Two-Axis Solar Tracker With Load-Isolated Circumferential Drive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional solar trackers require large and costly slew drives to support the weight and torque of solar panels, leading to wear and tear issues that affect tracking accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional tracker design featuring an outer post, inner pole, tapered roller bearing, annular roller bearing, and a circumferential drive assembly with a worm gear and motor drive, allowing the inner pole to rotate relative to the outer post, thereby transferring the load's weight directly to the substructure and reducing the load on the drive assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a large slew drive is used to support the full weight of the solar panel assembly, then the tracker can handle the load and torque, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the load support function into two separate components: the outer post handles the full weight of the solar panel assembly through its vertical structure, while the slew drive only needs to provide rotational torque. This segmentation allows the slew drive to be much smaller and less complex while still meeting the strength requirements for the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer post acts as an intermediary structure that bears the gravitational load and transfers it to the ground, isolating the slew drive from the weight burden. The slew drive then only needs to overcome friction and provide rotational motion, rather than supporting the entire panel assembly weight.
2Reliability
If a large slew drive is used to bear horizontal torque and weight, then the tracker can maintain stability, but wear and tear increases affecting tracking accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the weight-bearing function (outer post) from the rotation function (slew drive), the patent reduces the operational stress on the slew drive components. The inner pole rotates within the outer post with minimal friction due to the bearing arrangement, significantly reducing wear and extending the operational life of moving parts while maintaining tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces a traditional friction-based rotation mechanism with a bearing-supported rotation system. The inner pole rotates within the outer post using bearings that minimize friction and wear, substituting a high-wear mechanical interface with a low-wear bearing interface that maintains precision over time.
3Device complexity
If the entire weight rests on the slew drive, then the structure is simplified, but the motor size and cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mechanical functions so that the outer post structure provides the primary load-bearing capability, while the slew drive motor only needs to provide rotational torque to overcome bearing friction. This segmentation allows the use of a smaller, less expensive motor while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer post acts as a counterbalancing structure that supports the weight of the solar panel assembly, effectively counteracting the gravitational load before it reaches the slew drive. This allows the motor to operate with much lower power requirements since it only needs to overcome friction, not lift the entire panel weight.
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 enables the use of smaller, less expensive drive assemblies while maintaining precision and reducing wear, allowing for efficient three-dimensional tracking of solar panels.
Implementation Method 1
a tapered roller bearing received in the elongated bore and disposed between the second end of the inner pole and the sub-structure
Implementation Method 2
an annular bearing disposed in the annular region between the inner pole and the outer post
Implementation Method 3
a circumferential drive assembly including a worm gear connected to the inner pole and a worm screw with motor drive connected to the outer post, the worm screw being engaged with the worm gear
Data Source
AI summary
A tracker including an outer post having elongated bore and a lower end mounted on a sub-structure, an inner pole rotatably received in the elongated bore, a lower bearing in the bore adjacent a lower end of the outer post and attached thereto to be constrained from lateral movement and mounted on the sub-structure such that a lower end of the inner pole rests on and is supported by the lower bearing, an upper bearing near an upper end of the outer post, a circumferential drive supported on the outer post for rotating the inner pole relative to the outer post, such that substantially a full weight of a load on the inner pole is directly transmitted to the sub-structure and lateral force and torque leverage are placed on a full length of the outer post by way of the upper and lower bearing.