SOLAR PANEL TRACKING SYSTEM

Abstract

A tracking system for performing a movement control of a solar panel is provided, having a single axis solar tracking solution allowing an individual actuation of a solar panel and its respective rotation axis. The tracking system is applied in an individual solar panel, and has a local control unit, an electrical motor, a tracking actuator mechanism, a blockage unit and a tracking support mechanism, which is useful for solar power plant installations where individual panel tracking is an advantage due to site conditions such as irregular grounds or unstable locations as in aquatic sites or locations with variable slopes.

Claims

1.-6. (canceled)

7. A solar panel tracking system comprising: a local control unit, configured to establish a communication network with a remote central control unit; a tracking actuator mechanism; a blockage unit; a tracking support mechanism comprising a support structure, where a solar panel is fixed by means of a panel structure which is connected to the tracking actuator mechanism, and two hinge assemblies for providing the connection of the support structure to a base platform; wherein, the tracking actuator mechanism comprises: an electrical motor, a threaded shaft which is assembled to the blockage unit, a lock pin and a flange bearing; the electrical motor is configured to activate the movement of the threaded shaft, by means of the lock pin and the flange bearing, to position the panel structure according to an activation message sent by the remote central control unit to the local control unit, and the blockage unit comprises a nut mechanism which blocks the movement of the threaded shaft, said nut mechanism comprising two half nut supports attached to a nut-locking cap for fixing the unit to a base platform.

8. The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein the panel structure comprises two horizontal beams for fixing the tracking actuator mechanism by means of two lower half clamps and two top half clamps.

9. The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein the support structure comprises two vertical beams for fixing the panel structure, said vertical beams connecting to the two hinge assemblies.

10. The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein each hinge assembly comprises a hinge support with a round hole or with a slotted hole.

11. The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein one hinge assembly has a round hole hinge support and the other hinge assembly has a slotted hole hinge support.

12. The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein the local control unit comprises: a communication module; and a processor unit, configured to actuate the tracking actuator mechanism upon receiving and processing the activation message sent by the remote central control unit.

13. The solar panel tracking system according to claim 7, wherein the electrical motor is connected to the threaded shaft by means of a bearing joint.

14. The solar panel tracking system according to claim 10, wherein each hinge assembly comprises additionally: a hinge part with two half clamps, adapted to fix one vertical beam of the support structure; at least two switches installed on each half clamp for defining movement limits of the tracking actuator mechanism; and two half hinge connectors for fixing the hinge assembly to a base platform.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0042] For easier understanding of this application, figures are attached in the annex that represent the preferred forms of implementation which nevertheless are not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein.

[0043] FIG. 1: Schematic representation of the single axis tracking system applied to a solar panel supported on a structure/platform, where the reference numbers represents: [0044] 1Solar panel tracking system; [0045] 2Solar panel; [0046] 3Support structure; [0047] 4Panel structure; [0048] 5Tracking actuator mechanism; [0049] 6Lower half clamp; [0050] 7Top half clamp; [0051] 8Hinge assembly with a hinge support with round hole; [0052] 9Hinge assembly with a hinge support with slotted hole; [0053] 25platform.

[0054] FIG. 2: Schematic representation of the operation of the tracking system, where the reference numbers represents: [0055] 2Solar panel; [0056] 5Tracking actuator mechanism; [0057] 8Hinge assembly with a hinge support with round hole; [0058] 9Hinge assembly with a hinge support with slotted hole.

[0059] FIG. 3: Schematic representation of the tracking actuator mechanism, in a sectional cut showing the individual components, where the reference numbers represents: [0060] 5Tracking actuator mechanism; [0061] 10Electrical motor; [0062] 11Threaded shaft; [0063] 12Nut; [0064] 13Motor support bearing; [0065] 14Half bearing joint; [0066] 15Lock pin; [0067] 16Flange bearing; [0068] 17Half nut support; [0069] 18Nut locking cap.

[0070] FIG. 4: Schematic representation of the hinge with round hole and of the hinge with slotted hole, where the reference numbers represents: [0071] 8Hinge assembly with a hinge support with a round hole; [0072] 9Hinge assembly with a hinge support with a slotted hole; [0073] 19Hinge part; [0074] 20Half clamp; [0075] 21Hinge support with round hole; [0076] 22Half hinge connector; [0077] 23Hinge support with slotted hole; [0078] 24Switch.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0079] For easier understanding of this application, figures are attached in the annex that represent the preferred forms of implementation which nevertheless are not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein.

[0080] The present application discloses a single axis tracking system (1) applied to a solar panel (2) supported on a structure/platform. This tracking system includes:

[0081] A support structure (3) where the solar panel (2) is fixed by means of the panel structure (4). The panel structure (4) is connected to the tracking actuator mechanism (5) by four half clamps: two lower half clamps (6) and two top half clamps (7). The support structure (3) is connected to the platform (25) by means of two hinges assemblies, wherein each assembly has a different hinge support: one having a round hole (8) and another one with a slotted hole (9).

[0082] The tracking actuator mechanism (5) is responsible for the solar panel (2) upwards and downwards movement when there is an action order to the motor (10) emitted by the central control unit. The electrical motor (10) is connected to a threaded shaft (11) which in turn is assembled to a nut (12) that guarantees the position and fixation of the system when there is no actuation order.

[0083] For this mechanism, the electrical motor (10) is connected to a motor support bearing (13), that when assembled with the half bearing joint (14) results in a rotation axis. The rotation of the threaded shaft (11) is promoted by the lock pin (15) and flange bearing (16) which are responsible for the friction reduction between these elements.

[0084] The nut (12) joins to the two half nuts support (17) and nut locking cap (18) allowing this mechanism to attach itself to any platform.

[0085] The hinge with the round hole (8) is constituted by the hinge part (19), the two half clamps (20), the hinge support with the round hole (21) and the two half hinges connectors (22).

[0086] The hinge with the slotted hole (9) is constituted by the hinge part (19), the two half clamp (20), the hinge support with slotted hole (23) and two the half hinge connector (22).

[0087] Both hinges are attached to the support structure (3) by the hinge part (19) and the hinge support with the slotted hole (23) that is responsible for compensating the structure movements without compromising the panel (2) structural integrity.

[0088] At least two switches (24) are attached to the half clamps (20), these act as end-of-course limits when the system is in service. The rotation of the hinge part (19) will push the switch if it reaches the maximum lower position (0) or the maximum top position (60) triggering the motor (10) to stop.

[0089] The present invention is applied to solar power plant, preferably in aquatic settings where water movement and wind cause loads on the structure. The application of this individual tracking system on each solar panel allows for the solar panel independent movement of the platform and adjacent solar panels.

[0090] The present embodiment is of course in no way restricted to the embodiments herein described and a person of ordinary skill in the art will be capable of providing many modification possibilities thereto without departing from the general idea of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0091] The embodiments described above are obviously combinable with each other. The following claims define further preferred embodiments.