NO347591B1 - System for attaching solar cells to roofs or wall facades - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a system for fixing solar cells on roofs and wall facades in buildings.

Background

Today, solar cell systems are installed on cottages, private houses and commercial buildings to supply renewable and environmentally friendly energy both for own consumption and also to supply surplus energy to the regular power grid. An application that is very relevant today is the charging of electric cars. Local production and consumption of electrical energy means less strain on transmission lines. The solar cells are often mounted on the outside of existing cladding or roofing.

Brackets or frames are used which allow the solar cells to be set at a favorable angle in relation to the direction of the sun. For fire safety reasons, it is a requirement that the solar panels are anchored and fixed in a load-bearing part of the building structure. This is to prevent the panels from loosening and sliding down from e.g. the roof by a fire.

The solar panels are often of the same size as they are based on the size and composition of the solar cells themselves. A typical size of a panel is approx. 1 x 1.7 metres. However, these measurements are not compatible with, for example, a Norwegian building module of 60 cm. This is also a reason why intermediate brackets are needed to be able to attach the panels to load-bearing parts of the construction.

From EP 2520876, an equipment set is known for installing photovoltaic systems as a replacement for or as an integrated element in traditional roofing.

From US 5697192 it is known to attach solar cell modules in bulkhead channels by bent parts of the solar cell module forming an angle and being pressed down into the bulkhead channels, where the angles meet barbs, so that the solar cell modules grip the bulkhead channels.

Summary of the Invention

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a system for fixing solar cells on roofs or wall facades in buildings, comprising solar cell modules where the modules are arranged to be fixed integrally in a building's roof covering or cladding and at the same time function as primary covering/cladding, and which can easily can be combined with other roof/wall materials. Another purpose is for the modules to be adapted to a building module. A further purpose is that the modules should be able to be anchored directly in a building's supporting structures. A further purpose is that the panels can be laid both vertically and horizontally. It is also a purpose of the invention that the system should drain away water between the panels.

This is achieved with a system as shown in the subsequent patent claims.

The solution according to the invention is very adaptable in that it can be used against other roof/wall materials, i.e. that the solar cell modules can be integrated in e.g. parts of a roof or a wall surface, and includes a very flexible module system in terms of width and length. The modules are also very easy to assemble with a button system that locks the modules.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, where

Fig. 1 shows a system according to the invention with solar modules that are attached to a roof,

Fig. 2 shows a detail of the fastening system,

Fig. 3 shows a bulkhead which is part of the inventive system,

Fig. 4 shows a frame on which the solar panels are attached to form a solar module,

Fig. 5 shows the top element of the frame, respectively in cross section and perspective,

Fig. 6 shows the side element of the frame, respectively in cross section and perspective,

Fig. 7 shows a detail of the fixing of the solar panel to the frame,

Fig. 8a, b shows how the solar panels are fastened to the bulkhead channels,

Fig. 9a, b shows how the solar panels can be integrated into a roof covered with roofing tiles, and

Fig. 10a – g shows a sequence of steps when installing solar modules in a paneled wall of a building.

Detailed description

The basis for the present invention is that the system should function as primary covering/cladding and solar cells in the same product. It is a fire engineering requirement that the solar panels must be anchored and attached to the part of the building structure that is load-bearing. This is to prevent the panel, for example, from sliding down the roof in the event of a fire. This again means that the system must be adapted to the current building code/module, which in Norway is c-c 600 mm.

As shown in Fig. 1, the system according to the invention consists of two parts: a solar cell module 1 consisting of a solar panel which is fixed on a frame, as well as the fixing system itself which consists of a number of fixing rails or bulkhead channels 2 which are fixed in a load-bearing structure in a building , such as studs or rafters. The bulkhead chutes end against a starting profile 3 at the bottom (Fig. 2). Each solar cell module includes electrical contacts to draw power from the solar panels, but such details are not shown in the figures or described in more detail.

The bulkhead is made as a profile in aluminum or other fireproof material. The bulkhead will also act as a gutter/drainage for water coming between the solar cell units. The water is drained down to the roof's gutter system or to the lower part of the wall.

The starting profile 3 is angled, and the front part 4 is equipped with drainage and ventilation openings 6 and recesses 7 where the bulkhead channels 2 meet the starting profile 3. The recesses 7 correspond to the cross-sectional profile of the bulkhead channels. The outlets 7 serve to divert water that runs down along the bulkhead gutters and possibly into the building's gutter system.

