SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR ORIENTABLE VERTICAL PANELS

Technical Field

The invention concerns the technical sector related to photovoltaic installations.

Background Art

Photovoltaic installations require support structures for the installation of solar panels. In order to achieve maximum efficiency, such panels must enjoy the maximum irradiation possible and for this reason they are generally placed on a flat surface directed southwards, with an inclination with respect to the horizontal that depends on the latitude of the installation location.

This arrangement allows irradiation to be maximised in the case of stationary installations.

Vertical installations of photovoltaic panels are today less efficient because in this way they are exposed to less irradiation. On the other hand, the vertical installations have the advantage of occupying less space and for this reason are often preferred.

One way to increase the irradiation of vertical walls is to ensure that the exposition of the wall changes during the day, following the arc traced in the sky by the sun.

The object of the invention is a wall of, solar panels mounted on a support structure that allows the orientation and the inclination of the panels to be changed, in order to optimise the exposition of the wall to the sun wall during the day and the year.

One characteristic of such an invention is the possibility of increasing the efficiency of a photovoltaic installation with panels arranged vertically by means of their orientability that therefore offers the possibility of installing apparatus of a certain potential where the limits of the area available would only allow the exploitation of a smaller amount of energy.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention provides a vertical wall of photovoltaic panels that rest on a base directly or by means of two lateral stanchions. The base can rotate, moving the wall in rotation.

The wall can furthermore tilt in two ways: either by connecting with the lateral supports through a hinge, or by tilting the base on which it rests.

With particular reference to the Figures, two possible embodiments of the invention are shown as an example.

With reference to Fig.1 Fig.2 and Fig.3, the wall (1) is supported by a metallic lattice structure with a triangular section (2) which occupies the lateral face with the longest base side. The triangular section has the aim of reducing the wind pressure on the posterior side of the wall.

The structure rests on an annulus (3) connected by means of two diametral pins (4) to a second annulus (5), concentric to it, more external and resting on the ground. The two pins support the internal annulus.

On interior of the first annulus there is a rack-pinion assembly (6) - (7), an electric motor (8) and a transmission system of the movement from the motor to the pinion.

The rack (6) is integral with the internal annulus (3). It is not flat, but has a curved profile, this profile, rotating together with the pinion (7), makes the surface of the annulus tilt.

The external annulus rests on the ground by means of small wheels (9) that run inside a circular track (10) obtained on the ground and that can rotate around its central axis, this also being connected to a motor.

By opportunely controlling the rotation of the two motors, it is possible to orient the tower or to tilt it in order to follow the sun.

According to another embodiment, with reference to Fig.4 Fig.5 and Fig.6, the wall (11) is supported by a metallic lattice structure with a pentagonal section (12) which occupies, also in this case, the lateral face with the longest base side. The pentagonal section also has the aim of reducing the wind pressure on the posterior side of the wall.

The structure rests on a circular platform (13) by means of two stanchions (14) to which (15) the pentagonal base structure is hinged on the two lateral walls (16) adjacent to the wall (11) of photovoltaic panels. This connection allows the structure to rotate around these hinges tilting, more or less upwards, the wall of photovoltaic panels. This rotation is power-assisted by an electric motor system (17) fixed on the stanchion (14). Alternatively, rotation can be controlled by a hydraulic system.

The circular platform on which the structure bears down rests on the ground by means of bearings that can rotate around its central axis, pushed by a motor (18). Also in this case, thanks to the two motors, it is possible to orient the tower or to tilt it in the desired way.

With reference to the Figures of the annexed drawings, a support structure for orientable photovoltaic panels in accordance with the present invention is characterised in that it includes at least:

• a load-bearing tower (2 and 12) on which are fixed, on at least one of the lateral walls, one or more photovoltaic panels (1 and 11)

• a tower tilting system

• a rotating support base that supports the tower and its tilting system (5 and 13). such that the rotating base and/or the tilting system allow the exposition time of the wall of panels to the sun to be optimised.

Said tower consists of a frame with a triangular (2) or pentagonal (12) section, on one lateral face (1 and 11) of which are mounted, all or partly, the panels of a photovoltaic installation and the lateral walls of the frame not occupied by the photovoltaic panels being covered with a fairing in plate, fibreglass, plastic or wood.

The pentagonal or triangular section of the frame is such that the side on which the panels are placed is the side with the larger dimensions, the other sides are symmetrical to each other and said section has the aim of reducing the wind pressure on the back of the photovoltaic panels.

Advantageously, the rotating support base is a circular plate (13) constructed in cement or with bolted and/or welded steel elements, resting by means of two or more wheels or two or more spherical bearings on the ground or on a circular track placed on the ground, the plate may or may not be hinged in the centre. Alternatively, the rotating support base is an annulus (5) constructed in cement and/or with bolted and/or welded steel elements, resting by means of two or more wheels or two or more spherical bearings on the ground or on a circular track, the annulus may or may not be connected on its axis.

Advantageously, the rotating support base is made to rotate by a power-operated mechanism.

Advantageously the tilting system includes:

• two lateral stanchions (14) integral with the support base on which the tower is hinged.

• a power-operated rotation mechanism of the tower around said hinge (17). Alternatively, the tilting system comprises:

• A second annulus (3) internal and concentric to the annulus according to claim 6, connected and supported by the latter by means of two pins (4) arranged diametrically. On said internal annulus rests the tower, directly or by means of feet, on which the photovoltaic panels are fixed with said internal annulus also being constructed in cement and/or with bolted and/or welded steel elements.

• A rack (6) with a curved profile, integral with said internal annulus, placed under the surface on which the tower rests, diametrically and perpendicularly to the two pins.

• A pinion (7) on which said rack is engaged that is made to rotate by a power-operated mechanism (8). and the rotation of the pinion, pulling the curved rack, causes the tilting of the base surface of the internal ring and thus of the tower rested on it.

The rotation of the support base determines in any case the contemporary rotation of the tilting system and the tower.

The rotation and the tilting of the tower by means of the power-operated rotation mechanisms described are regulated in such a way as to guarantee the maximum exposure to sunlight of the photovoltaic panels with the changing seasons and hours of the days and are controlled manually or by means of an automated system and/or a computerised system.

Advantageously, a power-operated mechanism previously mentioned is an assembly comprising one or more motors or one or more hydraulic pistons connected either to a transmission system or to a system of tie-rods or jacks that transfer the movement to the object to which they are connected.

Brief Description of Drawings

The Figs, from 1 to 6 show two different possible technical solutions for the execution of the invention.

Fig.1 shows the first solution with a lattice having a triangular base tilted by means of a rack and pinion.

Fig.2 and Fig.3 show the plan and side view of the same object represented in

Fig.1

Fig. 4 shows the second solution, with a lattice having a pentagonal base hinged on two stanchions. Fig. 5 and Fig.6 show the plan and side views of the same object represented in Fig.4.