TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an active solar panel tracking system with gear reduction actuator, which will find application in the field of solar irradiation electricity generation, and in particular for more efficient electricity generation per unit area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Energy from solar irradiation is the largest source of energy on Earth. However, in order for solar irradiation to be a reliable source of eneigy, the methods for capturing and transforming it must be improved. The intensity of solar irradiation depends on the altitude, the characteristics of the region, the climatic conditions, etc.

Solar panel systems with a built-in mechanism for tracking the sun’s path, also known as trackers or positioners, aim to maximise electricity production by rotating the solar panels to an optimal position relative to the sun. Directing is implemented based on measured solar irradiation values or through a controller configured for the specific geographic location of each tracker. According to system manufacturers, the use of positioning structures increases panel efficiency by about 25% for single-axis trackers and by about 30-35% for dual-axis trackers. Single-axis tracking systems provide a movement of the solar modules that follows the movement of the sun during daylight hours from east to west, with no change in the angle between the panel and the horizon. In dual-axis tracking systems, the sun is tracked from east to west - by azimuth and the angle of the panel to the horizon changes from north to south along with it by tilt The solar panel is thus oriented perpendicular to the solar irradiation, which creates conditions for a more complete reception and transformation of the solar irradiation. There are various modifications of the design of the trackers, but in general they are made of a stable base complete with movable steel and aluminium profiles, a rotating platform and corresponding drive and control modules.

The optimal placement angle of photovoltaic modules for the Republic of Bulgaria is between 30° and 35°, with a south orientation. A large part of photovoltaic systems is mounted on the roof or facade structure of buildings and structures, with the orientation (azimuth) and tilt angle determined by the objects themselves.

Known patent application BGU3152A1 relates to an active solar panel tracking system for the positioning of solar panels. The known system comprises a support plate on which a fixed shaft with reinforcing plates is welded. Two bearings are mounted on the fixed shaft, above the retaining plates and at its free end, on which a thick-walled tube is bearing. A gear wheel and at least three bearing trusses symmetrically arranged on the surface of the thick-walled tube are fixedly mounted on the thick-walled tube. A top frame with a plurality of pairs of support profiles arranged in parallel therewith is mounted on the support trusses. On each pair of support profiles, solar panels are placed at an angle by means of adjustment profiles vertically bolted to one of the pair of support profiles and by means of hinges mounted at each end of the solar panels. The system also includes a control unit coupled to an electric motor which is connected to the gear wheel by means of a reducer and chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an active solar panel tracking system with a gear reduction actuator, which provides increased electricity production per unit area by smoothly and securely driving the tracker structure of the gear reduction actuator system to precisely position the solar panels in an optimal position corresponding to the movement of the sun.

The problem is solved by creating an active solar panel tracking system with a gear reduction actuator including a support plate on which a fixed shaft with reinforcing plates is welded. Two main bearings are mounted on the fixed shaft above the reinforcing plates, on which a main support tube is placed on a bearing. At least three support trusses are fixedly mounted on the main support tube, symmetrically arranged on the surface of the main support tube. A top frame with a plurality of pairs of support profiles arranged in parallel therewith is mounted on the support trusses. On each pair of support profiles, solar panels are arranged at an angle by means of movable profiles. The system also includes an electric motor connected to a reducer. According to the invention, the reducer is coupled to a shaft, which is placed on two bearings fixed rigidly to a support plate. At the free end of the shaft, a fixedly attached small gear is engaged to a large gear. The large gear is fixedly attached to a second shaft, placed on second bearings fixedly attached to a second support plate. At the free end of the second shaft, a fixedly secured second small gear is engaged to a second large gear. The second large gear is fixedly attached to a third shaft, which is placed on third bearings fixedly attached to a third support plate. At the free end of the third shaft, a third small gear is fixedly secured and engaged to a transmission large gear. The transmission large gear is fixedly attached to the main support tube. The system also includes metal or PVC tubes located under each row of solar panels, the tubes being water-fed and provided with spray nozzles.

In an embodiment of the active solar panel tracking system created, the small gears are engaged directly to corresponding large gears.

In another embodiment of the system, the small gears are engaged by means of a chain or belt to the corresponding large gears. In a preferred embodiment of the active solar panel tracking system, the support trusses are mounted to the main support tube by a mounting plate rigidly connected to the main support tube by other plates.

