A solar energy system includes a photovoltaic (PV) assembly and a drive system. The PV assembly comprises a support subassembly and an array of PV panels pivotable therewith about a longitudinal axis of the PV assembly. The drive system comprises a motor assembly comprising an electric motor and a gearing arrangement, and a pivot wheel comprising a hoop-portion and joined to the PV assembly. The hoop portion includes an outer circumferential channel, and two opposing catches defining a maximum pivot range. A chain resides partly within the circumferential channel, is engaged with the two opposing catches, and is also in geared communication with the motor assembly such that the motor is operable to rotate the pivot wheel. In some embodiments, the opposing catches define a maximum pivot range through an arc of more than π radians and less than 2π radians.

Solar tracker systems include an array of solar panels, a drive for rotating the array about a longitudinal axis, and a mounting assembly including a plurality of posts and a pivotable frame assembly supporting the array of solar panels on the posts. The frame assembly includes a first frame tube connected to the drive and extending therefrom in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second frame tube laterally offset from the first frame tube and extending parallel to the first frame tube. The first frame tube and second frame tube are sized to support at least one solar panel of the array of solar panels thereon. The frame assembly further includes a lateral beam attached to the first frame tube and the second frame tube.

A foldable adjustable photovoltaic module, comprising angle adjusting device, comprising adjusting component and basic photovoltaic panel on the adjusting component; and folding device, comprising first and second folding components, is provided. One end of the basic photovoltaic panel is installed with protective photovoltaic panel, and the first folding component is between the basic and the protective photovoltaic panels. Both sides of the basic and the protective photovoltaic panels are provided with side photovoltaic panels, and the second folding component connects the side photovoltaic panels, the basic photovoltaic panel and the protective photovoltaic panel. The module can control multiple photovoltaic panels for angle adjustment, so as to conveniently obtain the optimal illumination angle. Also, the foldable adjustable photovoltaic module controls folding of the photovoltaic panels, and reducing their contact area with the external environment in bad weather, so as to protect and prolong the lifetime of the photovoltaic panels.

A control system for a solar energy system causes motor assemblies to pivot the photovoltaic (PV) arrays of the solar energy system about respective longitudinal axes, e.g., to track the sun across the sky. The solar energy system also has an inverter with a known inverter rating, e.g., for a given output level and ambient temperature. The control system is programmed, inter alia, to determine when a calculated electrical output of the PV arrays, e.g., a future electrical output during an imminent future time period, exceeds the inverter rating. The control system then causes some or all of the PV arrays to pivot out of regular solar tracking mode into a position that introduces higher cosine losses, so as to reduce real-time electrical output from at least the direct normal component of real-time solar irradiance incident on the PV arrays involved in order not to exceed the inverter rating, or to exceed it less.

An anti-torsion device of a solar tracker with a rotation axis, and solar tracker comprising the anti-torsion device, the device having a coupling part fixedly attached rotationally with respect to the rotation axis of the solar tracker; an extension element arranged mechanically and fixedly attached to the coupling part, further extending radially and externally with respect to the coupling part; and, an actuator and a counter-actuator arranged in a locked position, where they are in contact with the extension element, and a released position, where they are separated with respect to the extension element, when the anti-torsion device is fixedly arranged with respect to the rotation axis and in accordance with the locked position, the extension element is rotationally immobilized so that the rotation of the coupling part is further prevented.

A solar panel assembly where a solar panel(s) is mounted on a support pole that is pivotally attached to a footing. By adjusting the angle of the support pole relative to ground, the orientation of the solar panel can be changed in full-axis directions. A plurality of the solar panel assemblies can be arranged into an array of rows and columns. Each row includes a row support cable that is connected to each one of the solar panel assemblies in the row to simultaneously adjust an angle of each of the solar panels in the row. In addition, each column includes a column support cable that is connected to each one of the solar panel assemblies in the column which may be used to simultaneously adjust an angle of each of the solar panels in the column.

Disclosed are a rope transmission structure, a solar energy tracker and the application method thereof, relating to the technical field of solar power generation. The rope transmission structure includes a driving wheel, a driven wheel, a main transmission rope and a plurality of tracking units. The main transmission rope is connected end to end, and one end of the main transmission rope is sleeved on the driving wheel and the other end thereof is sleeved on the driven wheel. The plurality of tracking units are provided at intervals along a lengthwise direction of the main transmission rope. A rotating member is hinged on a mounting bracket, and one end of a first branch rope is connected to the rotating member and the other end thereof is connected to the main transmission rope.

A heliostat for tracking the sun is disclosed. The heliostat comprises a frame (104) with legs (102); an optical assembly (120) configured to hang between the legs of the frame by means of a plurality of wires (130); and a plurality of actuators (520) configured to change the orientation of the optical assembly via the plurality of wires. The optical assembly may include a mirror (122) or photovoltaic panel that tracks the sun, and concrete backing (610). The optical assembly may further include a tracking controller (150) to energize the plurality of actuators, photovoltaic cell (252) configured to power the tracking controller and actuators, cleaning assembly (1710), and reservoir (770) for capturing rain water on the optical assembly. The optical assembly may further include a camera (254) for capturing images of the frame and determining the orientation of the optical assembly based on the images.

The application relates to a quantitative output apparatus and a group-control tracking support. The quantitative output apparatus includes: an actuator comprising an output wheel, an auxiliary wheel, and a passage portion; a transmission rope guided between the output wheel and the auxiliary wheel and passing through the passage portion; and a driving device for driving the transmission rope to move in the passage portion of the actuator. The transmission rope comprises a thick rope portion and a thin rope portion. When the thin rope portion passes through the to passage portion, the thin rope portion does not drive the output wheel to rotate. When the thick rope portion passes through the passage portion, the thick rope portion frictionally drives the output wheel to rotate.

A solar collector system comprising at least one heliostat and an inflatable cover configured to protectively conceal the at least one heliostat while it tracks the sun. The inflatable cover comprises a flexible membrane, which is transparent and colorless so that sunlight is transmitted through the cover. The cover may comprise an elastomeric material such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE). The solar collector system may further include a pump for inflating the inflatable cover, a pressure relief valve configured to prevent air pressure in the inflatable cover from exceeding a predetermined threshold, and a pressure sensor configured to automatically turn on the pump when the internal pressure falls below a predetermined threshold. The inflatable cover effectively removes wind loading from the heliostats, thus enabling the heliostats to use low-power, less-expensive actuators.