Torque Tube Torsion Locking for Wind-Stable Solar Trackers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sun tracking solar energy collection systems are vulnerable to resonant motion in high winds due to their flexible structure, where the torque tube is only locked in rotation at the center, leading to instability.
Innovation Solution
A rotation locking device is mounted on a separate pile, featuring a housing, a first locking member with circumferentially spaced protrusions on the torque tube, and a second locking member with mating elements, an actuator to move the locking members between unlocked and locked positions, inhibiting torque tube rotation and providing stability under various wind conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the torque tube is only locked in rotation at the center where the drive mechanism is located, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system becomes vulnerable to resonant motion in high winds
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into multiple independent locking members distributed at different locations along the torque tube. Each locking member can independently engage with the torque tube, providing distributed stabilization rather than a single centralized locking point, thereby reducing resonant motion vulnerability without significantly increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking members are positioned at multiple locations along the length of the torque tube, adding a spatial dimension to the locking strategy. This distributed arrangement along the longitudinal axis creates multiple stabilization points, preventing resonant motion that would occur with single-point locking at the center only
2Reliability
If multiple locking members are distributed along the torque tube to prevent resonant motion, then stability in high winds is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each locking member is designed with universal functionality to engage with the torque tube in the same manner, using identical or similar mechanical principles. This standardization allows multiple locking members to be implemented without proportionally increasing complexity, as each unit serves the same stabilization function independently
Solution Approach 2:
The locking members are configured to automatically engage and disengage based on operational conditions, reducing the need for complex control mechanisms. The mechanical design allows the locking members to self-regulate their engagement state, providing stability when needed without requiring active management of each individual locking element
Data Source
AI summary
A rotation locking device for use in a row-level sun tracking solar energy collection system includes a housing, a first locking member, a second locking member, and an actuator. The housing is configured to be mounted to a pile and configured to permit a torque tube to extend through the housing. The first locking member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced projections attached to and rotatable with the torque tube. The second locking member is connected to the housing and has a plurality of mating elements for engaging projections of the first locking member. The actuator is configured to relatively move the first and second locking members between an unlocked position in which the mating elements are disengaged from the projections and a locked position in which the mating elements are engaged with the projections to inhibit rotation of the torque tube with respect to the housing.