For delivery to other locations, please order via Digi-Key or Mouser. Skip to Content. Contact Us. Dev Kits. Custom Solutions. Custom Design Tool. Design Process. Ultra High-Efficiency. Testimonials Product Reviews. Learn about Agents or Installers. A building-integrated photovoltaic BIPV facade system designed to harness the power of the sun, stand up to the harshest of climates, and bring unparalleled design flexibility to your building.
A pressure-equalized Rear Ventilated Rainscreen system for exterior or interior wall panel used in new construction or renovation, commercial and other applications. Typical uses include: exterior wall panels. Non-load bearing use only. Installation Installation guide and specifications are available. If the panel is wet, allow it to thoroughly dry before folding and storing it to avoid damage. Always store the Foldable Solar Panel in a cool, dry environment. Skip to Content.
Contact Us. Dev Kits. Custom Solutions. Custom Design Tool. Design Process. Ultra High-Efficiency. Backplane layer may, for example, protect the layers of photovoltaic module from thermal and environmental stress.
Backplane layer may include or provide connection to a fastener for attaching photovoltaic module to a support structure, such as support structure of FIG. Exemplary fasteners include, but are not limited to, an adhesive, tape, screws, nails, straps or snaps, and hook and loop fasteners.
Backplane layer may be any suitably flexible material, such as stainless steel sheeting, plastic, or a polymer. First pottant layer overlies backplane layer and supports a photovoltaic submodule assembly First pottant layer and a second pottant layer form an airtight seal around photovoltaic submodule assembly to prevent air from being trapped near active devices e.
Second pottant layer is optically transparent to allow light to reach active devices of photovoltaic submodule assembly First pottant layer may be sticky or tacky to facilitate adhesion of module backplane layer to pottant layer Similarly, second pottant layer may be sticky or tacky to facilitate adhesion of transparent top layer or upper laminate layer to second pottant layer In one embodiment of photovoltaic module , first pottant layer and second pottant layer are formed of materials such as ethylene vinyl acetate EVA or polyvinyl butyral PVB and are applied as sheets or sprayed onto photovoltaic submodule assembly In such embodiment, backplane layer and photovoltaic submodule assembly are sealed to the pottant layers e.
In another embodiment of photovoltaic module , first pottant layer and second pottant layer are protective laminates applied to photovoltaic submodule assembly with sufficient pressure or vacuum to seal the laminates without damage to photovoltaic submodule assembly Additives may be combined with the pottant layer material to increase cut, puncture, or abrasion resistance.
Transparent top or upper laminate layer protects photovoltaic module from wear and tear and environmental stresses such as weather, ultraviolet radiation, dirt, and debris. Upper laminate layer may be formed from a suitable polymer, plastic, or other transparent, protective material, and may be applied by lamination or by spraying.
In one embodiment of photovoltaic module , transparent upper laminate layer is an outer surface of second pottant layer Optionally, layers of additive may be sandwiched between pottant layers on either side of photovoltaic submodule assembly Photovoltaic submodule includes four pottant sublayers and two additive layers.
Pottant sublayer is formed on base layer , additive layer is formed on pottant sublayer , and pottant sublayer is formed on additive layer Additionally, pottant sublayer is formed on photovoltaic submodule assembly , additive layer is formed on pottant sublayer , and pottant sublayer is formed on additive layer Photovoltaic submodule assembly includes a plurality of thin-film, monolithically-integrated photovoltaic cells not shown.
Such photovoltaic cells may be grouped into photovoltaic submodules. The photovoltaic submodules are connected to achieve a final desired maximum current capability and a selected open circuit output voltage, which may be the end voltage of each submodule or the sum of the open circuit output voltage of each photovoltaic submodule.
The photovoltaic submodules are, for example, volt photovoltaic submodules interconnected to yield a volt photovoltaic submodule assembly Other possible photovoltaic submodule arrangements and outputs are shown in FIG. The amount of power provided by photovoltaic submodule assembly may vary according to user needs or building codes.
Photovoltaic submodule assembly is electrically connected by conductive bus bars Bus bars collect current from one or more photovoltaic submodules and direct it to conductive lead 1 , which serves a connection to the positive node of photovoltaic submodule assembly , and conductive lead 2 , which serves a connection to the negative node e.
