SOLAR PANEL DEVICE AND SOLAR PANEL SYSTEM

[81]
Disclosed is a solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) comprising support structure (102, 412, 602, 812, 902); frame(s) (104, 302, 408, 606, 904) adapted to enclose solar panel(s) (106), frame is rotatably coupled to the support structure (102); connecting member (108, 130, 132, 134, 610, 704, 906); load (110, 138, 140, 142, 608, 908) coupled to support structure and frame using connecting member, the connecting member has load attached thereto, connecting member move between the frame and the support structure for enabling load to align frame at given angle with ground surface on which support structure is arranged.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) comprising:

- a support structure (102, 412, 602, 812, 902);

- at least one frame (104, 302, 408, 606, 904) adapted to enclose at least one solar panel (106), wherein the at least one frame is rotatably coupled to the support structure;

- at least one connecting member (108, 130, 132, 134, 610, 704, 906); and

- at least one load (110, 138, 140, 142, 608, 908) coupled to the support structure and the at least one frame using the at least one connecting member, wherein

- a first end (108a, 704a) of the at least one connecting member is fastened to the at least one frame on at least one first attachment point (104a, 122a, 122b, 126a, 410, 706),

- an intermediate portion (108c) of the at least one connecting member is connected to the support structure on at least one second attachment point (102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 414, 416, 708), and

- a second end (108b) of the at least one connecting member has the least one load attached thereto, and wherein the at least one connecting member is configured to move between the at least one frame and the support structure for enabling the at least one load to align the at least one frame with respect to the support structure such that the at least one solar panel is at a given angle with respect to a ground surface on which the support structure is arranged;
characterized in that ,

wherein the at least one frame (104, 302, 408, 606, 904) is rotatably coupled to the support structure (102, 412, 602, 812, 902) via at least two attachment means (114a, 114b) that are arranged on two opposite sides of the at least one frame, wherein the at least two attachment means lie along a rotational axis (A-A') of the at least one frame and enable rotation of the at least one solar panel (106) with respect to the ground surface,

wherein the rotational axis (A-A') of the at least one frame (104, 302, 408, 606, 904) lies at a predefined distance from a central axis of the at least one frame which extends between the two opposite sides of the at least one frame, wherein the predefined distance lies in a range of 20%-80% of a total distance from the central axis to an end of the at least one frame, and

wherein the predefined distance of the rotational axis from the central axis is selected in such a way that a balance is struck between sensitivity of the rotation of the at least one solar panel to external forces and a weight of the at least one load.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (102, 412, 602, 812, 902) has a body that includes at least one hollow portion (504a), wherein the at least one hollow portion is designed to hold the at least one load (110, 138, 140, 142, 608, 908) therein.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one connecting member (108, 130, 132, 134, 610, 704, 906) is thermally expandable, wherein the at least one connecting member expands and/or contract based on a temperature to which it is exposed, to cause rotation of the at least one frame (104, 302, 408, 606, 904) with respect to the ground surface.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one load (110, 138, 140, 142, 608, 908) is implemented as at least one of: a weight, a spring element, an expandable wire, an expandable rope.

A solar panel device (100b, 900) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one frame comprises a first frame (122) adapted to enclose a first solar panel (124) and a second frame (126) adapted to enclose a second solar panel (128), the first frame and the second frame being arranged at different positions with respect to the support structure (102, 902).

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one fastening member (402, 404, 406) attached to the at least one frame (408) on the at least one first attachment point (410) and to the support structure (412) on the at least one second attachment point (414, 416).

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one turnbuckle (702) connected at the first end (704a) and/or the second end (708) of the at least one connecting member (704), the at least one turnbuckle being configured to automatically extend or retract, based on a temperature of its surroundings, to enable sliding of the at least one connecting member based upon temperature variation through the day.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one flexible member (804, 806, 808, 810) provided in the support structure (812), wherein the at least one flexible member facilitates adjustment of height of the support structure.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising a processor (910) and at least one actuator (912) coupled to a shaft of support structure (902), wherein the processor is configured to generate a drive signal for controlling the at least one actuator, based at least on a time of a day, wherein the drive signal enables the at least one actuator to rotate the shaft.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) according to claim 9, further comprising at least one first sensor (914) that, in operation, detects weather conditions of a site where the solar panel device is placed, the at least one first sensor being communicably coupled to the processor (910), wherein the processor is configured to generate the drive signal based also on the weather conditions of the site.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one second sensor (916) communicably coupled to a user device (920) via a communication network (918), wherein the at least one second sensor is configured to:

- detect the given angle of the at least one solar panel (106) with respect to the ground surface; and

- send the given angle to the user device via the communication network.

A solar panel device (100a, 100b, 600, 900) of any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one motion sensor (922) that, in operation, detects presence of an object in proximity of the solar panel device and a processor (924) communicably coupled to the at least one motion sensor, wherein the processor is configured to:

- receive sensor data from the motion sensor; and

- trigger an alarm indicative of the presence of the object based on the sensor data.

A solar panel system (1000) comprising:

- at least two solar panel devices (100a, 100b, 600, 900, 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008) according to any of claims 1-14, wherein the at least two solar panel devices, in operation, convert solar energy into electricity; and

- at least one electrical device (1010) electrically coupled to the at least two solar panel devices, wherein the at least one electrical device, in operation, receives the electricity from the at least two solar panel devices.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[1]
The present disclosure relates to solar panel devices for harvesting solar energy. The present disclosure also relates to solar panel systems for harvesting the solar energy.

