System for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker

Abstract

A system for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker includes a system (1) for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker, having at least one arch (2) that can be mounted on the solar tracker and can rotate about an axis of rotation (100), and at least two guide devices (3) configured to guide the rotation of the arch (2).

Claims

1. A system for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker, comprising: at least one arch that can be mounted on the solar tracker and can rotate about an axis of rotation, at least two guide devices configured to guide the rotation of the arch, the guide devices each having at least two rollers, each of which is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in the direction of the axis of rotation of the arch and which are configured to come into contact with and support the arch, the guide devices each being rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in the direction of the axis of rotation of the arch, and each being able to be driven in rotation by the arch so as to enable each roller of each guide device to make contact with the arch.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the axes of rotation of the rollers are strictly parallel.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the guide devices are fixed on one and the same support structure extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation of the arch.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the guide devices each have at least two lateral stops located on either side of the arch and wherein the arch has lateral extensions on either side of the arch that are disposed between the lateral stops and the rollers of the guide devices.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the lateral stops of each guide device each have at least one axial-guidance wheel which can rotate about an axis of rotation extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation of the arch and which is configured to come into contact with the flanks of the arch.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the guide devices are each movable in translation along their axis of rotation.

7. A solar tracker having: at least one rotation-guiding system according to claim 1, at least one table equipped with at least one solar energy collecting device, the table extending longitudinally in the direction of the axis of rotation of the arch, at least one underpinning structure that is a lattice beam, extending longitudinally in the direction of the axis of rotation of the arch and supporting, by itself, said table, the arch being mounted on the underpinning structure so as to drive the rotation of the underpinning structure about the axis of rotation of the arch.

8. The solar tracker according to claim 7, having at least two rotation-guiding systems according to claim 1, wherein each arch is mounted on the underpinning structure so as to drive the rotation of the underpinning structure about the axis of rotation of the arches.

9. A solar farm having a plurality of solar trackers according to claim 7.

10. The solar farm according to claim 9, wherein at least some solar trackers are disposed parallel to one another.

11. The system according to claim 3, wherein the support structure is a tube or a bar

12. The solar tracker as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one underpinning structure is a lattice beam.

13. The solar arm according to claim 10, wherein at least some solar trackers are disposed parallel to one another in the North/South direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0076] The invention will be able to be better understood from reading the following detailed description of a non-limiting example of implementation thereof, and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0077] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a system for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker according to the invention,

[0078] FIG. 2 schematically shows a perspective and partial view of an example of a system for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker according to the invention,

[0079] FIG. 3 schematically shows a perspective and partial view of an example of a system for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker according to the invention,

[0080] FIG. 4a shows a cross section through an arch interacting with a guide device,

[0081] FIG. 4b shows a variant of the arch interacting with the guide device shown in FIG. 4a,

[0082] FIG. 4c shows another variant of the arch interacting with the guide device shown in FIG. 4a,

[0083] FIG. 5 schematically shows a perspective view of a detail of the system for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker according to the invention,

[0084] FIG. 6 schematically shows a perspective view of another detail of the system for guiding the rotation of a solar tracker according to the invention,

[0085] FIG. 7 schematically shows a perspective view of a detail of the guide system shown in FIG. 6,

[0086] FIG. 8 schematically shows a perspective and partial view of an example of a solar tracker according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0087] The rotation-guiding system 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an arch 2 that can be mounted on a solar tracker (not shown) and can rotate about an axis of rotation 100, and two guide devices 3 configured to guide the rotation of the arch 2 about its axis of rotation 100. Thus, the arch 2 is configured to interact with two guide devices 3.

[0088] The guide devices 3 each have at least two rollers 4, each of which can rotate about an axis of rotation 200a, 200b, 200c, 200d extending in the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2 and which are configured to come into contact with and support the arch 2.

[0089] The rollers 4 are preferably mounted so as to be able to freely rotate.

[0090] The guide devices 3 can each rotate about an axis of rotation 300a, 300b extending in the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2. Thus, each guide device 3 can be driven in rotation about its axis of rotation 300a, 300b by the arch 2 so as to enable each roller 4 of each guide device 3 to be in contact with the arch 2.

[0091] The guide devices 3 are preferably mounted so as to be able to freely rotate.