An advantage of the designed system is that the gear reduction actuator ensures precise positioning of the system structure, which is not affected by bad weather conditions and wind force. Thus, by adjusting the position of the solar panels, increased electricity production per unit area is ensured. Another advantage is that the solar panels are cooled by water mist, which further increases the efficiency of the whole system. Furthermore, the gear reduction actuator avoids the constant operation of the electric motor, which is only switched on when needed to drive the structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This invention is illustrated in the appended figures, where:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an active solar panel tracking system with a gear reduction actuator according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial top view of the gear reduction actuator of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial front view of the active solar panel tracking system with a gear reduction actuator, wherein the support trusses are mounted to the main support tube via a mounting plate;

Figure 4 is a partial top view of the gear reduction actuator of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a partial front view of the active solar panel tracking system of Figure 1, wherein the gear reduction actuator is mounted in a box.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Ute constructed active solar panel tracking system with a gear reduction actuator, shown in Figures 1 and 2, includes a support plate 25 on which a fixed shaft 22 with reinforcing plates 24 is welded. Two main bearings 20 are mounted on the fixed shaft 22 above the reinforcing plates 24, on which a main support tube 21 is placed on bearings. At least three support trusses 26, symmetrically arranged on the surface of the support tube 21, are fixedly mounted on the main support tube 21. A top frame 29 with a plurality of pairs of support profiles 33 arranged in parallel therein is mounted on the support trusses 26. On each pair of support profiles 33, solar panels 30 are arranged at an angle by means of movable profiles 31. The movable profiles 31 are vertically bolted to one of the pair of support profiles 33 and mounted by hinges at each end of the solar panels 30. At least three apertures are made in the removable profiles 31, allowing each support profile 33 to be clamped at different locations and thus obtaining a different angle concluded between the solar panels 30 and the upper frame 29. The hinges allow for the free adjustment of said angle and, accordingly, the adjustment of the position of the solar panels 30 relative to the sun, depending on the season and the latitude of the installation location. This results in a further increase in the efficiency of the system of between 8 and 12 % on an annual basis. Furthermore, the pairs of support profiles 33 are mounted at a certain distance 32 from each other, which prevents the solar panels 30 arranged on the front pair of support profiles 33 in front of the sun from shading the solar panels 30 arranged on the rear pair of support profiles 33, thus also increasing the efficiency of the system.

The entire support structure comprising the trusses 26 and the top frame 29 may be configured in the shape of a triangle, square, rectangle, regular or irregular polygon. In the most optimal embodiment, this support structure is in a circular shape to allow several active solar panel tracking systems to be mounted tightly together, thus occupying the least area and therefore not interfering with each other when rotating. The motion of active solar panel tracking system is transmitted by an electric motor 1 connected to a reducer 2. The reducer 2 serves to reduce the rotational speed of the electromotor 1 as much as possible before the motion itself is transmitted to a three-stage drive mechanism by means of another reduction. The reducer 2 transmits the motion to a shaft 4, which is placed on two bearings 3 fixed rigidly to a support plate 7. At the free end of the shaft 4 is fixedly attached a small gear 5 engaged to a large gear 11 fixedly attached to a second shaft 9. The motion is thus transmitted to the second shaft 9, which is placed on second bearings 10 fixed rigidly to a second support plate 13. At the free end of the second shaft 9, a second small gear 8 is fixedly attached and engaged to a second large gear 14 fixedly attached to a third shaft 15. The motion is thus transmitted to the third shaft 15, which is placed on third bearings 16 fixedly attached to a third support plate 19. At the free end of the third shaft 15 is fixedly attached a third small gear 17, engaged to a transmission large gear 23 which is fixedly attached to the main bearing tube 21. In this way, movement is transmitted to the support trusses 26 of the solar panel structure 30.

In the exemplary embodiment, the gear reduction actuator is implemented with a three-stage reduction. The reduction in the drive can be implemented in more stages, and with each successive reduction the movement of the tracker structure and the positioning of the solar panels in an optimal position will become more precise and the adverse effects of wind and bad weather conditions will be reduced.

In one embodiment of the system shown in Figures 3 and 4, the support trusses 26 are mounted to the main support tube 21 by a mounting plate 27 with other plates 28.

Variant embodiments of the system are possible in which the small gears 5, 8 and 17 are engaged to the respective large gears 11, 14 and 23, either directly or by means of a chain or belt 6, 12 and 18. The three-stage gear reduction actuator may be mounted in a box 36, shown in Figure 5. In this way, the possibility of breakage or damage to the mechanism itself in high wind and bad weather conditions is reduced many times.

Optimally, the active solar panel tracking system created will be located at a distance of at least 40 an from the roof, whereby air will easily circulate under and behind the solar panels 30 and cool them. In addition, the system also provides metal or PVC pipes 34 located under each row of solar panels 30, the pipes 34 being supplied with water and provided with spray nozzles 35. When a certain temperature is reached, which is monitored by a temperature sensor, water is sprayed through the nozzles 35 in fine droplets in the form of a water mist and further cools each solar panel 30. In this way, the solar panels 30 will be cooled much better, resulting in a further increase in the efficiency of both the panels 30 themselves and the entire system.

To produce electricity from solar radiation with the established active solar panel tracking system, inverters, and additional components such as wiring, overcurrent and overvoltage protections, lightning protection, grounding, monitoring devices, etc. are installed to the solar panels 30.