A solar tracker assembly is provided which includes a support column, a torque tube or torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torque tube or torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torque tube or torsion beam, and a spring counter-balance assembly connected to the torque tube or torsion beam. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam, and one or more compressible cords made of a flexible material. The compressible cords are located between the bushing and the bearing housing and provide damping during rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly is provided including at least one top bracket and at least one bottom bracket, at least one spring, a damper, and a bracket. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam. The spring counter-balance assembly may include at least one coil spring and a rotational stop. The bushing may be made of an elastomeric material and define one or more air spaces.

PV modules and ballast arm assemblies are mounted onto a torque tube suspended from a support structure. The support structures allows torque tube, and mounted PV modules and ballast arm assemblies, to freely rotate. The ballast arm assembly includes a drive mechanism, an arm and a ballast. The drive mechanism allows the adjustment angle between the PV module and the arm and ballast to be changed. Changing the adjustment angle causes the torque tube, and mounted PV modules, to freely rotate to a different orientation angle in order to balance the moments of PV modules and ballast arm assemblies caused by gravity. The orientation angle can be changed throughout the day by changing the adjustment angle in order for the PV modules to track the sun.

A mechanical solar tracking and solar concentrating system having a Fresnel lens, moveable frame, track, retaining mechanism, and solar collector. The lens focuses solar energy at the collector; the frame holds the collector and lens, keeping them aligned as the frame rotates; and the track guides the frame to maintain a perpendicular orientation to the Sun. The solar collector receives the Sun's rays and the retaining mechanism releases, at established intervals, allowing the frame to rotate to the next location. The cycle repeats, tracking the Sun and concentrating its rays at a focal point, to generate temperatures at the focal point in excess of 500 C. These high temperatures can be exploited in several applications, such as producing drinking water from dirty water; cooking food; disinfecting medical instruments; accelerating fermentation of certain types of flora to produce electricity; generating work for generic purposes; etc.

In a first embodiment, the present invention is directed to an environment-adjusting, support system for solar energy devices wherein the support system comprises at least one vertical support element secured to a support surface, and at least one rotary element securing a solar energy device to said vertical support elements. The support system may further comprise at least one adjustable counterweight, a linear damper, and/or an energy damper. In a second embodiment, the present invention is an environment-adjusting, support system for solar energy devices. The support system preferably comprises a pair of vertical support elements, a pair of securing members, a first connecting element connecting the pair of vertical support elements, a second connecting element connecting the pair of securing members, and at least one rotary element. In a third embodiment, the present invention is an environment-adjusting, solar energy apparatus which also comprises a solar energy device.

Provided is a photovoltaic apparatus including: a power generation part including a plurality of power generating elements each generating power in accordance with an amount of received light, the power generation part having a light receiving surface and a back surface positioned on an opposite side to the light receiving surface; a function part provided separately from the power generation part and configured to provide functions regarding the photovoltaic apparatus; and a position changeable part provided between the power generation part and the function part and capable of changing positions of the power generation part and the function part, wherein the back surface of the power generation part faces the function part face, and the position changeable part is capable of changing the positions of the power generation part and the function part while maintaining a state where the back surface of the power generation part faces the function part.

A combination of multiple cycle solar generator, heat exchanger, dew harvesting and bi-directional heat processing apparatus. Solar energy is collected by a hemispherical, square or other shaped collectors. Current invention converts solar energy in multiple cycles, extracting solar energy through Photo Voltaic cells, making electricity. Focused energy produces heat that is also extracted though Heat Exchangers, combined with Thermo Electric Modules, creating electricity or surplus heat for heating, storage or cooling. Current invention further utilizes large radiator plates in the back of dish along with entire metal assembly for dew harvesting at night or when Thermo Electric modules within heat exchangers energized by stored electricity or power grid. Current invention also operates in reverse for absorbing heat from the atmosphere, water, dirt, ice or snow and diverts the piped heat to desired location.

Drive mechanisms for solar concentrators, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative solar energy collection system includes an at least partially transparent enclosure, a receiver positioned in the enclosure to receive solar radiation passing into the enclosure, a concentrator positioned within the enclosure to focus incoming solar radiation on the receiver, and a drive system operatively coupled to the concentrator to rotate the concentrator relative to the receiver. The drive system can include a drive chain operatively coupled to the concentrator, a drive gear engaged with the drive chain, and a drive motor coupled to the drive gear to rotate the drive gear and rotate the concentrator relative to the receiver.

A pressure-driven solar photovoltaic panel automatic tracking device includes a photovoltaic panel, a rotating shaft, a rotating wheel, a transmission component, a first counterweight, a second counterweight, a bellow tube, and a gas supply mechanism; the photovoltaic panel is fixed to the rotating shaft, the rotating wheel is fixed to the rotating shaft, the rotating wheel is provided with the transmission component, and both ends of the transmission component are respectively connected to the first counterweight and the second counterweight; the first counterweight is connected to the bellow tube, and the bellow tube is connected to the gas supply mechanism; and the bellow tube is expanded and contracted by controlling the gas supply mechanism, so that the first counterweight moves in the vertical direction, thereby driving the rotating wheel to rotate, so as to realize the automatic tracking of the sunlight by the photovoltaic panel.

A mechanical solar tracking and solar concentrating system having a Fresnel lens, moveable frame, track, retaining mechanism, and solar collector. The lens focuses solar energy at the collector; the frame holds the collector and lens, keeping them aligned as the frame rotates; and the track guides the frame to maintain a perpendicular orientation to the Sun. The solar collector receives the Sun's rays and the retaining mechanism releases, at established intervals, allowing the frame to rotate to the next location. The cycle repeats, tracking the Sun and concentrating its rays at a focal point, to generate temperatures at the focal point in excess of 500 C. These high temperatures can be exploited in several applications, such as producing drinking water from dirty water; cooking food; disinfecting medical instruments; accelerating fermentation of certain types of flora to produce electricity; generating work for generic purposes; etc.

A mount for a solar panel capable of changing a tilt angle of the solar panel easily and positively, includes a tilted support frame including a pair of horizontal members extending along a horizontal direction in parallel with different heights and a pair of tilted members arranged between the horizontal members and extending in parallel to be tilted in one side, a fixed support member fixing and supporting the tilted support frame, a square-shaped panel support member on which a solar panel is fixed, a support shaft extending between the tilted support frame and the panel support member and supporting the panel support member to rotate, and a pair of stopper members respectively provided on both rotating end sides of the panel support member so that one end portions rotate freely and including engaging concave portions engaged with half circumferences of outer peripheries of the horizontal members.