Multi-glass module for a solar tracker apparatus
A solar tracing system includes a torque tube, a first single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, and a second single frame structure coupled to the torque tube. The first single frame structure includes first frame structure first and second module receptacles at opposite sides of the first frame structure, a first pair of solar modules received at the first frame structure first and second module receptacles, a first frame structure coupling flange, and a first frame structure coupling flange receptacle. The second single frame structure includes second frame structure first and second module receptacles at opposite sides of the second frame structure, a second pair of solar modules received at the second frame structure first and second module receptacles, a second frame structure coupling flange, and a second frame structure coupling flange receptacle.
1 . A solar tracking system comprising:
a torque tube extending from a first torque tube end to a second torque tube end that is opposite the first torque tube end;
a first single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the first single frame structure comprising:
a first frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the first single frame structure,
a first frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the first single frame structure opposite the first side of the first single frame structure,
a first pair of solar modules received at the first frame structure first module receptacle and at the first frame structure second module receptacle,
a first frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the first single frame structure, and
a first frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure coupling flange;
a second single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the second single frame structure comprising:
a second frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the second single frame structure,
a second frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the second single frame structure opposite the first side of the second single frame structure,
a second pair of solar modules received at the second frame structure first module receptacle and at the second frame structure second module receptacle,
a second frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the second single frame structure, and
a second frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the second single frame structure adjacent to the second frame structure coupling flange; and
a clamping device between the first single frame structure and the second single frame structure, the clamping device coupling the first single frame structure to the second single frame structure.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first frame structure coupling flange is received at the second frame structure coupling flange receptacle, and wherein the second frame structure coupling flange is received at the first frame structure coupling flange receptacle.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first frame structure first and second module receptacles are at different elevations along the first frame structure than each of the first frame structure coupling flange and the first frame structure coupling flange receptacle.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first frame structure coupling flange contacts the second frame structure coupling flange along a length between the first side of the first single frame structure and the first side of the second single frame structure.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first frame structure coupling flange and the second frame structure coupling flange overlay one another along the length between the first side of the first single frame structure and the first side of the second single frame structure.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first frame structure coupling flange is disposed at a different elevation along the first side of the first single frame structure than the second frame structure coupling flange is disposed along the first side of the second single frame structure.
7 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first frame structure further comprises a first plenum extending between the first frame structure first module receptacle at the first side of the first single frame structure and the first frame structure coupling flange at the first side of the first single frame structure, and wherein the second frame structure further comprises a second plenum extending between the second frame structure first module receptacle at the first side of the second single frame structure and the second frame structure coupling flange at the first side of the second single frame structure.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first frame structure further comprises:
a first frame structure second coupling flange extending out from the second side of the first single frame structure, and
a first frame structure second coupling flange receptacle defined at the second side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure second coupling flange.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein an elevational arrangement of the first frame structure second coupling flange and the first frame structure second coupling flange receptacle at the second side of the first single frame structure are an inverse of an elevational arrangement of the first frame structure coupling flange and the first frame structure coupling flange receptacle at the first side of the first single frame structure.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the second frame structure further comprises:
a second frame structure second coupling flange extending out from the second side of the second single frame structure, and
a second frame structure second coupling flange receptacle defined at the second side of the second single frame structure adjacent to the second frame structure second coupling flange.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the clamping device comprises a rail having a pair of bolt receptacles, and wherein the solar tracking system further comprises a u-bolt received at each of the pair of bolt receptacles at the rail to couple the first single frame structure to the torque tube, wherein the torque tube is bounded by the u-bolt and the rail around an entire perimeter of the torque tube at a location of the rail and the u-bolt.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first pair of solar modules is frame-less at an interface between each of the first pair of solar modules and the first frame structure first module receptacle and at an interface between each of the first pair of solar modules and the first frame structure second module receptacle, and wherein each of the second pair of solar modules is frame-less at an interface between each of the second pair of solar modules and the second frame structure first module receptacle and at an interface between each of the second pair of solar modules and the second frame structure second module receptacle.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein each of the first pair of solar modules comprises a CIGS or CIS semiconductor material that interfaces with each of the first frame structure first module receptacle and the first frame structure second module receptacle, and wherein each of the second pair of solar modules comprises a CIGS or CIS semiconductor material that interfaces with each of the second frame structure first module receptacle and the second frame structure second module receptacle.
14 . A solar tracking system comprising:
a torque tube extending from a first torque tube end to a second torque tube end that is opposite the first torque tube end;
a first single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the first single frame structure comprising:
a first frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the first single frame structure,
a first frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the first single frame structure opposite the first side of the first single frame structure,
a first pair of solar modules received at the first frame structure first module receptacle and at the first frame structure second module receptacle,
a first frame structure first coupling flange extending out from the first side of the first single frame structure, and
a first frame structure first coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure coupling flange
a first frame structure second coupling flange extending out from the second side of the first single frame structure;
a first frame structure second coupling flange receptacle defined at the second side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure second coupling flange; and
a second single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the second single frame structure comprising:
a second frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the second single frame structure,
a second frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the second single frame structure opposite the first side of the second single frame structure,
a second pair of solar modules received at the second frame structure first module receptacle and at the second frame structure second module receptacle,
a second frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the second single frame structure, and
a second frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the second single frame structure adjacent to the second frame structure coupling flange.
15 . A solar tracking system comprising:
a torque tube extending from a first torque tube end to a second torque tube end that is opposite the first torque tube end;
a first single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the first single frame structure comprising:
a first frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the first single frame structure,
a first frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the first single frame structure opposite the first side of the first single frame structure,
a first pair of solar modules received at the first frame structure first module receptacle and at the first frame structure second module receptacle, wherein each of the first pair of solar modules is frame-less at an interface between each of the first pair of solar modules and the first frame structure first module receptacle and at an interface between each of the first pair of solar modules and the first frame structure second module receptacle,
a first frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the first single frame structure, and
a first frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the first single frame structure adjacent to the first frame structure coupling flange; and
a second single frame structure coupled to the torque tube, the second single frame structure comprising:
a second frame structure first module receptacle at a first side of the second single frame structure,
a second frame structure second module receptacle at a second side of the second single frame structure opposite the first side of the second single frame structure,
a second pair of solar modules received at the second frame structure first module receptacle and at the second frame structure second module receptacle, wherein each of the second pair of solar modules is frame-less at an interface between each of the second pair of solar modules and the second frame structure first module receptacle and at an interface between each of the second pair of solar modules and the second frame structure second module receptacle,
a second frame structure coupling flange extending out from the first side of the second single frame structure, and
a second frame structure coupling flange receptacle defined at the first side of the second single frame structure adjacent to the second frame structure coupling flange.