EP2342396A1

EP2342396A1 - Monocomponent rooftile with or without photovoltaic module

Info

Publication number: EP2342396A1
Application number: EP09764103A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario Buono; Assunta Capece; Caterina Cristina Fiorentino; Maria Piccolo; Francesco Salomone; Sergio Sibilio; Salvatore Di Cristofalo
Original assignee: Elettro Sannio Di Salomone Francesco&Cardone Massimino SNC; Seconda Universita Degli Studi di Napoli
Current assignee: Elettro Sannio Di Salomone Francesco&Cardone Massimino SNC; Seconda Universita Degli Studi di Napoli
Priority date: 2008-10-30
Filing date: 2009-10-28
Publication date: 2011-07-13
Also published as: IT1394757B1; ITNA20080062A1; WO2010049967A1

Abstract

Monocomponent rooftile designed to house a photovoltaic module having a shape especially designed to offer high architectural integrability, top quality thermal isolation and excellent ventilation, to facilitate photovoltaic module cooling and removal of any residues. The rooftile may also be used without the photovoltaic module.

Description

MONOCOMPONENT ROOFTILE WITH OR WITHOUT PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE

At the moment, photovoltaics appear to rate as one of the most promising renewable technologies capable of producing electric energy through large scale source distribution.

In Europe, particularly in Italy, the high costs of insolation and strong dependence on foreign fuel supply make photovoltaics a strategic priority. There are two main reasons why the photovoltaic market meets with so much resistance:

■ the high cost at the outset to purchase and install the system;

■ scarce integration of photovoltaic systems with traditional structural elements.

It is hard to integrate the photovoltaic panels placed on or applied to roofing today due to the adoption of insignificant technological solutions and the colour impact (generally blue) , which are incompatible with particularly prestigious landscapes, environments and architecture from an aesthetic and chromatic point of view.

The early nineties in Europe saw the introduction of solar rooftiles developed and produced by various companie's to offer a photovoltaic system that could be integrated with traditional roofing through acceptable technological and aesthetic solutions. Moreover, the decision to maintain traditional shapes and typologies in photovoltaic rooftile design . is limiting from a formal innovation perspective. In fact, photovoltaic rooftiles currently present on the market are an adaptation of existing, traditional rooftiles to the need for new energy supplies .

The purpose of the patent for industrial invention herein is to propose an innovative rooftile for photovoltaic module housing, characterised by maximum architectural integrability and additional functions with respect to energy generation technologies such as roof thermal isolation and ventilation.

Another purpose of the patent is to supply a monocomponent rooftile.

The above-mentioned and other advantages shall be explained in subsequent figures, included, but not binding, which illustrate said rooftile in various situations and provide a theory for assembly.

Figures 1) , 2) and 3) in illustration 1/13, respectively present a schematization of a rooftile with photovoltaic module from below, above and in cross section.

Figures 4) and 5) in illustration 2/13, respectively present the rooftile with photovoltaic module from below and above.

Figures -6) and 7) in illustration 3/13 and figures

8) and 9) in illustration 4/13 respectively present a rooftile with photovoltaic module in various situations .

Figure 10) in illustration 5/13 presents an exploded view of the rooftile with photovoltaic module.

Figure 11) in illustration 6/13 shows the rooftile assembly scheme.

Figure 12) in illustration 7/13, Figure 13) in illustration 8/13 and Figure 14) in illustration 9/13 respectively theorize the creation of a roofing section traversed by a number of rooftiles with photovoltaic module from above, below and in perspective .

Figures 15), 16) and 17) in illustration 10/13, respectively present a schematization of a rooftile without a photovoltaic module from below, above and in cross section.

Figures 18) e 19) in illustration 11/13, respectively present a rooftile without a photovoltaic module from below and above. Figures 20) and 21) in illustration 12/13 and Figures 22) and 23) in illustration 13/13 respectively present a schematization of a rooftile without a photovoltaic module in various situations. With reference to the enclosed figures, the rooftile with photovoltaic module (fig. 2 in illustration 1/13 and fig. 10 in illustration 5/13) consists of a curved (1), square-shaped upper surface with reliefs (2) to create spacers that favour photovoltaic module ventilation (3) and rainwater drainage. Two inclined, sloping surfaces (4) and (5) with one side (6) in common are attached to the upper edges (right and left' side) of the curved surface.

