Solar energy harvesting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solar energy harvesting device, said device including several single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ), each comprising an elongated structure ( 4 ) on which a plurality of photovoltaic panels ( 2 ) are installed, and a tubular rotating shaft ( 1 ) fixed to a lower side of the structure ( 4 ). A plurality of support feet ( 20 ) rotatably support the coaxially aligned tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ) of the several single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ) on the ground. A motor rotates the tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ) according to the relative movements of the Sun. Positive and negative wires ( 3 a, 3 b ) conducting electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels ( 2 ) connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ) are housed inside the tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ) and go through a central opening ( 27 a ) of a rotating drive wheel ( 27 ) of a drive device ( 31 ) arranged to rotate the tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ).

1 . A solar energy harvesting device, including several single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ), each of said single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ) comprising:
 an elongated structure ( 4 ) on which there are installed in a co-planar manner a plurality of photovoltaic panels ( 2 ),   a tubular rotating shaft ( 1 ) fixed to a lower side of said structure ( 4 ) and arranged along a longitudinal direction thereof,   a plurality of support feet ( 20 ) distributed along the structure ( 4 ), each support foot having an upper end which supports a bearing coupled to said tubular rotating shaft ( 1 ) and a lower end anchored to the ground, and   a drive motor operatively connected for rotating the tubular rotating shaft ( 1 ) together with the structure ( 4 ) and said photovoltaic panels ( 2 ) according to the relative movements of the Sun,   
       wherein tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ) of the several single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ) are coaxially aligned, and 
       wherein the solar energy harvesting device further comprising:
 positive and negative wires ( 3   a ,  3   b ) conducting electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic panels ( 2 ) connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ) and housed inside one or more of the tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ), 
 open ends of two adjacent tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ) coaxially fixed to a rotating drive wheel ( 27 ) of a drive device ( 31 ) by tubular connecting elements ( 28 ), and the rotating drive wheel ( 27 ) having a central opening ( 27   a ), 
 the positive and negative wires ( 3   a ,  3   b ) go from one to the other of the open ends of the tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ) through the inside of said tubular connecting elements ( 28 ) and through said central opening ( 27   a ) of the rotating drive wheel ( 27 ), 
 the positive and negative wires ( 3   a ,  3   b ) emerge from an open final end of the tubular rotating shaft ( 1 ) of one of the of the single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ) and are inserted into the tubular rotating shaft ( 1 ) of another adjacent single-axis solar tracker (S 1 -S 5 ) through an open initial end of the corresponding tubular rotating shaft ( 1 ), and 
 the open initial and final ends of the tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ) have respective caps ( 7 ) provided with an opening ( 8 ) covered by a membrane ( 16 ), and said membrane ( 16 ) has at least one cut ( 18 ) in a central region thereof for the passage therethrough of the positive and negative wires ( 3   a ,  3   b ). 
 
     
     
         2 . The solar energy harvesting device according to  claim 1 , wherein positive and negative wires ( 3   a ,  3   b ) from the photovoltaic panels ( 2 ) connected in series of the different single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ) are inserted into the tubular rotating shafts ( 1 ) through open ends thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The solar energy harvesting device according to  claim 2 , wherein the positive and negative wires ( 3   a ,  3   b ) of each single-axis solar tracker (S 1 -S 5 ) are gradually added to the positive and negative wires ( 3   a ,  3   b ) of successive single-axis solar trackers (S 1 -S 5 ) and are connected to a junction box ( 10 ) located in a final single-axis solar tracker (S 5 ). 
     
     
         4 . The solar energy harvesting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane ( 16 ) is supported in a ring ( 17 ) fixed to said opening ( 8 ). 
     
     
         5 . The solar energy harvesting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the caps ( 7 ) have a neck ( 7   a ) having a rim defining the opening ( 8 ) and said ring ( 17 ) is fixed at said rim of the neck ( 7   a ). 
     
     
         6 . The solar energy harvesting device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the tubular connecting elements ( 28 ) has one end fixed to the rotating drive wheel ( 27 ) and the other opposite end fixed to a support ( 29 ), and the corresponding tubular rotating shaft ( 1 ) is fixed to said support ( 29 ) by detachable fixing elements ( 30 ).