Solar panel assembly and solar power system including same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar power systems on water bodies require large installation areas and are inefficient in converting solar energy due to limited sunlight absorption, as only direct sunlight rays are utilized by the solar panels.
Innovation Solution
A solar panel assembly with a base, support units, solar power panels, and reflector plates that reflect light rays to the bottom surface of the panels, allowing for oblique panel disposition and increased sunlight absorption, along with connectors and auxiliary units for structural stability and modular arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If solar panels are arranged in a conventional matrix manner on water bodies, then the installation area is sufficiently large to capture sunlight, but the installation area occupied is excessive and sunlight rays missing from the panels cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces reflector plates positioned below the solar panels to redirect sunlight from below and at different angles onto the panel surfaces. This adds a vertical dimension (below-panel space) to sunlight capture, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space around the panels rather than only the horizontal plane, thereby increasing energy conversion without proportionally increasing water surface occupation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts previously wasted sunlight rays (which would miss the panels or reflect away) into useful energy by using reflector plates to redirect these rays onto the panel surfaces. The reflector plates capture stray light and bounced light that would otherwise be lost, converting this 'harmful' light loss into beneficial energy conversion
2Productivity
If only direct sunlight rays are used for energy conversion, then the solar panel structure is simple, but the energy conversion efficiency is low due to limited sunlight absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector plates are positioned below the solar panels and angled to redirect sunlight from below and at various angles onto the panel surfaces. This utilizes the vertical space beneath the panels to capture and redirect light, effectively adding a below-panel dimension to light collection without complicating the panel structure itself
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector plates serve as intermediary elements that mediate between the incoming sunlight and the solar panels. Instead of directly increasing panel complexity, the reflectors act as intermediate devices to redirect and concentrate light onto the panels, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining relative structural simplicity
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
Enhances power conversion efficiency by trapping sunlight rays of different angles, increases installation density, and provides structural stability, enabling effective conversion of solar energy into electrical energy.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one reflector plate is disposed between the base and the at least one solar panel to reflect light rays to the bottom surface
Implementation Method 2
The top and bottom surfaces are configured to convert light energy into electrical energy
Implementation Method 3
The tubular bodies are configured to float on a water body
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A solar panel assembly (2) includes a base (21) having tubular bodies (211), a support unit (22) including support frames (221) connected between the tubular bodies (211) and supporting rods (222) extending upwardly from the supporting frames (221), a solar power panel (23) disposed on the supporting rods (222), and a reflector plate (24) disposed between the base (21) and the solar panel (23) to reflect light rays to a bottom surface (232) of the solar panel (23). A solar power system includes a plurality of the aforesaid solar panel assemblies (2) and multiple connectors (27).