The actual quantity and configuration of bus bars will vary as a function of the quantity, size, and electrical interconnection of photovoltaic submodules within submodule assembly In one embodiment, an instance of wiring harness is partially embedded in photovoltaic module by disposing flexible electrical conductors of the wiring harness laterally along the edge of photovoltaic submodule assembly Such electrical conductors are electrically isolated from the submodules and bus bars of photovoltaic submodule assembly The size and shape of photovoltaic module may be modified by computer-aided design to fit the needs of a specific installation site while maintaining appropriate electrical characteristics for the photovoltaic module.
In an embodiment of photovoltaic module to be installed on a roof, the roof is measured and an array of photovoltaic modules is designed for maximum coverage of the roof. Photovoltaic modules are manufactured in a variety of custom sizes e.
Where the roof is free from obstructions, photovoltaic modules may be manufactured as long as regulations e. Photovoltaic module may be significantly lighter and more flexible than a photovoltaic module of corresponding length made with existing crystalline technology or technology involving integrating thin film on rigid substrates.
Such crystalline or rigid modules would not only be very heavy, but extremely difficult to transport or install. It will be understood that photovoltaic module 's dimensions are customizable and if the module is used in a building, its dimensions may vary depending upon U. For example, building codes may limit a maximum current capability of a photovoltaic module to 10 amperes; in such case, the surface area of the photovoltaic module may be limited such that the 10 amperes maximum current rating is not exceeded.
Where a length of an installation site has obstructions, various sized photovoltaic modules are prepared to optimally cover the surface area around the obstruction. Such variable-sized photovoltaic modules maintain a consistent open circuit output voltage, and may therefore interconnect in parallel to adjacent photovoltaic modules, without requiring series connection.
In one example where photovoltaic modules are installed on a foot long roof, the roof has two five-foot square vents placed twenty feet from each end of the roof and one eight-foot square skylight centered between the two vents.
Two twenty foot long modules and two forty-six foot long modules may be prepared to cover the feet of unobstructed roof and maintain a consistent open circuit output voltage when interconnected in parallel. Photovoltaic submodule assembly 1 includes a plurality of discrete narrow web photovoltaic submodules that are physically and electrically interconnected.
Each photovoltaic submodule includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series to obtain a desired open circuit output voltage e. Each of groups are themselves electrically connected in series to increase the open circuit output voltage of photovoltaic submodule assembly 1. Photovoltaic submodule assembly 2 includes a plurality of discrete wide web separate photovoltaic submodules , which are physically and electrically interconnected.
Each photovoltaic submodule includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series such that each photovoltaic submodule has a desired open circuit output voltage e. Photovoltaic submodules may be electrically connected in parallel or series. An embodiment of photovoltaic submodule layer 2 has five photovoltaic submodules , each of which has an open circuit voltage of volts.
The five photovoltaic submodules in this embodiment are electrically connected in series such that photovoltaic submodule assembly 2 has an open circuit voltage of volts. Photovoltaic submodule assembly 2 may be more economical to manufacture than photovoltaic submodule assembly 1 because photovoltaic submodule assembly 2 has fewer submodules than photovoltaic submodule assembly 1.
Photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 of FIG. Photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 is a contiguous structure with a maximum length L 10 that is limited by constraints of the application e. Photovoltaic submodules are illustrated as being partially delineated by dashed lines to indicate that photovoltaic submodules are monolithically integrated onto a common substrate.
Photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 may be more economical to manufacture than photovoltaic submodule assemblies 1 and 2 because photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 is formed of one contiguous component while photovoltaic submodule assemblies 1 and 2 require the assembly of a plurality of photovoltaic submodules. An embodiment of photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 includes five photovoltaic submodules electrically connected in series, where each photovoltaic submodule has an open circuit voltage of volts such that the photovoltaic submodule assembly has an open circuit voltage of volts.
A multitude of monolithic integration patterns may be implemented in photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 to achieve a desired open circuit output voltage and maximum current capability. Monolithic integration of photovoltaic cells of photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 may be computer controlled.
Submodule scribes can be placed either along the web transport direction, perpendicular to it, or a combination of the above. Photovoltaic submodule size can be the size of the entire photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 ; alternately, photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 can be scribed into smaller photovoltaic submodules to mitigate the impact of damage puncture, impact, etc.
The orientation of photovoltaic submodules within photovoltaic submodule assembly 3 can be optimized through cost modeling to provide the most efficient manufacturing process, and can accommodate separate photovoltaic submodules or photovoltaic submodules formed on a common substrate. Embodiments of photovoltaic submodule assemblies 1 , 2 , and 3 may be custom constructed with desired dimensions.
Although various embodiments of photovoltaic submodule assemblies 1 , 2 , and 3 may have different dimensions, each embodiment may be constructed to have essentially the same open circuit output voltage.
