IE20200133A2

IE20200133A2 - Solar panel

Info

Publication number: IE20200133A2
Application number: IE20200133A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Simmons Philip
Original assignee: Salop Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2019-07-01
Filing date: 2020-06-18
Publication date: 2021-06-23
Also published as: IE87325B1; GB201909450D0; GB2585369A; IE20200133A3; GB2585369B

Abstract

A solar panel comprises a support body (16), a front panel (15) of glass and a plurality of photovoltaic cells (17) over which the glass panel extends, said support body defining a frame or providing support for a frame which extends around the glass panel whereby the glass panel is supported relative to the support body, said frame being firmly in engagement directly or indirectly with the peripheral edge (25) of the glass panel, such as by being shrink fitted around the glass panel, whereby the frame applies pressure to the glass panel in a direction parallel with the plane of the glass panel. <Figure 1>

Description

This invention relates to a solar panel and in particular, though not exclusively, to a solar panel having a level of impact resistance sufficient for it to be used 5 in an unsecured public location.

The invention is directed particularly but not exclusively to a solar panel for use at a roadside location and which does not need to be specially mounted at a position where the risk of damage by vandalism is substantially avoided.

One option for enhancing the impact and damage resistance of a solar panel is to employ over the solar cells a glass panel of a sufficiently thick and high strength glass such as plate glass or tempered glass.

However, in contrast to the conventional use of tempered glass of 3.0 to 6.0 mm thickness, the use of a significantly greater glass thickness disadvantageously increases the cost of the solar panel. In particular, in addition to the thicker glass being of greater cost, the additional weight of thicker glass requires that the supporting structure for mounting of the panel, 20 such as a support post or bracket, is more robust and thus of greater cost.

Additionally, thicker glass has an adverse effect on the transmission of light to the underlying solar cells and thus there is a reduction in performance efficiency compared with a solar panel having a glass cover of conventional thickness.

Accordingly the present invention seeks to provide a solar panel which is of a robust construction but for which nevertheless the disadvantage of the additional weight and cost of an option such as that aforedeschbed may be mitigated or overcome. The invention seeks also to provide a solar panel assembly comprising the solar panel of the invention and a support structure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a solar panel comprises a support body, a front panel of glass supported by the support body and a plurality of photovoltaic cells, said front panel having a rear face which extends over the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the support body comprises a plastics material, wherein said support body extends around the glass panel and wherein said support body has been shrink fitted to bear in a direction against the peripheral edge of the glass panel thereby to apply pressure to the glass panel in directions parallel with the plane of the glass panel.

The support body may be in direct contact with the peripheral edge of the glass or may bear against interposed material, for example against a sealant and/or adhesive material or material of a frame member.

The panel of glass may be of a rectangular or other polygonal shape, or may have a substantially wholly curved outer profile. A circular profile is particularly preferred. If of a substantially polygonal shape, preferably the profile is devoid of sharp corner regions.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention a solar panel comprises a support body, a front panel of glass and a plurality of photovoltaic 20 cells over which the glass panel extends, said support body defining a frame or providing support for a frame which extends around the glass panel whereby the glass panel is supported relative to the support body, the panel of glass having a substantially wholly curved outer profile and said frame being firmly in engagement directly or indirectly with the peripheral edge of the glass 25 panel whereby the frame applies pressure to the glass panel in a direction parallel with the plane of the glass panel.

A preferred shape for the curved outer profile of the glass panel is that of a circular shape.

The frame may be in firm engagement with the peripheral edge of the glass panel in consequence of, for example, having been shrink fitted to the glass panel, in consequence of being interference fitted to the glass panel, in consequence of mechanical means to apply pressure to the frame in a direction parallel with the plane of the glass panel or in consequence of mechanical means which reduces the peripheral length of the frame subsequent to the frame being aligned with the peripheral edge of the glass panel thereby to result in said application of pressure to the glass panel in directions parallel with the plane of the glass panel.

The glass panel may be flat. However the use of a glass panel of part cylindrical or part spherical shape is not excluded, albeit that use of such shape generally can be expected to increase the cost of the glass panel. 10 Suitable materials for the glass panel include tempered glass and plate glass.

Preferably the glass panel has a thickness of at least 3mm, more preferably a thickness of 4 to 6 mm. Preferably the glass panel has a thickness less than θ 10 mm). More preferably the thickness is less than 8 mm.

O 15 CM Suitable materials for the support body include a plastics material, for example Q a thermoplastics material such as mid density polyethylene (typically a density in the range 0.926 to 0.940 g/cm3 and which shrinks when cooling. The support body may be formed to the desired shape by rotational moulding. The 20 support body preferably is of a dish like shape, preferable curved in cross section.

The support body may comprise a central region which is spaced from a rear face of the glass panel. The plurality of photo voltaic cells may be located between the rear face of the glass panel and the central region of the support body. A central or other region of the support body may comprise or have secured thereto a connection device such as a support bracket for securing the solar panel to a support structure.

The interface between the support body or frame and the peripheral edge of the glass panel may be sufficient to provide a weather seal. However optionally adhesive and/or sealing material may be provided either between confronting surfaces of the support body or frame and that of the outer periphery of the glass panel, or alongside said interface.

The solar photovoltaic cells may be supported in known manner within the solar panel assembly, for example by being adhered to a rear face of the glass panel. Additionally or alternatively the photovoltaic cells may be supported by a central region of the support body.

The support body may be formed integrally with or have secured thereto connection means for attaching the solar panel to a support structure, for example to the upper end of a vertical support post thereby to provide a solar panel assembly comprising the solar panel and a support structure.

