Kirigami Microstructures for Autonomous Solar Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional solar tracking systems for photovoltaic panels are costly, complex, and prone to malfunction due to cumbersome structural components, making them unsuitable for pitched rooftop installations, which represent a significant market segment, and contribute significantly to the high balance of systems costs in solar energy generation.

Innovation Solution

The use of origami-inspired Kirigami structures combined with thin-film active materials to enable autonomous solar tracking in flat-plate photovoltaic panels, allowing for low-profile, lightweight, and cost-efficient solar tracking systems that can be integrated with existing rooftop installations, utilizing flexible materials and microscopic textures to distribute force evenly across the structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional tracking systems are used, then solar power output is increased, but system cost and structural complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolar power outputVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into a grid of unit cells with patterned openings, allowing the structure to be divided into repeating modular elements that collectively achieve tracking functionality without requiring complex individual components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure transitions from a static rigid form to a dynamic flexible membrane that can autonomously deform and track solar position through distributed bending of the unit cell pattern, eliminating the need for complex mechanical actuation systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If conventional tracking systems are used, then solar power output is increased, but balance of systems costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesolar power outputVSAvoidbalance of systems costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking systems with a flexible membrane structure that uses distributed elastic deformation of the unit cell pattern to achieve solar tracking, eliminating motors, gears, and control mechanisms while maintaining tracking functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is implemented as a flexible thin-film membrane with a patterned unit cell design, allowing low-cost fabrication through techniques like lamination or molding, and enabling autonomous tracking through material flexibility rather than expensive mechanical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If flexible materials are used for the support structure, then wind loading resistance is improved, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind loading resistanceVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible support structure is segmented into a grid of unit cells with patterned openings, creating a lattice-like architecture that maintains structural strength while reducing wind loading through the open areas, allowing the flexible material to resist wind forces without requiring excessive thickness or rigidity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction by laminating the flexible support structure between rigid photovoltaic panels, creating a composite assembly where the flexible membrane provides tracking capability and wind load management while the rigid panels provide structural strength and photovoltaic functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution reduces the balance of systems costs, increases solar power generation efficiency, and allows for widespread deployment of solar electricity generation, including on pitched rooftops, by providing a cost-effective and efficient means of tracking solar position, while maintaining structural integrity and reducing wind loading issues.

Implementation Method 1

a support structure comprising a flexible material having a defined unit cell structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a flexible photovoltaic cell disposed on the support structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10637391B2Autonomous solar tracking in flat-plate photovoltaic panels using kirigami-inspired microstructures

Publication Date: 2020.04.28 THE RGT UNIV OF MICHIGAN

AI summary

There is disclosed Kirigami-inspired structures for use in solar tracking applications. When coupled with thin-film active materials, the disclosed microstructures can track solar position and maximize solar power generation. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a photovoltaic system comprising a single-axis, or multi-axis solar tracking structure comprising a support structure made of a flexible material having a defined unit cell structure, and a flexible photovoltaic cell disposed on the support structure. There is also disclosed methods of making such structures in which the photovoltaic cell is mounted to the support structure by a direct-attachment bonding processes such as cold-welding.