FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for renewable power generation and particularly relates to a modular floating solar apparatus. The present invention more particularly relates to a floating solar apparatus with various degrees of movement to align a solar panel towards incidents rays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Amongst various sources of energy, the need for green and clean energy is inevitable given the increasing level of greenhouse gas emission and depleting conventional resources such as coal and oil. Further, the renewable energy is a practical and environmentally conscious alternative to traditional electricity production means. In the wake of this, the government of different countries are adopting policies to support and enhance the footprints of rooftop installations and land based solar arrays installations. However, the rooftop installations and land- based installations are associated with several issues and limitations.

To enhance a possibility of harnessing the solar power in efficient manner. One of such prior arts discloses a floating solar platform including a unified floating structure that is formed of a horizontal mesh of one or more horizontal support members connected to each other in a matrix pattern, and one or more vertical support members fixedly mounted on the horizontal mesh, a horizontal planar modular deck fixedly mounted on the unified floating structure, the horizontal planar modular deck, one or more arrays of solar panels mounted on the horizontal planar modular deck for generating electricity from solar energy, and a cable apparatus connected to the one or more arrays of solar panels for supplying power to utility and an off-grid facility.

However, the prior arts get limited in avoiding malfunctioning as well as inefficient working of the solar panels in water bodies. As for producing a constant power output the solar panel are needed to be continuously aligned with incident rays, which is difficult in turbulent surface of water. Also, the solar panel or apparatus in the prior arts are fixed in nature and in order to upgrade or maintain the solar panels, the whole apparatus is needed to be replaced which further increases the cost of operation.

In the view of foregoing, there is a need for a modular floating solar apparatus and power generation mechanism with detachable assembly in order to easily upgrade or maintain the solar panels without replacing whole assembly. Also, there is a need for a floating solar apparatus with efficient power generation by implementing a mechanism to align the solar panel in direction of incident rays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a modular floating solar apparatus and power generation mechanism with detachable assembly in order to easily upgrade or maintain the solar panels without replacing whole assembly.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a floating solar apparatus with efficient power generation by implementing a mechanism to align the solar panel in direction of incident rays.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a solar apparatus with an onboard smart processor to manage the power generation by the solar platform in efficient manner.

The various embodiments of the present invention provide a modular floating solar apparatus comprising a base platform, a solar panel unit, a processing unit, an anchoring pole, and a paddling unit. The base platform comprises a locking mechanism on a side surface and forms a base for the floating solar apparatus. The solar panel unit is attached to the base platform through a stepper motor. The solar panel unit comprises one or more solar panels. The processing unit is connected to the solar panel unit. The processing unit comprises a hollow electrical ring and electrical and electronic components which are connected and programmed to receive signals from the solar panels and sensors and intelligently control other mechanical (motors) components. The anchoring pole is located inside the hollow electrical ring to anchor the floating solar apparatus in a fixed position. The paddling unit is attached to a bottom surface of the base platform and connected to the processing unit. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit further comprises a plurality of electrical and electronic components connected and programmed to receive signals from the solar panel unit and a plurality of sensors and control the stepper motors.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the base platform is connected to a plurality of adjacent base platform forming a solar array and also a base platform supporting the processing unit. The processing unit is centrally located with respect to the solar array.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit is connected with a plurality of light sensor to detect an intensity and direction of incident light.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stepper motor and the paddling unit are activated through the processing unit on a detection of a direction of an incident light.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the stepper motor moves the solar panel in an angular range of -45 ^e to +45 ^e with respect to a central vertical axis of the stepper motor. The motor can also be programmed to move to any angular ranges including the maximum angular range of +90 ^e and -90° The movement of the solar panel is done to incline the solar panel facing the incident light.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the paddling unit rotates the base platform along a central axis of the floating solar apparatus covering an angular range of 0-360 ^e .

