DESC:Field of invention
The present invention relates to the field of floating solar photovoltaic module. More specifically, the invention relates to design of floaters generally used in mounting the solar panels and connecting floaters of the adjacent solar systems structurally securing the solar Photovoltaic (PV) system.
Background of the invention
As the fossil fuels have become very limiting on the earth, the focus now is on alternate ways of power generation. Solar power is anticipated to become the world's largest source of electricity by 2050. Solar energy being available in plenty on the earth surface has shown the way for a sustainable and clean energy. Clean energy companies are turning to the open waters of lakes, wetlands, ponds, and canals as building grounds for photovoltaic (PV) panels as the land space is increasingly becoming limited. Concepts of floating PV system results from combination of PV plant technology and floating technology.
Firstly the floating PV plant has effective cover up on the waterbody resulting in reduction in water vaporization. Secondly the floating solar project has better energy generation compared to normal ground mounted projects. This is because the ambient temperature at a water body is much lower than land. The most important parameter considered for performance evaluation of Floating PV is effective conversion efficiency in operative conditions, which affects electricity generation and thus is the most valuable component. The conversion efficiency of a PV module is given by the ratio between the generated electrical power and the incident solar radiation intensity.
With the increase in size of the solar plant, the modularity and scalability are important for speed and ease of installation of the solar systems. To address this requirement, a floating solar platform system is disclosed here that is modular, scalable, and interconnection technique to enhance flexibility and reliability.
Generally, in floating solar platforms, the reliability of the interconnection devices, which are used for connecting the main floaters holding the solar PV module, become an issue as the natural upward and downward wave movement pressure of water and downward load experienced during the movement on walkway poses challenges. Therefore long run integrity of such interconnection devices can be questionable.
Objective of the invention
Objective of the present invention is to provide a stable floating solar platform.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a stable floating solar platform in which undesired motion particularly related to the interconnection device is considerably restricted.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a modular, scalable floating solar platform with interconnection technique to enhance its flexibility and reliability.
Summary of the invention
The present invention discloses a floating solar platform arrangement that is modular, scalable, and uses an interconnection technique to enhance flexibility and reliability. A floating solar panel platform array includes at least one main floater device having substantial buoyancy adapted to float in a fluid flow wherein said floater device is configured to structurally secure one solar unit. At least one solar unit further includes a solar photovoltaic module structurally secured with said main floater device. Further, second solar unit adjacent to said first solar unit having similar structure of said first solar unit configures an adjacent solar unit system. Multiple walkways are disposed across said first solar unit and said second solar unit wherein said access walkway bears load while reaching to any of said adjacent solar unit system. Further interconnection float device flexibly couples said adjacent solar unit to said at least one access walkway. In one embodiment, interconnection float device is adapted for movement flexibility vertical to movement direction of said fluid flow. In another embodiment, said interconnection float device is adapted for movement flexibility vertical to movement direction of said fluid flow. Therefore life expectancy and longevity of solar platform array is enhanced. The main floater device access walkway and interconnection devices is desirably fabricated from lightweight, corrosion resistant, (typically UV proof) and fatigue resistant material. In a preferred embodiment the material includes High density polyethylene (HDPE). In some other embodiment, the material includes Fibre reinforced plastic (FRP).
To achieve the economy of scale in floating solar power plant, the floating platform without vertical structure is considered. No vertical structure enables the project developer to transport and install solar power plant economically and efficiently.

Brief description of the Drawings
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view to depict arrangement of a floating solar panel platform array including at least one main floater device, plurality of access way and at least one interconnection device according to aspects of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the floater device and access walkway.
Figure 3 illustrate a detailed view of single main float with access walkway.
Figure 7(a) depicts top view of a typical 4 module floating solar platform.
Figure 7(b) depicts isometric view of typical 4 module floating solar platform.
Figure 9(a) depicts the isometric view of Main float used for mounting the PV module.
Figure 9(b) depicts the top view of Main float used for mounting the PV module.
Figure 10(a) depicts the isometric view of PV module mounted on a Main float.
Figure 10(b) depicts the front view of PV module mounted on a Main float.
Figure 11 illustrates the bracket for clamping the solar panel.
Figure 12(a) depicts the side view of walkway float.
Figure 12(b) depicts the isometric view of walkway float.
Detailed Description of the invention
Floating solar PV power project is an emerging concept, which is unfurling both in India and globally. This can gradually be alternative to ground mounted solar plants because no costs related to land acquisition is necessary, Effective natural evaporative cooling mechanism enhances operational efficiency.

