Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein relate generally to a solar panel mounting assembly, and more precisely, to a method of determining a fixing point for fixing a support structure to a solar panel. More specifically, to a method of determining a fixing point to connect a leg with a rafter of the solar panel assembly.
BACKGROUND
[002] Renewable resources are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to non-renewable resources for generating electricity. One renewable resource that can be converted into electricity is solar energy through the use of solar power generators, which harness the potential energy of solar rays from the sun and convert that potential energy into electricity. One type of solar power generator is a photovoltaic (PV) cell, which converts solar radiation into electricity.
[003] PV cells are typically arranged in an array on a solar panel. For maximum effectiveness, the PV panels must remain outdoors, and therefore, they must be resistant to a wide range of environmental factors. Such environmental factors could include high winds, rain, hail and large snow falls. For cost savings purposes, PV panels are typically mounted on a stationary mounting structure which angles the PV panels to receive maximum solar rays throughout the year. Due to seasonal changes of the earth's axis relative to the sun, the optimal angle at which the PV panels should be operated changes continuously. Accordingly, a large amount of potential energy is inherently lost by the stationary PV panels.
[004] Typical solar panels are intended to be mounted in predetermined locations and include mounting structures having a plurality of north-south members and a plurality of east-west members that interconnect with the north-south members to form a rack for receiving and retaining the PV panels. This mounting structure is maintained at an angle by a plurality of front and rear legs that serve to support the mounting structure. These mounting structures are typically installed on one or more predetermined foundation structures. Because of manufacturing tolerances that exist in the various components that make up the mounting structure as well as variances that can exist in the foundation structures, it can be extremely time consuming and laborious to accurately assemble and align the mounting structure and thus the solar panel assembly in the field.
[005] Another conventional structural member for supporting the solar panels may include a plurality of purlins, a plurality of rafters, atleast one leg, a plurality of bracings, and a plurality of connection members. This structural member is designed to withstand dead, wind and seismic loads with the wind load being the critical loading condition. All the forces that the structural member experiences due to the wind force is transferred to the leg making it the heaviest member. The forces transferred to the leg cause bending and compression in the leg, with bending being the governing condition in design. If the leg can be positioned such that the bending caused by the wind force acting on the left side of the leg counterbalances the bending caused by the wind force on the right side of the leg, the overall bending in the leg can be minimized.
[006] Therefore, there exists a need for a method of determining a fixing point for fixing a support structure to a solar panel, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
[007] The principal object of an embodiment herein is to provide a method of determining a fixing point for fixing a support structure to a solar panel.
[008] Another object of an embodiment herein is to provide the method of determining the fixing point to connect a leg with a rafter of a solar panel assembly.
[009] Another object of an embodiment herein is to provide the method of determining the fixing point where bending force acting on the leg of the solar panel assembly is minimum.
[0010] Another object of an embodiment herein is to provide the method of determining the fixing point which is dependent on plurality of parameters such as size of the solar panel assembly, solar module tilt angle, geographical location of the solar panel, position of bolt holes on the solar module (i.e., points of support for the module), and clearance of bottom most point of the module from ground.
[0011] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0013] Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of a solar panel assembly having the solar panel mounted on a leg, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] Fig. 2 is a block diagram depicting a computing device, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0015] Fig. 3 is a flowchart depicting a method of determining a fixing point for fixing a support structure to a solar panel, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0017] The embodiments herein achieve a method of determining a fixing point for fixing a support structure to a solar panel. Further, the embodiments herein achieve the method of determining the fixing point to connect a leg with a rafter of a solar panel assembly. Additionally, the embodiments herein achieve the method of determining the fixing point where bending force acting on the leg of the solar panel assembly is minimum. Moreover, the embodiments herein achieve the method of determining the fixing point which is dependent on plurality of parameters such as size of the solar panel assembly, solar module tilt angle, geographical location of the solar panel, position of bolt holes on the solar module (i.e., points of support for the module), and clearance of bottom most point of the module from ground. Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1 through Fig. 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0018] Conventionally, the solar assembly (not shown) may include a plurality of panels arranged in a plurality of solar arrays. In an exemplary embodiment, each panel can include at least one photovoltaic (PV) cell for receiving sun rays and converting them into electricity. However, it should be appreciated that the solar panels could be any other type of panel for converting sun rays into electricity or any other form of useable energy. It should be appreciated that the solar assembly could include any number of solar arrays and those arrays could be disposed at any desirable angle relative to one another. Accordingly, the solar arrays are supported and oriented in a predetermined direction and at a predetermined angle by a mounting structure. Accordingly, the solar arrays are installed and maintained at an orientation that maximizes the solar rays captured by the PV panels throughout the year. It is thus important that the mounting structure can be installed and assembled properly so that the solar arrays are properly aligned. However, because of ground unevenness, manufacturing tolerances, and other variables, alignment of the components and their attachment openings can be very difficult thus making installation of the solar assembly a laborious and time consuming process.
