Tracking device for solar panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction of solar power systems and tracking devices on sloped surfaces requires high material thicknesses, making them cost-intensive, and existing solutions struggle to maintain stability and low maintenance on uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A tracking device with a rotatable shaft supported by perpendicular support posts and a tension element that redirects forces, allowing for stable operation on slopes up to 25°, reducing material costs by using a hollow, polygonal rotatable shaft and adjustable tension elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If high material thicknesses are used to construct tracking devices on sloped surfaces, then stability is improved, but material costs and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a tension element that operates in a different dimensional plane (diagonal direction) to counteract the destabilizing forces on sloped surfaces. Instead of increasing material thickness in the traditional horizontal/vertical planes, the solution adds a diagonal dimension through the tension element connected between support posts, effectively redistributing forces in three-dimensional space to achieve stability with thinner materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension element acts as an intermediary component that mediates the force transfer between support posts on sloped surfaces. It introduces a new force pathway that counteracts the component of gravitational force acting parallel to the slope, allowing the structure to maintain stability without requiring excessive material thickness in the support posts themselves.
2Quantity of substance
If tracking devices are designed for sloped surfaces with reduced material usage, then material costs decrease, but stability and windproof performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing the tension element in a diagonal dimension, the invention creates an additional force-resisting pathway that compensates for the reduced material thickness. The tension element's diagonal orientation allows it to effectively counteract both gravitational components and wind loads, maintaining overall structural strength with less material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structural system combining support posts, rotatable shaft, and tension element that work together to distribute and resist various loads. This composite approach allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the tension element specifically addressing the stability issue on slopes without requiring all components to be over-engineered.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional tracking devices are used on sloped surfaces, then construction is simplified, but additional construction costs and material requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the force-resisting function into distinct components: support posts provide vertical support, the rotatable shaft enables tracking motion, and the tension element specifically addresses the slope-related destabilizing forces. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the tension element being the specific addition needed for sloped surfaces rather than requiring all components to be substantially thicker.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension element adds a diagonal dimension to the force distribution system, creating a more efficient three-dimensional force pathway that reduces the need for excessive material thickness in the primary horizontal and vertical components while maintaining construction simplicity.
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
Enables cost-effective and stable tracking of solar panels on sloped surfaces with reduced material usage, maintaining efficiency and low maintenance, even on uneven terrain, by effectively redirecting forces and maintaining tension across varying slopes.
Implementation Method 1
a tension element, which is connected to the rotatable shaft in between the at least two support posts, and to a first one of the support posts such that a force acting on the rotatable shaft in the first direction is redirected to the first one of the support posts and via the support post into the ground
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A tracking device for solar panels (8) comprising a rotatable shaft (2) having a main extension along a first direction (D1) and being rotatable about the first direction (D1), the rotatable shaft (2) being configured to carry the solar panels (8), at least two support posts (4) having a main extension along a second direction (D2), the support posts (4) being anchored on or in a ground (6), and supporting the rotatable shaft (2), wherein the second direction (D2) is preferably at least substantially perpendicular to the first direction (D1), and a tension element (10), which is connected to the rotatable shaft (2) in between the at least two support posts (4), and to a first one of the support posts (4) such that a force acting on the rotatable shaft (2) in the first direction (D1) is redirected to the first one of the support posts (4) and via the support post (4) into the ground (6).