Floating Torque Tube Assembly for Solar Tracking on Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating solar PV arrays lack a cost-effective and technically viable solution for sun tracking, with separate floats and torque tubes increasing component count and shipping costs, and existing systems are not designed to minimize stress on tracking components while maximizing energy production.
Innovation Solution
A floating solar PV assembly using cylindrical pontoons or torque tubes that integrate as both support and direction-pointing components, reducing system parts and incorporating motors or ballast tubes for rotation, with optional direct drives, drive shafts, belt or chain drives, or coupling rods to track the sun's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate floats and torque tubes are used in floating solar PV arrays, then the system can provide buoyancy and tracking functions, but the number of system components increases and shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the float and torque tube into a single integrated component. The cylindrical float structure serves dual purposes: providing buoyancy support and acting as the torque tube for sun tracking. This merging eliminates the need for separate float and torque tube components, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining both buoyancy and tracking functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical float is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides buoyancy to keep the solar panels afloat, serves as the structural torque tube for rotation, and enables sun tracking through its rotational capability. This multi-functional design reduces component count while maintaining system performance.
2Reliability
If separate floats and torque tubes are used in floating solar PV arrays, then the system can provide buoyancy and tracking functions, but shipping density increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the float and torque tube into a single cylindrical component, the patent reduces the total volume of components that need to be shipped. Instead of shipping separate float structures and separate torque tubes, the integrated design consolidates these functions into one component, reducing shipping density and associated costs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid floating structures are used, then the system provides stable support, but stress on tracking components increases when following water undulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic design where the cylindrical floats can rotate to follow water undulations and wave movements. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to changing water conditions, reducing stress on tracking components by moving with the waves rather than resisting them rigidly.
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
Minimizes system components, reduces shipping density, and enhances reliability by integrating multiple functionalities into a single device, while following water undulations and maximizing energy production.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of cylindrical-shaped floats; solar PV modules mounted on top of the plurality of cylindrical-shaped floats
Implementation Method 2
a rotation control system for rotating the cylindrical-shaped floats to tilt the solar PV modules in a direction to track movement of the sun
Data Source
AI summary
A floating solar photovoltaic array torque tube tracker assembly, including: a plurality of floats; solar PV modules mounted on top of the plurality of floats; and a rotation control system for rotating the floats or torque tubes passing through the floats to tilt the solar PV modules in a direction to track movement of the sun.