# US 12,110,082 B1 · Flat-pack membrane based solar PV array floats having deployable expansion structures that inflate the floats without forced air preliminary class

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- Number: US 12,110,082 B1
- Document ID: US12110082B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/516,275
- Filed: 2023-11-21
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2023-11-21
- Assignees: Noria Energy
- Applicants: Noria Energy
- Inventors: Alex Mayer; James Raiford; Brian Atchley; Jason King; Ralf Schulze; Leslie Arciniega; Becca Suchower
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110082B1

## CPC

- B63B 35/44: Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices {(construction methods for floating offshore platforms B63B75/00)}
- B63B 7/08: Inflatable (inflatable water sports boards B63B32/51; inflatable canoes, kayaks or the like being inflatable or having inflatable parts B63B34/22)
- B63B 2035/4453: {for converting solar energy into electric energy}
- H02S 20/00: Supporting structures for PV modules
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float for use with a floating solar PV array, including: a float formed from a flexible membrane; and an expansion structure that is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air. The expansion structure may be an expandable structure that is positioned within the float, or around an exterior surface of the float and increases in size when deployed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, and
wherein the float is configured to support a PV module that is mounted at a location outside of the float.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The float system of claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane is made of any one of:
HDPE, LDPE, PET, TPO or EPDM.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The float system of claim 1, wherein the expansion structure is positioned within the float.

### Claim 4

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, wherein the expansion structure is positioned around an exterior surface of the float.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The float system of claim 1, wherein the float is inflated by opening the sealable air-entry valve to permit air to enter the float when the expansion structure is deployed.

### Claim 6

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, wherein the expansion structure has the same shape as the float when the float is in its inflated position and the expansion structure has been deployed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The float system of claim 1, wherein the float is cylindrical.

### Claim 8

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, wherein the float is trapezoidal in shape with an angled top surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The float system of claim 1, wherein the float supports a single PV module mounted thereon.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The float system of claim 1, wherein a pair of floats support a single PV module mounted thereon.

### Claim 11

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, further comprising:
a membrane wrapping around the pair of floats.

### Claim 12

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, further comprising:
fasteners at corners or edges of the float for elastically connecting the float to structural members of a grid array.

### Claim 13

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, wherein the expansion structure comprises:
an expandable frame that is folded when the float is in its uninflated position and is unfolded when the float is in its inflated position.

### Claim 14

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, wherein the float is cylindrical and the expansion structure comprises a series of compressible hoops inside the float.

### Claim 15

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, wherein the float is cylindrical and the expansion structure comprises:
a series of poles wrapped around the exterior surface of the float, and
a mounting system for connecting the series of poles to an exterior surface of the float.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The float system of claim 15, wherein the mounting system comprises at least one of:
pockets on an exterior surface of the float,
sleeves on the exterior surface of the float, or
attachment clamps on the exterior surface of the float.

### Claim 17

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, wherein the float is cylindrical and the expansion structure comprises:
a series of parallel hoops wrapping around the circumference of the float, wherein the parallel hoops are positioned close together when the float is in its uninflated position, and wherein the parallel hoops are positioned farther apart when the float is in its inflated position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The float system of claim 1, wherein the float has an internal wall.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The float system of claim 1, wherein the float has a plurality of internal chambers.

### Claim 20

An expandable flat-pack membrane-based float system for use with a floating solar PV array, comprising:
a float formed from a flexible membrane, wherein the float can be deformed between an uninflated flat-pack position and an inflated position;
a sealable air-entry valve on the float; and
an expansion structure connected to the float, wherein the expansion structure is deployed to support the float in the inflated position without the need for compressed air, wherein the expansion structure comprises:
an expandable frame connected to an exterior surface of the float.