Adjusting Device of Solar Tracker for Testing Off-axis Beam Damage of A Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) Module

An adjusting device is provided for solar tracker. The adjusting device is used for testing off-axis beam damage of a CPV module. A universal transmission unit is comprised for adjustment. Thus, a CPV module is exactly focused to a predestined position. Furthermore, a focusing point of the CPV module can be biased to the predestined position for testing off-axis beam damage.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to adjusting solar tracker; more particularly, relates to using a universal transmission unit for exactly focusing a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module and further biasing a focusing point of the CPV module to a predestined position for testing off-axis beam damage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Owing to power shortage and environmental protection issue, green and convenient solar energy is most welcomed. However, because of the revolution of the earth around the sun and the earth's tilted axis, the orbit of the sun related to the earth is ever-changing by seasons and time. Therefore, solar trackers are developed for effectively collecting sunlight.

However, these solar trackers only focus on the function of tracking, not on climatic changes or device error control. As a result, a focus bias of a CPV module may burns a key component in a solar cell or make it malfunctioned; and, thus, operation of a whole solar system containing the CPV modules may become in danger or be ruined. Hence, the prior art does not fulfill requests of off-axis beam damage test on actual use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the present invention is to use a universal transmission unit for exactly focusing a CPV module and further biasing a focusing point of the CPV module to a predestined position for testing off-axis beam damage.

To achieve the above purpose, the present invention is an adjusting device of solar tracker for testing off-axis beam damage of a CPV module, comprising a solar tracker, a universal transmission unit and a CPV module, where the solar tracker comprises a base, a driver unit, a platform, a sun position sensor and a controller unit; the driver unit is located on the base; the platform is located on the driver unit; the sun position sensor is located on the platform; the controller unit is electrically connected with the driver unit and the sun position sensor; the universal transmission unit is located on the platform of the solar tracker; the universal transmission comprises a first transmission unit, a second transmission unit and a frame; the first transmission unit is located on the platform; the second transmission unit is located on the first transmission unit; the frame is located on the second transmission unit; and the CPV module is located on the frame of the universal transmission unit. Accordingly, a novel adjusting device of solar tracker for testing off-axis beam damage of a CPV module is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is the perspective view showing the preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is the explosive view showing the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is the view showing the universal transmission unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description of the preferred embodiment is provided to understand the features and the structures of the present invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, which are a perspective view and an explosive view showing a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; and a view showing a universal transmission unit. As shown in the figures, the present invention is an adjusting device of solar tracker for testing off-axis beam damage of a CPV module, comprising a solar tracker 1, a universal transmission unit 2 and a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module 3.

The solar tracker 1 comprises a base 11; a driver unit 12 located on the base 11; a platform 13 located on the driver unit 12; a sun position sensor 14 located on the platform 13; and a controller unit 15 electrically connected with the driver unit 12 and the sun position sensor 14.

The universal transmission unit 2 is located on platform 13 and comprises a first transmission unit 21 located on the platform 13; a second transmission unit located on the first transmission unit 21; and a frame 23 located on the second transmission unit 22. Therein, the first transmission unit 21 comprises a fixing support 211 located on the platform 13; a first worm wheel 212 located on the fixing support 211; a first moving support 213 movably combined with the fixing support 211; and a first worm 214 movably combined with the first moving support 213 and geared into the first worm wheel 212. The second transmission unit 22 comprises a second worm wheel 221 located on the first moving support 213; a second moving support 222 movably combined with the first moving support 213; and a second worm 223 movably combined with the second moving support 222 and geared into the second worm wheel 221; and, the frame 23 is combined on an end surface of the second moving support 222.

The CPV module 3 is located on the frame 23 of the universal transmission unit 2 and comprises a module frame 31 located on the frame 23 of the universal transmission unit 2; a solar cell 32 located on the module frame 31; and an optical unit 33 corresponding to the solar cell 32 and located on the module frame 31, where the optical unit 33 is a lens.

On using the present invention, the universal transmission unit 2 is used to make the CPV module 3 exactly focus sunlight and to bias the focusing point at a predestined angle for testing off-axis beam damage of the CPV module 3. With coordination of a tool or motor, the first worm 214 of the first transmission unit 21 is turned automatically or manually. When the first worm 214 is turned, the first worm 214 is coordinated with the first worm wheel 212 on the fixing support 211 to drive the first moving support 213 to be adjusted leftward or rightward on the fixing support 211; and, then, the second transmission unit 22 and the frame 23 are driven to be turned left or right for thus biasing the focusing point of the CPV module at the predestined angle.

