Bifacial Agrivoltaic Panel Tracking for Land-Efficient Energy Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photovoltaic solar panel systems installed in agricultural or pastoral fields face a trade-off between maximizing energy production and maintaining a large area for agricultural or pastoral use, as they require significant space and limit the number of rows due to the need for machinery access and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The system employs double-sided solar cells with one side more efficient than the other, and a tracking device that rotates the panels to maintain a sub-vertical position, exploiting both direct and diffuse solar radiation, reducing the space required and minimizing maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional photovoltaic solar panels are arranged in parallel rows with tracking devices to maximize energy production, then energy production efficiency is improved, but the area available for agricultural or pastoral use is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional horizontal ground-mounted photovoltaic panels to vertically oriented panels mounted on building facades and structures. This dimensional change from horizontal to vertical orientation allows photovoltaic systems to utilize building surfaces instead of occupying agricultural land, thereby maintaining energy production while preserving land availability for farming activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional system where buildings serve dual purposes: as traditional structures and as photovoltaic energy generation platforms. The vertical panels integrate energy production into the building envelope, allowing the same space to fulfill both architectural and energy generation functions without competing for land resources.
2Productivity
If photovoltaic panels are installed in a horizontal position to maximize sun exposure, then energy capture efficiency is improved, but the space required for machinery access and maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves photovoltaic panels from horizontal ground installation to vertical building-mounted installation. This dimensional shift eliminates the need for large access spaces between rows while maintaining effective sun exposure through vertical orientation. The building facade provides inherent structural support and positioning, removing the need for extensive maintenance corridors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replicates the photovoltaic panel function across multiple building surfaces rather than concentrating panels in large horizontal arrays. This distribution across vertical building surfaces achieves equivalent or superior energy capture while eliminating the need for heavy machinery access spaces required by conventional ground-mounted systems.
3Power
If conventional ground-mounted photovoltaic systems are installed to achieve high energy output, then power generation is improved, but the complexity of the support structure and tracking mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the photovoltaic panel mounting function from complex ground-based support structures and tracking mechanisms, transferring it directly to building facades and vertical surfaces. This eliminates the need for elaborate support frameworks and motorized tracking systems, as the building structure itself provides the mounting platform and the vertical orientation maintains effective sun exposure throughout the day.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the building structure multi-functional by using it simultaneously as structural support and as the photovoltaic mounting platform. This eliminates the need for separate, complex support structures required by conventional ground-mounted systems, as the building envelope serves both architectural and energy generation support functions.
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
This approach enhances energy production efficiency by utilizing diffuse radiation while significantly reducing the space occupied, thus maximizing both energy output and available land for agricultural or pastoral use.
Implementation Method 1
each including a plurality of photovoltaic solar cells, each having a first side and a second side, with the first side relatively more efficient in generating electrical energy and the second side relatively less efficient in generating electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
a tracking device including an actuator and an electronic controller configured to rotate the photovoltaic solar panel during the apparent diurnal motion of the sun
Data Source
AI summary
System of photovoltaic solar panels includes solar panels arranged in rows in an open field to facilitate agricultural or pastoral use of areas of the field between the rows. Each solar panel is carried by a support structure, with interposition of a tracking device for rotating the solar panel during an apparent diurnal motion of the sun. Each solar panel includes an array of double-sided photovoltaic solar cells having opposite sides exposed respectively on first and second faces of the solar panel, to collect both direct solar radiation and diffuse solar radiation. The tracking device is configured such that, for the entire duration of the apparent diurnal motion of the sun, the inclination angle formed between the plane of each photovoltaic solar panel and a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the row never exceeds the value of 45°, except for a temporary phase at the solar zenith.