Patent ID: 8453328
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: F24S,H02S,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of assembling a terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array that includes a plurality of vertical supports that support a longitudinal support comprising a string of coaxial torque tubes mounted thereon over the surface of the earth and substantially in a north-south direction, said longitudinal support being journalled for rotation so as to allow rotation during the course of a day, the method comprising: positioning a torque tube on two vertical supporting alignment fixtures, the torque tube including a first end and a second end; mounting a mount to the torque tube between the first and second ends, the mount having first and second sections that extend outward from opposing sides of the torque tube; mounting a first solar cell module to the first section of the mount and a second solar cell module to the second section of the mount, each of the solar cell modules including an array of lenses positioned over a set of corresponding receivers that include one or more III-V compound semiconductor solar cells; after the solar cell modules are mounted to the mount, removing the torque tube from the alignment fixtures; aligning the torque tube with a longitudinal support that is mounted over the surface of the earth with the torque tube and the longitudinal support being coaxial and aligned in an end-to-end orientation; and attaching the torque tube to the end of the longitudinal support and forming a single continuous member with the first and second solar cell modules being rotatable about a first axis defined by the coaxial torque tube and the longitudinal support and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.