[0092] The guide devices 3 are mounted on one and the same support structure 5 extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2.

[0093] The support structure 5 is therefore configured to support the guide devices 3 and the arch 2.

[0094] The support structure 5 may be mounted on an upper part of a ground-support structure 6.

[0095] The arch 2 preferably can be mounted, at least at each of its ends, on the framework of the solar tracker. It may thus constitute a sole support for the solar tracker.

[0096] The arch preferably forms an arc of a circle, notably a semicircle, the centre of which is on the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2.

[0097] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a more detailed description will now be given of the guide devices 3 of the rotation-guiding system 1 according to the invention.

[0098] Each guide device 3 has two mounting plates 7, preferably mutually parallel, located on either side of the arch 2, between which the rollers 4 are mounted so as to be able to rotate about their respective axes of rotation 200a, 200b, 200c and 200d.

[0099] The rollers 4 are located at the level of the upper part of the guide devices 3.

[0100] The rollers 4 are configured to come into contact with a rolling strip 8 of the arch 2, which is located on a radially outer edge of the arch 2 and so as to support the arch 2. Thus, the rollers 4 can be driven in rotation about their respective axes of rotation 200a, 200b, 200c and 200d by the rotation of the arch 2 about its axis of rotation 100.

[0101] The support structure 5 on which the guide devices 3 rest is located at the level of the lower part of the guide devices 3. The support structure 5 is thus inserted between the two mounting plates 7 of each guide device 3.

[0102] In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the mounting plates 7 of the guide devices 3 are triangular, with an apex pointing towards the ground, at the level of which the support structure 5 is located, and a side opposite to said apex which points towards the arch 2, at the level of which the rollers 4 are located.

[0103] Through-orifices made in the support structure 5 make it possible to mount the guide devices 3 so as to be able to rotate about their respective axes of rotation 300a, 300b.

[0104] The forces exerted by the arch 2 on the guide devices 3 make it possible to drive the rotation of the latter about their respective axes of rotation 300a, 300b such that the rollers 4 of each guide device 3 each come into contact with the rolling strip 8 of the arch 2.

[0105] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the support structure 5 is mounted on the upper part of the ground-support structure 6, which in this example is an intermediate frame resting either on driven piles, or on a concrete block (not shown). In a variant which is not shown, the support structure 5 rests directly on driven piles or a concrete block.

[0106] The support structure 5 may be a rectilinear bar or tube, for example with a circular cross section. It is preferably rigid enough to support the guide devices 3 and the arch 2.

[0107] The support structure 5 is fixed at each of its ends to the ground-support structure 6 via clamping collars 9.

[0108] Advantageously, at the time the support structure 5 is being mounted on the ground-support structure 6, the clamping of the collars 9 is such that it makes it possible for the support structure 5 to rotate, preferably to freely rotate, about its axis of extent 400, which is perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2.

[0109] The rotation of the support structure 5 about its axis of extent 400 makes it possible to compensate the static unevennesses of the ground, and notably makes it possible to install the solar tracker on a slope. The ground-support structure 6 can then extend vertically and the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2 can extend parallel to the slope.

[0110] Once the support structure 5 has pivoted about its axis of extent 400 to compensate the static unevennesses of the ground, for example such that the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2 extends parallel to the slope, the collars 9 are clamped so as to prevent the rotation of the support structure 5 about its axis of extent 400.

[0111] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide devices 3 moreover each have at least two lateral stops 10 located on either side of the arch 2. The lateral stops 10 are each fixed on a mounting plate 7 of the guide devices 3 and are located between the two plates 7, facing the flanks 11 of the arch 2.

[0112] The arch 2 has lateral extensions 12 on either side of the arch 2 that are disposed between the lateral stops 10 and the rollers 4 of the guide devices 3.

[0113] The use of lateral stops 10 makes it possible to avoid a situation in which the arch 2 rises, for example caused by the force of the wind, since in that case the lateral extensions 12 of the arch 2 come to bear against the lateral stops 10 of the guide devices 3.

[0114] FIG. 3 shows the system 1 of FIG. 2 with one of the mounting plates 7 of each guide device 3 removed so as to be able to better see the rollers 4 and the lateral stops of the guide devices 3.

[0115] As illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c, the arch 2 has a profile with a cross section in the shape of a “U”. The large sides of the “U” form the flanks 11 of the arch 2 and are connected to one another by the small side forming the radially outer edge which bears the rolling strip 8 of the arch 2.