In the other hand, with coordination of a tool or motor, the second worm 223 of the second transmission unit 22 is turned automatically or manually. When the second worm 223 is turned, the second worm 223 is coordinated with the second worm wheel 221 on the first moving support 213 to drive the second moving support 213 to be adjusted forward or backward on the first moving support 213; and, then, the frame 23 are driven by the second moving support 22 to be moved forward or backward for thus biasing the focusing point of the CPV module at the predestined angle. Thus, the first transmission unit 21 and the second transmission unit 22 of the universal transmission unit 2 bias the focusing point of the CPV module 3 to a predestined place. With coordination of the sun position sensor 14, the driver 12 and the controller 15 of the solar tracker 1, the platform 13 carries the universal transmission unit 2 and the CPV module 3 for continuously tracking the sunlight in the environment and effectively testing off-axis beam damage.

To sum up, the present invention is an adjusting device of solar tracker for testing off-axis beam damage, where a universal transmission unit is used for exactly focusing a CPV module and further biasing a focusing point of the CPV module to a predestined position for testing off-axis beam damage.

The preferred embodiment herein disclosed is not intended to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, simple modifications or variations belonging to the equivalent of the scope of the claims and the instructions disclosed herein for a patent are all within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An adjusting device of solar tracker for testing off-axis beam damage of a CPV module, comprising

a solar tracker, said solar tracker comprising a base; a driver unit, said driver unit being located on said base; a platform, said platform being located on said driver unit; a sun position sensor, said sun position sensor being located on said platform; and a controller unit, said controller unit being electrically connected with said driver unit and said sun position sensor;
a universal transmission unit, said universal transmission unit being located on said platform of said solar tracker, said universal transmission unit comprising a first transmission unit, said first transmission unit being located on said platform; a second transmission unit, said second transmission unit being located on said first transmission unit; and a frame, said frame being located on said second transmission unit; and
a concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) module, said CPV module being located on said frame of said universal transmission unit.

2. The adjusting device according to claim 1,

wherein said first transmission unit comprises a fixing support, said fixing support being located on said platform of said solar tracker; a first worm wheel, said first worm wheel being located on said fixing support; a first moving support, said first moving support being movably combined with said fixing support; and a first worm, said first worm being movably combined with said first moving support, said first worm being geared into said first worm wheel.

3. The adjusting device according to claim 1,

wherein said second transmission unit comprises a second worm wheel, said second worm wheel being located on a first moving support of said first transmission unit of said universal transmission unit; a second moving support, said second moving support being movably combined with said first moving support of said first transmission unit; and a second worm, said second worm being movably combined with said second moving support, said second worm being geared into said second worm wheel, wherein said frame is combined on an end surface of said second moving support.

4. The adjusting device according to claim 1,

wherein said first transmission unit is turned manually with coordination of a tool.

5. The adjusting device according to claim 1,

wherein first transmission unit is turned automatically with coordination of a motor.

6. The adjusting device according to claim 1,

wherein said second transmission unit is turned manually with coordination of a tool.

7. The adjusting device according to claim 1,

wherein said second transmission unit is turned automatically with coordination of a motor.

8. The adjusting device according to claim 1,

wherein said CPV module comprises a module frame, said module frame being located on said frame of said universal transmission unit; a solar cell, said solar cell being located on said module frame; and an optical unit, said optical unit being corresponding to said solar cell, said optical unit being located on said module frame.

9. The adjusting device according to claim 8,

wherein said optical unit is a lens.
Patent History
Publication number: 20130092152
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 24, 2012
Publication Date: Apr 18, 2013
Applicant: ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL-INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH (Taoyuan County)
Inventors: Yi-Ru Hsu (Kinmen County), Tsung-Te Lin (Kaohsiung City), Cheng-Ban Chung (Taichung City), Chii-Neng Ou Yang (Taoyuan County), Yao-Tung Hsu (Taoyuan County)
Application Number: 13/454,202
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Including Sun Position Tracking Sensor (126/573)
International Classification: F24J 2/38 (20060101);