Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A support structure (100) for an array of solar panels (112) assembled together, said support structure (100) comprising:
• a rigid tube (102) on which said solar panels (112) are mounted;
• a plurality of arcuate clips (104) fitted to the outer periphery of said rigid tube (102);
• a plurality of rails (106) mounted on top surface of said rigid tube (102) for supporting said solar panels (112); and
• a plurality of top bend clips (104A) configured to facilitate secure mounting of said plurality of rails (106) on said rigid tube (102);
• a pair of brackets (108) fitted on each of said plurality of rails (106); and
• a plurality of braces (110) fitted to each of said plurality of arcuate clips (104), said plurality of braces (110) extending away from said rigid tube (102).
2. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of rails (106) has a plurality of through holes (106A) configured on top surface to facilitate mounting of said solar panels (112) thereon.
3. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein radius of base of each of said plurality of arcuate clips (104) matches with the outer periphery of said rigid tube (102).
4. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross sectional shape of said rigid tube (102) is circle.
5. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross sectional shape of said rigid tube (102) is square.
6. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of rails (106) is orthogonally mounted on said rigid tube (102).
7. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of braces (110) is hollow.
8. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein radius of each of said plurality of braces (110) is less than the radius of base of each of said plurality of arcuate clips (104).
9. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein radius of each of said plurality of braces (110) is less than the width of each of said pair of brackets (108).
10. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of each of said plurality of braces (110) is fitted to said arcuate clip (104) connected at bottom of said rigid tube (102) and other end of each of said plurality of braces (110) is fitted at each respective of brackets (108), each of said plurality of braces (110) configured to support each of said plurality of rails (106) and said rigid tube (102).
11. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structure (100) is made of aluminium.
12. The support structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support structure (100) is made of polymeric material.
, Description:FIELD
The present invention relates to solar tracking systems.
BACKGROUND
Typically, an array of solar panels are mounted on the trackers and are used to convert sunlight into electrical energy by capturing solar radiations incident on the solar panels by following path of the sun. The solar trackers typically employ a complex support structure that orients a pay load towards the sun. The solar trackers track the position of the sun by tilting the tracker having the array of solar panels. However, the complex support structure of the tracker is subjected to stresses and loads while tilting, due to winds, thereby causing the tracker to tilt at an angle that is not optimum to receive maximum solar radiations. Also, the installation of solar trackers with conventional support structures is cumbersome and costly.
Therefore, there is felt a need of a support structure for solar trackers that alleviates the above mentioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a support structure which provides easy installation of the solar tracker.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a support structure which requires less maintenance.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a support structure for an array of solar panels. The support structure comprises a rigid tube, a plurality of arcuate clips, a plurality of top bend clips, a plurality of rails, a pair of brackets, and a plurality of braces.
In an embodiment, the rigid tube is configured to allow mounting of array of solar panels thereon.
The plurality of arcuate clips is to be fitted to the outer periphery of the rigid tube. In an embodiment, the radius of the base of each of the plurality of arcuate clips matches with the outer periphery of the rigid tube.
In an embodiment, the plurality of rails is mounted on top surface of the rigid tube for supporting the solar panels. Each of the plurality of rails has a plurality of through holes configured to facilitate mounting of the solar panels thereon. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of rails is orthogonally mounted on the rigid tube. The pair of brackets is fitted on each of the plurality of rails.
In an embodiment, the plurality of braces is fitted to each of the plurality of arcuate clips. Each of the plurality of braces extends away from the rigid tube. In an embodiment, one end of each of the plurality of braces is fitted to the arcuate clip which is connected at the bottom of the rigid tube and the other end of each of the plurality of braces is fitted at each of the respective brackets. Each of the plurality of braces is configured to support each of the plurality of rails and the rigid tube.
In an embodiment, each of the plurality of braces is hollow. In an embodiment, the radius of each of the plurality of braces is less than the radius of the base of each of the plurality of the arcuate clips. The radius of each of the braces is less than the width of each of the pair of brackets.
In an embodiment, the support structure is made of aluminum. In another embodiment, the support structure is made of polymeric material.
In an embodiment, the cross sectional shape of the rigid tube is circle. In another embodiment, the cross sectional shape of the rigid tube is square.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100 – Support Structure
102 – Rigid Tube
104 – Plurality of Arcuate Clips
104A – Plurality of Top Bend Clips
105A – Top Rail Connector
105B – Bottom Rail Connector
105C – Bolts
106 – Plurality of Rails
106A – Plurality of Through Holes
108 – Pair of Brackets
110 – Plurality of Braces
112 – Solar Panels
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A support structure for an array of solar panels of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an isometric view of a rigid tube, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate isometric views of a rail, a top bend clip, and an arcuate clip to be mounted on the outer periphery of the rigid tube of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of a pair of brackets fitted on the rail of Figure 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 and Figure 6 illustrate isometric views of the support structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates an isometric view of support structure, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 8, Figure 9 and Figure 10 illustrate isometric views of solar panels mounted on the support structure of Figure 6 in landscape manner, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 11 illustrates an isometric view of solar panels mounted on the support structure of Figure 6 in portrait manner, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 12 illustrates an isometric view of a rigid tube, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 13 to Figure 15 illustrate isometric views of a top rail connector, a bottom rail connector mounted using a bolt on the outer periphery of the rigid tube of the Figure 12, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 16 illustrates an isometric view of a rail being mounted on the rigid tube of the Figure 12, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 17 illustrates an isometric view of support structure, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure envisages a support structure for an array of solar panels assembled together on a solar tracker. The support structure (herein after referred to as “support structure 100”) of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to Figure 1 to Figure 17.