The connection means may be in the form of a spigot that has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle relative to the plane of the glass panel, for θ example at an angle of at least 20 degrees.

O 15 CM An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of Q example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a solar panel assembly comprising a support bracket in combination with a solar panel in accordance with the present invention and as viewed in a first direction; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1 as viewed in 25 a second direction; Figures 3 to 6 are respectively front, top, side and rear views of the solar panel assembly, and Figure 7 is a part sectional view of a peripheral region of the solar panel assembly on the line A - A of figure 3.

A solar panel assembly 10 for use at a roadside location comprises a solar panel 11 and a support bracket 12 by means of which the assembly may be mounted on the upper end of a support post (not shown).

The solar panel comprises a flat front panel 15 of 5 mm thick tempered glass, a support body 16 of mid density polyethylene (in this embodiment a density of 0.935 g/cm3) and a plurality of photo voltaic cells 17 secured to the rear face 18 of the glass panel (see Figure 7). The glass panel is of a circular shape having a diameter of 800 mm. The support body is of a dished profile.

The rear, outer face of a central region 20 of the support body 16 has secured thereto the support bracket 12 of powder-coated steel. The bracket comprises a spigot portion 21 the internal diameter of which is dimensioned to receive the top end of a support post. Small apertures 23 are provided in the spigot 15 for receiving screws by means of which the bracket may be secured to the post.

The spigot has a longitudinal axis 24 that extends at an angle of 25 degrees relative to the plane of the glass panel (see Figure 5).

The spigot and an associated support post serve as a protective cover for an electrical conductor (not shown) which extends from the group of solar cells 17, though a small aperture in the support body and into the tubular spigot 21. The conductor may then be connected in known manner to a storage battery and/or an electrical load such as an LED illuminated road sign.

Referring to Figure 7, the outer peripheral edge of the glass panel is located within a radially inwardly directed groove of the support body. Figure 7 shows the support body at a stage of manufacture at which it has been rotationally 30 moulded and is at an elevated temperature such that the outer peripheral edge 25 of the glass panel and the confronting base 27 of the groove are slightly spaced apart or in only light contact with one another. Subsequent cooling of the support body 16 brings the base 27 of the groove into a firm engagement with the confronting edge 25 of the glass panel whereby the glass panel is then subjected to a beneficial loading acting in the plane of the glass.

Particularly in the case of a circular glass panel such as that of the described 5 embodiment, the compressive loading acts substantially uniformly on the glass panel at all positions around the periphery of the panel and it is found that that results in a most beneficial increase in the impact resistance of the glass panel.

The improved impact resistance is further assisted by the resiliency of the plastics support body, that resiliency being due in part to the material of the support body and in part to the shape of the support body - for example the dish like shape of the support body of the aforedescribed embodiment of the θ invention.

CM O 15 CM SimSig8IEDE1

Claims

1. A solar panel comprising a support body, a front panel of glass 5 supported by the support body and a plurality of photovoltaic cells, said front panel having a rear face which extends over the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the support body comprises a plastics material, wherein said support body extends around the glass panel and wherein said support body has been shrink fitted to bear in a direction against the peripheral edge of the 10 glass panel thereby to apply pressure to the glass panel in directions parallel with the plane of the glass panel.

2. A solar panel according to claim 1 wherein the support body is in direct contact with the peripheral edge of the glass panel. O CM 15 O CM

3. A solar panel comprising a support body, a front panel of glass and a CD plurality of photovoltaic cells over which the glass panel extends, said support qq body defining a frame or providing support for a frame which extends around the glass panel whereby the glass panel is supported relative to the support 20 body, the panel of glass having a substantially wholly curved outer profile and said frame being firmly in engagement directly or indirectly with the peripheral edge of the glass panel whereby the frame applies pressure to the glass panel in a direction parallel with the plane of the glass panel. 25

4. A solar panel according to claim 3 wherein the support body is a body of plastics material.

5. A solar panel according to claim 3 wherein said support body extends around the glass panel and wherein said support body has been shrink fitted 30 to bear in a direction against the peripheral edge of the glass panel thereby to apply pressure to the glass panel in directions parallel with the plane of the glass panel.

6. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support body defines a radially inwardly directed groove in engagement with the peripheral edge of the glass panel or in engagement directly or indirectly with a frame member disposed between the support body and peripheral edge 5 of the glass panel.

7. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the panel of glass has a circular profile. 10

8. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the panel of glass is a flat panel.

9. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the θ panel of glass has a thickness less than 10 mm. O 15 CM

10. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the Q glass panel has a thickness in the range 4 to 6 mm. CO

11. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the 20 panel of glass is a layer of tempered glass or plate glass.

12. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support body is a body of thermoplastics material. 25

13. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support body is a body of medium density polyethylene.

14. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support body is a rotationally moulded support body.

15. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims and of a dish-like shape.

16. A solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support body comprises or has secured thereto a connection device for securing the solar panel to a support structure. 5

17. A solar panel according to claim 16 wherein the connection device comprises a spigot adapted for attaching to an end of a support post.

18. A solar panel according to claim 17 wherein the spigot has a longitudinal axis inclined relative to the plane of the glass panel.

19. A solar panel assembly comprising the combination of a solar panel according to any one of the preceding claims and a support structure to which the solar panel is secured. O CM O 15

20. A solar panel assembly according to claim 19 wherein the support body CM of the solar panel comprises a connection member by means of which the Q solar panel is secured to the support structure. CO

21. A solar panel assembly according to claim 20 wherein the connection 20 member comprises a spigot within which an end of a support structure post is located.

22. A solar panel assembly according to any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein the support structure is elongate and has a longitudinal axis which is 25 inclined relative to the plane of the glass panel.