The present invention relates to a single-axis solar tracker having multiple photovoltaic modules tilted towards the sun which are rotated during the day for the purpose of being able to capture sunlight during the maximum time and in the most effective manner possible.
Single-axis solar trackers, which have the objective of rotating photovoltaic modules which make up the solar tracker, for orienting said photovoltaic modules towards the sun and thus being able to capture the greatest amount of solar energy possible, are already known today.
The main problem of solar trackers of this type existing today is that photovoltaic modules rotate directly about the longitudinal shaft of a supporting structure thereof.
This aspect means that over time, allowances will appear in the system resulting in a less precise rotation of the photovoltaic modules and consequently a less effective capture of solar energy; it further causes the solar tracker to be more prone to break-downs and to need a higher maintenance cost to maintain it in an optimum operating state.
According to the present invention a single axis solar tracker having multiple photovoltaic modules orientated towards the sun, which are incorporated on a support structure having a rotation system for the purpose of being able to capture sunlight with the photovoltaic modules during the maximum time and in the most effective manner possible is proposed.
The main advantage that this solar tracker offers is in its rotation system, since unlike existing solar trackers of this type, the rotation of photovoltaic modules does not take place directly about the longitudinal shaft of the structure supporting them, but in this case the rotation is performed with respect to the longitudinal shaft on articulations formed by hinges.
Said aforementioned hinges are secured to the shaft of the support structure of the photovoltaic modules and have articulation bolts which are in a position parallel to said shaft of the support structure of the photovoltaic modules, such that the group of photovoltaic modules is rotated about the mentioned bolts of the hinges. The allowances produced in conventional solar trackers with the rotation about the shaft of the support structure of the photovoltaic modules are therefore eliminated.
By eliminating the possible allowances of the solar tracker produced over time, the rotation of the photovoltaic modules of the solar tracker is much more precise and therefore capturing solar energy is more effectively done.
Another aspect to highlight is that with this rotating assembly arrangement of the photovoltaic modules, the stress which the shaft of the support structure of the photovoltaic modules has to withstand is reduced, whereby fewer break-downs occur, and the required maintenance is therefore less.
The object of the invention relates to a solar tracker that, as can be seen in
This inclination is because the support structure of the photovoltaic modules (1) is anchored at one end directly on a foundation element, while in an area close to the other end it is supported with legs (4) keeping structure elevated.
The solar tracker has a rotation operating system (5), whereby a bar (6) which is attached by means of connecting rods (7) to the longitudinal shafts (3) of all the support structures of the rows of photovoltaic modules (1), which rotate on hinges (8 and 9), is moved.
The rotation operating system (5) comprises a support formed by a pillar structure (10) on which a motor (11) is arranged which actuates the linear movement of a slide bar (12), which is attached by means of an articulation (13) with a pivoting arm (14) which is integral with a bar-shaft (15) arranged in a rotating assembly on another pillar structure (16), said pivoting arm (14) in turn being attached by means of an articulation (17) to the bar (6) which is attached to the support structures of the rows of photovoltaic modules (1).
The operation of the motor (11) therefore moves the slide bar (12), which makes the pivoting arm (14) pivot when moved, said pivoting arm moving the bar (6) in a longitudinal movement, such that this movement is transferred to the support structures of the rows of photovoltaic modules (1) through the connecting rods(7), whereby producing a rotating movement of said support structures of the rows of photovoltaic modules (1) on the corresponding hinges (8 and 9).
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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P201101191 | Nov 2011 | ES | national |