Abstract:
A solar energy collector or tower (10) adapted to position photovoltaic devices in urban and suburban settings is provided. The tower (10) includes an elongated pole (12), a plurality of photovoltaic modules (16) pivotally mounted to the pole (12) at a plurality of elevations, wherein each of the plurality of modules (16) includes a housing (32), and a plurality of photovoltaic devices (40) mounted in the housing; a drive mechanism (110) adapted to rotate each of the pivotally mounted photovoltaic modules (16); and a base assembly (14) adapted to pivotally support the pole. The tower (10) and modules (16) are designed to minimize wind load. The photovoltaic modules (16) include a solar energy heat exchanger (44) having a plurality of photovoltaic devices (40) mounted with a plurality of reflective surfaces (42) positioned to concentrate solar energy upon the photovoltaic devices. The photovoltaic devices (40) and reflective surfaces (42) may be positioned on channels (41) or panels (56, 57) or pyramidal structures (80). Methods and devices for collecting solar energy are also included.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a tracking system (1) for a solar installation, in particular a thermal solar collector or a photovoltaic module, comprising a stationary bearing (10) of a shaft (20) that can rotate with respect to the bearing (10), on which the solar installation (3) is disposed, and a drive unit (30) for rotating the shaft (20) relative to the bearing (10). The tracking system is characterized in that the drive unit (30) comprises a first and a second actuator (31, 32) that can be actuated such that a drive disc (21) rotationally fixed to the shaft (20) can be clamped or released by means of a longitudinal displacement of the first actuator (31), and a displacement of the first actuator (31) tangentially to the drive disc (21) can be brought about by means of the second actuator (32). A rotation of the shaft (20) can thus be brought about by the drive disc (21) clamped by means of the first actuator (31).
Abstract:
The present invention is related to a solar panels cleaning, protection and efficiency optimization system (1), that controls the solar panel (3) radiation harvesting in a modular and phased way. The system has a set of solar tubes (5 - 12) cover equipment (2), that are enabled and disabled according with the measurements performed by a thermal sensor (4) placed at the panel (3) exit, or by other conditions defined by the electronics microcontroller (14) of the system, performing also cleaning and protection actions of the tubes (5 - 12) surface, by using a rubber connected to their surface. The present invention is useful to optimize the solar panels energy efficiency, eliminating the problems associated to the overheating, that occurs when the solar availability is high, allowing also to reduce the solar panels maintenance actions.
Abstract:
A grounding clip for electrically bonding at least three objects in one action. In use, the grounding clip is interposed between at least three objects such that the first and second banks of teeth are configured to penetrate the objects to electrically bond them. The grounding clip has a planar body, a pair of opposingly disposed first banks of teeth that extend downwardly and outwardly from the planar body at an angle. There is also a pair of opposingly disposed second banks of teeth formed of a rotatable plate disposed in a plane at an angle and extending downwardly and outwardly from the planar body. The second banks of teeth terminate in a plurality of second teeth disposed upwardly and in an angled plane with respect to the rotatable plate.
Abstract:
A solar module unit (1) for fitting on a flat roof (2) of a building is presented, with a solar module (4) which is accommodated in a frame (3), and a fastening unit (5) which has an anchor (7) fastened to the outer wall (6) of the building, wherein, according to the invention, the solar module unit (1) which is loose, i.e. is placed onto the surface of the flat roof (2) without penetrating the flat roof (2), has at least one holding profile (8), into the trough (9) of which a holding-down device (10) of the fastening unit (5) is fitted with a compressive force acting on the holding profile (8). Furthermore, a method for fixing a solar module unit on a flat roof of a building is specified, which method is characterized by the following method steps: - loose, aligned placing of the preassembled solar module unit (1), which is equipped with at least one holding profile (8), onto the flat roof (2), - installing the anchor (7) on the outer wall (6) of the building with simultaneous or subsequent fitting of the holding-down device (10) into the holding profile (8) of the solar module unit (1).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a flat roof attachment (1) comprising at least one solar module (2) and a supporting wall (3) which is inclined in relation to the solar module (2). A solar module lower edge (4) and a supporting wall lower edge (5) are arranged parallel and at a distance in relation to each other and are designed so that they can be placed on a flat roof (8). A solar module upper edge (6) and a supporting wall upper edge (7) are interconnected. The flat roof attachment (1) has at least one opening (9) in the region of the solar module upper edge (6) and/or supporting wall upper edge (7) and both front sides (10, 11) and the lower side (12) of the flat roof attachment (1) are open.
Abstract:
A photovoltaic (PV) module assembly including a PV module, a deflector, and a clip. The PV module includes a PV device and a frame. A PV laminate is assembled to the frame, and the frame includes a support arm forming a seat. The deflector defines a front face and a rear face, with the clip extending from either the trailing frame member or the rear face of the deflector. In a mounted state, the deflector is nested within the seat and is releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip. In some embodiments, the support arm forms a second seat, with the PV module assembly providing a second mounted state in which the deflector is in a differing orientation/slope, nested within the second seat and releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip.
Abstract:
System(s) and method(s) for mounting, deploying, testing, operating, and managing a solar concentrator are provided. The innovation discloses mechanisms for evaluating the performance and quality of a solar collector via emission of modulated laser radiation upon (or near) a position of photovoltaic (PV) cells. The innovation discloses positioning two receivers at two distances from the source (e.g., solar collector or dish). These receivers are employed to collect light which can be compared to standards or other thresholds thereby diagnosing quality of the collectors. Receiver(s) includes photovoltaic (PV) module(s) for energy conversion, or module(s) for thermal energy harvesting. PV cell in PV modules can be laid out in various configurations to maximize electric current output. Moreover, a heat regulating assembly removes heat from the PV cells and other hot regions, to maintain the temperature gradient within predetermined levels.
Abstract:
A supported PV assembly may include a PV module comprising a PV panel and PV module supports including module supports having a support surface supporting the module, a module registration member engaging the PV module to properly position the PV module on the module support, and a mounting element. In some embodiments the PV module registration members engage only the external surfaces of the PV modules at the corners. In some embodiments the assembly includes a wind deflector with ballast secured to a least one of the PV module supports and the wind deflector. An array of the assemblies can be secured to one another at their corners to prevent horizontal separation of the adjacent corners while permitting the PV modules to flex relative to one another so to permit the array of PV modules to follow a contour of the support surface.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a concentrating solar energy system, comprising a reflector (10) in the form of a parabolic mirror, guided in two axes, supported on a base frame (14), arranged in a support plane and a receiver (62) arranged for operation at the focal point (110) of the parabolic mirror, whereby the parabolic mirror may also be rotated about an axis (36) essentially perpendicular to the support plane. The invention is characterised in that the parabolic mirror, during operation, has a lower edge (12) at least essentially directly adjacent to the support plane, which is either straight or slightly curved in plan. The parabolic mirror (10) may be tilted up and down about a tilting axis (36), arranged in the region of the lower edge (12) thereof, at least essentially parallel to the support plane and which may be linearly moved on the base frame (14).