more solid waste towards an outlet opening .

[0096] The supply of water to the lances can be determined by an electric pump, with autonomous control controlled by the logic of the system, or by the pressure alone existing in the water supply line available at the location where the system of the invention is installed .

[0097] The sensors and transducers with which the system is equipped are not shown in detail in the figures . In any case , it is foreseeable that the control logic of the motorisation unit can be activated with a manual command, but also in an automatic manner by means of the detection of environmental parameters , including at least the signals deriving from a temperature transducer, a twilight sensor and a timer, as well as - for example - a vibration sensor ( suitable for detecting shaking or shocks , which are a signal of adverse atmospheric conditions ) . The use of more sophisticated sensors can also be envisaged, for example for detecting the transmittance of the transparent surface placed on top of the panel, which can provide a signal proportional to the opacity of the panel that triggers a cleaning intervention when pre-set thresholds are exceeded .

[0098] In this regard, according to a preferred variant , the system advantageously also provides for the application of a thermal mini-camera 15 ( see Figs . 11-13 ) with an illumination field 15a or adjustable working field which can be adapted to the modularity of device . The illumination field can, for example, consist of a grid of 24x32 crossing beams , which can be used to define 768 separate individual temperature detection clusters , in each of which temperatures between -40 °C and 300 ° C can be detected with an accuracy of + / - 2 ° C . The purpose is to detect the temperature of the panel ( s ) in a capillary manner, so as to detect not only the average temperature but also the local temperature within the size of an individual cluster . With the data obtained from the detection device , it is possible to identify individual clusters having temperatures above or below predetermined thresholds in order to control the start of automatic cleaning and washing cycles with the aim of cooling the panel ( s ) or removing hotspots .

[0099] An exemplary mini-camera is the one commercially available from Adafruit as model MLX90640 IR Thermal .

[0100] The support frame of the system according to the invention can accommodate one or more solar panels , according to various combinations , as illustrated by way of example in Fig . 14 , in which the panels can be placed side by side (along the longer side ) or end to end ( along the shorter side ) .

[0101] As is well understood from the above description, the system of the invention is optimised to produce a whole series of advantageous effects on the production ef ficiency of the solar panel P . In fact , the flexible cover formed by the slender s lats 6 can be quickly arranged on the upper side of the panel to protect it from atmospheric events , but also from unwanted overheating . The disengagement position below the panel exploits a space that would be unused and avoids the need to roll up on a roller ( as is the case with the known technique ) , which prevents the same motorisation for the brush and doctor blade . Each time the motorisation unit intervenes , a very effective surface cleaning is also carried out by brush 7 , which eliminates any coarse natural residue ( sand, leaves , earth, etc . ) that could cause partial shading, while perfectly cleaning the surface - also with the help of doctor blade 13 - of any microscopic impurity that could cause halos and therefore a reduction in the panel ' s performance .

[0102] The intelligent management of the data collected by the miniature thermal camera allows automatic cycles for hotspot removal , but also for P-panel temperature management , as well as providing useful data for the prevention of ef fects that may compromise the panels or even cause fires .

[0103] As mentioned above, the control logic of the system determines the movement of the motorisation unit with the movement of the cover and the cleaning brush (and possibly the water supply ) at the desired times and in the desired manner, also in consideration of the signals received from the environmental transducers .

[0104] It is understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered limited to the particular embodiment illustrated above and in the drawings , which is to be understood as illustrative of it , but that several variants are possible, all within the reach of a person skilled in the art , without thereby going beyond the scope of protection of the invention itself , as defined by the following claims .

[0105] For example , the system of the invention may comprise one or more of the illustrated components , in combinations with each other even in a manner dif ferent from what is expressly illustrated, while still achieving partial optimisations . Combined use in the following variants can thus be envisaged : Brush + mobile washing and cooling lance integral with the brush + slatted cover that can be moved underneath the panel ;

[0106] Brush + mobile washing and cooling lance attached to the brush + slatted cover + doctor blade ;

[0107] Only slatted cover that can be moved under the panel ;

[0108] Dry brush only ( no water lances ) ;

[0109] Mobile washing and cooling lance only ;

[0110] Brush + mobile washing and cooling lance attached to the brush ;

[0111] Brush + mobile washing and cooling lance attached to the brush + doctor blade ;

[0112] Brush + fixed transverse washing lances (parallel to the brush axis ) ;

[0113] Brush + fixed longitudinal washing lances (parallel to the brush axis ) ;

[0114] Any further combination of those explicitly mentioned above .

Claims

CLAIMS1. An integrated protection system of a solar panel, comprising one or more solar panels (P) having an operating surface, a housing frame comprising at least two support shoulders (la, lb) equipped with cross-bars connecting the aforementioned support shoulders (la, lb) , which are arranged underneath the panel (P) and which serve as supports for said one or more solar panels (P ) , a pair of transmission shafts (3, 4) , held in rotation by said support shoulders (la, lb) , parallel to and arranged transversely to opposing sides of one or more solar panels (P) , a pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) , closed in a loop around said transmission shafts (3, 4) , in planes parallel and substantially orthogonal to said operating surface, a drive unit to set that pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) in motion, and a plurality of slender slats (6) , bound at the ends to said pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) , arranged adjacent to each other to form a flexible cover of a length similar to a length of said opposing sides of one or more solar panels (P) , characterised by that said pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) have upper branches running on a plane arranged at a certain distance above said operating surface and lower branches running on a plane arranged below the one or more solar panels (9) , and in that a brush (7) with cylindrical shape is further provided, mounted integral in translation with said flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) .

2. The protection system as in claim 1, wherein said brush (7) having a cylindrical shape is mounted on a rotation axis bound to said pair of flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) and is provided with at least one transmission gear (8, 31) engaged with static meshing means (9, 32) fixed with respect to said frame, the translation movement of said brush (7) thereby also causing arotation of said brush (7) .

3. The protection system as in claims 1 or 2, in which there is also provide a movable transverse lance (11) , mounted integral with said flexible transmission elements (5a, 5b) equipped with spray nozzles for spraying cooling water.

4. The protection system as in claim 3, wherein a doctor blade (13) in contact with said operating surface is also provided near said brush (7) and behind it with respect to a translation direction .

5. The protection system as in claims 3 or 4, in which a collection hopper (14) open towards the top, equipped with an outlet spout (14a) for the recovery of wash water, is provided along a lower side of the system.

6. The protection system as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a temperature sensor (15) is provided for detecting the temperature at one or more points of said operating surface, a control logic of said drive unit determining an activation cycle based on said detected temperature.

7. The protection system as in claim 6, wherein said temperature sensor is a thermal imaging camera (15) capable of detecting the temperature of said operating surface independently in a plurality of areas of a cluster of detection areas.

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