Curved Solar Panel Overlap Layout to Prevent Shading Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing solar energy systems using curved solar panels, the lower panels' power generation areas are prone to being locally blocked, leading to reduced overall power generation efficiency due to current limiting.
Innovation Solution
The design of curved solar panels with specific non-power generation areas and overlapping configurations, along with a photovoltaic array and solar energy system that includes voltage-current adjustment units and combiner boxes, ensures that power generation areas are not blocked, enhancing overall efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If curved solar panels are mounted with overlapping non-power generation areas, then structural stability and ease of installation are improved, but the power generation area of lower panels is blocked, reducing power generation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The solar panel designates specific regions as non-power generation areas (first and second non-power generation areas) with different width characteristics. The first non-power generation area has a width X1 that satisfies X1≥X2+W, creating an asymmetric local quality distribution that prevents shading while maintaining structural overlap for stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlapping configuration uses asymmetric width relationships between non-power generation areas. The first non-power generation area width X1 is deliberately made larger than the second non-power generation area width X2 by at least the panel thickness W, creating an asymmetric overlap pattern that allows upper panels to overlap lower panels without blocking the lower panels' power generation areas.
2Productivity
If the width of non-power generation areas is increased to prevent shading, then power generation efficiency is improved, but the area available for structural overlap is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the width parameters of non-power generation areas to satisfy specific mathematical relationships (X1≥X2+W). By carefully controlling the width parameters X1 and X2, the design achieves both sufficient overlapping area for structural stability and adequate prevention of shading, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
3Power
If curved solar panels are installed in series configuration, then voltage output is increased, but current limiting occurs when any panel is shaded, reducing overall system output
Solution Approach 1:
The design proactively prevents shading by configuring the first non-power generation area width X1 to be at least X2+W, ensuring that upper panels overlap lower panels in non-power generation zones without blocking the power generation areas. This preliminary anti-action eliminates the root cause of current limiting in series configurations, allowing the system to achieve its full voltage and power potential.
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 solution improves the overall power generation efficiency of the solar energy system by up to 30% by preventing shading and optimizing current flow, while also simplifying wiring and enhancing system stability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a power generation area provided with a power generation layer
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a curved solar panel, a photovoltaic array, and a solar energy system. The curved solar panel includes a crest portion and a trough portion sequentially connected in a first direction. The curved solar panel further includes a power generation area provided with a power generation layer; and a first non-power generation area and a second non-power generation area located at two opposite sides of the power generation area in the first direction, respectively. An upper part of the first non-power generation area overlaps with the second non-power generation area of an adjacent curved solar panel. A width of the first non-power generation area in the first direction is defined as X1, a width of the second non-power generation area in the first direction is defined as X2, and a thickness of the curved solar panel is defined as W, where X1, X2, and W satisfy: X1≥X2+W.