BACKGROUND
[2]
Increasing prices of fossil fuels and the prospect of expanding world oil reserves have created a demand for alternative energy sources that can supplement and/or replace some of the energy needs generated presently met by fossil fuels. In recent years, there has been a huge development in the field of solar energy harvesting. The conversion of solar energy into electricity reduces the need for the consumption of fossil fuels and is considered a clean energy solution. Presently, solar energy harvesting is one of the most widely-accessible and popular forms of alternative fuel to the general population of the world.

[3]
Solar energy can be harvested and converted into electricity. Various methods to harvest solar energy may be solar thermal collectors, solar cells, solar panels, etc. The solar panels use photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert the solar energy into electricity using photovoltaic effect. Electricity generated by solar panels can be used in factories, homes, and in various other similar facilities. Owing to the overall accessibility of solar energy, individuals or small businesses can own and control all or a significant portion of their electricity production using solar panels, without being dependent upon a power grid.

[4]
Traditionally, solar panel devices are installed at a location in a ground-mounted manner. Such ground-mount installations require heavy-duty foundations in order to resist high wind loads (of the order of hundreds of newtons per square metre). The need for a sturdy, rigid, frame to which the solar panels can be mounted and a heavy-duty foundation for the frame in order to resist the varying powerful and dynamic mechanical loads arises due to the following problems. Wind causes very strong and dynamic both vertical and horizontal forces, often simultaneously. Solar arrays of solar panel devices also suffer from torsional galloping as a semi-rigid structure is subject to a dynamic load. Furthermore, snow and ice loads that the solar arrays need to withstand can be very heavy downforce loads. The arrays need to also be able to withstand strong horizontal wind conditions when already loaded with heavy layers of snow and ice. Moreover, forces in the soil also cause problems such as frost movement, sagging & sinking and soil upthrust. Existing solar panel devices suffer from structural stability issues in light of such problems, and catastrophic structural failures are not uncommon.

[5]
However, the most common problem associated with a solar power plant (namely, a solar panel system) employing solar panel devices is a limitation of transferability. In other words, solar power plants are extremely difficult to transfer from one location to another. The structural and financial long-term nature of the traditional heavy-duty ground-mount solar power plant requires a very long legal and financial commitment to the physical location where the solar power plant is installed. The solar power plant has a long amortization period of approximately 10 years and a very long economic lifespan of approximately 35 years. Therefore, the solar power plant may incur huge economic losses if it is not utilized for as long as its economic life span. For example, if the solar power plant is installed on rental land, the solar power plant cannot be easily transferred from that place in case a rental agreement ends since heavy-duty foundations make dismantling solar panel devices from one location and re-installing them to another location prohibitively expensive. As a result, the solar power plant may prove to be a huge business loss for owners of the land. Moreover, installation of ground-mount solar panel devices is impossible on multiple soil types. Further, owing to the limitation of transferability of the solar power plants, it is often difficult to lease solar power plants because if a lessee fails to pay, it is difficult for a lessor to recover the leased asset. Furthermore, solar power plants including ground-mounted solar panel devices having underground foundations require permits.

[6]
Therefore, in light of the foregoing discussion, there exists a need to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of difficulty in transferability and structural failures of the solar power plant.

SUMMARY
[7]
The present disclosure seeks to provide a solar panel device. The present disclosure also seeks to provide a solar panel system. An aim of the present disclosure is to provide a solution that overcomes at least partially the problems encountered in prior art.

[8]
In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a solar panel device comprising:
a support structure; at least one frame adapted to enclose at least one solar panel, wherein the at least one frame is rotatably coupled to the support structure; at least one connecting member; at least one load coupled to the support structure and the at least one frame using the at least one connecting member, wherein a first end of the at least one connecting member is fastened to the at least one frame on at least one first attachment point, an intermediate portion of the at least one connecting member is connected to the support structure on at least one second attachment point, and a second end of the at least one connecting member has the least one load attached thereto, and wherein the at least one connecting member is configured to move between the at least one frame and the support structure for enabling the at least one load to align the at least one frame with respect to the support structure such that the at least one solar panel is at a given angle with respect to a ground surface on which the support structure is arranged;
characterized in that,
wherein the at least one frame (104, 302, 408, 606, 904) is rotatably coupled to the support structure (102, 412, 602, 812, 902) via at least two attachment means (114a, 114b) that are arranged on two opposite sides of the at least one frame, wherein the at least two attachment means lie along a rotational axis (A-A') of the at least one frame and enable rotation of the at least one solar panel (106) with respect to the ground surface, wherein the rotational axis (A-A') of the at least one frame (104, 302, 408, 606, 904) lies at a predefined distance from a central axis of the at least one frame which extends between the two opposite sides of the at least one frame, wherein the predefined distance lies in a range of 20%-80% of a total distance from the central axis to an end of the at least one frame, and wherein the predefined distance of the rotational axis from the central axis is selected in such a way that a balance is struck between sensitivity of the rotation of the at least one solar panel to external forces and a weight of the at leas…