MULTI-FUNCTION FRAME AND INTEGRATED MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATING LAMINATES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An AC PV module comprising:
- a photovoltaic laminate having DC electrical output terminals;
a substantially rigid frame surrounding and overlapping edge portions of said photovoltaic laminate, said frame comprising a plurality of interconnected frame members, with at least one of said frame members being made of a heat-conductive metal and defining an elongate channel extending parallel to an edge portion of said photovoltaic laminate;
an electrical inverter having an input section and an output section with said input section connected to said DC electrical output terminals, said inverter intruding into said channel and being mounted to and in heat-conducting relation with said one frame member; and
an AC bus connected to said output section of said inverter, said AC output bus being disposed within and extending along said channel and having at least one end projecting out of said module for connection to another module or some other electrical apparatus.
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Abstract
PV modules are provided that have a frame construction which permits the photovoltaic power-generating cells, DC/AC power conversion means, electrical wiring and other installation aspects to be merged into the module. The modules also are provided with means for coupling them to mounting stands whereby they can be mounted to a roof and also the frame construction is adapted to facilitate mechanically securing adjacent modules to one another.
194 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An AC PV module comprising:
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a photovoltaic laminate having DC electrical output terminals; a substantially rigid frame surrounding and overlapping edge portions of said photovoltaic laminate, said frame comprising a plurality of interconnected frame members, with at least one of said frame members being made of a heat-conductive metal and defining an elongate channel extending parallel to an edge portion of said photovoltaic laminate; an electrical inverter having an input section and an output section with said input section connected to said DC electrical output terminals, said inverter intruding into said channel and being mounted to and in heat-conducting relation with said one frame member; and an AC bus connected to said output section of said inverter, said AC output bus being disposed within and extending along said channel and having at least one end projecting out of said module for connection to another module or some other electrical apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A first AC PV module and at least a second like AC PV module, each module comprising:
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a rectangular photovoltaic laminate having front and rear surfaces and DC electrical output terminals; a substantially rigid frame surrounding and overlapping edge portions of said photovoltaic laminate, said frame comprising first and second mutually parallel frame members connected to and extending between opposite ends of third and fourth opposite frame members, each of said frame members being made of a heat-conductive metal and defining an elongate channel extending parallel to an edge portion of said photovoltaic laminate; an electrical inverter having an input section and an output section with said input section connected to said DC electrical output terminals, said inverter having a heat-conducting metal housing intruding into said elongate channel of said first frame member; means mounting said inverter to said first frame member with said housing in heat-conducting engagement with first frame member; an electrical cable disposed within said elongate channel of said first frame member, said cable being connected to the output section of said inverter whereby to convey the AC power output of said inverter; and a first connector attached to and extending between said first frame members of said first and second modules and a second connector attached to and extending between said second frame members of said first and second modules; first frame members of both modules and said first connector having openings, said electrical cable of said first module being connected to said electrical cable of said second module via said openings and said first connector. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A plurality of like AC PV modules each comprising:
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at least one photovoltaic laminate having a front surface, a rear surface, and DC electrical output conductors protruding from said laminate; a substantially rigid frame surrounding and supporting said at least one PV laminate, said frame comprising first, second, third and fourth frame members each having portions thereof overlapping edge portions of said laminate'"'"'s front and rear surfaces, said first and second frame members being parallel to one another and extending perpendicular to said third and fourth frame members, at least said first and second frame members comprising integral walls that define an elongate channel extending lengthwise of said first and second frame members and projecting rearward of said rear surface of said laminate an electrical inverter disposed within said elongate channels of said first frame members, said inverter comprising a metal housing in heat-conducting and electrical grounding relation with said first frame members, said inverter having a DC input section and an AC output section with said DC input section being connected to said DC electrical output conductors of said laminate; said modules being aligned a row in co-planar relationship with one another; first and second connector members mechanically connecting each module to an adjacent module in the row so as to maintain the modules in said co-planar relationship, said first and second connector members being releasably attached to first and second frame members respectively of immediately adjacent modules and functioning as heat-conductors and electrical ground paths between said modules; and an AC bus interconnecting all of the output sections of said inverters, said AC bus disposed within and extending along said elongate channels of said first frame members and also along said connector members. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification