A SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM

Technical Field

Present invention relates to solar energy systems. Prior Art As known, various systems are used for the aim of obtaining electricity and heat from solar energy. System called solar troughs, photovoltaic panels and solar collectors can set example for these systems. Said solar energy systems, whose main purposes are to collect sun beams and/or reflect them to an element on which they are collected, are preferred to track the sun continually in order to ensure that these systems benefit from the sun in the most efficient manner. For example, in a solar trough system, beams coming to trough-shaped reflectors are concentrated on a thermal receiver member on the focus of the trough and then, very-high heat energy is obtained (by fluid passing through the member). Energy consumption needed for rotation of troughs is high because the solar trough systems track the sun and they are generally constructed in many meters long. Similar situation is observed in also photovoltaic panels. Electrical energy is directly produced from these panels and they consume energy if they track the sun.

In summary, there are provided actuating mechanisms rotating moving parts of the system in all kinds of solar energy systems, which are used for the aim of obtaining energy from the sun and required to track the sun; and these mechanisms generally comprise conventional units such as motor, reducer, belt and cable. The system disclosed in the published patent document no. US4559926 can be given as an example for said system. In this system, trough-shaped parabolic reflectors reflect sunlight to a receiver tube and ensure that fluid within the tube gets heated. However, in this system, all parabolic reflectors are actuated by only one motor unit and thus, in case said motor unit goes out of order, the whole system stops accordingly. Moreover, all the parabolic reflectors are rotated in a synchronized manner but in said situation, it is impossible that they rotate in the same sensitive manner according to each other. The main reason of this problem is that all the reflectors are actuated by mechanism members such as belt, chain and gear teeth connected to only one motor in the system. This causes that energy consumption is high and also rotation gap between the closest reflector and the most distant reflector according to the motor due to utilization manner of said mechanism members. In the system which is disclosed in the published patent application no. US 4432343, the reflector is placed on the tubular supports facing each other and is rotated by means of a main motor.

Brief Disclosure of Invention

In the system of the invention, there is provided at least one solar panel which continually tracks the sun (which is directed towards the sun). As known, in conventional systems the panel is actuated by the motor and mechanisms connected thereto. However, in the system of the invention, the panel is actuated by principle of weight transfer. Therefore, the solar energy system comprising at least one solar panel which comprises at least one filing chamber, which is provided in at least one portion of the panel and which is fillable with fluid and dischargeable characterized in that it directs the panel to the sun by changing center of gravity of the panel and movable parts of the panel moving with the panel according to fullness of the chamber.

Objective of Invention

One aim of the invention is to form a solar energy system operating by tracking the sun.

Another aim of the invention is to ensure that rotation of the movable parts of said system is adjusted according to principle of weight transfer.

A further aim of the invention is to ensure that less energy is consumed in order to rotate the movable parts of said solar energy system in comparison with the prior art.

Still a further aim of the invention is to lighten said solar energy system in weight.

Yet a further aim of the invention is to form an easy and cheap to produce, use and safe solar energy system. Description of Figures

An exemplary solar energy system is illustrated in annexed figures, wherein;

Figure 1 is a view of angle of repose of the system at sunrise.

Figure 2 is a view of angle of repose of the system at midday.

Figure 3 is a view of angle of repose of the system at sunset.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below.

Solar energy system (A)

Solar panel (1 )

Filing chamber (2)

Filing unit (3)

Discharge unit (4)

Filing tank (6)

Accumulation tank (6)

Pump (7)

Tower (8)

Base (9)

Panel support (10)

Floor (Z)

Disclosure of Invention

Figures 1 -3 illustrate different angles of repose of an exemplary solar energy system (A) of the invention. In said system (A) there is provided at least one solar panel (1 ), which continually tracks the sun (which is directed to the sun). As an example, said panel (1 ) is illustrated in solar trough shape in figures. The panel (1 ) has the feature of reflecting sunlight to its own focus. There is provided at least one thermal receiver member (not shown in figures) on its focus and beams reflected to said member heat the member and thus, heat energy is produced from solar energy. As alternatively, the panel (1 ) can be used also as photovoltaic panel. In mentioned situation, the panel (1 ) is used for the aim of producing electrical energy directly. In other words, said solar panel (1 ) refers to the panels, which have different features and forms and which collect sun beams (for example, photovoltaic or solar collectors) and/or transfer or reflect to a desired target (for example, solar troughs and solar towers). The panel (1 ) has the feature of rotating (directivity to the sun) on a floor (F) and/or at least one base (9). As known, in conventional systems the panel (1 ) is actuated by the motor and mechanisms connected thereto. However, in the system (A) of the invention, the panel (1 ) is actuated by principle of weight transfer. Therefore, there is provided at least one filling chamber (2) in at least one portion of the panel (1 ). Said chamber (2) can be filled with a kind of fluid and discharged. Thanks to this feature of filing chamber (2), center of gravity of the panel (1 ) and the movable parts moving together with the panel (1 ) (for example, panel support (10) holding the panel (1 ) in figures) changes place. This ensures that the panel (1 ) can rotate about at least one axis. (Figures 1 -3 illustrate a structure, which can slide and rotate on at least one base (9) by benefiting from loop-formed support (10) holding the panel (1 ).)

