A METHOD FOR ENHANCING THE EFFICIENCY OF ENERGY HARVESTING OF SOLAR ARRAYS

The invention is a method for enhancing the harvesting of solar energy by solar arrays by the use of reflective surfaces that are easily mounted and easily removed between the arrays. The reflective surfaces, when deployed, contribute additional solar energy to the energy harvesting of the solar arrays. The position and albedo of the reflective surface determines the amount of energy (light-energy) reflected to the array. The reflective surfaces of the invention are typically made of light weight, elastic reflective metalized films and/or reflective elastic fabrics light-weight in order to reduce structural loads and ease of the connecting and disconnecting. The position of the reflecting surfaces should allow for highest obtainable and uniform reflection of diffused light to the solar array. The benefit of the method is the ability to easily and reversibly install and reversibly removed the reflective surfaces in order to facilitate and simplify the maneuverability of human and/or vehicle between the solar arrays, thus, making the maintenance of solar arrays and specific solar modules within solar arrays, substantially more efficient.. An additional benefit of the simplified freedom of maneuverability between the solar arrays is vegetation control. The saving in the control of the vegetation may substantially reduce the maintenance cost of a power plant. Two embodiments of reversibly connecting the reflective surfaces between the solar arrays are disclosed. The reversibly connecting and disconnecting of the reflective surfaces between the solar arrays of the method of the invention is valid for both fix angle and solar tracking solar arrays structures. La présente invention concerne un procédé qui permet d'améliorer la collecte d'énergie solaire par des générateurs solaires à l'aide de surfaces réfléchissantes qui sont facilement montées et retirées entre les générateurs. Les surfaces réfléchissantes, lorsqu'elles sont déployées, apportent une énergie solaire supplémentaire à la collecte d'énergie des générateurs solaires. La position et l'albédo de la surface réfléchissante déterminent la quantité d'énergie (énergie lumineuse) réfléchie vers le générateur. Les surfaces réfléchissantes de l'invention sont généralement constituées de films métallisés et/ou de tissus élastiques réfléchissants légers afin de réduire les charges structurelles et de faciliter la connexion et la déconnexion. La position des surfaces réfléchissantes doit permettre d'obtenir la r