[0116] The lateral extensions 12 of the arch 2 may be inserted in the continuation of the radially outer edge of the arch 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4a, or on the flanks 11 of the arch 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4b.

[0117] The lateral extensions 12 of the arch 2 have a thickness approximately equal to that of the walls of the “U”-shaped profile of the arch 2, as illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b. For example, the thickness of the lateral extensions is between 3 and 5 mm. In a variant, the lateral extensions 12 have a thickness greater than that of the walls of the “U”-shaped profile of the arch 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4c. For example, the thickness of the lateral extensions is between 5 and 20 mm.

[0118] The lateral stops 10 are immobilized on the mounting plates 7 via fixing means, such as riveted or screwed connections.

[0119] As illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c and FIG. 5, the lateral stops 10 of each guide device 3 have two axial-guidance wheels 13, each of which can rotate about an axis of rotation 500a, 500b, 500c, 500d extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2 and which are configured to come into contact with the flanks 11 of the arch 2.

[0120] The axial-guidance wheels 13 are received in housings made in the lateral stops 10.

[0121] The axial-guidance wheels 13 make it possible to axially guide the arch 2, notably so as to keep it centred between the two lateral stops 10 of each guide device 3 and to react the axial forces of the solar tracker, in particular when the latter is installed on a slope.

[0122] The axial-guidance wheels 13 are preferably mounted so as to be able to freely rotate.

[0123] In addition to being able to rotate about their respective axes 300a, 300b, the guide devices 3 can each move in translation along their respective axes 300a, 300b. This advantageously makes it possible to compensate for the thermal expansion of the solar tracker which can take place between winter and summer, for example, and therefore to limit the forces associated with the thermal expansion of the solar tracker.

[0124] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the guide devices 3 each have a rod 16 extending along the axis of rotation 300a, 300b of the guide device 3 and making it possible to mount the guide device 3 on the support structure 5.

[0125] The rod 16 connects the two mounting plates 7 and is inserted in the through-orifice made in the support structure 5.

[0126] The rod 16 is surrounded by a rolling member 14 which is preferably metallic, for example made of steel or stainless steel, and which has, at each of its ends, a flanged plain bearing 15, preferably made of a composite material and/or a polymer-based material, for example a plastics-based material. This rolling member 14 enables the movement in translation along the axis 300a and the rotational movement of the guide device about the axis 300a.

[0127] The guide devices 3 are each initially mounted on the support structure 5 so as to be centred with respect to the support structure 5 with a clearance 17, of approximately 10 mm, on each side between the flange of the plain bearing and the inner face of the mounting plate 7 of the guide device 3.

[0128] This clearance 17 of approximately 10 mm on each side enables translational movements of the guide device 3 along the axis 300a with a magnitude of 20 mm. In a variant, this clearance 17 may be 20 mm or even 30 mm on each side, so as to enable a translational movement with a magnitude of 40 mm or even 60 mm, respectively.

[0129] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a solar tracker 20 having: [0130] two rotation-guiding systems 1 according to the invention, [0131] an underpinning structure 21 extending longitudinally in the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arches 2 and supporting, notably by itself, a table (not shown) which is equipped with at least one solar energy collecting device and extends longitudinally in the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2.

[0132] The underpinning structure 21 is a rigid-lattice beam having longitudinal members 22, 23, 24, crossmembers 25 and tie rods 26.

[0133] In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the underpinning structure has three longitudinal members 22, 23, 24 which extend parallel to one another in the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arches 2, and a large number of crossmembers 25 distributed along the axis of rotation 100 of the arch 2 so as to mechanically connect each of the three longitudinal members in pairs. The crossmembers 25 are disposed in relation to the three longitudinal members 22, 23, 24 so as to form a plurality of triangles 27 which are parallel to one another and are each present in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation 100 of the arches 2.

[0134] Each arch 2 is mounted on the underpinning structure 21 so as to drive the rotation of the underpinning structure 21 about the axis of rotation 100 of the arches 2.

[0135] Each arch 2 is mounted on the underpinning structure 21 of the solar tracker 20 at least at each of its ends 28. The arches 2 thus support the underpinning structure 21 of the solar tracker 20 by themselves.