SOLAR PANEL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A solar panel assembly is provided that comprises at least one solar panel (2) and a support structure (12) for supporting the at least one solar panel (2). The support structure (3) comprises a collapsible enclosure including a base (16) and plurality of walls (18, 20, 22) defining a sealed tillable chamber. The at least one solar panel (2) is mounted to one of the walls in use. At least part of the shell is formed of a flexible material arranged such that the enclosure is reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration when the enclosure is filled. In the expanded deployed configuration the solar panel (2) is supported and arranged such that it is upwardly angled to receive solar energy.

Claims

1. A solar panel assembly comprising: at least one solar panel; and a support structure for the at least one solar panel, the support structure comprising a shell including a base and plurality of walls defining a sealed tillable enclosure, the at least one solar panel being mountable to one of the walls; wherein at least part of the shell is formed of a flexible material arranged such that the enclosure is reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration when the enclosure is filled.

2. A solar panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the walls of the shell is formed of a flexible material.

3. A solar panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wall to which the solar panel is mounted defines a support panel, and the support panel and the base are configured such that in the expanded deployed condition the support panel is arranged at an acute angle to the base.

4. A solar panel assembly according to claim 3, wherein the support panel is angled upwardly and rearwardly from a front edge of the base and a rear wall extends between the upper edge of the support panel and the rear edge of the base such that the support has a substantially triangular wedge shaped form in the deployed condition.

5. A solar panel assembly according to claim 4, wherein the height of the rear wall is adjustable to vary the angle of the support panel relative to the base.

6. A solar panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least one adjustment strap is provided on the rear panel that is variable in length, the strap being connected to the rear panel such that a variation in the length of the strap causes a corresponding change in the height of the rear panel.

7. A solar panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealed enclosure includes an inlet arranged to allow a flowable matter to be provided into the enclosure to fill the enclosure and cause it to expand to the deployed configuration.

8. A solar panel assembly according to claim 7, wherein the inlet comprises a valve.

9. A solar panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material of the enclosure is formed from a non-permeable material.

10. A solar panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure of the support structure includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the lower chamber defining a ballast chamber and including an inlet to allow the ballast chamber to be filled with a weighted flowable material.

11. A solar panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base of the shell is formed of a flexible material.

12. A solar panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the solar panels is a photovoltaic solar panel.

13. A solar panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the solar panels is a solar thermal panel

14. A solar panel assembly comprising a shell including a base and plurality of walls defining a sealed fillable enclosure, at least one of the walls defining a support panel including a connector for securing a solar panel to the support panel, wherein at least part of the shell is formed of a flexible material arranged such that the enclosure is reconfigurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration.

15. A solar panel assembly according to claim 14, wherein each of the walls of the shell is formed of a flexible material.

16. A support for a solar panel according to claim 14, wherein the support panel and the base are configured such that in the expanded deployed condition the support panel is arranged at an acute angle to the base.

17. A support for a solar panel according to claim 16, wherein the support panel is angled upwardly and rearwardly from a front edge of the base and a rear wall extends between the upper edge of the support panel and the rear edge of the base such that the support has a substantially triangular wedge shaped form in the deployed condition.

18. A support for a solar panel according to claim 15, wherein the height of the rear wall is adjustable to vary the angle of the support panel relative to the base.

19. A support for a solar panel according to claim 14, wherein the sealed enclosure includes an inlet arranged to allow a flowable matter to be provided into the enclosure to fill the enclosure and cause it to expand to the deployed configuration.

20. A support for a solar panel according to claim 19, wherein the inlet comprises a valve.

21. A support for a solar panel according to claim 14, wherein the enclosure of the support structure includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the lower chamber defining a ballast chamber and including an inlet to allow the ballast chamber to be filled with a weighted flowable material.

22. A support for a solar panel according to claim 14, wherein the base of the shell is formed of a flexible material.

Description

[0026] The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following illustrative figures in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a solar panel assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows an illustrative cross section of a solar panel support according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a further view of a solar panel assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0030] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a solar panel assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, a solar panel assembly 11 includes solar panels 2 secured on a support 12. The rectangular solar panels 2 are arranged on the support 12 in a side by side array. The support structure 12 comprises a flexible shell 14 formed from a flexible, non-permeable material. The shell 14 may be formed from 1050 gms polyester coated PVC, although a suitable flexible, non-permeable material may be used. The material is also preferably fire retardant. The shell 14 comprises a base panel 16, a front panel 18, a rear panel 20 and end panels 22. The panels of the shell 14 are connected in a sealed manner and form a closed, sealed, hollow chamber or bladder. The front panel 18 includes a main upper panel section 24 that is angled upwardly and rearwardly from the base 16. Here the terms upper, lower, front and rear are relative and are used in the context of the orientation of the assembly in its deployed configuration in use, with the front of the assembly being defined by the direction in which the solar panels face when the assembly is deployed in use. A lower section 26 of the front panel defines a shallow lower wall that extends upwardly or is angled slightly forwardly from the base.