Fig. 3 shows the bulkhead in cross section and perspective. It consists of a square profile (with bottom wall 8 and side walls 9a, b) which is open at the top. At the top of each side wall 9a, b there are flanges 11a, 11b which protrude on both sides of the side wall. The part of the flange that lies towards the inside of the profile has a bent part 12a, 12b which slopes downwards in the profile.

The bulkhead gutters are attached to load-bearing posts or trusses in the wall/ceiling, either by placing the gutters on the loops or directly on the wind barrier in the wall/ceiling and thus function as loops, cf. Fig. 1. The bulkhead channels are preferably attached with screws at the bottom of each channel, Fig. 8b, and preferably with a gasket between the bulkhead channel and the substrate, Fig. 3a. A base is then established on which the solar modules can be mounted.

Each solar module 1 comprises a frame to which the solar panel is attached with glue and/or screws/clips. The frame consists of two side elements 13 and a top element 14, Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows the top element in cross section and perspective respectively. The top element is designed as an extruded profile with a vertical wall 15, first 16 and second 17 flanges projecting perpendicularly from the vertical wall respectively at its lower side and a position near its upper side, an inclined wall 18 extending from the lower side of the vertical wall, a third flange 19a, b at the upper side of the inclined wall and which extends in the opposite direction to the first and second flanges, as well as a stop flange 20 which projects normally onto the third flange. The third flange is two-part, with a first part 19a closest to the inclined wall, and a second, thinner part 19b in the extension of the first part, with a step 21 between the two parts. The vertical wall and the inclined wall form a V-shaped drainage groove. In other embodiments, however, the inclined wall 18 may be replaced by a vertical wall to form a rectangular or U-shaped drainage groove.

Fig. 6 shows a side element, respectively in cross section and profile. The side element 13 consists of a closed profile with a downward-extending flange 22 ending in a bead or lip 25. The element has a first and a second end which are designed with recesses to fit against the top element and are fixed in this. More specifically, the first end of the side element must engage in said third flange on the top element. The top element and two side elements then form a U-shaped frame to which the solar panel is attached, forming a solar module.

Fig. 7 shows in detail how the solar panel 23 is attached to the top element 14 and the upper end of the side elements 13, as well as how the lower end of the solar panel 23 (which is not initially attached to any element of the frame at the bottom) is pushed in over the top element 14 and supported of the flange 16. The solar panel is here attached to the side elements with screws 24.

During installation, the starting profile is first fixed at the bottom of the wall or ceiling.

The bulkhead chutes are lowered towards the starting profile. The openings will then precisely determine the distance between each bulkhead. If it is a wall, the bulkhead gutters can be placed directly against the wind barrier and fixed in underlying studs. Bows are then unnecessary. On the roof, the bulkhead gutters can be placed directly against the false ceiling and screwed into the rafters. The first row of solar panels is then fixed in the bulkhead channels. The underlying side elements in each solar cell module have, as mentioned, a downward-pulling flange that ends in a lip. This will engage the bent part of the bulkhead channel so that the solar cell module is buttoned or snapped into place on the bulkhead channels. In addition, the solar cell module will be attached to the bulkhead channels at its upper end, i.e. with screws through the top element and down into the bulkhead channels. When the next row of solar modules is installed and snapped into the bulkhead channels, the lower end of each side member (carrying the solar panel) will engage the first and second flanges of the top member of the solar module below. The aforementioned V-shaped drainage groove in each top element creates a small opening between each solar cell module. Water that penetrates into the track will drain out to the sides and flow down along the bulkhead gutters. The way the bulkhead channels are designed, there will also be a small opening laterally between the solar cell modules. The openings between the solar modules ensure that the solar panels can expand and contract with the temperature without tension being created in the panels.

As mentioned, the solar modules can be installed in connection with other cladding or roofing. It may then be necessary to adjust the height of the solar cell units above the underlying wall/roof, so that the solar cell units lie flush with the cladding/ceiling. This is preferably done by using loops with a suitable thickness, although of course there are other solutions, such as bulkhead gutters that are sized for a particular cladding or roof covering, or by placing intermediate layers under the bulkhead gutters.

