Solar panel system with monocoque supporting structure

Abstract

A solar panel system comprises a monocoque forming an enlarged self-supporting solar-facing generally-convex support surface when in an installed position supports solar cells attached (or formed directly on it) at optimal angles for capturing solar energy. The monocoque provides a stressed-skin or stiff-sheet support reducing weight while maintaining strength and minimizing cost. A post engages and supports adjacent edges of a pair of adjacent monocoques. An electrical circuit connects the solar cells for electrical flow and power management, and preferably includes a controller for controlling power from the solar cells, including combining them in series or parallel as optimal for a given systems configuration. The illustrated monocoque includes a roll formed sheet or a number of sheets, stacked vertically together and anchored to spaced posts using connectors in a “fence-like” pattern.

1 . A modular solar panel system comprising:
 a plurality of monocoques each defining a self-supporting curved shape and each including at least one solar panel on the curved shape;   ground-engaging supports each engaging and supporting adjacent vertical side edges of the monocoques; and   an electrical circuit interconnecting the at least one solar panel on each of the monocoques for electrical flow and power management.   
     
     
         2 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the monocoques are made from thin sheets bent to form the curved shape. 
     
     
         3 . The system defined in  claim 2 , wherein the sheets have at least one of channel ribs and bent flanges, so that structural strength derived from the sheets maintains the curved shape. 
     
     
         4 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar panel is attached to a convex side of the curved shape. 
     
     
         5 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar panel includes photoactive materials deposited directly on the monocoques. 
     
     
         6 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the ground-engaging supports include posts. 
     
     
         7 . The system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the posts are tubular and define a channel adapted to receive and house wires therein. 
     
     
         8 . A solar panel system comprising:
 a self-supporting monocoque formed from a curved panel sufficiently stiff to structurally self-maintain a shape of the curved panel and including an exterior curved support surface facing generally upwardly toward the sun when in an installed position; and   an electrical circuit including a plurality of solar cells supported on the support surface and interconnected for electrical flow and power management.   
     
     
         9 . The system defined in  claim 8 , wherein the monocoque includes a formed sheet having a curved shape with at least one of channel ribs and bent flanges extending across the sheet to make the sheet sufficiently rigid to maintain the curved shape in the presence of wind and environmental stresses. 
     
     
         10 . The system defined in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one solar panel is attached to a convex side of the curved shape. 
     
     
         11 . The system defined in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one solar panel includes photoactive materials deposited directly on the monocoques. 
     
     
         12 . The system defined in  claim 8 , wherein the monocoques each include integral flanges formed along at least one edge of the monocoque for strength. 
     
     
         13 . The system defined in  claim 8 , wherein the electrical circuit includes a controller connected to the solar cells and programmed to combines electrical power from the plurality of solar cells selectively in series or in parallel for controlling power generation. 
     
     
         14 . A modular solar panel system comprising:
 a stressed skin support structure including at least one sheet defining a curved shape where strength derived from the curved shape assists in self-maintaining the shape in at least one direction, the at least one sheet defining an enlarged outwardly-facing support surface; and   a plurality of solar cells supported on the support surface.   
     
     
         15 . A solar panel system comprising:
 a plurality of units arranged in a row with vertical side edges of adjacent pairs of the units being aligned and near each other, each unit including a stressed-sheet support structure with a curved surface between the vertical side edges, and further including at least one solar cell on the curved surface; and   a plurality of ground-engaging supports, each having first and second opposing surfaces engaging and supporting the first and second vertical edges of the adjacent units, respectively, whereby thermal expansion of the units is taken up by at least one of tolerances of the units and ground-engaging supports and by a change in a curvature of the units undergoing thermal dimensional change.   
     
     
         16 . A solar panel system comprising:
 an alternating interconnected assembly of solar-cell-supporting monocoques and ground-engaging supports forming a continuous fence-simulating pattern, with each of the ground-engaging supports engaging adjacent vertical edges of an adjacent pair of the monocoques; the monocoques each including at least one solar-cell on a curved area of the monocoques and a circuit connected to the at least one solar cell; whereby thermal expansion of the units is taken up by at least one of tolerances of the units and posts and/or by a change in a curvature of the units undergoing thermal dimensional change.