Greenfield low-profile dense-spaced solar panel array energy system
A solar energy racking system for a plurality of solar panels for generation of electrical energy comprising a pair of opposing elongated rails for disposing in spaced-apart relation on a surface and secured thereto with a pair of anchors for each elongated rail, said anchors for connecting to the surface and to respective opposing portions of the elongated rail; and a solar photovoltaic module for securing to the pair of rails with a plurality of clips. A plurality of solar panels mount to the rails in a dense-space array having a Slow-profile relative to the surface. Optionally an intermediate engaging member attached to the rails intermediate the anchors further secures the rails to the surface.
1 . A solar energy racking system, comprising:
a pair of opposing elongated rails for disposing in spaced-apart relation on a surface;
a pair of anchors for each elongated rail of the pair of opposing elongated rails, said pair of anchors for connecting to the surface and to respective opposing portions of said elongated rail of the pair of opposing elongated rails;
each elongated rail having a friction engaging strip attached intermediate the anchors and a plurality of projecting members extending from a bottom surface of the friction engaging strip;
a geomembrane sheet for overlying the surface, said geomembrane sheet defining a plurality of spaced-apart seats for receiving the plurality of projecting members for mechanical engagement of the friction engaging strip thereto; and
a solar photovoltaic module for securing to the pair of opposing elongated rails with a plurality of clips, each one of said plurality of clips for fixedly attaching to a respective elongated rail of the pair of opposing elongated rails and for engaging the solar photovoltaic module,
whereby the solar photovoltaic module being secured with the plurality of clips to the opposing elongated rails fastened to the surface for electrical generation.
2 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projecting members comprise pairs of projections extending in opposing directions.
3 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners disposed in spaced-apart relation for connecting the friction engaging strips to a respective one elongated rail of the opposing elongated rails.
4 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seats comprise recesses each configured for receiving a respective one of the projecting members extending from the friction engaging strip.
5 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 4 , wherein the projecting members are arranged in pairs for projections to extend in opposing directions; and wherein the recesses are pairs of pockets oriented at opposing angles for conforming to the pairs of projections.
6 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 5 , wherein each of the pairs of pockets are spaced-apart by a respective bridge, and said bridge receiving a portion of a ground surface overlaid by said geomembrane sheet.
7 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the geomembrane sheet defines a plurality of through openings for flow of ambient water into the ground.
8 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the geomembrane sheet comprises a sheet that depresses flexibly upon seating of the projecting members thereon to define respective valleys that receive the projecting members and ridges for resisting movement of the friction engaging strip.
9 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the geomembrane sheet has a plurality of studs extending from a surface for engaging the projecting members and spacing the geomembrane from the friction engaging strip to define water flow paths.
10 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the geomembrane sheet further comprises a plurality of spikes extending from an opposing surface for engaging a ground surface.
11 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the geomembrane sheet has a plurality of spikes extending therefrom for engaging a ground surface.
12 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an elongated strip of a tufted geotextile attached to the geomembrane sheet, whereby the projecting members extending from the friction engaging strip frictionally engage the tufted geotextile.
13 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the tufted geotextile comprises a backing sheet tufted with a plurality of yarns extending therefrom as blades of simulated grass, whereby the projecting members extending from the friction engaging strip frictionally engage the blades of simulated grass.
14 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second photovoltaic module and a third photovoltaic module, for attaching with the photovoltaic module in spaced-apart relation to the opposing elongated rails as a linear array having a leading perimeter photovoltaic module and a trailing perimeter photovoltaic module at opposing ends of the array and at least one intermediate photovoltaic module therebetween.
15 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of anchors comprises a plate, a ground engaging member extending in a first direction therefrom for connecting to the surface, and a threaded rod extending in a second direction for engaging the respective elongated rail.
16 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposing elongated rails each have a height for disposing the solar photovoltaic module above a ground surface in a range from about 2 inches to about 24 inches.
17 . The solar energy racking system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the clips are attached in spaced relation for disposing the solar photovoltaic module in adjacent relation to a second solar photovoltaic module with a gap of up to about 6 inches apart.