PV Module Mounting Structure Using Floatable PP Composite
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting devices for photovoltaic modules face challenges in withstanding harsh environmental conditions such as high and low humidity, sun, rain, dust, and algae growth, especially in sea- or lake-based solar power plants, while also requiring excellent floatability and mechanical properties to support energy production for at least 10 years.
Innovation Solution
A mounting device and connecting element made from a polypropylene polymer composition with specific properties, including density, melt flow rate, flexural modulus, heat deflection temperature, and impact strength, which are designed to be durable and resistant to environmental factors, and can be used in floating applications without harming the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mounting devices are made from conventional materials to ensure mechanical strength and durability, then they can support PV modules for long-term use, but they fail to provide sufficient resistance to harsh environmental conditions such as humidity, UV exposure, and algae growth
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device employs a composite structure consisting of a polypropylene base material reinforced with glass fibers. This composite material combines the chemical resistance and floatability of polypropylene with the mechanical strength and dimensional stability of glass fibers, creating a material that simultaneously resists environmental degradation and provides structural support for long-term reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention specifies precise parameter ranges for the polypropylene matrix including density (0.90-0.95 g/cm³) for floatability, glass fiber content (30-60 wt%) for mechanical strength, and molecular weight characteristics for environmental resistance. By controlling these material parameters within defined ranges, the mounting device achieves optimal balance between durability and resistance to harmful environmental factors
2Weight of moving object
If mounting devices are designed for floating applications to enable sea- or lake-based solar power plants, then they provide excellent floatability, but they must simultaneously withstand harsh environmental conditions including waves, humidity, and algae growth for at least 10 years
Solution Approach 1:
The glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene composite provides both the required floatability through the low-density polypropylene matrix (0.90-0.95 g/cm³) and the mechanical strength needed for long-term floating reliability. The glass fibers enhance tensile strength and stiffness while the polypropylene matrix provides buoyancy and chemical resistance to water and humidity, enabling the mounting device to withstand wave action and environmental exposure for at least 10 years
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses polypropylene, a cost-effective polymer that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. The material's inherent resistance to water absorption and chemical degradation provides sufficient service life for floating applications while maintaining economic viability for large-scale solar power plant deployments
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mounting devices use traditional polymers to achieve floatability and environmental resistance, then they resist algae growth and corrosion, but they lack sufficient mechanical strength and stiffness to properly support PV modules
Solution Approach 1:
The glass fiber reinforcement (30-60 wt%) dramatically enhances the mechanical properties of the polypropylene matrix, providing tensile strength, flexural strength, and stiffness necessary for supporting PV module weights and withstanding installation and operational loads. The polypropylene matrix continues to provide corrosion and algae resistance, creating a composite that simultaneously achieves both environmental resistance and mechanical strength requirements
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mounting device (MD) for a photovoltaic (PV) module, a connecting element (CE) for a mounting device (MD), a mounting structure (MS) comprising a mounting device (MD) and a photovoltaic (PV) module, an array of mounting structures (MS) comprising two or more mounting structures (MS), a polypropylene copolymer composition for a mounting device (MD) of a photovoltaic (PV) module as well as a polypropylene homopolymer composition for a connecting element (CE) for a mounting device (MD).