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the paddling unit rotates the floating solar apparatus in a clockwise as well as counter-clockwise direction.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the solar panel unit is detachably attached to a frame. The frame is further connected to the stepper motor. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the hollow electric ring is in contact to an electrical hub further connected to a plurality of electrical wires emerging from the solar panel unit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the hollow electrical ring transfers an output power from the wires to a rechargeable battery unit or to a power grid via a DC-AC inverter.

These and other aspects 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 preferred 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 THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a modular floating solar apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a single floating solar apparatus with solar panel inclined towards an incident ray, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the floating solar apparatus with 360 ^e rotation, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the floating solar apparatus with a pair of paddles, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the floating solar apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an intelligent processing unit of the floating solar apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a modular floating solar apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 1 , the modular floating solar apparatus (100) comprises a base platform (101 ), a solar panel unit (102), a processing unit (103), an anchoring pole (104) and a paddling unit (105) as shown in FIG. 5. The base platform (101 ) comprises a locking mechanism (106) on a side surface and forms a base for the floating solar apparatus (100). The solar panel unit (102) is attached to the base platform through a stepper motor (107). The stepper motor (107) is fixed over the base platform in a longitudinal manner. The stepper motor (107) draws a required power from the solar panel unit (102) through the processing unit (103). The processing unit (103) is connected to the solar panel unit (102). The processing unit (103) comprises a hollow electrical ring (108) at a centre of the base platform. It further includes electrical and electronic components which are connected and programmed to receive signals from the solar panels and sensors and intelligently control other mechanical (motors) components. The anchoring pole (104) is located inside the hollow electrical ring (108) to anchor the floating solar apparatus in a place. The paddling unit (105) is attached to a motor located at a bottom surface of the base platform and connected to the processing unit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit is connected with a plurality of light sensor to detect an intensity and direction of incident light.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the motor and the paddling unit are activated through the processing unit on a detection of a direction of an incident light. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the solar panel unit is detachably attached to a frame. The frame is further connected to the stepper motor.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the hollow electric ring is in contact to an electrical hub further connected to a plurality of electrical wires emerging from the solar panel unit.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the hollow electrical ring transfers an output power from the wires to a rechargeable battery unit or to the grid via a DC-AC inverter. The electrical ring connection at the center of the processing unit connects a plurality of wires from the solar panel units and a plurality of sensors primarily light sensors, into one single wire to transfer the electricity generated to a rechargeable battery or a load or the grid. The electrical ring allows the floating solar system to rotate without having tangled wires issues. Furthermore, the electrical ring allows the interconnected base platforms to vertically move and down to overcome the low tide or small wave.

FIG. 2 illustrates a single floating solar apparatus with solar panel inclined towards an incident ray, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 2, the stepper motor (107) moves the solar panel unit in an angular range of -45 ^e to +45 ^e with respect to a central vertical axis of the stepper motor. The motor can also be programmed to move to any angular ranges including the maximum angular range of +90 ^e and -90 ^e . The movement of the solar panel unit is done to incline the solar panel facing the incident light.

With respect to FIG. 3 and 4, the paddling unit rotates the base platform along a central axis of the floating solar apparatus covering an angular range of 0-360 ^e . The paddling unit rotates the floating solar apparatus in a clockwise as well as counter clockwise direction. The paddling unit is attached to a motor located at the bottom surface of the base platform after connecting a plurality of base platforms with each other. The paddling unit comprises at least two paddles on diagonally opposite ends to create a rotating torque while the floating solar apparatus is stabilized to a position through the anchoring pole. FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an intelligent processing unit of the floating solar apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 6, the base platform supporting the processing unit and the solar panel units is attachable to a plurality of other base platforms through the locking mechanism (106). When the base platform supporting the processing unit is connected to a plurality of adjacent base platforms supporting the solar panel units, a solar array is formed. The processing unit is centrally located with respect to the solar array. The locking mechanism (106) comprises a male slot (106b) and a female slot (106a) provided on the side surface of each base platform.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the base platform is made up of High density Polyethylene (HDFE) to increase buoyancy of the solar apparatus and also increase a functioning life cycle of the base platform.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.