SOLAR TRACKER WITH ORIENTABLE SOLAR PANELS ARRANGED IN ROWS

Abstract

A solar tracker with orientable solar panels arranged in rows, having at least two rows of photovoltaic modules (1) carrying the solar panels (2), arranged on pillars (6), the solar panels (2) mounted on respective rotation axes (3) longitudinally associated with each other by rotation transmission (5), driven by at least one motor (4) establishing the movement of all the solar panels (2) from a single actuation point, the rows of photovoltaic modules (1) related to each other by at least one transmission bar (7), joined by universal joints (8), to respective rotation transmission (5), the drive motor (4) is coupled in longitudinal alignment with respect to a transverse transmission (12) that meshes with a rotation transmission (5) and with respect to which the universal joint (8) of one end of the corresponding transmission bar (7) is joined in longitudinal alignment on the other side.

Claims

1. A solar tracker with adjustable solar panels arranged in rows, comprising at least two rows of photovoltaic modules (1) carrying the solar panels (2), arranged on pillars (6) for heightened support, the solar panels (2) of each photovoltaic module (1) being mounted on respective rotation axes (3) that are longitudinally associated with each other by means of rotation transmission modules (5), driven by at least one motor (4) that establishes the movement of all the solar panels (2) from a single actuation point, the rows of photovoltaic modules (1) being related to each other by means of at least one transmission bar (7), which is joined by the ends thereof, by means of universal joints (8), to respective rotation transmission modules (5) of the respective rows of photovoltaic modules (1), wherein the drive motor (4) is arranged coupled in longitudinal alignment with respect to a transverse transmission (12) that meshes with a rotation transmission module (5) and with respect to which the universal joint (8) of one end of the corresponding transmission bar (7) is joined in longitudinal alignment on the other side.

2. The solar tracker with orientable solar panels arranged in rows, according to claim 1, wherein the rotation transmission modules (5) have conformations (14) by way of legs, through which they rest on trays (15), which are arranged on the sides of the upper end of the supporting pillars (6), the conformations (14) by way of legs having elongated holes (16) which enable the position of the assembly on the support trays (15) to be adjusted.

3. The solar tracker with orientable solar panels arranged in rows, according to claim 2, wherein the trays (15) are joined to brackets (17) with a U-shaped cross-section, which are fastened on the pillars (6) by means of mooring screws (11), through holes (18) of said brackets (17) that enable the fastening to be established at different height positions.

4. The solar tracker with orientable solar panels arranged in rows, according to claim 1, wherein each rotation transmission module (5) has a central core (9) arranged in a ball and socket joint set, from which trunnions (10) protrude from the sides, on which the rotation axes (3) of the photovoltaic modules (1) adjacent to the rotation transmission module (5) are moored.

5. The solar tracker with orientable solar panels arranged in rows, according to claim 1, wherein the transmission bar (7) is joined to the universal joints (8) by means of telescopic couplings.

6. The solar tracker with orientable solar panels arranged in rows, according to claim 1, wherein the transmission bar (7) is longitudinally made of independent sections, which are joined together by means of a coupling (19) that establishes a telescopic joint.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a practical exemplary embodiment of the solar tracker object of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective detail view of the longitudinal coupling joint between two axes of solar panels in a row of the solar tracker according to the invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective detail view of the fastening assembly of a rotation transmission module of the solar tracker, which is associated with a drive motor, in the arrangement with respect to a support pillar.

[0026] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective detail view of the fastening assembly of a rotation transmission module of the solar tracker, which is not associated with a drive motor, in the arrangement with respect to a support pillar.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective detail view of the longitudinal coupling, by means of a rotation transmission module, between two rotation axes of two adjoining photovoltaic modules in a row of the solar tracker, including the coupling on the same rotation transmission module, by means of a universal joint, of a transmission bar between the rows of solar panels of the solar tracker.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the transmission between rotation transmission modules of two rows of photovoltaic modules in the solar tracker, the coupling with respect to one of the rotation transmission modules being seen in an exploded representation.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a side view of the assembly of a solar tracker, with deviation in height of the support points according to the longitudinal direction of the rows of photovoltaic modules.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a side view of the assembly of a solar tracker, with deviation in height of the support points according to the transverse direction of the rows of photovoltaic modules.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the assembly of a solar tracker, with deviation of the position between the rows of photovoltaic modules.

[0032] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the assembly of the previous figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] The object of the invention relates to a solar tracker formed by at least two rows of photovoltaic modules (1), each of which is made up of a series of solar panels (2) mounted on respective frames. The solar panels (2) of each photovoltaic module (1) are mounted on a horizontal rotation axis (3) that is oriented in the north-south direction, such that the rotation thereof is adjusted so that the normal plane to the surface of the solar panels (2) coincides at all times with the local meridian containing the sun.

[0034] In connection with the rotation axes (3) of a row of photovoltaic modules (1), at least one motor (4) is arranged, the driving of which results in the rotation of the horizontal rotation axis (3) associated therewith.

[0035] In each of the rows of photovoltaic modules (1) the different rotation axes (3) are associated with each other by means of rotation transmission modules (5), which are arranged on support pillars (6) for supporting the photovoltaic modules (1) that are anchored to the ground. Between two rows of photovoltaic modules (1) there is at least one transmission bar (7), which is joined at the ends thereof to respective rotation transmission modules (5), by means of universal joints (8).

