Speed-Responsive Damper for Solar Tracker Row Twist
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar tracker systems face challenges in maintaining optimal tilt angles under environmental loading conditions, such as wind and snow, which can lead to row twist and increased costs due to the need for additional actuators and complex communication systems to prevent failures.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic system incorporating a damper with a variable damping ratio that adjusts based on movement speed, allowing for effective resistance against environmental loads while minimizing twist and reducing the load on actuators, thereby maintaining efficient energy capture and reducing system costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single actuator is used to control a long row of PV modules, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but row twist increases under environmental loading
Solution Approach 1:
A torque tube is introduced as an intermediary component between the single actuator and the PV modules. The torque tube distributes the actuation force uniformly across multiple modules, enabling a single actuator to effectively control a long row while maintaining stability and preventing excessive row twist under environmental loading.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple actuators are used per row to reduce row twist, then row stability improves, but device complexity and communication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The torque tube serves as a mechanical intermediary that eliminates the need for multiple actuators and their associated communication systems. By distributing force through the torque tube, the system achieves row stability with a single actuator, avoiding the complexity of coordinating multiple actuators.
3Stability of the object's composition
If row length is reduced to decrease row twist, then row stability improves, but productivity and energy capture decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The torque tube enables long row configurations to maintain stability by uniformly distributing actuation forces. This intermediary component allows the system to maximize row length for higher energy capture while preventing excessive twist that would otherwise limit row length.
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 damper system mitigates dynamic loads and reduces the risk of twist, enhancing energy production and system reliability while minimizing material usage and maintenance costs by dynamically adjusting damping to support loads and allow movement.
Implementation Method 1
A common configuration of horizontal single-axis trackers ('SAT') as described above includes a single actuator near the center of a row of PV modules
Implementation Method 2
A photovoltaic system incorporating a damper with a variable damping ratio that adjusts based on movement speed
Data Source
AI summary
A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.