# US 11,309,828 B2 · Roof integrated photovoltaic module with spacer

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- Number: US 11,309,828 B2
- Document ID: US11309828B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/103,299
- Filed: 2020-11-24
- Published: 2021-05-27
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-27
- Assignees: GAF Energy LLC
- Applicants: GAF Energy LLC
- Inventors: William Sirski; Thierry Nguyen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309828B2

## CPC

- H02S 20/25: Roof tile elements
- H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells
- H02S 40/34: comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
- H02S 40/36: characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
- H02S 40/425: {using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation}
- H10F 77/937: {Busbar structures for modules}
- Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV]
- Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A photovoltaic module including a surface and at least one spacer juxtaposed with the surface. The at least one spacer is positioned intermediate the surface and the roof deck. The photovoltaic module is elevated from the roof deck by the spacer to promote air flow underneath the photovoltaic module. The spacer is made from a material that provides impact resistance and walkability.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system, comprising:
a plurality of photovoltaic modules,
wherein the plurality of photovoltaic modules includes a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module,
each of the photovoltaic modules including
a first end,
a second end opposite the first end,
a first surface extending from the first end to the second end,
a second surface opposite the first surface and extending from the first end to the second end, and
at least one spacer juxtaposed with the second surface,
wherein the at least one spacer includes a mat of fiber wool,
wherein the fibers form an air-permeable mesh,
wherein the at least one spacer includes a density of 40 kg/m3 to 150 kg/m3 and a crush strength of 29 psi to 200 psi,
wherein the at least one spacer is positioned between the second surface and the roof deck, and
wherein the at least one spacer includes a nail plate configured to receive at least one nail,
wherein the plurality of photovoltaic modules is configured to be installed on a roof deck, and
a fan installed on the roof deck and adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic modules,
wherein the fan is configured to exhaust air through the at least one spacer of the at least one of the photovoltaic modules,
wherein the at least one spacer of each of the first photovoltaic module and the second photovoltaic module covers a portion of the second surface of the first or second photovoltaic module,
wherein an uncovered portion of the second surface of the first photovoltaic module overlaps the first surface of the second photovoltaic module,
a watershedding layer located between the at least one spacer and the roof deck.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second surface includes a surface area, and wherein the at least one spacer covers the surface area in its entirety.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second surface includes a surface area, and wherein the at least one spacer covers at least a portion of the surface area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least one spacer extends outwardly from the first end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer includes a plurality of spacers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of spacers is arranged in an array.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of spacers includes a rectangular profile.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of spacers includes a circular profile.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is attached to the second surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer includes a thickness of 5 mm to 50 mm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer includes at least one cutout that is sized and shaped to receive at least one electrical component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrical component includes a junction box.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one electrical component includes an electrical connector.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer of the first photovoltaic module is proximate to the at least one spacer of the second photovoltaic module.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one hooking loop adapted to be attached to the roof deck, wherein the at least one hooking loop is configured to engage the at least one spacer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fiber wool is a composite fiber wool.