[0036] In this solar tracker formation assembly, each one of the rotation transmission modules (5) has a central core (9) arranged with a ball and socket joint set, from which trunnions (10) protrude from the sides, on which the rotation axes (3) of the solar panels (2) of the photovoltaic modules (1) adjacent to the rotation transmission module (5) are moored, by means of fitting and fastening with screws (11), as can be seen in FIG. 2, such that the rotation axes (3) joined to each rotation transmission module (5) are longitudinally associated in the corresponding row of photovoltaic modules (1) and, furthermore, in a solidary rotation assembly.

[0037] Moreover, at least one rotation transmission module (5) of each row of photovoltaic modules (1) incorporates a spindle and crown transverse transmission (12), which meshes with a central core (9) and, at least, at one of the ends it protrudes with a coupling rod (13); so that in one of said rotation transmission modules (5) the rotation drive motor (4) is arranged on one side and on the other side the universal joint (8) of one end of the transmission bar (7) is moored, while the universal joint (8) at the other end of said transmission bar (7) is moored on the transverse transmission (12) of the rotation module (5) of the other row of photovoltaic modules (1).

[0038] Thus, in a solar tracker assembly, such as the one represented in FIG. 1 or a similar one, by means of a single drive motor (4) applied to a rotation transmission module (5) of one of the rows of photovoltaic modules (1), a tilting rotation of all the solar panels (2) is achieved to orient them towards the sun, since through the transverse transmission (12) to which the drive motor (4) is coupled, the rotation of the central core (9) of the corresponding rotation transmission module (5) is driven and through the associated rotation transmission modules (5) the movement is transmitted to all the rotation axes (3) of the photovoltaic modules (1) of the same row, while through the transmission bar (7) the rotation movement is transmitted from one row of photovoltaic modules (1) to another row, thus rotating all the solar panels (2) of the tracker at the same time.

[0039] However, if due to the required drive effort a greater drive force is deemed appropriate, drive motors (4) can be arranged in connection with two or more rotation transmission modules (5) and, between the rows of photovoltaic modules (1), two or more transmission bars (7) can in turn be arranged, without altering the functional concept of the solar tracker.

[0040] Now, in the assembly arrangement, according to the invention, the drive motor (4) is arranged to be assembled on the coupling rod (13) which comes out on one side from the transverse transmission (12) on which the drive is applied, while the transmission bar (7) between the rows of photovoltaic modules (1) is moored on the coupling rod (13) that comes out on the other side of the same transverse transmission (12), whereby the drive motor (4) is longitudinally aligned with the transverse transmission (12) for applying the drive and with the universal joint (8) closest to the assembly of the transmission bar (7) between the rows of photovoltaic modules (1), thus obtaining a practically direct transmission from the drive motor (4), both to the rotation axes (3) of the photovoltaic modules (1) in the same row, and to the aforementioned transmission bar (7) between the rows of modules (1), which favours the effective harnessing of the drive force.

[0041] Moreover, the assembly of the rotation transmission modules (5) is established in support, by means of conformations (14) by way of legs had by the casing of said rotation transmission modules (5), these conformations (14) by way of legs being supported on trays (15), with respect to which a mooring fastening is established with corresponding screws (11), as can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4. For the passage of the mooring screws (11), the conformations (14) by way of legs have elongated holes (16), which enable the position of the assembly on the trays (15) to be adjusted, to place each rotation transmission module (5) accurately as appropriate in the constructive formation of the solar tracker.

[0042] The trays (15), on which the rotation transmission modules (5) are supported and moored, are joined to brackets (17) with a U-shaped cross-section, which are in turn fastened by mooring by means of screws (11), on the sides of the corresponding support pillars (6), said brackets (17) for fastening the trays (15) having holes (18) for this purpose, which enable the fastening to be established at different height positions on the support pillars (6).

[0043] In the fastening assembly of the transmission bar (7) between the rows of plates (1), with respect to the rotation transmission modules (5) between which said transmission bar (7) is arranged, the universal joints (8) by means of which the fastenings are established are arranged according to a telescopic coupling with respect to the bar (7), whereas the bar (7) itself is envisaged longitudinally made up of independent sections that are joined together by means of a coupling (19) which in turn establishes a telescopic joint, as shown in FIG. 6, whereby the transmission between the rows of the photovoltaic modules (1) can be adjusted in length to adapt the solar tracker assembly as required by the assembly of the installation in each case.

[0044] With this thus arranged, a solar tracker made up of rows of photovoltaic modules (1) carrying solar panels (2) and provided with a constructive formation according to the aforementioned features can be installed without limitations on terrain of any orography, since it enables the absorption of deviations in height in the longitudinal direction of the rows of photovoltaic modules (1), as shown in FIG. 7, as well as deviations in height in the transverse direction of the arrangement of the rows of said modules (1), as shown in FIG. 8, as deviations of the relative positioning between the rows of photovoltaic modules (1), as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This has a very favourable impact on the installation costs of the solar trackers, since there are no structural adaptations to be made based on the orographic shape of each installation terrain.