WO2009068717A1 - Element for supporting and protecting solar energy harnessing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an element for supporting solar energy harnessing devices, which includes a series of rails that extend along the top and bottom of the sides thereof and a laminar body which travels along said guides and has a surface area similar to that of the solar energy harnessing device. The position of the aforementioned laminar body changes according to temperature and light parameters detected by a series of sensors which activate a motor, such that said body can occupy a position below the device, in which incident solar rays can reach the device and be reflected therefrom, or a position above the device, in which the device is protected from adverse atmospheric agents.

Description

 SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ELEMENT OF SOLAR USE DEVICES

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

As its name indicates, the present invention consists of a support and protection element for solar devices such as panels, plates and solar collectors that, automatically, covers them or discovers them by protecting them against adverse elements such as rain, hail, dust or excessive heat thereby favoring their proper functioning and prolonging their life.

The sector of the technique in which it is located is that of the installation systems of solar utilization devices.

STATE OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE The use of devices that take advantage of the light and heat of the sun to heat water or produce electricity is something of widespread use.

For the best use of solar energy such elements are usually placed outdoors on roofs, roofs and other areas very exposed to both solar action and also to humidity, heat, cold, wind, hail, snow, rain, dust and Other aggressive elements.

In addition to the external aggressions that can damage them, the constant exposure to the sun causes, especially in summer, an overheating of its internal and external elements that, sometimes, can damage the equipment and, in the long run, generate a decrease of their useful life. On the other hand, in cold areas, a layer of snow or ice can be deposited on them leaving them unusable while maintaining the aforementioned frozen mantle.

One of the ways to protect the devices of solar use is to cover them, an operation that is complicated to be located, in general, in areas of difficult access and dangerous due to their poor stability.

On the other hand, the complexity of covering the plates is even greater if it is desired that, between the plate itself and the element that covers it, there is an air chamber that favors its isolation.

In order to solve the exposed problems, a support element for solar panels and panels has been developed that includes a fixed support where the plate or panel is housed to which a series of rails have been incorporated that run both through the lower part and through the top of said plate and that they are traveled by a flexible body of an extension similar to the surface of the plate and that, when it is on it, covers and protects it and when it is under it, it reflects the solar rays thus causing the plate or solar panel receive a double contribution of energy to receive it both directly from the sun, on its upper face, and from the reflection generated by the inner face of the laminar body in the lower position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The proposed invention consists essentially of a support for solar utilization devices which are incorporated in a series of rails that run along its entire length along its sides at a distance both from its upper and lower part.

Through these rails runs a laminar body that can be constituted of a single piece of flexible material, for example a textile or geotextile piece, or based on different pieces of rigid material joined together forming a cover.

Said laminar body moves along the rails, its continuous path being from an upper position, essentially covering at a certain distance the surface of the solar panel, panel or collector, to a lower position, remaining under said solar element after turning in a forced way to save the edge of the device that surrounds it.

To move the laminar body along the rails, the driving force of a motor that transmits movement to the laminar body is used in any of the conventional ways such as gears or belts.

This motor is activated automatically based on the data it receives from a series of sensors that detect the temperature inside the solar utilization device or the presence or absence of sun.

In this way, starting from a position of use of the solar device where it is discovered being the protective element under it, in case of being detected by one of the sensors a high temperature inside or surface the motor would be activated to move the sheet body to an upper position that covers said plate or collector, and the same would happen in case of absence of sufficient light, thus protecting the plate or collector both in situations of extreme heat or in times of non-use.

These same temperature and light sensors will detect the favorable conditions for the use of the plates or collectors by activating the motor so that the protective element is positioned under the plate or collector.

In this lower position the function of the protective element would be different since said element can be carried out in a material or covered with a material, at least in its inner face, that facilitates the reflection of the sun's rays with which a double impact of the sun's rays would be generated on the solar utilization device that would receive directly from the sun's rays and, by The other, the reflection thereof, thereby optimizing the use of this type of devices.

In its protective function, that is to say when the protective laminar element is on the plate or solar collector, the plate is also protected from atmospheric phenomena such as snow or ice, being advantageous in that case that it is provided by its external face with a series of tabs that favor retention and, at the time, drag snow or ice.

For the best understanding of what is presented, the following figures are presented along with their appropriate explanations.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE FIGURES FIGURE 1 shows a perspective of one of the possible executions of

The invention in a position of use where the protective element (1) is seen in a lower position under the solar utilization device (2) which, as can be seen, has a series of horizontal "U" shaped rails on its sides (3) that Ia travel both above and below and through which the protective element (1) runs, said protective element being moved by a motor (4) that is activated when a series of sensors (5) detect certain conditions alterations internal or external of the board and send such data to a processor. The inner face of the protective element (10) is made or covered with a material capable of reflecting the sun's rays, thereby causing a double impact on the plate, panel or collector.

