Floating Solar Tracker Buoyancy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating photovoltaic solar tracker systems face challenges such as high installation and maintenance costs, complex geometrical configurations, and suboptimal energy production due to limited design options, which hinder their competitiveness compared to fixed-angle installations.
Innovation Solution
A floating photovoltaic solar tracker system that minimizes material usage, simplifies assembly, and allows for easy maintenance by rotating solar modules along a principal axis between low and high inclination angles, using hollow tube elements with internal cavities filled with water or air to adjust orientation and track the sun, while reducing wind drag and anchoring complexities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vertical axis tracker systems are used to rotate solar modules around a vertical axis, then solar modules can be oriented toward the sun, but the tracking trajectory is far from ideal and energy production gain is lower than 10%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the float assembly to rotate along its principal axis, allowing the solar modules to dynamically adjust their orientation from low inclination angles to high angle positions. This rotational capability transforms the static vertical axis tracking into a dynamic system that can optimize its trajectory, achieving superior energy production gain of up to 25% compared to conventional fixed vertical axis trackers.
2Productivity
If solar modules are inclined at a steep inclination angle (>30°) to improve tracking trajectory, then energy gain may be achieved, but wind drag coefficients increase considerably and large separation distances between rows are required
Solution Approach 1:
The float assembly enables dynamic inclination angle adjustment, allowing solar modules to operate at optimal angles during non-windy periods while automatically reducing to lower angles when wind conditions require it. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the inclination angle a variable parameter rather than a fixed steep angle, thereby reducing wind drag coefficients while maintaining energy gain potential.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the inclination angle parameter dynamically based on operational conditions. By varying this parameter from low to high angles along the tracking trajectory, the system optimizes energy capture while adapting to environmental constraints such as wind conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between energy gain and wind drag.
3Productivity
If several tracker units rotate multiple arrays of solar modules around different fixed points, then solar tracking is achieved, but extra lengths of underwater electrical cables are required and anchoring each block individually becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple tracker units into a single integrated float assembly that rotates along one principal axis. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple separate anchoring points and reduces the total length of underwater electrical cables required, as all solar modules within the assembly share a common rotational mechanism and electrical connection path.
Solution Approach 2:
The float assembly serves multiple functions: it supports multiple arrays of solar modules, provides a common rotational mechanism for all modules, and uses a single anchoring system. This multi-functionality reduces the overall complexity of the anchoring infrastructure and cable layout compared to having separate tracker units for each array.
4Productivity
If vertical axis floating tracker systems are used, then solar tracking is enabled, but they are more complex to install and maintenance operations on solar modules or mechanical components become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The float assembly is segmented into modular components including the float structure, solar module arrays, and mechanical rotation mechanisms. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access specific components independently by detaching or reconfiguring modules, thereby simplifying maintenance operations while preserving the solar tracking function.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic rotation capability of the float assembly along its principal axis provides maintenance access advantages. The assembly can be rotated to positions that facilitate easier access to mechanical components and solar modules, improving ease of operation and maintenance compared to fixed vertical axis configurations.
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 design reduces manufacturing and installation costs, enhances energy production by optimizing the tracking trajectory, and improves the competitiveness of floating solar plants by simplifying maintenance and reducing material usage.
Implementation Method 1
hollow tube elements with internal cavities filled with water or air to adjust orientation
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3D
AI summary
A solar tracker float assembly extending along a principal longitudinal rotational axis and comprising at least one floating tube element extending along and/or parallel to said principal axis and having at least one internal cavity, at least one array of photovoltaic solar modules oriented at an angle with regard to said principal longitudinal axis and rigidly connected to said support tracker assembly, and a control system comprising pumping means and an electronic controller arranged to control said pumping means to inject or withdraw water and/or air inside said internal cavity in order to rotate the floating tracker assembly about said principal axis between a maximum right directed position and a maximum left directed position.