PV WIND PERFORMANCE ENHANCING METHODS AND APPARATUS

• US 20150040944A1
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Original Assignee: Sunpower Corporation (Totalenergies Se)
• Inventors: Dinwoodie, Thomas L., O'Brien, Colleen A., Neff, David E., Mascolo, Gianluigi
• Application Number:
  US14/466,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20150040944A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/6
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2025/01 Special support components; Methods of use
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/11 using shaped bodies, e.g. concrete elements, foamed elements or moulded box-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/15 using bent plates; using assemblies of plates
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/16 Arrangement of interconnected standing structures; Standing structures having separate supporting portions for adjacent modules
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 30/20 for linear movement
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 40/20 Cleaning; Removing snow
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 40/85 Arrangements for protecting solar collectors against adverse weather conditions F24S40/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/24 specially adapted for flat roofs
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/10 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/00 Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Pressure equalization between upper and lower surfaces of PV modules of an array of PV modules can be enhanced in several ways. Air gaps opening into the air volume, defined between the PV modules and the support surface, should be provided between adjacent PV modules and along the periphery of the array. The ratio of this air volume to the total area of the air gaps should be minimized. Peripheral wind deflectors should be used to minimize aerodynamic drag forces on the PV modules. The time to equalize pressure between the upper and lower surfaces of the PV modules should be maintained below, for example, 10-20 milliseconds. The displacement created by wind gusts should be limited to, for example, 2-5 millimeters or less. For inclined PV modules, rear air deflectors are advised for each PV module and side air deflectors are advised for the periphery of the array.

Claims

1. A cart for cleaning PV modules of a PV installation, comprising:

a cart body including first and second sides and first and second ends;

at least a first support device connected to the first side of the cart body;

a second support device connected to the second side of the cart body, the first and second support devices configured for supporting the cart body for movement along a direction extending through the first and second ends of the cart body along a row of PV modules, with the first support device disposed in the vicinity of a first side of the row of PV modules and the second support device disposed in a vicinity of a second side of the row of PV modules;

a motor configured to drive the cart body in a self-propelled manner;

at least a first brush carried by the cart body and configured to clean a PV module; and

at least one sprayer carried by the cart body and configured to clean a PV module.

2. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the first and second support devices comprise first and second wheels.

3. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the first and second wheels are configured to ride in tracks formed on the first and second sides of the row of PV modules.

4. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the at least one brush is carried by a lower portion of the cart body so that the brush is disposed between the lower portion of the cart body and an upward facing surface of a PV module when the cart is supported by the first and second support devices over a PV module.

5. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sprayer comprises a plurality of sprayers.

6. The cart according to claim 1, wherein at least the first support device is configured to support the cart body above the PV module when the PV module is inclined.

7. The cart according to claim 1 additionally comprising a global positioning system (GPS) configured to allow tracking of the cart.

8. The cart according to claim 1, wherein the cart body is approximately a same width as a width of the PV module.

9. A self-propelled PV module cleaning device comprising:

a body having a first side and a second side, a distance between the first side and the second side defining a width of the body, the width of the body being approximately the same as a width of a PV module, the body further comprising a first end and a second end, a movement direction of the body defined as extending through the first and second ends;

a first support device supporting the first side of the body;

a second support device supporting the second side of the body, the first and second support devices configured to support the body during movement of the body over a PV module along the movement direction;

at least a first sprayer carried by the body configured for cleaning a PV module disposed below the body; and

at least a first brush carried by the body in a position with at least a portion of the at least a first brush disposed adjacent to and upper side of a PV module and with at least a portion of the at least a first brush disposed between the first and second support devices.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second support devices are configured to support the body above a PV module which is inclined.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the first and second support devices comprise first and second wheels, respectively, the first and second wheels configured to engage U-shaped tracks disposed along the first and second side of the PV module.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the at least a first brush comprises a plurality of brushes.

13. The device according to claim 9 additionally comprising a global positioning system (GPS) configured to allow the device to be tracked during cleaning.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second supports are configured to support the body for movement over a plurality of PV modules arranged in an end to end fashion.

15. A method for cleaning a plurality of PV modules arranged in a row, the method comprising:

positioning a body of a self-propelled PV module cleaning device over a row of PV modules, with a first side of the cleaning device disposed along a first side of the row of PV modules and with a second side of the cleaning device disposed along a second side of the row of PV modules;

moving the cleaning device with a motor carried by the cleaning device in a self-propelled manner, along a longitudinal length of the row of PV modules; and

cleaning a plurality of PV modules in the row of PV modules with at least one brush and at least one sprayer carried by the cleaning device.

16. The method according to claim 15 additionally comprising tracking the cleaning of the plurality of PV modules with a global positioning system (GPS).

17. The method according to claim 15 additionally comprising maintaining the body of the self-propelled PV module cleaning device in a position over the row of PV modules when the PV modules are tilted relative to horizontal.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein maintaining the body comprises engaging at least one support device disposed on the first side of the cleaning device with a U-shaped channel extending along a first side of the row of PV modules.

19. The method according to claim 15 additionally comprising remotely controlling the self-propelled PV module cleaning device.

20. A device for cleaning PV modules arranged in rows, comprising:

a body carrying at least one brush and at least one sprayer configured for cleaning and upper surfaces of PV modules arranged in a row; and

means for cleaning and self-propelling the body over a plurality of the PV modules arranged in a row with the at least one brush in the at least one sprayer.