1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an infrastructure for a solar energy system and especially relates to a water tank module used as a self-weighted device for an infrastructure to secure the solar energy system.
2. Related Art
To maintain the natural environment is an important issue nowadays. Utilization of solar radiation to generate electricity is widely developed and promoted to replace thermoelectricity power or nuclear power. Solar panels are the core constituents of a solar energy system. A solar energy system is constructed by providing several supporting frames to configure a supporting body with a sunward side and installing a plurality of solar panels on the sunward side of the supporting body. Thus, the solar panels absorb and transform the solar radiation to electricity for supplying the power.
A solar energy system is usually constructed on the ground or at the sunny side of roofs of buildings. It is conventional to construct foundation piles on the roofs or ground for securing the supporting frames for installation of solar panels. The construction of the foundation piles are constructed by concrete work, it costs and spends a lot of time. The process of construction is also limited by the space of the working site.
It was suggested to utilize a plurality of water tanks as a foundation base for the solar energy system. The water tanks are individually fixed on the area covered by the supporting body. Each of the water tanks has an inlet for filling water therein to generate self-weight to secure the supporting body. These self-weighted tanks replace the foundation piles. This design is benefit to install the solar energy system on the ground or the roofs of buildings, because these areas are more spacious. However, the disadvantages encountered in the prior art are as below.
The present invention is to provide a self-weighted water tank device for a solar energy system. Particularly, the present invention is to provide a water tank for a solar energy system, after which is filled with water, the self-weight of the water tank can be used to secure the solar energy system. The water tanks are closely engaged with each other to form a water tank module for enhancing the rigid strength and the stability for the solar energy system. Therefore, the structure of the water tank module disclosed in the present invention can overcome the disadvantages in prior art as mentioned above.
In one preferred embodiment, the self-weighted water tank device for a solar energy system of the present invention comprises:
The supporting body is constructed from a plurality of supporting frames; the outer wall of the water tank comprises a connecting part, the supporting body is coupled to the water tank module by the connecting part; the water tank upper part comprises an upper cover.
In another preferred embodiment, the self-weighted water tank device for a solar energy system of the present invention comprises:
For both embodiments, the engaging parts are locking holes which are bolted with a connection part by bolts to couple the water tanks, and the engaging parts comprise a tenon part and a mortise part on the outer wall of the water tank, the tenon part and the mortise part can be joined to couple the water tanks
The present invention relates to a water tank module used in a solar energy system. The water tanks of the water tank module only need to be filled water once at a time to provide sufficient self-weight of the water content. Thus, the problem encountered by the conventional water tanks which need to be filled water one by one will be overcome.
A passage is constructed between the water tanks for communicating the water tanks with each other. The passage is at a certain highness above the lower part of the water tank. Thus, the water level of all the water tanks of the water tank module can be maintained at a same level in order to maintain the consistent stabilization provided by the self-weighted water tank device of the solar energy system.
The passage consisted of a tube and tube hole is configured at the opposite outer walls of the water tanks, and the passage is configured by a plurality of tube holes which are at corresponding position on the opposite outer walls of the water tanks and a tube disposed in the corresponding tube holes. A stopper which plugs the passages or tube holes may be further included.
An injection inlet and drainage outlet is formed on the outer wall of the water tanks and the injection inlet is at a certain height and the drainage outlet is at a height lower than the injection inlet. The injection inlet is connected to a water supply pipe of an automatic water supply, the drain outlet is connected to a drain pipe, and the stopper can be used to plug the injection inlet or the drain hole.
The present invention is directed to a solar energy system comprising a water tank module as a water supply system. That is the present invention provides a self-weighted water tank device to work as a water supply system so as to enhance the utilization of the water in the water tanks In prior art, the water in the water tanks is only for providing self-weight for the solar energy system.
A water-supplying outlet 39 is configured on the outer wall of the water tank at a height equal to or higher than the certain height of the passage and the water-supplying outlet is connected to a water-supplying tube to conduct the water in the water tank to flow to a demand side. The demand side can be a farm, ranch or fish farm adjacent to the supporting body, and the stopper can be used to plug the water-supplying outlet.
The advantages of the present invention are:
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
a is an explosion view of one of water tank modules shown in
b is an explosion view of another one of water tank modules shown in
a is an explosion view of the water tank module shown in
b is a cross-sectional view of the water tank module shown in
a is an explosion view of one embodiment of the passage shown in
b is an explosion view of another one embodiment of the passage shown in
The present invention relates to a self-weighted water tank device for a solar energy system. Three embodiments and an additional embodiment which extend the application of the present invention are illustrated hereinafter together with the drawings.
