Tuesday, September 25, 2018

A Electricity-Generating Vertical Solar Array Mimicking a Biological Tree

I propose to construct a vertical solar array with the following features:
  • a solid metal rod approximately 3 feet in diameter, a fixed fraction of the total length sunk underground with horizontal flanges for stabilization, perhaps cemented in place;
  • the above ground portion ('core trunk') fitted with a robust sleeve (‘bark’) free to rotate 360 degrees;
  • the bark to be fitted with perpendicular rods (‘branches’) on ball and socket joints, longer branches near the bottom, shorter branches near the top;
  • at the distal end of each branch to be fitted with solar panels (‘leaves’) also on ball and socket joints;
  • for added stability four guide rods to be angled down from the bark to be attached to a circular grooved track, allowing free movement along the circular track but anchored to prevent the trunk from bending in the wind;
  • autonomous rotation of the bark and autonomous rotation and angling of the branches and leaves to optimize heliotropism;
  • trees of various sizes for different purposes: individual residences, neighborhoods, industrial parks, perhaps even orchards.