Photovoltaic module support with interface strips
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H02S-020/23
F24J-002/52
H01L-031/042
출원번호
US-0895594
(2010-09-30)
등록번호
US-9239173
(2016-01-19)
발명자
/ 주소
Balyon, Roger
Meyers, Michael
출원인 / 주소
Apollo Precision (Fujian) Limited
대리인 / 주소
Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
14
초록
Apparatus and techniques for mounting frameless photovoltaic modules reduce module stress induced by the mounting configuration. Interface strips and strip/rail spacing configured to relieve module stress by reducing or eliminating module sag are used.
대표청구항▼
1. A photovoltaic module assembly, comprising: a frameless photovoltaic module comprising a frontside sheet and a backside sheet, the module having a length corresponding to a longitudinal direction and a width corresponding to a transverse direction; and a module attachment structure consisting of
1. A photovoltaic module assembly, comprising: a frameless photovoltaic module comprising a frontside sheet and a backside sheet, the module having a length corresponding to a longitudinal direction and a width corresponding to a transverse direction; and a module attachment structure consisting of two interface strips, each interface, strip consisting of a rigid material longer than the module width, having a solid-core rectangular cross-section, wherein each interface strip is sandwiched between inner and outer layers of the backside sheet, each interface strip having extension portions, the extension portions extending beyond longitudinal edges of the module, each extension portion having an attachment feature to accommodate fastening hardware, the attachment feature selected from the group consisting of a hole and a slot; and whereby the attachment features provide for fastening of the module assembly to a module mounting structure via the interface strips. 2. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein each interface strip is configured to interface with a neighboring module interface strip such that a single fastener may be used to attach both modules to a module mounting structure via their attached interface strips. 3. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 1, wherein each interface strip rigid material is selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, composite, and combinations thereof. 4. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 1, wherein the backsheet comprises four layers of woven composite, and the interface strip is installed between a layup of two inner layers and two outer layers. 5. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 1, wherein the two interface strips are positioned about 22% of the module length from each end of the module. 6. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 1, wherein the frontside sheet is a glass sheet. 7. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 6, wherein the backside sheet comprises glass. 8. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 6, wherein the backside sheet is a non-glass flexible sheet. 9. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 8, wherein the backside sheet comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a polyethylene terephthalate, a polypropylene, a polybutylene, and a polybutylene terephthalate. 10. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 1, wherein the frameless photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of interconnected copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells. 11. A method of making a photovoltaic assembly, the method comprising: providing a frameless photovoltaic module assembly comprising a frameless photovoltaic module having a frontside sheet and a backside sheet, the module having a length corresponding to a longitudinal direction and a width corresponding to a transverse direction, and a module attachment structure consisting of two interface strips, each interface strip consisting of a rigid material longer than the module width, having a solid-core rectangular cross-section, wherein each interface strip is sandwiched between inner and outer layers of the backside sheet each interface strip having extension portions, the extension portions extending beyond longitudinal edges of the module, each extension portion having an attachment feature to accommodate fastening hardware, the attachment feature selected from the group consisting of a hole and a slot; and attaching the module assembly to a module mounting structure via fastening hardware in the attachment features in the interface strips. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fastening hardware comprises threaded fasteners selected from the group consisting of screws, and nuts and bolts. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein each interface strip extension portion attachment feature is a hole. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the fastening hardware comprises a nut and bolt pair for each hole. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein each interface strip is configured to interface with a neighboring module interface strip such that a single fastener may be used to attach both modules to a module mounting structure via their attached interface strips. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the backsheet comprises four layers of woven composite, and the interface strip is installed between a layup of two inner layers and two outer layers. 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the two interface strips are positioned about 22% of the module length from each end of the module. 18. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising: a photovoltaic module mounting structure; a frameless photovoltaic module comprising a frontside sheet and a backside sheet, the module having a length corresponding to a longitudinal direction and a width corresponding to a transverse direction; a module attachment structure consisting of two interface strips, each an interface strip consisting of a rigid material longer than the module width, having a solid-core rectangular cross-section, wherein each interface strip is sandwiched between inner and outer layers of the backside sheet, each interface strip having extension portions, the extension portions extending beyond longitudinal edges of the module, each extension portion having an attachment feature to accommodate fastening hardware, the attachment feature selected from the group consisting of a hole and a slot; and fastening hardware in the attachment features in the interface strips, the fastening hardware securing the module assembly to the module mounting structure. 19. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the photovoltaic module mounting structure further comprises module mounting rails that are substantially parallel to the interface strips. 20. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 19, wherein the interface strips are attached to the module mounting rails of the module mounting structure. 21. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the photovoltaic module mounting structure further comprises module mounting rails that are substantially orthogonal to the interface strips. 22. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the fastening hardware comprises threaded fasteners selected from the group consisting of screws, and nuts and bolts. 23. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein each interface strip extension portion attachment feature is a hole. 24. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 22, wherein the fastening hardware comprises a nut and bolt pair for each hole. 25. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein each interface strip is configured to interface with a neighboring module interface strip and a single fastener is used to attach both modules to a module mounting structure via their attached interface strips. 26. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 25, wherein the extension portion of each interface strip is offset towards the frontside sheet of the module by the thickness of the interface strip. 27. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the module mounting structure comprises a rail-less array of module standoffs configured for attachment to the interface strips. 28. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the backsheet comprises four layers of woven composite, and the interface strip is installed between a layup of two inner layers and two outer layers. 29. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the two interface strips are positioned about 22% of the module length from each end of the module. 30. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the backside sheet is a non-glass flexible sheet. 31. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the frameless photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of interconnected copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells. 32. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 2, wherein a first solid rectangular cross-section extension portion of each interface strip is offset towards the frontside sheet of the module by the thickness of the interface strip. 33. The photovoltaic module assembly of claim 1, wherein the module includes diodes to prevent backflow of generated electricity into module photovoltaic cells which are not operating at peak efficiency, and the locations of the interface strip and the diodes are coordinated such that interface strip protects the diodes. 34. The method of claim 15, wherein the extension portion of each interface strip is offset towards the frontside sheet of the module by the thickness of the interface strip. 35. The method of claim 11, wherein the module includes diodes to prevent backflow of generated electricity into module photovoltaic cells which are not operating at peak efficiency, and the locations of the interface strip and the diodes are coordinated such that interface strip protects the diodes. 36. The photovoltaic assembly of claim 18, wherein the module includes diodes to prevent backflow of generated electricity into module photovoltaic cells which are not operating at peak efficiency, and the locations of the interface strip and the diodes are coordinated such that interface strip protects the diodes.
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