Corded lattice based floating photovoltaic solar field with independently floating solar modules

Abstract

A floating solar photovoltaic device includes a plurality of solar photovoltaic modules, each of the solar photovoltaic modules being connected by cords to an internal frame and the internal frames being arranged in an array of rows and columns. The cords can permit movement of one of the solar photovoltaic modules to be independent of movement of another of the solar photovoltaic modules. The cords can restrict movement of one of the solar photovoltaic modules to prevent collision with another of the solar photovoltaic modules. The cords can diminish transfer of forces bearing on one of the solar photovoltaic modules to another of the solar photovoltaic modules.

1 . A floating solar photovoltaic device comprising:
 a plurality of solar photovoltaic modules, each of said solar photovoltaic modules being connected by cords to an internal frame and said internal frames being arranged in an array of rows and columns,   said cords configured to permit movement of one of said solar photovoltaic modules to be independent of movement of another of said solar photovoltaic modules,   and said cords configured to restrict movement of one of said solar photovoltaic modules to prevent collision with another of said solar photovoltaic modules,   and said cords configured to diminish transfer of forces bearing on one of said solar photovoltaic modules to another of said solar photovoltaic modules.   
     
     
         2 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 1 , wherein said internal frames are interconnected by rows and columns of lattice cords. 
     
     
         3 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 2 , wherein said lattice cords intersect at nodes. 
     
     
         4 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a floating frame comprising floating frame beams connected by hinged joints, wherein said lattice cords are connected to said floating frame. 
     
     
         5 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 4 , wherein said lattice cords are connected to said hinged joints. 
     
     
         6 . A floating solar photovoltaic device comprising:
 a plurality of solar photovoltaic modules, each of said solar photovoltaic modules being connected by cords to an internal frame and said internal frames being arranged in an array of rows and columns, and wherein adjacent rows of said array are separated from one another by a service lane.   
     
     
         7 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 6 , wherein said service lane is formed by a link connecting adjacent internal frames, said link having a submerged portion that defines a width and depth of said service lane. 
     
     
         8 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 6 , wherein said internal frames are interconnected by rows and columns of lattice cords. 
     
     
         9 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 8 , wherein said lattice cords intersect at nodes. 
     
     
         10 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a floating frame comprising floating frame beams connected by hinged joints, wherein said lattice cords are connected to said floating frame. 
     
     
         11 . The floating solar photovoltaic device according to  claim 10 , wherein said lattice cords are connected to said hinged joints.