Floating support device for a photovoltaic panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular floating support devices for photovoltaic panels are economically inefficient due to high manufacturing costs and complex transportation challenges, particularly with mechanically welded structures and bulky plastic envelopes that require substantial know-how for uniform wall thickness and resistance.
Innovation Solution
A modular floating support device design where the float and structure functions are disassociated, allowing the structure to transmit forces without affecting the floats or photovoltaic panels, with the structure being a separate plastic element that can be manufactured with a thicker wall to withstand forces, and floats being made of a thin plastic envelope or inflatable for easier transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the float and structure functions are combined in a single plastic envelope, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and wall thickness uniformity become difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the previously integrated plastic envelope into two separate functional components: a float (envelope) for buoyancy and a structure for force transmission. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the float can use thin walls for easy transport while the structure provides the necessary mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and manufacturing precision.
2Strength
If the plastic envelope wall thickness is increased to withstand network forces, then the strength is improved, but the transportation difficulty increases due to bulkiness
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the float from the structure, the invention enables the float to have thin walls optimized for transportation, while the structure independently provides the necessary strength to withstand network forces. This resolves the contradiction by assigning different thickness requirements to different functional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the force-transmission function from the float envelope and assigns it to a dedicated structure. This allows the float to be optimized purely for buoyancy with thin walls, while the structure handles mechanical loads, thereby improving transportation ease without compromising strength.
3Device complexity
If the plastic envelope serves multiple functions (float, structure, panel holder), then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing cost increases due to complex shaping requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the multifunctional envelope into separate components with single, well-defined functions. The float provides buoyancy, the structure provides mechanical strength and force transmission, and separate elements hold panels. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing of each individual component while maintaining overall device functionality, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
While the invention separates functions into different components, each component is designed to be modular and potentially reusable across different configurations. The float, structure, and coupling elements can be standardized and used in various arrangements, achieving economy of scale and reduced manufacturing costs through universal design principles.
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 costs, simplifies assembly, and facilitates transportation by allowing the use of thinner, lighter floats and a more robust structure, enabling efficient and cost-effective deployment of floating photovoltaic installations.
Implementation Method 1
the plastic envelope encloses in a sealed manner a volume of air which makes it possible to ensure that the device does float
Data Source
AI summary
A floating support device (1) for a photovoltaic panel, includes: a structure (2) including coupling elements (3) for coupling to other floating devices in such a way as to allow a network (R) of floating devices to be formed; one or a plurality of floats (4), intended to ensure that the device does float, which are rigidly connected to the structure (2); and elements for holding at least one photovoltaic panel (P), and in which the structure is an element separate from the float(s) so as to allow forces to be transmitted between the floating devices of the network without transmitting the forces from the network to the float(s).