Method for automatic orientation of a solar panel device and device operating according to said method

Abstract

Method for orientation of a solar panel device ( 3 ), wherein the solar panel device is oriented with respect to at least one axis ( 5 ), in a first direction and in a second direction, using energy from a first fluid reservoir ( 6 ) or a second fluid reservoir ( 8 ), the energy being provided by the solar radiation and the two reservoirs being independent, and wherein the solar panel device is oriented with respect to the axis ( 5 ), in the first direction or in the second direction, until a distributor valve ( 13, 14 ) prevents feeding of one of the actuator chambers by one of the chambers of a reservoir.

1 . Method for orientation of a solar panel device ( 3 ), wherein the solar panel device is oriented with respect to at least one axis ( 5 ), in a first direction and in a second direction, using energy from a first fluid reservoir ( 6 ) or a second fluid reservoir ( 8 ), the energy being provided by solar radiation and the two reservoirs being independent, and wherein the solar panel device is oriented with respect to the axis ( 5 ), in the first direction or in the second direction, until a distributor valve ( 13 ,  14 ) prevents feeding of one of the actuator chambers by one of the chambers of a reservoir. 
     
     
         2 . Orientation method according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel device is oriented, with respect to the axis ( 5 ), in the first direction, by pneumatically or hydraulically connecting a first chamber ( 17 ) of the first reservoir ( 6 ) to a first chamber ( 15 ) of the actuator ( 11 ) and wherein the solar panel device is oriented, with respect to the axis ( 5 ), in the second direction, by pneumatically or hydraulically connecting a second chamber ( 18 ) of the second reservoir ( 8 ) to a second chamber ( 16 ) of the actuator ( 12 ). 
     
     
         3 . Orientation method according to  claim 1 , wherein a first distributor valve ( 13 ) and a second distributor valve ( 14 ) are controlled, respectively, by the pressure of a fluid contained in a third chamber ( 19 ), notably in a third chamber ( 19 ) included in the first reservoir ( 6 ), and by the pressure of a fluid contained in a fourth chamber ( 20 ), notably in a fourth chamber ( 20 ) included in the second reservoir ( 8 ). 
     
     
         4 . Orientation method according to  claim 3 , wherein the solar panel device is oriented, with respect to the axis ( 5 ), in the first direction or in the second direction, until the third and fourth chambers:
 are exposed minimally overall to the sun's rays, and/or   are exposed identically to the sun's rays, or   are not exposed to the sun's rays.   
     
     
         5 . Device ( 2 ) for orientation of a solar panel device ( 3 ) with respect to an axis ( 5 ), the orientation device comprising at least a first reservoir ( 6 ) and a second reservoir ( 8 ) independent of each other and hydraulic or pneumatic means ( 13 ,  14 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 ) for connecting a first chamber ( 17 ) of the first reservoir and a second chamber ( 18 ) of the second reservoir to a first chamber ( 15 ) of an actuator ( 11 ) and to a second chamber ( 16 ) of an actuator ( 12 ), respectively, so as to be able to feed the first actuator chamber with fluid from the first chamber of the first reservoir and to be able to feed the second actuator chamber with fluid from the second chamber of the second reservoir, wherein it comprises hydraulic or pneumatic means ( 13 ,  14 ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 ) for hydraulically or pneumatically connecting the first chamber ( 17 ) of the first reservoir ( 6 ) and the second chamber ( 18 ) of the second reservoir ( 8 ) to the second chamber ( 16 ) of the actuator ( 12 ) and to the first chamber ( 15 ) of the actuator ( 11 ), respectively, so as to be able to feed the first chamber ( 17 ) of the first reservoir ( 6 ) with fluid from the second chamber ( 16 ) of the actuator ( 12 ) and to be able to feed the second chamber ( 18 ) of the second reservoir ( 8 ) with fluid from the first chamber ( 15 ) of the actuator ( 11 ). 
     
     
         6 . Orientation device according to  claim 5 , wherein it comprises two single-acting type actuators ( 11 ,  12 ). 
     
     
         7 . Orientation device according to  claim 5 , wherein it comprises a double-acting type actuator comprising the first actuator chamber and the second actuator chamber. 
     
     
         8 . Orientation device according to  claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic or pneumatic connecting means comprise a first distributor valve ( 13 ) and a second distributor valve ( 14 ) respectively controlled by the pressure of a fluid contained in a third chamber ( 19 ), notably in a third chamber ( 19 ) included in the first reservoir ( 6 ), and by the pressure of a fluid contained in a fourth chamber ( 20 ), notably in a fourth chamber ( 20 ) included in the second reservoir ( 8 ). 
     
     
         9 . Orientation device according to  claim 5 , wherein it comprises screens ( 7 ,  9 ) such that when the projections of the sun's rays in a plane perpendicular to the axis ( 5 ) are perpendicular to the solar panel device, the third and fourth chambers:
 are exposed minimally overall to the sun's rays, and/or   are exposed identically to the sun's rays, or   are not exposed to the sun's rays.   
     
     
         10 . Solar energy conversion system ( 1 ) comprising an orientation device ( 2 ) according to  claim 5  and a solar panel device ( 3 ). 
     
     
         11 . Solar energy conversion system ( 1 ) comprising a first orientation device ( 2 ) according to  claim 5 , a second orientation device ( 2 ) according to  claim 5  and a solar panel device ( 3 ), the first and second orientation devices being adapted to orient the solar panel device with respect to two non-parallel axes and preferably to orient the solar panel device with respect to two orthogonal or substantially orthogonal axes.