[0032] The main upper section 24 of the front panel 18 is arranged at an acute angle to the base 16 oriented in the rearward direction. The main upper section 24 of the front panel 18 defines a support panel for supporting the solar panels 2. The angle of support panel 24 ensures the solar panels 2 face upwardly in use. The angle is preferably around 35 to the horizontal plane defined by the base 16, although the angle is adjustable as described below. The support panel 24 is provided with mechanical fixings (not shown) that are secured to the support panel 24 with a vulcanised bond or other suitable securing means, the mechanical fixings providing connection points for securement to corresponding fixing connectors on the solar panels 2. Alternatively a Velcro material may be provided the support panel 24 and the lower surface of the solar panels 2 may be provided with corresponding Velcro panels to enable the solar panels 2 to secure to the support surface 24 in a quick and easy manner. The support surface may be covered in a single expanse of Velcro or by a series of discrete panels corresponding to the footprint of each solar panel 2. The base wall defined by the lower section 26 of the front panel 18 ensures that the lower edges of the solar panels 2 are supported away from the ground.

[0033] The rear panel 20 is angled upwardly from the rear edge of the base panel 16 in the forward direction at an acute angle. The upper edge of the rear panel 20 meets the upper edge of the front panel 18 at the upper edge 26 at an apex forming the upper ridge 26. The front panel 18, rear panel 20 and base 16 are connected to form a substantially triangular wedge shaped cross sectional channel, closed at the ends by the end panels 22 to form a sealed enclosure. An opening 29 provides an inlet/outlet to the sealed enclosure that allows the enclosure to be filled with flowable matter.

[0034] The flexible material from which the shell 14 is formed allows it to collapse when emptied to a substantially flat configuration in which it may be folded, rolled, or otherwise stowed for transit or storage. In one embodiment the inlet may comprise a valve, which may be a one way valve, to which a source of pressurised air may be connected to fill the enclosure with air and inflate it to an expanded, deployed condition as shown in FIG. 1. The non-permeable material is air tight which allows the enclosure to remain inflated when the valve is closed. In other embodiments the opening may permit the enclosure 14 to be filled with other flowable material in addition to or instead of air. In one embodiment the enclosure may be fillable with foam beads such as polystyrene beads or other light weight flowable materials.

[0035] As shown in the FIG. 2, the enclosure may be filled with both air and water. The water is stored in the base 30 of the enclosure, which defines a ballast section 30, and the air is housed above the water in the upper section 32. Preferably the ballast section 30 is a discrete chamber that is partitioned from the chamber defined by the upper section 32 and may include a separate inlet for filling the ballast chamber 30 with water. The ballast section 30 is preferably a substantially rectangular, cuboid chamber. The upper chamber 32 is a substantially triangular, wedge shaped chamber.

[0036] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a series of internal brace panels or brace elements 36 are provided internally along the length of the support 12. The brace panels 36 extend between and link two or more panels and help the enclosure 14 hold its shape as it is filled. The brace panels 36 extend across the internal void of the enclosure, but are not configured to partition the enclosure into separate chambers along its length. As such the enclosure can still be inflated from one single inlet location. Straps such as tension straps or any other suitable means may be used in addition or alternatively.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, adjustment straps 38 are provided on the rear panel 20. The adjustment straps 38 are connected lengthwise along the height of the rear panel 20. The adjustment straps are connected to the rear panel 20 at two locations at the upper and lower ends of the rear panel 20, and are adjustable in length between the connection locations. As such, adjustment in the length of the adjustment straps 38 pulls the connection locations together or extends them apart, thereby varying the height of the rear panel 20. In the deployed configuration, adjustment of the height of the rear panel 20 raises and lowers the ridge 26 and causes the front panel 18 to pivot about its front edge thereby varying the angle of the support panel 24 relative to the base 16. The straps 38 may include friction buckle adjusters or any other suitable means of adjusting the strap length.

[0038] In use, the solar panel assembly 11 is transported to a required location with the solar panels 2 disconnected from the support 12 and stacked or otherwise stowed separately. The support 12 is transported in the collapsed state, in which it is substantially flat and may be folded. At the point of use the required direction of the solar panels is first assessed, together with the panel angle to optimise the incident solar radiation on the panels. The support 12 is moved to the required location for use and arranged at the selected orientation. The upper chamber 32 is inflated with air or otherwise filled to the expanded, deployed configuration. The ballast section 30 is filled with water or another flowable weighted material such as sand. The flexible nature of the base panel 16 means that it is able to conform to the shape of the ground on which it is located. An extremely secure and stable base is therefore provided that is adaptable to almost any terrain.

[0039] In the deployed form the support 12 has a substantially triangular wedge shaped form. With the support panel 24 facing in the selected direction, the angle of the support panel 24 is checked and adjusted if necessary to achieve the optimum panel angle. The angle of the support panel 24 may be varied by adjusting the length of the adjustment straps 38 and/or by variation the level of inflation or degree of filling of the enclosure; the greater the inflation, the steeper the angle of the support panel 24.

[0040] Once the support panel 24 has been set at the required angle and orientation the solar panels 2 are secured to the support panel 24 by the mechanical fixings. The solar panels 2 are then electrically connected to each other to form a panel array. The array is then connected to an electrical load and/or a means or electrical storage such as a battery array.

[0041] In another embodiment, the at least part of the flexible shell 14 may be configured to harden in the deployed configuration to form a permanent or semi-permanent rigid structure. The flexible material from which the enclosure is formed may include a material which hardens over time in contact with air. Alternatively the material may be impregnated or include a coating which sets and hardens on contact with water. The material may for example be a fabric that is impregnated or coated with a material such as concrete. Once deployed the shell 14 may be sprayed with water causing the concrete to saturate. The saturated concrete then dries, sets and hardens to form a rigid structure. This allows a more permanent structure to be created that can be left and will not deflate over time. Alternatively, or in addition, the enclosure may be filled with a solidifying filling material such as an expandable foam or beads which bond and solidify to a unitary solid form.