ES2985484A1 - FIXED VERTICAL SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC STRUCTURE OR WITH OPTIONAL SOLAR TRACKING FOR ROAD OR RAILWAY - Google Patents

Abstract

It is a vertical fixed photovoltaic solar structure or with optional solar tracking for potential use on roads or railways (1) that aims to accommodate the use of photovoltaic solar energy in the open spaces on the margins of roads and railways. To do this, the foundation post (5) and the support post (4) are profiles that are installed vertically, so they take up very little space. Other profiles called straps (3) are attached to these posts, to which the solar panels (2) are fixed. These (2) acquire an optimal inclination for the use of solar radiation. In addition, these structures can be equipped with solar tracking thanks to the upper (6a) and lower (6b) rotating supports that make up the joint (6) between the foundation post (5) and the support post (4). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

FIXED VERTICAL SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC STRUCTURE OR WITH TRACKING

OPTIONAL SOLAR FOR ROAD OR RAILWAY

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention belongs to the field of engineering, and more specifically to the field of the generation of electrical energy from renewable energies, in this case the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy by the photovoltaic effect.

The object of the present invention is a new vertical structure to support photovoltaic panels and allow their installation on public lands belonging to the margins of roads, paths, highways, motorways, in short, automobile roads in general, as well as railways, both existing and future.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of solar energy from the photovoltaic effect to generate electricity fed into the grid is usually carried out on large areas of land. These areas are normally occupied by agricultural crops, so it is necessary to eliminate these crops in order to carry out the implementation of these solar fields, with the consequent loss of cultivable areas for long periods of time. It also has negative socio-economic effects, since the elimination of these crops leads to job losses generated by agriculture. In addition, it generates a visual impact that is not pleasing to a part of the population.

As regards the use of public land belonging to roads, it is known that in France, in the Normandy region, a one-kilometre stretch has been carried out consisting of photovoltaic panels installed directly on the road surface, but with negative results, since these panels are damaged by the rolling of vehicles, causing shadows due to tyre wear, breakage of the photovoltaic cells, etc., with the consequent drop in performance in the generation of electrical energy from the photovoltaic system.

The solutions that currently exist are not optimized to take advantage of the free spaces that exist on the margins of automobile or railway tracks, since they could not be installed with the orientation that these need to generate energy at maximum performance or the surface they occupy is greater than that available in these spaces.

The solar structure of the present invention is of moderate dimensions in width, since its installation extends in the transverse direction to the ground, a direction in which there is no space limitation.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The inventor of the present application has developed a new structure that solves the above problems thanks to the installation of several photovoltaic panels arranged vertically or in a column, assembled to the support post, which is one of the profiles that make up the invention.

The invention consists of a support post, straps, solar panels, rotating supports, a foundation post and, optionally, may include an electronically controlled, automatically driven turning system.

The support post is the structural profile responsible for supporting the straps and solar panels, being the element that provides the structure with firmness and structural safety.

The straps are the profiles that are fixed to the support post, which in turn secure the solar panels. These straps, in addition to securing the panels, are responsible for keeping them coplanar to the axis or providing them with inclination, as required by the installation location of each structure.

Solar panels are responsible for transforming solar energy into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. It is not the purpose of this document to detail the operation of this element, since it is well known and implemented in many popular installations.

The upper and lower rotating supports are responsible for joining or fixing the support bracket and the foundation post. These rotating supports, in addition to the function mentioned above, also provide the structure with solar orientation capacity. They give the possibility of rotating the structure and fixing it at the desired angle depending on the season of the year or the geographical location in which it is installed. Both the support bracket and the foundation post will incorporate one of these rotating supports. Optionally, the structure can be equipped with an autonomous rotation system, which will be controlled by an electronic system capable of orienting the structure during the day towards the optimal position for the greatest reception of solar radiation.

The foundation post is the profile responsible for supporting the structure, since it is the one that will be fixed to the ground through the most appropriate method according to the geological characteristics of the implantation location.

The set of these profiles allows the installation of photovoltaic panels seeking the maximum use of the incidence of solar radiation on them, in addition to providing great ease of assembly and adaptability to the type of terrain for which this type of structure is intended.

The panels are fixed to the support post by means of straps. Profiles of any type can be used for this support post, provided that they are suitable or appropriate for the terrain and geographical location in which they are to be installed and comply with the applicable regulations in force and with the demands and stresses that it must withstand. This support post is independent and has a rotating support, which is connected to another profile with similar characteristics, optionally, through a rotation system that would act as a solar tracker thanks to the implementation of sensors or electronic controllers to achieve the optimal orientation of the panels at any time of the day according to the position of the sun. The rotation system is not mandatory to install, since, if the system requires it, the support post can be assembled to the profile that acts as a foundation post, leaving the structure with a fixed solar orientation. The foundation post is installed by direct driving, suitable foundation or any base adapted to the terrain and is what acts as support, thus completing the photovoltaic solar structure.

Both profiles, both the upper support post and the foundation post, are equipped, as previously mentioned, with a rotating support that may be round, square or of any shape and dimensions appropriate to each particular case of installation of this structure.

These rotating supports will be equipped with a fixing system that allows the proper or optimal orientation of the structure so that it will receive the greatest possible amount of solar energy throughout the year. The fixings made on these rotating supports allow changes in the orientation of the structure depending on the season in which we find ourselves and to focus it at the appropriate angle to capture greater solar radiation at any time of the year.

The profiles will also have fixings that allow the correction of any deviation that comes from the installation of the foundation post profile, whether due to the nature of the terrain or due to human error or calibration of measuring equipment.