Fig. 9a shows a solution where a number of solar cell modules 1 are integrated into a roof covered with roofing tiles 24. Fig. 9b shows a detail of the attachment in cross section. The bulkhead channel 2 is placed directly on the false ceiling/wind barrier and fixed with a screw and underlying gasket. On one side, a solar panel is buttoned down into the bulkhead by the side element 13 gripping into the bulkhead. On the left side there are loops 26 and battens that carry the roof tile 24. The height between the solar cell module and the roof tile will then be adjusted.

In addition, roofs rarely have dimensions that exactly coincide with the module size of the solar cell units. This applies, for example, to the projections in the ridges. This means that at the ends of the roof surface there is no room for an entire solar cell unit. In such cases, it is desirable to manufacture "dummy" or dummy units in an adapted size. This is done by cutting the top element and/or the side elements to the desired length and mounting a glass plate with the correct dimensions on the elements, where the glass plate has the same color and surface as the solar panels. This also prevents water boards etc. covers active parts of the solar panels.

Fig. 10 shows how a number of solar modules are mounted on a vertical wall integrated with the usual cladding. In Fig. 10a, the starting profile 3 is attached to the wall, after which a number of bulkhead channels 2 are attached on top of the starting profile, Fig. 10b. The starting profile 3 ensures that the bulkhead channels 3 are fixed at an even distance to the wall. In Fig. 10c, a number of solar cell modules 1 are fastened to the bulkhead, and the whole is finished at the top with a fitting (water board) 27. In Fig. 10e, loops and battens 28 are placed on the wall, after which the panel 29 is attached to the battens, Fig. 10f, so that a wall is obtained, Fig. 10g, where the solar cell modules are integrated into the wall and lie flush with the panel.

Claims (8)

Patent claims 1. System for fixing solar cells on roofs or wall facades in buildings, comprising: a starting profile (3), a number of bulkhead channels (2) arranged to lie perpendicular to a longitudinal side of the starting profile (3) a number of solar cell modules (1) designed to be mounted on the bulkhead channels, characterized in that the starting profile (3) has two longitudinal side walls (4, 5) which are perpendicular to each other, one side wall (4) being equipped with a number of drainage and ventilation openings (6) as well as openings (7) designed to receive the bulkhead gutters (2) ), the bulkhead gutters (2) are arranged to be laid at a distance determined by the local building code, the bulkhead gutters (2) being fixed in a supporting structure in a building, the solar cell modules (1) each comprising a frame with a top element (14) and two side elements (13) attached to the top element (14), as well as a solar panel which is attached to the frame. 2. System according to claim 1, where the solar cell modules are designed to be snapped onto the bulkhead channels. 3. System according to one of the preceding claims, where each bulkhead chute (2) comprises a square profile which is open at the top, with a bottom wall (8) and two side walls (9a, b) as well as flanges (11a, 11b) which are on both sides at the top of each side wall (9a, b), as the flanges (11a, 11b) have a bent part (12a, 12b) towards the inside of the profile and which slopes downwards in the profile. 4. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the top element (14) comprises a V-shaped profile formed by a vertical wall (15) with a lower and an upper side and a sloping wall (18) that extends from the lower side of the the vertical wall (15), first and second flanges (16, 17) projecting perpendicularly from the vertical wall (15) respectively at its lower side and a position at its upper side, a third flange (19a, 19b) at an upper side of the inclined wall (18) and which extends in the opposite direction to the first and second flanges (16, 17), as well as a stop flange (20) which projects from perpendicular to the third flange (19a, 19b), the third flange being two-part with a first part (19a) closest to the inclined wall (18) and a second, thinner part (19b) in the extension of the first part (19a), with a step between the two parts. 5. System according to one of the preceding claims, where each side element (13) comprises a closed square profile with a downwardly extending flange (22) terminated in a lip (25), each side element (13) having a first and a second end which are designed with recesses arranged to fit against the top element (14) and fixed in this. 6. System according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising blind units each consisting of a frame with adapted dimensions as well as a glass plate with the same dimensions and which is attached to the frame, the glass plate having the same color and surface as said solar panel. 7. Method for attaching solar panels to a building using the system according to claims 1-6, where the method includes the steps: attaching the starting profile at a lower end of a wall or roof of the building, attaching bulkhead gutters against the starting profile, each bulkhead gutter engaging into one of the aforementioned openings in the starting profile and each bulkhead channel is attached to a load-bearing structure in the building, fixing a number of solar cell units in the bulkhead channels, each solar cell unit being snapped into the bulkhead channel and fixed with a screw above each side element. 8. Method according to claim 7, where said supporting structure is a stud or rafter in the building.