Floating Body Joining Design for Stable Water-Based Solar Cell Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar cell apparatuses for use on water face challenges in easy installation and maintenance due to complex joining mechanisms and susceptibility to cracking from wave oscillations, especially when dealing with large solar cell modules and multiple floating bodies.
Innovation Solution
A float device and solar cell apparatus design featuring floating bodies with specifically configured joining parts and spacers that allow for easy alignment and engagement of multiple floating bodies, reducing the likelihood of cracking by using rounded or chamfered corners and spacers that maintain relative positions, facilitating easier installation and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex joining mechanisms are used to connect multiple floating bodies, then the stability and reliability of the solar cell apparatus is improved, but the ease of installation and maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The floating body is divided into multiple independent flotation chambers separated by partition walls. Each chamber can independently bear load and provide buoyancy, allowing the structure to maintain stability even when connections between floating bodies experience stress. This segmentation enables simpler joining mechanisms while preserving overall structural reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The corners of the floating body are designed with rounded or chamfered configurations rather than sharp angles. This curvature design reduces stress concentration at corner joints where multiple floating bodies connect, preventing crack initiation and propagation. The rounded corners allow for simpler joining mechanisms without compromising the reliability of the connections under wave oscillation loads.
2Manufacturing precision
If sharp corners are used in the floating body design, then the manufacturing precision and structural integrity are improved, but the susceptibility to cracking from wave oscillations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating body incorporates rounded corners and chamfered edges instead of sharp 90-degree angles. This geometric modification eliminates stress concentration points that would otherwise form at sharp corners during wave oscillations. The curved transitions distribute mechanical stresses more evenly throughout the structure, preventing crack initiation while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized rounding radii.
3Strength
If multiple floating bodies are joined together to support large solar cell modules, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the complexity of the joining mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floating body is segmented into multiple independent flotation chambers that collectively provide the required load-bearing capacity. This internal segmentation allows the structure to support heavy solar cell modules through distributed buoyancy forces, eliminating the need for complex external reinforcement or joining mechanisms between multiple floating bodies.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating body design integrates multiple functions into a single structure: the partition walls serve both as structural dividers for buoyancy chambers and as reinforcement elements for load bearing. The rounded corners simultaneously provide stress distribution and simplified joining surfaces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex joining components while maintaining high load-bearing capacity.
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 design enables straightforward assembly and increased stability of the solar cell apparatus on water, reducing the risk of cracking and improving ease of installation, particularly beneficial for large-scale solar power plants with multiple solar cell modules.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of floating bodies (3) joined together with their sides, and a solar cell module (2) on each floating body (3)
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
In a float device including a floating body, the floating body includes: a main body part having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a first side surface connecting the first surface and the second surface; and at least a first joining part and a second joining part located on the first side surface to locate on both sides in a first direction parallel to a ridge line defined by the first surface and the first side surface. The first joining part and the second joining part each include a first portion located on the first side surface and a second portion connected to the first portion to face the first side surface. The second portion includes an end portion farthest from the first portion. An end portion of the first joining part and an end portion of the second joining part face each other. A minimum distance D1 between the end portion of the first joining part and the end portion of the second joining part is greater than twice a width D2 of the second portion of the first joining part in the first direction, and is smaller than a minimum distance D3 between the first portion of the first joining part and the first portion of the second joining part.