CN-224218307-U - Floating photovoltaic arrangement

Abstract

A floating Photovoltaic (PV) arrangement for supporting at least one PV module having at least one support region, the arrangement comprising a first elongate float, and a second elongate float having an end interconnected with a side of the first elongate float, wherein at least one of the floats comprises at least one mounting location for supporting the PV module via the at least one support region of the PV module.

Inventors

• E koppel
• R. Krochik

Assignees

• 太阳能森善-投资服务有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20241225

Priority Date

20231225

Claims (20)

1. 1. A floating Photovoltaic (PV) arrangement for supporting at least one PV module having at least one support area, the floating photovoltaic arrangement comprising: A first elongated float, and A second elongate float having an end interconnected with a side of the first elongate float, Characterized in that at least one of the floats comprises at least one mounting position for supporting the PV module via the at least one support area of the PV module.
2. 2. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first elongated float comprises first and second spaced apart mounting locations for supporting the PV module at respective first and second support regions of the PV module.
3. 3. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the second elongated float comprises a third mounting position for supporting the PV module at a third support area of the PV module.
4. 4. A floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first side of the PV module includes the first support region and the second support region, and The second side of the PV module includes the third support region.
5. 5. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the first, second and third support regions define respective vertices of an imaginary triangle shape.
6. 6. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the triangular shape is in the form of an isosceles triangle, wherein the first support region and the second support region define a base of the isosceles triangle.
7. 7. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the floating photovoltaic arrangement further comprises a respective mount for interconnecting the at least one support area of the PV module to the at least one mounting location.
8. 8. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the floating photovoltaic arrangement further comprises a first mount and a second mount for interconnecting the first and second support regions of the PV module to the first and second mounting locations, respectively.
9. 9. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the floating photovoltaic arrangement further comprises a third mount for interconnecting the third support area of the PV module to the third mounting location.
10. 10. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that each mount has the same cross-sectional shape.
11. 11. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the first and second mounts have a first length and the third mount has a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.
12. 12. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 9, wherein each mount comprises: A forward portion configured to be secured to a corresponding support area of the PV module, and A rearward portion configured to be mounted to a corresponding mounting location.
13. 13. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the forward portion of each mount comprises a mouth for receiving a respective support area of the PV module, each mouth having: an upper jaw arranged to be at least partially above the frame of the PV module, and A lower jaw arranged to be at least partially underneath the PV module.
14. 14. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the respective rearward portions of the first and second mounting members are mountable to the first and second mounting positions, respectively.
15. 15. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the mount is configured to hold the PV module in an inclined position, whereby the second side of the PV module is lifted higher than the first side.
16. 16. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the floating photovoltaic arrangement further comprises a riser secured to the at least one mounting location, the riser being operable to elevate the PV module at the at least one support area of the PV module.
17. 17. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 16, characterized in that the riser comprises the third mounting location for supporting the PV module at the third support area of the PV module.
18. 18. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 16, characterized in that the riser is in the form of a third float inverted such that the third mounting position of the third float is coupled to the second elongated float.
19. 19. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that: the PV modules are rectangular; the first elongate float being generally aligned with the first side of the PV module, and The second elongate float is substantially perpendicular to the first elongate float.
20. 20. The floating photovoltaic arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the third float is parallel to the first elongated float.

Description

Floating photovoltaic arrangement Technical Field The subject matter of the present specification relates to a floating Photovoltaic (PV) arrangement for supporting at least one PV module, comprising a float and a connector for interconnecting the floats. Background Floating Photovoltaics (FPV) refers to solar panels mounted on structures floating on bodies of water such as lakes, reservoirs, and even open sea. The electricity costs of FPV production need to compete with other solar energy systems such as ground and roof installations. Costs are related to the materials, installation and reliability of each system. Many existing floating platforms used in FPV applications utilize blow molding elements that function as a floating walkway. In this way, personnel can walk easily along the floating platform and perform any inspection, repair and maintenance of the FPV structure as required. However, such floating structures utilize relatively complex components that are costly to produce, transport, assemble, and/or install, thereby reducing the overall appeal and feasibility of the FPV. Furthermore, these blow-molded elements are designed to limit the size, weight, shape and configuration of the solar cell panel. With the current trend of rapid changes in solar panel measurement and layout design, blow-molded elements need to be produced in new and specific sizes and shapes, thus making them less functional and less suitable for new trends and rapid changes in the solar PV market. The floating structure may also be formed of extruded tubes sealed at both ends. While such pipes are significantly cheaper and faster to produce, transport and install, they may be less functional because it is impractical to walk on them and may not be strong or durable enough to withstand strong winds and wave forces. Floats with a flat top for use as a walkway are often preferred over round tubes, however the existing challenge is how to efficiently arrange and interconnect such floats to form a suitable floating structure, platform or raft. In particular, such floats are often arranged in an array, which may include floats connected end-to-end. Existing designs and methods for interconnecting floats relative to each other are quite complex, involve several auxiliary components, and can be quite cost-intensive and time-intensive to produce, transport, and assemble on-site. In view of the complexity of the design, field installations can be particularly time-intensive, labor-intensive and thus cost-intensive. Furthermore, such interconnection members are made of metal profiles which are not used for other purposes than to connect the elements together and which are subject to corrosion over time. In the prior art, there is no prior art to address these issues and to connect floats vertically in any size, configuration and shape. In order to make FPV available and spread worldwide, it is desirable to address the above problems and/or at least provide a useful alternative. Disclosure of Invention According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a floating structure configured to include a buoyant, walkable truss-like array for use as a platform for a solar energy system including solar panels. The floating structure is formed by a tubular float of any suitable shape or size. The floats are sealed by connectors at the ends of the floats and may be connected to other floats vertically or angularly via connectors. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a connector for interconnecting an end of a first elongate float having an opening to a side of a second elongate float, the connector comprising: a first portion for sealing the opening of the first float, and A second portion having at least one connecting element protruding in a vertical or angled direction from the second portion towards a side of the second float and adapted to be connected with the second float. It is contemplated that embodiments of the connectors disclosed herein may be connected anywhere along either side of the second buoy. In this way, the first float can be fixed relative to the second float almost anywhere along the second float. Thus, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, different modular floating structures having any number of different configurations and arrangements may be formed simply via a plurality of floats and a plurality of connectors. In this way, floats and connectors embodying the present disclosure resemble well-known building blocks that can be assembled together in any number of different ways to form a floating structure that can be customized to the particular needs and uses applications that include solar panels of any size, weight, and shape. For example, differently configured floating platforms may be formed to accommodate different solar panel configurations, functionalities and installation requirements, and rafts and floating access paths of various widths, l