Convex Solar Panel Layout for Off-Grid Modular Building Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular buildings, such as those formed from shipping containers, often lack a reliable and easily deployable source of electricity, particularly in environments without access to a power grid.
Innovation Solution
A solar apparatus designed for modular buildings, featuring an enclosure and an array of photovoltaic panels with a convexity that creates an open space, allowing the enclosure to be positioned underneath. This apparatus includes a base frame member, battery energy storage components, and control electronics for managing energy generation and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solar panels are installed on modular buildings in off-grid environments, then electricity generation capability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solar energy system is divided into modular components: photovoltaic panels, battery enclosures, and control electronics that can be independently installed and configured. This segmentation allows the system to be deployed in stages and simplifies maintenance while maintaining reliability in off-grid environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure is positioned within the open space created by the convexity of the photovoltaic panel array, nesting the battery storage system within the structural footprint of the solar installation. This eliminates the need for separate ground-level battery installations and reduces overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If photovoltaic panels are installed to generate electricity, then energy independence is improved, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The convexity structure and enclosure are pre-integrated into the modular building design, with mounting points and structural elements prepared in advance. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces on-site installation time while maintaining full energy independence capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates movable or adjustable components that allow for flexible installation configurations, enabling rapid deployment across different modular building types and orientations without requiring custom installations for each scenario.
3Volume of moving object
If enclosures are positioned under the photovoltaic array, then space utilization is improved, but access and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is designed to be extractable from the space under the photovoltaic array, allowing complete removal for maintenance or replacement without dismantling the solar panels. This extraction capability maintains high space utilization during operation while ensuring easy access when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fixing the enclosure permanently under the array, the design inverts the approach by making the enclosure movable and accessible from above or the sides, reversing the traditional fixed-under-array configuration to prioritize maintenance accessibility.
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
The solar apparatus provides a reliable and efficient source of electricity for modular buildings, enabling energy independence in off-grid environments through solar energy conversion and storage.
Implementation Method 1
an array of photovoltaic panels
Implementation Method 2
battery energy storage components positioned in the enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A solar apparatus for use with a mobile building includes an enclosure and an array comprised of photovoltaic panels. A convexity of the array along a longitudinal direction of the solar apparatus defines an open space under the panel. The enclosure can be positioned in the open space.