[0019] Fig. 1 depicts a perspective view of a solar panel assembly having the solar panel mounted on a leg, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The structural member of the solar panel assembly 200 includes a plurality of purlins 202, at least one rafter 204, at least one leg 106, and a plurality of bracings 206. The solar panel assembly 200 (also referred to as module or structure in this description) is designed to withstand dead, wind and seismic loads with the wind load being the critical loading condition.
[0020] The solar panel assembly 200 includes a plurality of PV modules 210 (also referred to as PV module) which are positioned at top and exposed to sunlight to convert the sunlight to a useful energy such as electricity. The plurality of PV modules 210 are supported above the rafter 204 through a plurality of purlins 202. In an embodiment, the purlins 202 may be positioned at predetermined positions based on a size of the solar panel 210. For example, points A, B, C, D are the locations of the purlins 202 and E is the point of fixity. Point E has been placed between points B and C for representative purpose only and can vary anywhere between points A and D as per design. Further, the solar panel assembly 200 includes the rafter 204 which forms a base for the PV modules 210. The rafter 204 supports the purlins 202 on a top surface of the rafter 204. Further, the leg 106 of the solar panel assembly supports a central portion of the rafter 204. The bracings 206 connect the end portions of the rafter 204 to the leg 106 at a predetermined position. The leg includes at least one connecting part which receives the other ends of the bracings 206. In an embodiment, the bracings are connected between the leg 106 and the rafter 204, such that the rafter is allowed to move or tilt for a predetermined angle i.e., the rafter 204 is pivotally connected to the leg 106. Further, the leg 106 includes a portion P which forms the base/foundation of the leg. The portion P of the leg is buried inside from a ground surface. The leg 106 is positioned inside the ground surface such that the bending moment of the leg 106 is minimized.
[0021] The embodiments herein provide the method 100 for determining the fixing point E, where the leg 106 is connected to the rafter 204. The embodiments herein include a computing device 104 which is configured to perform the action of determining the fixing point as shown in Fig. 2. The computing device 104 includes a fixing point determining module 102 which is executed by a processor 114. The fixing point E is derived using an equation/logic given below:

The value of is determined by equation 1.

x is a function of the ground clearance of the module, tilt angle to be maintained, and the solar panel mechanical dimensions.
[0022] The computing device 104 is configured to receive a plurality of predetermined parameters related to the solar panel assembly 200. In an embodiment, the plurality of predetermined parameters include size of the solar panel assembly, solar module tilt angle, geographical location of the solar panel, position of bolt holes on the solar module (i.e., points of support for the module), and clearance of bottom most point of the module from ground.
[0023] Wherein x is a relative position of member 106 with respect to members 202, is a distance between the bottom most point of the solar module from the ground, is a distance between the points supporting the modules (i.e., a spacing between the bolt holes or clamps being used for mounting the module, is The total distance between members 202, and is an angle of inclination between the plane of solar modules and the ground surface, considering the ground surface to be perfectly flat.
[0024] The method 100 includes receiving, by said computing device 104, a plurality of predetermined parameters related to said solar panel assembly (at step 302). Further, the method 100 includes dividing, by said computing device 104, a portion between two extreme purlins 202 of said solar panel assembly in a ratio of x:y (at step 304). Furthermore, the method includes determining, by said computing device 104, said fixing point E at a predetermined location of said rafter 204 based on a value of x (at step 306).
