Ballasted Solar Module Mounting System for Non-Invasive Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar module racking systems are complex, costly, and require invasive installation, hindering the widespread adoption of solar energy, especially in developing regions, due to their permanent nature and need for specialized labor and tools.
Innovation Solution
A ballasted support and mounting system that uses a free-standing, hollow base filled with ballast material like concrete or sand, which self-stabilizes without metal components or threaded fasteners, allowing for easy installation and flexibility in surface adaptation, and includes clip-based or groove-based attachment systems for securing solar modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional solar module racking systems are used, then solar modules can be securely mounted, but the installation becomes complex, costly, and invasive requiring specialized labor and tools
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: a base unit with ballast for stability, a support structure for elevation, and attachment mechanisms for securing modules. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies installation by enabling modular assembly without requiring complex integrated systems
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for invasive ground mounting structures by using a free-standing base with ballast. The complex threaded fastener systems and metal components are removed, replacing them with simpler attachment mechanisms that achieve secure mounting without the complexity of conventional racking systems
2Reliability
If conventional racking systems with metal components and threaded fasteners are used, then solar modules can be firmly secured, but installation requires specialized labor and tools
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is designed to be self-installing without requiring specialized tools or labor. The base with ballast self-stabilizes on the surface, and the attachment mechanisms are designed to secure modules through simple placement and engagement rather than requiring drilling, threading, or specialized fastening operations
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of securing modules to the ground through invasive metal racking, the system inverts the approach by using a free-standing base that secures itself to the surface through ballast weight, then attaches modules to the base. This reversal eliminates the need for ground penetration and complex fastening systems
3Reliability
If permanent mounting systems are used, then solar modules are securely installed, but removal and upgrading become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a permanent fixed installation to a dynamic, reversible configuration. The ballasted base can be easily relocated by lifting and moving, and the module attachment mechanisms allow for simple detachment and reattachment, enabling flexible reconfiguration and upgrading without permanent ground modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for easy disassembly where solar modules can be detached from the base, and the base itself can be relocated or reconfigured. This enables recovery and reuse of mounting components for different installations or upgrades, rather than permanent abandonment of the mounting system
4Reliability
If invasive installation methods are used, then solar modules can be firmly mounted, but environmental impact increases and adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ballasted base design creates a universal mounting system that can be deployed on multiple surface types including concrete, asphalt, gravel, and soil without requiring surface-specific adaptations or invasive installations. The same base configuration provides firm mounting across diverse surfaces, enhancing versatility and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the invasive ground penetration requirement from the mounting system, replacing it with a non-invasive ballasted base that achieves firm mounting through weight and friction rather than physical attachment to the surface, thereby preserving surface integrity and enabling deployment on sensitive or varied terrains
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly installation of solar modules without invasive modifications, allowing for easy deployment, removal, and upgrading, reducing the need for specialized labor and tools, and maximizing solar exposure through adjustable angles.
Implementation Method 1
a curved surface joining the front wall and the rear wall to form a base of the apparatus. The base of the apparatus can have a curved bottom.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for mounting and supporting one or more solar modules are provided. The apparatus can include a front wall and a rear wall. The apparatus can further include a curved surface that joins the front wall and the rear wall to form a base of the apparatus. The base of the apparatus can have a curved bottom. Furthermore, the base of the apparatus can be configured to mount and support the one or more solar modules. Related methods are also provided.