Two-Axis Solar Panel Stand for Simplified Biaxial Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar panel systems often suffer from reduced efficiency due to fixed positioning, which fails to account for the Earth's rotation and changing solar declination, leading to suboptimal energy generation, especially in off-grid applications where two-axis tracking is deemed too expensive and complex.
Innovation Solution
A solar panel stand with a low-part-count, flexible mounting system that enables two-axis tracking, allowing for manual adjustment of the declination axis and automated hour-angle tracking, while also accommodating photovoltaic and thermal-solar panels, and featuring a unique mounting offset configuration to reduce shadowing and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two-axis tracking is implemented to maximize solar energy generation, then energy generation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking system is segmented into two independent axes: a horizontal axis for hour-angle tracking and a vertical axis for declination tracking. This segmentation allows each axis to be controlled separately, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining two-axis tracking functionality for maximizing solar energy generation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic tracking capabilities where the horizontal support beam can rotate to follow the sun's hour angle, and the vertical supports can adjust the declination angle. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to adapt to changing solar positions throughout the day and across seasons, significantly improving energy generation efficiency
2Device complexity
If conventional fixed positioning is used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but energy generation efficiency decreases due to suboptimal panel orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic one, enabling the horizontal support beam to rotate and the vertical supports to adjust angles. This dynamic capability allows the panels to continuously optimize their orientation toward the sun, significantly improving energy generation efficiency while maintaining relative system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key geometric parameters (hour angle and declination angle) to track the sun's position. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the panels maintain optimal incidence angles for maximum energy generation, overcoming the limitations of fixed positioning
3Ease of manufacture
If adjacent solar panels are mounted at the same offset, then manufacturing and installation are simplified, but shadowing between panels increases and reduces overall efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric mounting offsets where adjacent solar panels are positioned at different offsets from the horizontal support beam. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that panels do not cast shadows on each other during tracking, maximizing the active collecting area and overall energy generation efficiency, while the offset pattern itself follows a systematic design
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 solution significantly increases solar energy generation efficiency, reduces costs, and simplifies design complexity, making two-axis tracking feasible for micro-generation at the point of use, while also allowing for panel inversion to clear snow or debris, providing reliable standby power during grid outages.
Implementation Method 1
The photovoltaic cells allow photons, or particles of light from the sun, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity
Implementation Method 2
thermodynamic panels, which are solar thermal panels, are devices that absorb the sun's heat and use it to heat up water
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments provide apparatuses and techniques for use and construction of a two-axis solar tracking device that closely approximates the efficiency of Vertical Biaxial Trackers but with simplified construction, and thus are cost competitive with uniaxial horizontal tracking systems. The flexible mounting system can accommodate both photovoltaic and solar thermal panels. Disclosed embodiments provide a solar panel stand that provides biaxial tracking for solar energy generation efficiency, with reduced cost and complexity, enabling more off-grid and micro-grid energy generation capabilities.