Please refer to
The supporting body 10 is constructed by a plurality of supporting frames 13 made of aluminum extrusion molds, angle steel, C-type steel or the likes to cover the area for the installation of the solar energy system. The supporting frames 13 are modularized and constructed by scarf joining, interlocking or welding the frame modules. The supporting body 10 comprises an upper part 11 and a lower part 12. The upper part 11 is in a form of an inclined plane. The inclined angle of the upper part is advantageous for the upper part toward the direction of sunlight. Optionally, the inclined angle of the upper part 11 is adjustable toward the direction of sunlight by an adjusting means. The lower part 12 comprises a plurality of mounting parts 12a. The upper part 11 and the lower part 12 are coupled together by the supporting frame 13.
The solar panel 20 can be a single panel or consists of a plurality of panels to absorb the sunny radiation and to transform the solar energy to electricity. The required number of solar panels 20 is built up on the top part 11 of the supporting body 10 for absorbing the solar radiation.
The water tank 30 can be made of plastics or metals or constructed of bricks and have a lower part 31 for placing on the ground 70. The lower part 31 extends upwardly to form the outer wall 32. The ground 70 can be the roof of buildings or an area close to a farm, a ranch or a fish farm where needs electricity and water. The outer wall 32 comprises the walls for constructing a cube shape or other shapes. The outer wall 32 comprises an engaging part 33. In addition, the water tank 30 comprises an upper cover 34.
The water tank module 3 consists of a plurality of water tanks 30 as demanded. Particularly, the water tank module 3 is constructed by engaging the engaging parts 33 of the water tank 30 within the area covered by the supporting body 10. Thus, the water tank module 3 can provide the sufficient secure to the all area of the solar energy system. The supporting body 10 is constructed on the water tank module 3 by mounting part 12a, such that after the water tank 30 is filled with water, the weight generated by the water in the tank is able to provide sufficient secure to the solar energy system.
Particularly, the engaging part 33 comprises a locking hole 33a as shown in
A connecting part 35 is configured on the outer wall 32 of the water tank 30. Particularly, the connecting part 35 can be in a form of a locking hole 35a as shown in
Please refer to
Please refer to
The upper cover 340 is made of plastics or metal molded in a shape for covering a single water tank 300. The upper cover 340 can be shaped as a closed upper part 110 with an inclined upper side 110. The inclined angle of the inclined upper side 110 is preferably to enable the upper side 110 toward to the direct sunlight. Alternatively, the upper part 110 is designed with a mechanism for adjusting inclined angle thereof. The lower part 120 of the upper cover can be casing, fastening or bolting to the upper part of the water tank 300 in order for the upper cover 340 to be integrated with each water tank 300.
A solar panel 200 or an assembly of a plurality thereof is installed on the upper part 110 of the upper cover 340 for absorbing the solar radiation.
A water tank 300 is the same as those shown in Embodiments 1 and 2, which is made of plastics and metal. The water tank 300 comprises a lower part 310 for installing on the ground 70. The lower part 310 extends upwardly to form the outer walls 320. The upper cover 340 is covered on the upper part of the outer wall 320 and is integrated with the water tank 300. The outer wall 320 comprises an engaging part 330.
The water tank module 3 is the same as that described in Embodiments 1 and 2, which is consisted of a plurality of water tanks 300 coupled with each other with the engaging parts 330 thereof. The amount of the water tanks is determined on demand and the self weight generated by the water tanks is sufficient to secure the solar energy system. The engaging part 330 can be in the form the same as the connection part 33b shown in
According to the Embodiments 1 to 3, the upper covers 34, 340 can be opened for the water filling. When using, the upper covers can be opened one by one for water filling into the water tanks 30 in order for the water tank module 3 filled with sufficient water to generate a self weight sufficient to secure the whole solar energy system. In addition, because the water tank module 3 is integrally combined by the water tanks 30, 300, the supporting area provided by the water tank module of the present invention is increased. Thus, the rigid strength and leeway tolerance for the solar energy system is enhanced and further the stability of the solar energy system is also enhanced.
The present invention is for improving the efficiency of the water filling for each water tank 30, 300. The present invention is to provide a method for filling all the water tanks of the water tank module with water once at a time to complete the water filling and generate the self weight for the system. Please refer to
In addition, the passage 36 can be disposed in a form consisted of a tube 36a and a tube hole 36b respectively formed at the opposite outer wall 320 of the water tank 30, 300 (as shown in
Furthermore, please refer to
In addition, please refer to
The advantages of the present invention are as below.
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including configurations ways of the recessed portions and materials and/or designs of the attaching structures. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100208501 | May 2011 | TW | national |