The support structure 100 includes a rigid tube 102, a plurality of arcuate clips 104, a plurality of top bend clips 104A, a plurality of rails 106, a pair of brackets 108, and a plurality of braces 110.
A plurality of holes is configured on the outer periphery of the rigid tube 102 in a spaced apart configuration. Each of the plurality of holes is further configured to facilitate orthogonal mounting of respective rail 106 and respective top bend clip 104A on the rigid tube 102, as shown in Figure 2. Each of the plurality of rails 106 has a plurality of through holes 106A configured on its top surface, as shown in Figure 2. Each of the plurality of through holes 106A configured on the top surface of each of the rails 106 facilitates mounting of the array of solar panels 112 thereon.
In an embodiment, each of the plurality of arcuate clips 104 is fitted on the outer periphery of the rigid tube 102, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4. In an embodiment, the radius of base of each of the plurality of arcuate clips 104 matches with the outer periphery of the rigid tube 102.
In an embodiment, the plurality of through holes 106A is configured on the surface of the plurality of rails 106 to support a plurality of solar panels 112. In an embodiment, the plurality of solar panels 112 used is bifacial solar panels i.e. the incident solar radiations are captured on both front and back face of each of the solar panels 112.
The pair of brackets 108 is fitted on each of the plurality of rails 106. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of braces 110 is fitted to each of the plurality of arcuate clips 104, and each of the plurality of braces 110 extends away from the rigid tube 102, as depicted in Figure 5. In an embodiment, each of the plurality of braces 110 has a hollow configuration and the radius of each of the plurality of braces 110 is less than the width of each of the pair of brackets 108. The radius of each of the plurality of braces 110 is less than the radius of the base of each of the plurality of arcuate clips 104. In an embodiment, one end of each of the plurality of braces 110 is fitted to the arcuate clip 104 which is connected at the bottom of the rigid tube 102 and the other end of each of the plurality of braces 110 is fitted at each of the respective bracket 108. Each of the plurality of braces 110 is configured to support each of the plurality of rails 106 and the rigid tube 102.
Referring to Figure 5 and Figure 6, the support structure 100 has the rigid tube 102, two brackets 108 fitted at two ends of the rail 106. The rail 106 with the plurality of through holes 106A configured on its top surface and is orthogonally mounted on the top surface of the rigid tube 102 using a top bend clip 104A. An arcuate clip 104, fitted diametrically opposite to the rail 106 on the outer periphery of the rigid tube 102. The two braces 110, one end of each of the braces 110 is connected at the arcuate clip 104 and the other end of each of the braces 110 is connected at the respective bracket 108.
The above arrangement helps in reducing loads and stresses on the support structure 100 when the solar tracker is tracking the sun. The support structure 100 prevents the solar trackers from loading and stresses due to wind forces, as compared to the conventional support structure. In an embodiment, the support structure 100 can be easily transported and assembled.
In an embodiment, each of the plurality of rails 106 of the support structure 100 has a hat profile, as shown in Figure 6. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of rails 106 of the support structure 100 has a U profile, as shown in Figure 7.
The solar panels 112 are mounted on the rails 106. In one embodiment, the solar panels 112 are mounted in a landscape module assembly. In another embodiment, the solar panels 112 are mounted in a portrait module assembly.
In the landscape module assembly, individual solar panels 112 are connected on two rails 106 and the two panels 112 are joined to one another and this arrangement is mounted on the rigid tube102, as depicted in Figure 8 to Figure 10. In an embodiment, the three panels 112 are either joined to each other by clips or bolts.
In the portrait assembly, the individual solar panels 112 are connected on two rails 106 and there is a gap between two panels 112 and this arrangement is mounted on the rigid tube 102, as depicted in Figure 11. In an embodiment, the two panels 112 are connected to each of the rails 106 either by clips or bolts.
In an embodiment, the support structure 100 is made of aluminum. In another embodiment, the support structure is made of polymeric material. In an embodiment, the cross sectional shape of the rigid tube 102 is circle, as shown in the Figure 1 to Figure 11. In another embodiment, the cross sectional shape of the rigid tube 102 is square, as shown in the Figure 12 to Figure 17.
In another embodiment, the support structure 100 includes a top rail connector 105A, a bottom rail connector 105B, and the rigid tube 102 and bolts 105C. The top rail connector 105A is connected to the bottom rail connector 105B using bolts 105C, as depicted in Figure 15. Referring to Figure 16, the rail 106 is orthogonally mounted on the top surface of the rigid tube 102. The bottom rail connector 105B is fitted diametrically opposite to the rail 106 on the outer periphery of the rigid tube 102. The two braces 110, one end of each of the braces 110 is connected at the bottom rail connector 105B and the other end of each of the braces 110 is connected at the respective ends of the rail 106, as shown in Figure 17.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a support structure for an array of solar panels, that:
• provides easy installation; and
• requires less maintenances.
The embodiments as described herein above, and various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the description. Descriptions of well-known aspects, components and molecular biology techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein, that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications of such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. Further, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
Having described and illustrated the principles of the present disclosure with reference to the described embodiments, it will be recognized that the described embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the scope of such principles.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this disclosure, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other modifications in the nature of the disclosure or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.