Pontoon with Moulded Structural Element for Floating Solar Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floating solar energy systems, particularly pontoons, face durability issues due to wind, waves, water currents, UV radiation, and saltwater wear, leading to potential system failure and high repair costs.
Innovation Solution
A pontoon design combining a non-floating structural element made of solidified material, such as reinforced concrete, with a floating element like expanded polystyrene, where the structural element is moulded around the float to create a durable and stable structure with a protected cavity for the float, enhancing strength and reducing mechanical handling during manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a floating solar energy system uses traditional pontoons made of multiple parts, then the system can be assembled, but the pontoons are vulnerable to wear and damage from wind, waves, water currents, UV radiation, and saltwater
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the float and structural element into a single integrated pontoon component. The float is positioned in a cavity of the structural element, creating a unified structure that eliminates interfaces between separate parts. This integration reduces vulnerability to wear and damage by removing potential failure points at connection interfaces, while still providing protection against environmental factors like wind, waves, water currents, UV radiation, and saltwater.
2Strength
If the structural element is made strong and durable to resist environmental wear, then the pontoon stability improves, but the manufacturing complexity and mechanical handling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the float in the cavity of the structural element before the concrete material is poured and solidified. This preliminary positioning allows the float to be integrated into the structural element during the manufacturing process itself, rather than requiring complex assembly operations after manufacturing. The structural element is moulded around the float, creating a strong integrated structure while simplifying manufacturing by performing the integration action during the forming process.
3Weight of moving object
If the float is exposed to provide sufficient buoyancy, then the floating capability is maximized, but the float becomes more vulnerable to wear and damage from environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the float within a cavity of the structural element. The float is positioned in the cavity such that it provides sufficient buoyancy for the pontoon to float on water surfaces, while the structural element cavity protects the float from direct exposure to environmental wear factors. The structural element acts as a protective shell around the float, allowing the float to maintain its buoyancy function while being shielded from wind, waves, water currents, UV radiation, and saltwater damage.
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
The design results in a strong, durable, and stable pontoon that minimizes wear and damage, reducing the risk of system failure and lowering maintenance costs while maintaining efficient energy generation.
Implementation Method 1
the float has a composition so that the float as such does float on said water surface
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3
AI summary
Pontoon (10) arranged to be included by a solar energy system that is provided with at least one solar panel. The solar energy system is arranged to float on a water surface by means of at least the pontoon (10). The pontoon (10) includes a structural element (14) and a float (16). The structural element (14) has a composition so that the structural element (14) as such does not float on said water surface. The float (16) has a composition so that the float (16) as such does float on said water surface. The structural element (14) is provided with a cavity (20) wherein at least part of the float (16) is provided. The structural element (14) includes a solidified material that originates from a fluidic material that flowed above and/or besides the float (16) so that the solidified material extends above and/or besides the cavity (20).