Method of supporting a solar energy collection unit

• US 20070199560A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arizona Public Service Company (Pinnacle West Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Arizona Public Service Company (Pinnacle West Capital Corporation)
• Inventors: Hobbs, Raymond, Haberman, David
• Application Number:
  US11/361,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20070199560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/600
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 10/742 the conduits being parallel to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/014 Methods for installing support elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/02 Ballasting means
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/10 extending in directions away from a supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 80/30 Arrangements for connecting the fluid circuits of solar collectors with each other or with other components, e.g. pipe connections; Fluid distributing means, e.g. headers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking

Abstract

A method (92) of supporting a solar energy collection unit (22, 54, 76) of a solar energy system (20, 52, 78) calls for redistributing (96) earth at a worksite (26) to form an elevated earthen structure (24) having a sun facing surface (28), compacting (102) the earthen structure (24), and arranging (106) the solar energy collection unit (22, 54, 76) upon the sun facing surface (28) of the earthen structure (24). The earthen structure (24) may include internal strengthening material (32) detached from the energy collection unit (22, 54, 76) and the earthen structure (24) may be encased in a binder material (34) for additional stability. Channels (48, 50) may be provided proximate the earthen structure (24) for fluid supply and release functions.

Claims

1. A method of supporting a solar energy collection unit of a solar energy system comprising:

redistributing earth at a worksite to form an elevated earthen structure having a sun facing surface;

compacting said earthen structure; and

arranging said solar energy collection unit upon said sun facing surface of said earthen structure.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising forming said sun facing surface to have a first surface area at least as great as a second surface area of said solar energy collection unit.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising conforming said sun facing surface of said earthen structure to a shape of said solar energy collection unit.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising aligning said earthen structure to provide shade for a portion of said solar energy system.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising utilizing said earthen structure for thermal management of said solar energy collection unit.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising orienting said sun facing surface at an elevation angle from horizontal of greater than ten degrees and less than ninety degrees.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solar energy collection unit comprises enclosed members, and said arranging operation comprises aligning a longitudinal axis each of said enclosed members with a slope of said sun facing surface.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said worksite includes non-flat terrain, said energy collection unit is one of a plurality of energy collection units of said solar energy system, and said redistributing operation comprises:

excavating said non-flat terrain to create terraces; and

forming a plurality of earthen structures on said terraces for arranging said plurality of energy collection units thereupon.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising encasing said earthen structure in a binder material.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said binder material comprises adobe.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising incorporating a non-earthen strengthening material internal to said earthen structure.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said non-earthen strengthening material is detached from said solar energy collection unit.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

providing a channel proximate said earthen structure;

directing a fluid through said channel; and

supplying a fluid inlet of said solar energy collection unit with said fluid from said channel.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said providing operation comprises excavating said earth to form said channel as an open channel.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said channel is an enclosed member, and said providing operation comprises installing said enclosed member proximate said earthen structure.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

providing a channel proximate said earthen structure;

supplying said channel with a fluid from a fluid outlet of said solar energy collection unit; and

directing said fluid through said channel.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said providing operation comprises excavating said earth to form said channel as an open channel.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said channel is an enclosed member, and said providing operation comprises installing said enclosed member proximate said earthen structure.

19. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solar energy collection unit is a photosynthetic bioreactor, said earthen structure supporting said photosynthetic bioreactor.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein said solar energy system includes a plurality of photosynthetic bioreactors, and said redistributing operation comprises excavating said earth at said worksite to form a plurality of elevated earthen structures for supporting said plurality of photosynthetic bioreactors.

21. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said worksite is at least one hundred acres, and said method comprises utilizing substantially an entirety of said at least one hundred acres to form a plurality of elevated earthen structures for supporting a plurality of solar energy collection units.

22. A method of supporting a solar energy collection unit of a solar energy system comprising:

redistributing earth at a worksite to form an elevated earthen structure having a sun facing surface;

forming said sun facing surface to have a first surface area at least as great as a second surface area of said solar energy collection unit;

orienting said sun facing surface at an elevation angle from horizontal of greater than ten degrees and less than ninety degrees;

compacting said earthen structure; and

arranging said solar energy collection unit upon said sun facing surface of said earthen structure.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 further comprising aligning said earthen structure to provide shade for a portion of said solar energy system.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said worksite includes non-flat terrain, said energy collection unit is one of a plurality of energy collection units of said solar energy system, and said redistributing operation comprises:

excavating said non-flat terrain to create terraces; and

forming a plurality of earthen structures on said terraces for arranging said plurality of energy collection units thereupon.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22 further comprising encasing said earthen structure in a binder material.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22 further comprising incorporating a non-earthen strengthening material internal to said earthen structure, said non-earthen strengthening material being detached from said solar energy collection unit.

27. A method of supporting a photosynthetic bioreactor of a solar energy system comprising:

redistributing earth at a worksite to form an elevated earthen structure having a sun facing surface;

orienting said sun facing surface at an elevation angle from horizontal of greater than ten degrees and less than ninety degrees;

compacting said earthen structure;

providing a channel proximate said earthen structure;

arranging said photosynthetic bioreactor upon said sun facing surface of said earthen structure;

directing a supply fluid through said channel; and

supplying a fluid inlet of said photosynthetic bioreactor with said supply fluid from said channel.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27 further comprising forming said sun facing surface to have a first surface area at least as great as a second surface area of said photosynthetic bioreactor.

29. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein said photosynthetic bioreactor comprises enclosed members, and said arranging operation comprises aligning a longitudinal axis of each of said enclosed members with a slope of said sun facing surface.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein said channel is a first channel, and said method further comprises:

providing a second channel proximate said earthen structure;

supplying said second channel with a release fluid from a fluid outlet of said photosynthetic bioreactor; and

directing said release fluid through said second channel.

31. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein said solar energy system includes a plurality of photosynthetic bioreactors, and said redistributing operation comprises excavating said worksite to form a plurality of elevated earthen structures for supporting said plurality of photosynthetic bioreactors.