In solar energy system (A) of the invention, fluid can be transferred into the chamber (2) by means of at least one pump (not shown in figures) and filing unit (3) and also for this aim; at least one filing tank (5) and at least one filing unit (3) can be utilized as shown in figures. In this example, fluid, which comes from the filing tank (5) (or alternatively from one pump) provided on higher level (for example, on a tower) than the chamber (2), is passed through the filing unit (3) in controlled manner and poured into at least one chamber (2). As a result, center of gravity of movable parts of the system changes place and the panel (1 ) is rotated. Fluid is discharged from the chamber (2) by means of at least one discharge unit (4) (or by at least one pump not shown in figures). The filing and discharge units (3, 4) can be used separately in time controlled manner. Therefore, the panel (1 ) can be rotated in time controlled manner and it tracks the sun in sensitive manner. In the system (A), there can be used at least one accumulation tank (6) (at lower level than the chamber (2)), in which fluid passing through the discharge unit (4) is accumulated. Fluid accumulated in accumulation tank (6) can be sent back to filing chamber (5) by at least one pump (7) (in the system (A), fluid transfer is carried out by tubes and/or flexible pipes).

In case many chambers (2) are used in the system (A), alternatively, the panel (1 ) can be rotated by only fluid transfer between chambers (2) without using filing tank (5) and accumulation tank (6). In said example, fluid in fixed quantity is discharged from the chamber (2) and filled into the other, thus, fluid transfer is carried out between the chambers (2), and then said center of gravity changes place and the panel (1 ) is directed to the sun.

The filing and discharge units (3, 4) may comprise at least one each isolating valve, glob valve. Moreover, there provided many chambers (2) as shown in figures 1 -3, they may comprise at least one each direction control valve (which can also perform proportional control).

In the example shown in figures 1 -3, the chambers (2) are positioned at two edges of panel (1 ) facing each other. Therefore, one of the chambers (2) shown in Figure 1 is full and the panel (1 ) is directed to sunrise (towards the east). In figure 2, the panel (1 ) faces upwardly for the aim of showing the minute at which the sun reaches peak point. To this end, said chamber (2) is discharged to some extent and the chamber (2) is filled with fluid to some extent.

Figure 3 illustrates position, in which the panel (1 ) is directed to sunset (towards west). In said position the first chamber (2) is discharged and the other chamber (2) is filled.

According to position of the sun, fullness of the chambers (2) is scaled in controlled manner (it may comprise another control unit for this aim) by operating the filing and discharge units (3, 4) in controlled manner. Thus, angle of repose of the panel (1 ) can be adjusted. This ensures that the panel (1 ) is directed to the sun in a sensitive manner. After sunset, the first chamber (2) is filled and the other chamber (2) is discharged and then, the panel (1 ) is directed to sunrise again and is got to starting position for the next day.

One of the most important advantages of adjusting angle of repose of the panel (1 ) according to principle of weight transfer is that the panel (1 ) is moved by consuming less energy in comparison with conventional systems. It is very advantageous to use units (3, 4) directing fluid instead of expensive motor mechanisms consuming much energy. The system (A) of the invention ensures that both movable members and the fixed members become lighter by said structure. The system (A) of the invention consumes electric energy only for opening and closing processes (and the process of operation of the pumps when required) of the filing and discharge units (3, 4). Said units (3, 4) consume less energy because they use valve. In addition, in the system, it can be consumed further energy equal to the energy required for filling fluid from accumulation tank (6) (or from another source) into the filling tank (5) When said energy amount is considered, the system (A) of the invention consumes less energy than said conventional systems.