Thermally regulated photovoltaic roofing assembly
DCFirst Claim
1. A photovoltaic roofing assembly, comprising:
- a roofing membrane;
a plurality of photovoltaic modules disposed as a layer on top of said roofing membrane, andmeans for regulating the temperature of said photovoltaic modules.
5 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A photovoltaic roofing assembly comprises a roofing membrane (102), a plurality of photovoltaic modules (104, 106, 108, 110) disposed as a layer on top of the roofing membrane (102), and a plurality of pre-formed spacers, pedestals or supports (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122) which are respectively disposed below the plurality of photovoltaic modules (104, 106, 108, 110) and integral therewith, or fixed thereto. Spacers (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122) are disposed on top of roofing membrane (102). Membrane (102) is supported on conventional roof framing, and attached thereto by conventional methods. In an alternative embodiment, the roofing assembly may have a tapered profile for orienting modules (204, 206, 208, 210) in a direction of increased sun exposure. Other embodiments include the use of phase change material for temperature regulation, and incorporating an insulation block into the assembly as a means of spacing and of building thermal control. Such construction results in a simple, readily assembled roofing assembly which regulates the temperature of the photovoltaic module and roofing membrane and avoids the need for rooting penetrations for hold-down to the building rooftop. Photovoltaic modules (104, 106, 108, 110) serve the purpose of electric generator, and in addition, the multiple purposes of ballast, UV block, and weather protector for the insulation block and roofing membrane below. A fluid convects within the passageways created by the spacers, transferring heat from the backside of the photovoltaic modules. Rainwater drains through the joints between the integral modules, onto and over the roofing membrane below.
357 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic roofing assembly, comprising:
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a roofing membrane; a plurality of photovoltaic modules disposed as a layer on top of said roofing membrane, and means for regulating the temperature of said photovoltaic modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of making a solar roofing assembly comprising:
- assembling photovoltaic modules having a bottom surface bonded to supporting spacers, thereby forming integral units;
installing a roofing membrane over a roof;
installing said integral units as a layer on top of said roofing membrane, whereby the completed assembly limits the temperatures experienced by the photovoltaic modules and eliminates the need for roofing penetrations for hold-down of said integral units.
- assembling photovoltaic modules having a bottom surface bonded to supporting spacers, thereby forming integral units;
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17. A method of making a photovoltaic roofing assembly, comprising installing in the field a roofing membrane;
- installing in the field pre-formed spacers in substantially straight lines; and
installing photovoltaic modules on top of said pre-formed spacers;
whereby the completed assembly limits the temperatures experienced by the photovoltaic modules and eliminates the need for roofing penetrations for hold-down of any of its components.
- installing in the field pre-formed spacers in substantially straight lines; and
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18. A method of making a solar roofing assembly comprising:
- assembling photovoltaic modules having a bottom surface bonded to a container containing a phase change material, thereby forming three-part integral units;
installing a roofing membrane over a roof;
installing said integral units as a layer on top of said roofing membrane using supporting spacers;
whereby the completed assembly has predetermined dimensions and edge connections which limit the temperatures experienced by the photovoltaic modules and eliminate the need for roofing penetrations for hold-down of its components.
- assembling photovoltaic modules having a bottom surface bonded to a container containing a phase change material, thereby forming three-part integral units;
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19. A photovoltaic roofing assembly, comprising:
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a roofing membrane; a plurality of insulation blocks disposed as a layer on top of said roofing membrane; a plurality of photovoltaic modules disposed as a layer on top of said insulation blocks; and means for regulating the temperature of said photovoltaic modules. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of making a solar roofing assembly comprising:
- pre-forming an insulation block to include channels on its top surface;
assembling a photovoltaic module having a bottom surface bonded to said insulation block, thereby forming a two-part integral unit;
installing a roofing membrane over a roof;
installing said two-part integral units as a layer on top of said roofing membrane;
installing roofing pavers around the perimeter areas of said two-part integral units;
whereby the completed assembly limits the temperatures experienced by the photovoltaic modules and eliminates the need for roofing penetrations for hold-down of its components.
- pre-forming an insulation block to include channels on its top surface;
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40. A method of making a photovoltaic rooting assembly, comprising installing in the field a roofing membrane over a roof;
- installing in the field a plurality of insulation blocks disposed as a layer on top of said roofing membrane;
installing pre-formed spacers in substantially straight lines as a layer on top of said insulation blocks;
installing photovoltaic modules on top of said pre-formed spacers;
whereby the completed assembly limits the temperatures experienced by the photovoltaic modules and eliminates the need for roofing penetrations for hold-down of its components.
- installing in the field a plurality of insulation blocks disposed as a layer on top of said roofing membrane;
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41. A method of making a photovoltaic roofing assembly, comprising assembling a photovoltaic module having a bottom surface attached to pre-formed spacers forming two-part integral units;
- installing in the field a roofing membrane over a roof;
installing in the field a plurality of insulation blocks disposed as a layer on top of said roofing membrane;
installing said two-part integral units as a layer on top of said insulation blocks;
whereby the completed assembly limits the temperatures experienced by the photovoltaic modules and eliminates the need for roofing penetrations for hold-down of its components.
- installing in the field a roofing membrane over a roof;
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42. A method of making a solar roofing assembly comprising:
- assembling a photovoltaic module having a bottom surface bonded to a container which contains a phase change material, thereby forming a three-part integral unit;
installing a roofing membrane over a roof;
installing a plurality of insulation blocks as a layer on top of said roofing membrane;
installing said three-part integral units as a layer on top of said insulation blocks;
whereby the completed assembly eliminates the need for roofing penetrations for hold-down of its components and limits the temperatures experienced by the photovoltaic modules.
- assembling a photovoltaic module having a bottom surface bonded to a container which contains a phase change material, thereby forming a three-part integral unit;
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43. A method of making a solar roofing assembly comprising:
- assembling a photovoltaic module having a bottom surface bonded to a container which contains a phase change material, thereby forming a three-part integral unit;
installing a roofing membrane over a roof;
installing a plurality of insulation blocks as a layer on top of the roofing membrane;
installing spacers as a layer on top of said insulation blocks;
installing said three-part integral units as a layer on top of said spacers;
whereby the completed assembly eliminates the need for roofing penetrations for hold-down of its components and limits the temperatures experienced by the photovoltaic modules and roofing membrane.
- assembling a photovoltaic module having a bottom surface bonded to a container which contains a phase change material, thereby forming a three-part integral unit;
Specification