[0025] For example,
The value of ‘x’ determines the position of the leg.
For

Hence, consider x = 230 for the ease of fabrication.
[0026] The method 100 further includes determining, by said computing device 104, a point ‘A’ within an axis of rotation of said solar panel assembly 200, based on a value of x, such that a bending moment on said leg 106 is minimum at said point A. The point A is a mounting point about which the leg 106 of the solar panel assembly 200 establishes contact with a ground surface. The leg 106 transfers entire load to the ground at said point A. In an embodiment, the point A is determined based on a value of x by substituting the value of x in the below mentioned equation:

[0027] The pivotal point about which the module mounting structure transfers all the loads to the ground is point ‘A’. The location of this point ‘A’ relative to the axis of rotation of the structure determines the bending moment experienced by the structure. Reducing the bending moment results in the reduction of the steel consumed in the fabrication of the leg 106.
[0028] When the point ‘A’ lies on the axis of rotation of the structure, the bending moment at the bottom of the leg 106 is minimized. For point ‘A’ to fall on the axis of rotation of the MMS, leg must divide the portion between the central purlins in the ratio of x: y.
[0029] The technical advantages provide by the embodiments herein includes easy mounting of the solar panel assembly, equal distribution of bending moment, determining fixing point, simple and inexpensive.
[0030] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will 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 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 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.
, Claims:1. A method 100 for determining a fixing point E for fixing a support structure 106 to a solar panel 210 of a solar panel assembly 200, said solar panel assembly 200 having a plurality of purlins 202, a rafter 204, and a plurality of bracings 206, and said support structure 106 is at least a leg, the method 100 performed by a fixing point determining module 102 of a computing device 104, the method 100 comprising:
receiving, by said computing device 104, a plurality of predetermined parameters related to said solar panel assembly;
dividing, by said computing device 104, a portion between two extreme purlins 202 of said solar panel assembly in a ratio of x:y; and
determining, by said computing device 104, said fixing point E at a predetermined location of said rafter 204 based on a value of x.
2. The method 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method 100 includes determining, by said computing device 104, a point ‘A’ within an axis of rotation of said solar panel assembly 200, based on a value of x, such that a bending moment on said leg 106 is minimum at said point A.
3. The method 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said value of x is derived based on said plurality of predetermined parameters, said plurality of predetermined parameters include size of the solar panel assembly, solar module tilt angle, geographical location of the solar panel, position of bolt holes on the solar module (i.e., points of support for the module), and clearance of bottom most point of the module from ground.
4. The method 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said point A is a mounting point about which the leg 106 of the solar panel assembly 200 establishes contact with a ground surface, said leg 106 transfers entire load to said ground at said point A.
5. A computing device 104 comprising:
a processor 114 coupled to a memory 116;
a fixing point determining module 102 executed by the processor 114, wherein the fixing point determining module 102 is to:
receive, a plurality of predetermined parameters related to said solar panel assembly;
divide, a portion between two extreme purlins 202 of said solar panel assembly in a ratio of x:y; and
determine, said fixing point E at a predetermined location of said rafter 204 based on a value of x.
6. The computing device 104 as claimed in claim 5, wherein said computing device 104 determines, a point ‘A’ within an axis of rotation of said solar panel assembly 200, based on a value of x, such that a bending moment on said leg 106 is minimum at said point A.
7. The computing device 104 as claimed in claim 5, wherein said value of x is derived based on said plurality of predetermined parameters, said plurality of predetermined parameters include size of the solar panel assembly, solar module tilt angle, geographical location of the solar panel, position of bolt holes on the solar module (i.e., points of support for the module), and clearance of bottom most point of the module from ground.
8. The computing device 104 as claimed in claim 5, wherein said point A is a mounting point about which the leg 106 of the solar panel assembly 200 establishes contact with a ground surface, said leg 106 transfers entire load to said ground at said point A.