Moreover floating solar PV power plants have Possibility of low cost Azimuthal tracking, improved plant load factor (PLF), reduces water evaporation and reduce algal growth.
The present invention discloses a floating solar platform array 10 having modularity and scalability. A typical arrangement of the floating solar platform is represented in Figure 1.
The main floater device 14,as shown in Figure 1 includes a first solar unit 36 having typical non-linearly inclined shaped valley 38 constructed for main floater device 14 to structurally align with and accommodate a top base arrangement 23(See Figure 1(a) and Figure 2).
The top base arrangement 23 is a typical molded design which is coupled with Solar Photovoltaic module 18 on top. The main floater device 14, should desirably have substantial buoyancy to self-weight ratio so that hydrostatic floating balance is accomplished. It may be observed from Fig 1 (a) that said solar photovoltaic module 18 is structurally secured with said top base arrangement 23 generally by clamps. The exemplary clamps include but not limited to pins, angled clamps, link pins.
In operation, the solar platform array 10 may be viewed as a cluster of adjacent solar units to configure an adjacent solar unit system having a first main floater 34 and a second main floater 36 (See Figure 1).
As may be understood by one skilled in the art, photovoltaic modules use light energy (photons) from the Sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect. The majority of modules use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells or thin-film cells. Photovoltaic cells must also be protected from mechanical damage and moisture. Most modules are rigid, but semi-flexible ones based on thin-film cells are also available. .As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 1(a) the solar photovoltaic modules 18 are structurally secured at an angular tilted position with respect to main floater device 14, 12. Operationally, this is desirable to maximize the solar incident ray energy. In some embodiments the tilted angle may be from about 10 degree to about 13 degree.
Turning to Figure 3, generally the main floater device 12 floats in a fluid flow having a horizontal as well as vertical movement direction of said flow. On the other hand, human or goods movement on the access walkway or placing/displacing of solar photovoltaic module 18 creates downward vertical load.
The main floater device 12, and interconnectors are desirably fabricated from lightweight, corrosion resistant, typically UV proof, and fatigue resistant material. In a preferred embodiment the material includes High density polyethylene (HDPE). In some other embodiment, the material includes FRP (Fibre reinforced plastic).
Although this invention is described with help of typical embodiments and drawings appended in the application, it is construed that said invention is not limited to them. Any slight modifications are intended to be within the scope of and spirit of this invention without impacting the novelty.
As the size of the solar plant increase in India, the speed and ease of installation are becoming important – modularity and scalability are must in today’s solar systems. A typical arrangement of the modular floating platform is represented in figure 7(a) and figure 7(b). A PV module 72 is mounted on main float 71 at particular inclination. The main float 71 is further connected to walkway floats 74(a) and 74(b). The connection is done via interconnector 73(a), 73(b), 73(c) and 74(d) through a nut and bolt made of HDPE or FRP. The figure 7(a) and figure 7(b) shows 4 such blocks connected together, thus making the system easily scalable. All the components namely main float 71, PV module 72, walkway floats 74(a) and 74(b) can be easily added or removed, making the system modular.
The main floater 91 is for holding the solar PV module. This is shown in figure 9(a) and 9(b). The main float 91 is extended in such a way that it could provide PV module a certain degree of inclination. The inclination is flexible enough to generate maximum power considering the tilt adjustment for sun angle and auto cooling effect due to water proximity. The module stopper 92(a) and 92(b) are used for holding the module within the float. And the interconnector 93(a), 93(b), 93(c) and 93(d) are for connecting with other floats. As the combination of one main floater and two walkways makes one unit of the floating platform, the interconnector 93(a), 93(b), 93(c) and 93(d) are the linkage between the walkway and main floater. The top base 94 is curved to allow passage of air beneath the module, which helps in the cooling of the PV module through heat transfer. The ridges 95 on top base 94 are for providing grip or friction when a worker stands on it for maintenance purposes.

Figures 10(a) and 10(b) shows how a solar panel 101 is mounted on the main float 102. The solar panel 102 is placed between the module stoppers 103(a) & 103(b) and 4 Z-shaped brackets 104(a), 104(b), 104(c) and 104(d) are used to hold the PV module 101.
The Z-shaped bracket 111 as shown in figure 11 is fixed on the main float 112 and prevents the solar panel 113 from lifting off due to any upward wind force or waves. The Z shaped bracket 111 is fixed using a nut bolt arrangement at the hole 114.
The walkway float 121 in Figures 12(a) and 12(b) are used to access the solar panels for maintenance purposes. They are also used for taking the power cables from the floating solar plant to the shore. The interconnectors 122(a), 122(b), 122(c) and 122(d) are positioned at different heights in order to facilitate connection with other floats and stress free vertical motion of the floats. These access walkways are subjected to substantial static and dynamic load in vertical direction typically due to reasons including without limitation, human movement, and goods movement.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A floating solar panel platform array comprising;
– At least one main floater device having substantial buoyancy adapted to float in a fluid flow wherein said floater device is configured to structurally secure at least one solar module;
– at least one first solar unit further comprising a solar photovoltaic module structurally secured with said main floater device;
– a plurality of access walkway disposed across to bear load while reaching to any of said adjacent solar unit system;
Characterized in that said interconnection float device is adapted for movement flexibility vertical to movement direction of said fluid flow.

2. The floating solar panel platform array as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movement flexibility is adapted for movement against vertical movement direction of said fluid flow.

3. The floating solar panel platform array as in claim 1, wherein said access walkway is configured to be modular further having structural interconnection between adjacent walkway.

4. The floating solar panel platform array as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solar photovoltaic module is structurally secured at an angular position with respect to said main floater device.

5. The floating solar panel platform array as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main floater device and said access walkway is fabricated from a fatigue resistant material.

6. The floating solar panel array as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main floater device and said access walkway is fabricated from a corrosion resistant material.

7. The floating solar panel platform array as claimed in claims 1 – 6, wherein said main floater device comprises at least one of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or Fibre Reinforced plastic (FRP) material.

8. The floating solar panel platform array substantially as herein described with reference to aforementioned description and as illustrated in accompanying drawings.