Highly efficient solar arrays
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A solar energy system, comprising:
- a plurality of photovoltaic modules;
a plurality of reflectors, each of the plurality of reflectors positioned opposite a corresponding one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules; and
a racking assembly mechanically interconnecting the plurality of photovoltaic modules and the plurality of reflectors to form an interconnected system;
wherein;
the photovoltaic modules and reflectors are arranged in adjacent rows;
the adjacent rows include reflector rows interposed between module rows;
each reflector row includes multiple reflectors;
each module row includes multiple photovoltaic modules;
the racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent photovoltaic modules and reflectors, the gaps between adjacent photovoltaic modules and reflectors including a module-to-module gap between the adjacent photovoltaic modules within each module row and a reflector-to-reflector gap between the adjacent reflectors within each reflector row;
the interconnected system includes a plurality of contact points associated with the gaps;
the racking assembly comprises;
a plurality of rails arranged orthogonally to and beneath the adjacent rows; and
a plurality of fins that interconnect the photovoltaic modules and the reflectors to the rails; and
the fins define the module-to-module gap between the adjacent photovoltaic modules within each module row and the reflector-to-reflector gap between the adjacent reflectors within each reflector row.
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Abstract
In an example, a solar energy system includes multiple PV modules, multiple reflectors, and a racking assembly. Each of the reflectors is positioned opposite a corresponding one of the PV modules. The racking assembly mechanically interconnects the PV modules and the reflectors to form an interconnected system. The racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent PV modules and reflectors. The interconnected system includes multiple contact points associated with the gaps. The gaps and contact points configure the interconnected system to accommodate surface unevenness of an installation surface up to a predetermined surface unevenness.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A solar energy system, comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic modules; a plurality of reflectors, each of the plurality of reflectors positioned opposite a corresponding one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules; and a racking assembly mechanically interconnecting the plurality of photovoltaic modules and the plurality of reflectors to form an interconnected system; wherein; the photovoltaic modules and reflectors are arranged in adjacent rows; the adjacent rows include reflector rows interposed between module rows; each reflector row includes multiple reflectors; each module row includes multiple photovoltaic modules; the racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent photovoltaic modules and reflectors, the gaps between adjacent photovoltaic modules and reflectors including a module-to-module gap between the adjacent photovoltaic modules within each module row and a reflector-to-reflector gap between the adjacent reflectors within each reflector row; the interconnected system includes a plurality of contact points associated with the gaps; the racking assembly comprises; a plurality of rails arranged orthogonally to and beneath the adjacent rows; and a plurality of fins that interconnect the photovoltaic modules and the reflectors to the rails; and the fins define the module-to-module gap between the adjacent photovoltaic modules within each module row and the reflector-to-reflector gap between the adjacent reflectors within each reflector row. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A solar energy system comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic modules; a plurality of reflectors, each of the plurality of reflectors positioned opposite a corresponding one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules; a racking assembly comprising a plurality or rails mechanically interconnecting the plurality of photovoltaic modules and the plurality of reflectors to form an interconnected system; and a rainwater collection subsystem; wherein; the racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent photovoltaic modules and reflectors; the interconnected system includes a plurality of contact points associated with the gaps; the photovoltaic modules and reflectors are positioned such that top surfaces thereof are at one or more angles relative to horizontal; and the rainwater collection subsystem comprises; an extruded drip gutter extending from a bottom edge of each photovoltaic module and of each reflector, the extruded drip gutter configured to collect rainwater that runs down the surface of the corresponding photovoltaic module or reflector and to channel the collected rainwater towards one or both ends of the extruded drip gutter, one or both ends of the extruded drip gutter being open to expel the collected rainwater therefrom; edge extensions extending upwards from a base of each rail to define rail channels on opposing sides of each rail, the rail channels being positioned beneath ends of the extruded drip gutters such that expelled rainwater is captured in the rail channels; and one or more storage reservoirs in fluid communication with the rail channels, the one or more storage reservoirs being configured to receive and store the rainwater captured by the rail channels.
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16. A solar energy system comprising:
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a plurality of photovoltaic modules; a plurality of reflectors, each of the plurality of reflectors positioned opposite a corresponding one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules; and a racking assembly mechanically interconnecting the plurality of photovoltaic modules and the plurality of reflectors to form an interconnected system; wherein; the racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent photovoltaic modules and reflectors; the interconnected system includes a plurality of contact points associated with the gaps; each of the photovoltaic modules and reflectors includes a frame; each frame comprises two side members positioned on opposing sides of a corresponding photovoltaic module or reflector; each side member for each reflector frame has a double-wall-box construction including an inner box aligned lengthwise side-by-side with an outer box along at least most of the length of each side member, one side of each box being a common wall shared between the inner and outer boxes; each side member for each module frame has a single-wall-box construction; each side member has a length greater than a length of the corresponding photovoltaic module or reflector and is arranged such that top and bottom ends of each side member respectively extend beyond upper and lower edges of a corresponding photovoltaic module or reflector; the outer wall box is absent from the top end of each side member in each reflector frame; and the top end of each of two side members in a frame of each photovoltaic module is removably coupled to the top end of each of two side members in a frame of a corresponding reflector positioned behind the photovoltaic module. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification