Racking assemblies for solar panel installations
Racking assemblies for solar panel installations are provided. The racking assemblies may include a series of posts arranged in two parallel rows and anchored to the ground or other suitable surface. Purlins may be coupled to and may span the posts of each row. Specialized clamps may be used to attach the purlins to a series of mounting rails. The mounting rails, in turn, may support an array of solar modules.
1. A solar panel racking assembly, comprising:
a plurality of posts, wherein the plurality of posts form a first row and a second row parallel to the first row;
a plurality of purlins, wherein a first set of purlins of the plurality of purlins is coupled to the posts of the first row and a second set of purlins of the plurality of purlins is coupled to the posts of the second row, and wherein the first set of purlins is parallel to the second set of purlins;
a plurality of rails coupled to the plurality of purlins, wherein each rail of the plurality of rails is coupled to at least one purlin of the first set of purlins and at least one purlin of the second set of purlins, and wherein the plurality of rails are perpendicular to the first set of purlins and to the second set of purlins;
a plurality of solar modules coupled to the plurality of rails; and
a plurality of purlin braces, wherein at least one purlin brace of the plurality of purlin braces extends between a lower flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins and a rail of the plurality of rails at a point between two consecutive posts of the plurality of posts.
2. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of purlin clamps, wherein each purlin clamp of the plurality of purlin clamps comprises:
a hook portion configured to engage an upper flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins; and
an arm portion configured to couple to a side of a rail of the plurality of rails.
3. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 2 , wherein the side of the rail comprises a channel, and wherein the arm portion is configured to couple to the channel with a channel nut and bolt.
4. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ground rail purlin clamps, wherein:
a first end of each ground rail purlin clamp of the plurality of ground rail purlin clamps is configured to engage an upper flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins;
a second end of each ground rail purlin clamp of the plurality of ground rail purlin clamps is configured to rest against and provide support for a rail of the plurality of rails; and
each ground rail purlin clamp is further configured to couple to a side of a rail of the plurality of rails.
5. A solar panel racking assembly, comprising:
a plurality of posts, wherein the plurality of posts form a first row and a second row parallel to the first row;
a plurality of purlins, wherein a first set of purlins of the plurality of purlins is coupled to the posts of the first row and a second set of purlins of the plurality of purlins is coupled to the posts of the second row, and wherein the first set of purlins is parallel to the second set of purlins;
a plurality of rails coupled to the plurality of purlins, wherein each rail of the plurality of rails is coupled to at least one purlin of the first set of purlins and at least one purlin of the second set of purlins, and wherein the plurality of rails are perpendicular to the first set of purlins and to the second set of purlins;
a plurality of solar modules coupled to the plurality of rails; and
a plurality of purlin clamps, wherein each purlin clamp of the plurality of purlin clamps comprises:
a hook portion configured to engage an upper flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins; and
an arm portion configured to couple to a side of a rail of the plurality of rails further comprising a plurality of purlin braces, wherein at least one purlin brace of the plurality of purlin braces extends between a lower flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins and a rail of the plurality of rails at a point between two consecutive posts of the plurality of posts.
6. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of purlins comprises zee-purlins.
7. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of posts comprises at least one of:
4″×4″ posts;
cee-purlins; and
6″×9″ posts.
8. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of posts are set within at least one of:
soil;
concrete piers;
grade beams; and
ballast blocks.
9. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 5 , wherein the side of the rail comprises a channel, and wherein the arm portion is configured to couple to the channel with a channel nut and bolt.
10. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of ground rail purlin clamps.
11. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 10 , wherein:
a first end of each ground rail purlin clamp of the plurality of ground rail purlin clamps is configured to engage an upper flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins;
a second end of each ground rail purlin clamp of the plurality of ground rail purlin clamps is configured to rest against and provide support for a rail of the plurality of rails; and
each ground rail purlin clamp is further configured to couple to a side of a rail of the plurality of rails.
12. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 11 , wherein the side of at least one rail of the plurality of rails comprises a channel, and wherein one ground rail purlin clamp of the plurality of ground rail purlin clamps is configured to couple to the channel with a channel nut and a bolt.
13. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 5 , wherein consecutive purlins of each of the first set of purlins and the second set of purlins are configured to partially overlap in a nesting configuration and are spliced together with at least one fastener.
14. A solar panel racking assembly, comprising:
a plurality of posts, wherein the plurality of posts form a first row and a second row parallel to the first row;
a plurality of purlins, wherein a first set of purlins of the plurality of purlins is coupled to the posts of the first row and a second set of purlins of the plurality of purlins is coupled to the posts of the second row, and wherein the first set of purlins is parallel to the second set of purlins;
a plurality of rails coupled to the plurality of purlins, wherein each rail of the plurality of rails is coupled to at least one purlin of the first set of purlins and at least one purlin of the second set of purlins, and wherein the plurality of rails are perpendicular to the first set of purlins and to the second set of purlins;
a plurality of solar modules coupled to the plurality of rails; and
a plurality of ground rail purlin clamps, wherein:
a first end of each ground rail purlin clamp of the plurality of ground rail purlin clamps is configured to engage an upper flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins;
a second end of each ground rail purlin clamp of the plurality of ground rail purlin clamps is configured to rest against and provide support for a rail of the plurality of rails; and
each ground rail purlin clamp is further configured to couple to a side of a rail of the plurality of rails further comprising a plurality of purlin braces, wherein at least one purlin brace of the plurality of purlin braces extends between a lower flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins and a rail of the plurality of rails at a point between two consecutive posts of the plurality of posts.
15. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 14 , wherein the side of at least one rail of the plurality of rails comprises a channel, and wherein one ground rail purlin clamp of the plurality of ground rail purlin clamps is configured to couple to the channel with a channel nut and a bolt.
16. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of purlin clamps, wherein each purlin clamp of the plurality of purlin clamps comprises:
a hook portion configured to engage an upper flange of a purlin of the plurality of purlins; and
an arm portion configured to couple to a side of a rail of the plurality of rails.
17. The solar panel racking assembly of claim 16 , wherein the side of the rail comprises a channel, and wherein the arm portion is configured to couple to the channel with a channel nut and bolt.