FIGURE 2 reproduces another possible embodiment of the invention, showing it this time in a non-use position, the protective element (6) being located on the solar utilization device. The horizontal "U" shaped guides (3) shown in FIGURE 1 have been replaced by sets of independent rails, the upper one (7) and the lower one (8) achieving the continuity of the route thanks to a roller (9) that it will force the laminar body to rotate and partially circumvent the solar utilization device passing from the lower part of the panel or plate to the upper or the reverse, all according to the motor being activated depending on the data that the sensors (5) supply to a processor PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A way of carrying out the invention is described below without prejudice to the fact that certain devices can be replaced by others that fulfill a similar function. The present invention essentially comprises a support for the solar utilization device to which, on its sides, two "U" shaped rails are arranged horizontally arranged in such a way that one of the extensions of said "U" runs at a greater height than The plate and the other at a lower height. The mentioned rails serve as a guide to move a laminar body, either made of a single piece of flexible material such as a geotextile material or come composed of a series of slats joined together in the manner of a blind.

Said laminar body, which will serve as a protective element of the solar harvesting device is of a surface similar to that of the latter.

The race of said laminar body when moving along the rails is defined from a superior position in which it would be covering the solar device during periods of non-use of the same to a lower position, during the periods of use of the device, it would remain under this and vice versa.

This movement of movement along the rails from a higher position to a lower one is achieved thanks to the action of an engine and the application of a series of conventional gears and / or braces.

The motor activation at any time to move the protective element from one position, for example lower, to another, for example higher or vice versa, is determined by the performance of a processor that, depending on the data provided by a series of Sensors will be activated causing the transfer of the laminar body from one end of its path to the other.

The indicated sensors will essentially detect the data related to the temperature inside or surface of the plate, panel or collector as well as the intensity of light existing in each moment.

If the temperature in the solar device rises excessively, the protector will move to a higher position to cover it and thus prevent it from being damaged. Likewise, if the existing light is already insufficient to the point of not being useful for use by the solar device, the protective element will go to its upper position to cover it during periods of non-use. When the sensors determine that the temperature of the solar device is adequate and the incidence light is usable, the protective element will move to a lower position allowing the solar panel, panel or collector to receive the impact of the sun's rays. In this position of use, the incidence of the sun's rays on the solar device is enhanced thanks to the fact that at least the inner face of the protective element is made or covered with a material capable of reflecting the solar rays in such a way that they affect in the solar device both directly on its upper face and indirectly thanks to the reflection on its lower face.

Claims

1.- SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ELEMENT OF SOLAR USE DEVICES such as plates, panels or collectors, of the type that are constituted by a structure made in profiles on which the essentially characterized solar device is fixed because on the sides of said support, preferably attached to it, are a series of rails or guides that run along both its upper and lower part being subject to said rails, but being able to move, is a laminar body of extension essentially similar to that of the solar device and that by the action of a motor its relative position with respect to the solar device can be varied by moving along the rails from an upper position, in which the laminar body essentially covers said device to a lower position where said laminar body is under the device or vice versa, switching from one side of the device to the other make a forced turn at one of its ends, all based on a series of temperature and light parameters measured by suitable sensors. 2. SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ELEMENT OF SOLAR USE DEVICES according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that the rails located on the sides of the solar device have a horizontal "U" shape such that one of the extensions of said pieces in the form of " U "runs essentially parallel to the solar utilization device in a plane slightly higher than this while the other extension runs in the same way through the lower part of the device. 3. SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ELEMENT OF SOLAR USE DEVICES according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that the rails that run laterally to the solar utilization device by its upper and lower part are independent of each other, the curved end of the path to be carried out lacking rail by the laminar body being assisted for this purpose by a body of cylindrical or cylindrical geometry such as a roller or an integrated system of various rollers or wheels. 4. SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ELEMENT OF SOLAR USE DEVICES according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that the movable laminar body that performs the protection function has at least its internal face made or covered with a material capable of reflecting the sun's rays. 5.- SUPPORT ELEMENT AND PROTECTION OF DEVICES SOLAR USE according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that in the position of use of the solar utilization device the laminar body is in a lower position than this, while in the position of non-use said said laminar element is on it. 6. SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ELEMENT OF SOLAR USE DEVICES according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that the laminar body is constituted of a single piece and is made of a flexible and robust material such as a geotextile material to which the rods can be incorporated or sufficient internal sabers to ensure the necessary strength for its functionality. 7. SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ELEMENT OF SOLAR USE DEVICES according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that the laminar body is constituted by different pieces or slats, preferably transverse joined together in the manner of a blind. 8.- ELEMENT SUPPORT AND PROTECTION OF DEVICES SOLAR USE according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that it includes a series of sensors to determine the temperature of the solar exploitation device by sending the data to a processor that governs the motor. 9.- ELEMENT SUPPORT AND PROTECTION OF DEVICES SOLAR USE according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that it includes a series of sensors to determine the level of sunlight that falls on the solar utilization device, sending the data to a processor that governs the motor. 10.- ELEMENT SUPPORT AND PROTECTION OF DEVICES SOLAR USE according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that in position of use the movable laminar piece is in the lower part of the device while in position of non-use said sheet body is covering it. 11. SUPPORT AND PROTECTION ELEMENT OF SOLAR USE DEVICES according to claim 1 essentially characterized in that there is a sufficient gap between the laminar element and the solar utilization device to generate an insulating air chamber.