Solar power generation system includes one or more supporting structures supporting one or more photovoltaic modules For example, solar power generation system may include supporting structures 1 and 4 supporting photovoltaic module 21 , supporting structure 2 supporting photovoltaic module 22 , and supporting structure 3 supporting photovoltaic module Supporting structures are formed of a sufficiently supportive material that is acceptable for the application e.
For example, supporting structures may be formed of foam, metal, wood, or plastic. In one embodiment, supporting structures are shaped in wedges to angle mounted photovoltaic modules with respect to the surface they are installed on e. Supporting structures may be light and transportable in large sections that are limited in size only by limitations of the selected transportation method. Photovoltaic modules are for example transported to the installation site in rolls and unrolled into place upon supporting structures Control boxes may mount on supporting structures for support and easy access to control box components.
Ground connection boxes not shown in FIG. Other embodiments of supporting structure may include a frame constructed with suitable building materials e. Supporting structure 5 is illustrated in FIG. Embodiments of photovoltaic modules are fastenable to supporting structures Examples of materials that may be used to fasten photovoltaic modules to supporting structures include hook and loop fasteners, screws, adhesives, zip lock fasteners, or other fasteners e.
In one embodiment, connection flaps secure photovoltaic modules to supporting structures Connection flaps are, for example, hook and loop fasteners or extensions of the substrate of photovoltaic modules with adhesive on the backplane side, that connect to receiving strips or areas of supporting structures Wiring harnesses may interconnect and ground wiring harnesses may interconnect—such interconnections may be accomplished using crimp connections, bolt or screw connectors, push-in connectors, soldering or brazing.
The flexible conductors of wiring harnesses may connect to inverters or a switch via control box 6 , e. Changes may be made in the above methods and systems without departing from the scope hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
The following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present method and system, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.
A photovoltaic array, comprising: a flexible first photovoltaic module for converting light into electricity, the first photovoltaic module having a positive node for supplying electric current to a load and a negative node for receiving electric current from the load, the first photovoltaic module including a first wiring harness having a plurality of flexible electrical conductors, each electrical conductor being electrically isolated from each other electrical conductor within the first wiring harness, the positive node of the first photovoltaic module being electrically connected to one of the electrical conductors of the first wiring harness, the remaining electrical conductors of the first wiring harness being electrically isolated from the positive and negative nodes of the first photovoltaic module; and.
The photovoltaic array of claim 1 , the positive node of the first photovoltaic module being electrically connected to a first electrical conductor of the first wiring harness, the positive node of the second photovoltaic module being electrically connected to a second electrical conductor of the second wiring harness, the first electrical conductor being electrically isolated from the second electrical conductor. The photovoltaic array of claim 1 , the first and second photovoltaic modules each comprising at least one submodule, each submodule comprising a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic cells.
The photovoltaic array of claim 1 , wherein: the first photovoltaic module has a first length and a first open circuit output voltage,. The photovoltaic array of claim 1 , the first photovoltaic module comprising a control box, the control box connecting the electrical conductors of the first wiring harness to the corresponding electrical conductors of the second wiring harness, the control box being operable to selectively electrically connect the positive node of the first photovoltaic module to any one of the electrical conductors of the first wiring harness.
The photovoltaic array of claim 5 , the control box comprising a quick-connect wiring connector connecting the conductors of the second wiring harness to the control box.
The photovoltaic array of claim 1 , further comprising at least one supporting structure for supporting at least one of the first and second photovoltaic modules. The photovoltaic array of claim 7 , the supporting structure comprising at least one foam support substantially having a wedge-shaped. The photovoltaic array of claim 7 , the supporting structure comprising a metallic frame.
The photovoltaic array of claim 7 , at least one of the first and second photovoltaic modules comprising fasteners for fastening to the photovoltaic module to the supporting structure. The photovoltaic array of claim 10 , the fasteners selected from the group consisting of tape, hook and loop fasteners, adhesive tabs, straps, snaps, and slides. The photovoltaic array of claim 1 , the first photovoltaic module further comprising a first ground wiring harness having a first ground conductor, the negative node of the first photovoltaic module being electrically connected to the first ground conductor, the second photovoltaic module further comprising a second ground wiring harness having a second ground conductor, the negative node of the second photovoltaic module being electrically connected to the second ground conductor, the second ground conductor being electrically connected to the first ground conductor.
The photovoltaic array of claim 12 , the first and second ground conductors being electrically connected by a ground connection box.
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