Solar power generation assembly and method for providing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9548695-B2
Application number	US-201514886848-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2015
Priority date	Jul 2, 2008
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solar power generation assembly and method for providing same involving an array of solar generating modules on a dual-incline structure, which can achieve high energy yields over a wide range of azimuths/orientations. The assembly consists of canopy wings providing for the dual-incline structure, where, depending on specifications, the canopy wings can differ in length, width, angle of inclination, structural material and solar module or other material mounted on the surface. The canopy wings may be pivoted or hinged to enhance the energy generation and/or other functional benefits of the assembly or system, including display elements, advertising, rainwater/precipitation and snow drainage and collection and energy transmission. The assembly or system is modular and may be assembled in a long continuous configuration in which the inclination, width and tilt of the canopy wings may vary of a long distance to maintain substantially consistent energy yields as the assembly or system orientation changes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing a solar power generation assembly comprising:
providing a dual-incline structure comprising:
a first array comprising energy producing material and a second array comprising energy producing material; and
a first support column, a second support column, a first support beam, a second support beam, a third support beam, and a fourth support beam, wherein:
the first support column and the second support column each comprise (i) a first end that is coupled to a ground surface, (ii) a first length that extends substantially vertically from the ground surface, and (iii) a second opposing end, the first and second support columns positioned in a first plane;
the first support beam, the second support beam, the third support beam, and the fourth support beam each comprise (i) a support beam end and (ii) an opposing support beam end;
the support beam end of the first support beam is coupled to the second opposing end of the first support column, the first support beam is positioned at a first angle formed between the first support beam and the first support column;
the support beam end of the second support beam is coupled to the second opposing end of the second support column, the second support beam is positioned at the first angle formed between the second support beam and the second support column;
the first array is positioned on the first support beam and the second, the first array is positioned in a second plane with respect to the first plane forming a longitudinal axis and at the first angle, and the first array is fixed in position such that the first array is non-adjustable upon installation;
the support beam end of the third support beam is coupled to the second opposing end of the first support column, the third support beam is positioned at a second angle formed between the third support beam and the first support column;
the support beam end of the fourth support beam is coupled to the second opposing end of the second support column, the fourth support beam is positioned at the second angle formed between the fourth support beam and the second support column;
the opposing support beam ends of the third and fourth support beams are positioned higher from the ground surface than the support beam ends of the third and fourth support beams;
the second array is positioned on the third support beam and the fourth support beam, the second array is positioned in a third plane with respect to the first plane, the third plane is different than the second plane, the second plane and the third plane intersect at the longitudinal axis, the second array is positioned at the second angle, and the second array is fixed in position such that the second array is non-adjustable upon installation;
the second angle is greater than 90 degrees; and
the first angle is not the supplement of the second angle;

constructing the dual-incline structure comprising:
erecting the first support column and the second support column;
connecting the first support beam and the second support beam directly or indirectly to the first support column;
connecting the third support beam and the fourth support beam directly or indirectly to the second support column;
mounting the first array directly or indirectly to the first support beam and the second support beam; and
mounting the second array directly or indirectly to the third support beam and the fourth support beam.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy producing material comprises at least one of photovoltaic modules, photovoltaic thin film, light concentrator type of solar panel, and solar thermal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual-incline structure is modular.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual-incline structure further comprises a first purlin and a second purlin, wherein the first purlin is coupled to the first support beam and the second support beam to support the first array and wherein the second purlin is coupled to the third support beam and the fourth support beam to support the second array.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual-incline structure further comprises a membrane mounted beneath the first array or the second array, wherein the first array or the second array comprises a plurality of spaces between the energy producing material of the first array or the second array through which precipitation falls from a surface of the energy producing material in the first array or the second array and on to the membrane.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual-incline structure further comprises a gap between the first array and the second array through which precipitation on a top surface of the first array or the second array falls.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual-incline structure further comprises a gutter that directs precipitation toward one of the first support column and the second support column.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dual-incline structure further comprises:
at least one space between the energy producing material in the first array or the second array; and
an interstitial gasket positioned in the at least one space, wherein the interstitial gasket prevents precipitation that falls on a surface of the energy producing material in the first array or the second array from falling into the at least one space.

9. A system for operating a solar power generation assembly comprising:
at least one programmable management system that manages a dual-incline structure installed at a geographic location, wherein the dual-incline structure comprises:
a first array comprising energy producing material and a second array comprising energy producing material; and
a first support column, a second support column, a first support beam, a second support beam, a third support beam, and a fourth support beam, wherein:
the first support column and the second support column each comprise (i) a first end that is coupled to a ground surface, (ii) a first length that extends substantially vertically from the ground surface, and (iii) a second opposing end, the first and second support columns positioned in a first plane;
the first support beam, the second support beam, the third support beam, and the fourth support beam each comprise (i) a support beam end and (ii) an opposing support beam end;
the support beam end of the first support beam is coupled to the second opposing end of the first support column, the first support beam is positioned at a first angle formed between the first support beam and the first support column;
the support beam end of the second support beam is coupled to the second opposing end of the second support column, the second support beam is positioned at the first angle formed between the second support beam and the second support column;
the first array is positioned on the first support beam and the second support beam, the first array is positioned in a second plane with respect to the first plane forming a longitudinal axis and at the first angle, and the first array is fixed in position such that the first array is non-adjustable upon installation;
the support beam end of the third support beam is coupled to the second opposing end of the first support column, the third support beam is positioned at a second angle formed between the third support beam and the first support column;
the support beam end of the fourth support beam is coupled to the second opposing end of the second support column, the fourth support beam is positioned at the second angle formed between the fourth support beam and the second support column;
the opposing support beam ends of the third and fourth support beams are positioned higher from the ground surface than the supp

Assignees

• Sunpower Corp

Inventors

• Mackler Laurence

Classifications

• H02S50/10

  Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells (testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing {H10P74/00}) · CPC title

• G09F17/00

  Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor · CPC title

• H02S40/32

  comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules · CPC title

• Y10S362/812

  Signs · CPC title

• Y02E10/47

  Mountings or tracking · CPC title