On the upper edges of the two inclined, sloping surfaces (4 and 5) and on the right side of surface (5) is a complex rooftile overlapping and water channelling _ system that includes, among other things, the groove (7), the inclined edge (10), triangular reliefs (8) and (9) and a complex collector (11) .

Moreover, the overlapping and water channelling system has three functions: it supports and blocks the lateral rooftile and the two upper ones, channels water draining from the same and confines return water.

The various rooftile surfaces described and illustrated as above-mentioned were designed to direct rainwater so as to keep running water on photovoltaic cells to a minimum, avoiding the accumulation of ice and frost residues in winter. Surface structure presents no obstructions, favouring maximum ventilation of photovoltaic surfaces, removing any residues and avoiding the presence of shading.

Thanks to its characteristics, the rooftile may also be used^' without the photovoltaic module. In this case, the rooftile upper surface is made entirely of clay (from figure 15 in illustration 10/13 to figure 24 in illustration 13/13) .

The monocomponent rooftile, with or without photovoltaic module, has a steeper inclination with respect to the stratum on which it is applied, so as to provide improved energy output.

There are two phases to rooftile assembly (fig. 11 in illustration 6/13) ; phase one A-B-C, where rooftilejs laterally overlap each other from right to .

left, followed by phase D-E, overlapping a second row of rooftiles (once again, from right to left as above-mentioned) , blocking them one at a time between the two underlying rooftiles .

Therefore, rooftile assembly was designed with no obstructions whatsoever, to favour maximum ventilation of photovoltaic surfaces, further privileging superficial cooling of photovoltaic modules, removal of any residues and avoiding shading.

More precisely, the tile was designed according to the following criteria:

^■ reduction of thickness and material quantity to a minimum through a shape that precludes unjustified oversizing, tile size notwithstanding;

^■ energy saving optimisation during the component production phase;

^■ reduction of non-renewable resource use to a minimum;

^■ use of recyclable "lateritious" material as support;

^■ recyclability of material adopted in the post- consumption phase, thanks to the possibility of separating the clay monomaterial base from the electric part;

■ adoption of a design that simplifies "tile" shape, option for component modularity and standardization.

Various formal and structural variations may be applied to . the solution idea within the same inventive concept defined in the following claims. All of the above according to the descriptions in and with reference to the enclosed illustrations.

Claims

1. Monocomponent rooftile consisting of a curved

(1), square shaped upper surface with reliefs (2) to create spacers that favour photovoltaic module ventilation (3) and rainwater drainage. Two inclined, sloping surfaces (4) and (5) with one side (6) in common are attached to the upper edges (right and left side) of the curved surface .

On the upper edges of the two inclined, sloping surfaces (4 and 5) and on the right side of surface (5) is a complex rooftile overlapping and water channelling system that includes the groove (7), the inclined edge (10), the triangular reliefs (8) and (9) and a complex collector (11), among other things.

2. Rooftile, as in previous claim, characterized by the fact that it can also be used without the photovoltaic module.

3. Rooftile, as in above-mentioned claims, characterized by the application of a photovoltaic module, with a ventilation system obtained through the creation of channels on the rooftile upper surface (1) through suitable reliefs (2) .

4. Rooftile, as in the above-mentioned claims, the shape of which was designed to create a rainwater drainage system so as to keep running water on photovoltaic cells to a minimum, avoiding the accumulation of ice and frost residues in winter.

5. Rooftile, as in previous claims, characterized by the fact that it has a steeper inclination with respect to the stratum on which it is applied.

6. Rooftile, as in previous claims, characterized by the fact that surface structure has no obstructions, favouring maximum ventilation of photovoltaic surfaces, removing any residues and avoiding the presence of shading.

7. Rooftile, as in previous claims, characterized by the fact that rooftile assembly takes place in two phases (fig. 11 in illustration 6/13); phase one A-B-C, where rooftiles laterally overlap each other from right to left, followed by phase D-E, overlapping a second row of rooftiles (once again, from right to left as above-mentioned) , blocking them one at a time between the two underlying rooftiles.

8. Roo.ftile, as in previous claims, characterized by the fact that rooftile assembly is devoid of obstructions.