Solar Panel Support Rack Structure for Wind and Snow Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar panel storage racks have limitations in absorbing wind and snow loads due to their design, which results in limited load-bearing capacity and are bulky for transportation, making them inefficient for transporting multiple units to installation sites.
Innovation Solution
A storage frame design with a support structure that distributes load symmetrically across the panel holder's surface, using a support triangle with central and side struts attached to a central support part at the mast's upper end, allowing for efficient load dissipation and minimizing tilting moments, enabling the frame to be transported in a completely dismantled state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If support struts are used to support the panel holder, then the structure can be simpler and easier to manufacture, but the wind and snow load bearing capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple support struts (first, second, third, and fourth support struts) that are distributed across the panel holder's surface. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed to multiple attachment points on the mast, increasing overall load-bearing capacity while maintaining a relatively simple strut-based design that is easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The support struts are arranged in multiple spatial dimensions and orientations around the panel holder. The first and second support struts extend in one direction while the third and fourth support struts extend in another direction, creating a three-dimensional support network that efficiently distributes loads from multiple directions (wind and snow) to the mast.
2Strength
If the support structure is designed with multiple support struts distributed over the panel holder surface, then the wind and snow load bearing capacity increases, but the structure becomes bulkier and more difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed to be dynamically configurable between assembled and disassembled states. The support struts can be detached from the panel holder and mast, allowing the structure to be compacted into a smaller volume for transport while maintaining full structural integrity when assembled at the installation site.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into separable segments (panel holder with attached struts, and mast with attachment points) that can be independently handled during transport. This segmentation allows the components to be packed more efficiently in transport containers compared to a fully integrated rigid structure.
3Reliability
If the support struts are welded together at the place of manufacture, then the structural integrity is improved, but the number of storage racks that can be accommodated in a transport container is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a static welded design to a dynamic configurable design where components are connected through detachable joints. This allows the structure to maintain structural integrity during operation while enabling disassembly for compact transport, thereby increasing transport capacity without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection method parameter is changed from permanent welding to detachable mechanical connections. This parameter change allows the same components to provide equivalent structural integrity when assembled but enables disassembly for more efficient packing in transport containers, increasing the number of racks that can be transported.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a storage frame for supporting flat solar panels (12), with a support mast (13) which is essentially vertical in its mounted position and can be stored at its lower end (13a) in the ground or at a stationary anchoring point (13b), on which the Solar panels (12) resting on a flat panel holder (8-11) are held by means of a support structure (14) and can be rotated about the mast axis for azimuth tracking.