This structure offers a quick and simple installation system compared to other existing or studied methods. For the foundation post of the structure, similar installation methods are used as for the support posts of the guardrails existing on most roads and highways, such as direct driving using percussion machines, although, if the terrain requires it, different installation methods can be used, whether by foundation, driving with pre-drilling or prior drilling, footings, piles, root-type systems, load distribution bases, etc. Once the foundation post is secured, the support post that supports the solar panels is installed, which is fixed to it using any tested fixing system that is sufficient to provide the structure with correct stability.

The structure can be pre-assembled in warehouses, tents, mobile camps, trucks, trailers, temporary or permanent structures or any area adapted to carry out this type of work and can even be assembled on site at the time of the complete installation of the structure. Another advantage of this invention is the versatility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made and in order to assist in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a rear perspective view of the fixed vertical photovoltaic solar structure or with optional solar tracking for roads or railways.

Figure 2.a.- Shows a rear perspective view of the solar panel holding post and straps.

Figure 2.b.- Shows a rear elevation view of the solar panel holding post and straps.

Figure 2.c.- Shows a side view of the solar panel holding post and straps.

Figure 3.- Shows an exploded perspective view of the connection between the support post and the foundation post and optional rotating motor inserted.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Below, a particular example of a fixed vertical photovoltaic solar structure or with optional solar tracking for a road or railway (1) is described, in accordance with the present invention, making reference to the attached figures.

Figure 1 shows a rear perspective view of the solar structure in which its complete assembly and the elements it is composed of can be seen.

Figures 2.a, 2.b and 2.c show the simplicity of construction of the main element of the structure, which is composed of the support post (4). The profiles or straps (3) are fixed to this support post (4), which in turn support the photovoltaic solar panels (2), providing them with a certain inclination on the horizontal or coplanar to the support post (4) as necessary. This inclination will be given according to the solar characteristics of the installation location and which must be known before the start of the manufacturing process of the straps (2), thus obtaining the measurements required by these profiles (2).

The support post (4) is a profile whose dimensions do not have to be standard. The profile of the support post (4) will be determined by the result of the mechanical calculations carried out to adapt the structure (1) to the installation site, since each location offers different physical and climatic characteristics of wind, earthquake, etc.

The panels (2) are fixed to the straps (3) using joining systems that offer security and stability to the modules.

The support post (4) is provided at one of its ends with an upper rotating support (6a) to facilitate the connection (6) with the foundation post (5), which in turn will also incorporate another lower rotating support (6b) opposite to that of the support post (4), for the connection of both parts (4 and 5).

The upper rotating support (6a) of the support post (4) with the foundation post (5), which in our example is circular, can adopt any geometric shape, as long as it is adapted to each specific installation situation. This (6a) will have fixing systems that allow the angle of the support post (4) to be oriented according to the geographical location or season of the year in which it is located, since they will allow the structure (1) to adopt any angle that the installer wishes to give it to optimize the production of electrical energy at all times.

When fixing each of the supports (6a and 6b) another fixing system will be used to level the structure. This is because the installation of the foundation post (5) may be subject to a deviation during the installation, either due to the characteristics of the terrain or due to human or measurement error. The support post (4) of the structure will be correctly leveled thanks to this level correction system.

The profile of the foundation post or pile (5) will be determined by the result of the mechanical calculations carried out to adapt the structure (1) to the installation terrain, since each location offers different physical and climatic characteristics of wind, earthquake, etc.

The joint (6) has two mounting options. If the structure (1) needs to be fixed, the rotation system (6c) is omitted, fixing both rotating supports (6a and 6b) directly. However, if the structure (1) needs to perform solar tracking to optimize the production of electric energy, a rotation system (6c) can be installed that allows the rotation of the longitudinal support post of the structure (1). To control the angle of rotation of the support post (4), the rotation system (6c) is equipped with electronic controllers with specific software for our invention, whether existing or new.

Claims (3)

1. Vertical photovoltaic solar structure for road or railway (1), characterized in that its verticality is achieved thanks to a support post (4) to which straps or profiles (3) are fixed, which provide the photovoltaic modules (2), coupled to these, with inclination if desired or keep them coplanar to the support post (4). This support post (4) with the coupled elements (2 and 3), is equipped with an upper rotating support (6a) whose function is to join the support post (4) with a foundation post (5), which, like the support post (4), is equipped with a lower rotating support (6b) with similar characteristics to those of this one (4) and which completes this union. The foundation post (5) can be installed in the ground by direct driving, pre-drilling, micropile or footing. The most suitable form will be used according to the particular characteristics of each terrain in which our structure (1) is installed. The assembly of the structure (1) can be carried out either "in situ", on site before or at the time of installation, or it can be pre-assembled in any space or system intended for this operation, regardless of the distance or configuration of the place where the pre-assembly is carried out. 2. Structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connection (6) of the support post (4) with the foundation post (5) comprises two rotating supports, upper (6a) and lower (6b) with similar or identical characteristics that can take any geometric shape required at any time of installation or manufacture. These supports (6a and 6b) will be provided with elongated, oblong or slotted holes or any other means of fixing that allows the orientation at all times of the structure (1) according to the optimal position with respect to solar radiation, according to geographical location or season of the year, while providing security and stability to the structure (1) in its fixing. 3. Structure (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the joint (6) contains a rotation system (6c) that provides the structure with movement, specifically rotation on the support post (4) of the structure (1), to achieve tracking of the position of the sun throughout the day. The installed rotation system (6c) will be accompanied by an electronic control system governed by a software with programming that allows the direct solar radiation position to be known at all times.