Systems and methods for protecting a solar module
Solar panels in a solar farm may suffer damage from severe hail damage during operation. Damaged solar panels need to be repaired or replaced. Given that a solar farm is typically located in remote areas, service or replacement will inevitably take extra time and effort, resulting in additional costs. The present invention discloses systems and methods for solar module protection using protective screens covering the back sides of the solar panels to avoid or minimize severe environmental impacts. Solar panels may be rotated to a protective position with their backsides and protective screens oriented upward. Such implementation provides a practical solution to protect the solar panels from hail damage, and thus, the need for costly repairs or replacement may be avoided or minimized. As a result, the economic efficiency of solar farm operations may be improved significantly.
1 . A solar module system comprising:
one or more solar panels, each solar panel has a front side for photovoltaic operation and a back side covered by a porous screen, a space exists between the porous screen and the back side of each solar panel;
a torque tube that the one or more solar panels are mounted on, the torque tube is rotatable to place the solar module in an operative position or a protective position;
wherein the front side of each solar panel is oriented upward for photovoltaic operation when the solar module is in the operative position, the back side of each solar panel is oriented upward and covered by the porous screen for protection when the solar module is in the protective position.
2 . The solar module system of claim 1 wherein the porous screen is a metal mesh.
3 . The solar module system of claim 1 further comprising:
a solar module frame to attach the one or more solar panels on one side and attach the porous screen on an opposite side, the solar module frame has a closed structure.
4 . The solar module system of claim 1 wherein the space is uniform or non-uniform across the one or more solar panels.
5 . The solar module system of claim 1 wherein the porous screen is a formed screen attached to one or more panel purlines of the solar module, the formed screen comprises an edge overhang extending beyond a longitudinal edge of each solar panel and a central overhang extending toward a torque tube on which the one or more solar panels are mounted.
6 . The solar module system of claim 1 wherein the porous screen is a formed screen attached on one or more supporting frames that comprise:
one or more transverse supporting frames attached to solar panel frames or module rails of the solar module, the formed screen is attached to the one or more transverse supporting frames;
an edge longitudinal supporting frame mounted on the one or more transverse supporting frames, the edge longitudinal supporting frame extending to wrap around a longitudinal edge of each solar panel; and
a central longitudinal supporting frame mounted on the one or more transverse supporting frames, the central longitudinal supporting frame extending toward a torque tube on which the one or more solar panels are mounted.
7 . The solar module system of claim 6 wherein the porous screen comprises a first bend that couples to the edge longitudinal supporting frame and a second bend that couples to the central longitudinal supporting frame.