Unitized Building Integrated Photovoltaic Conversion Module

A unitized curtain wall unit with glazing material adapted for use in a vertical portion of an exterior shell of a building structure and comprising:

• a rigid frame member;
• said rigid frame member being adapted to mount a photovoltaic energy conversion module within the glazing material;
• a photovoltaic energy conversion module mounted on a panel bounded by said rigid frame member and integrally incorporated within the unitized curtain wall unit;
• said rigid frame member having a pocket portion adapted to receive an electrical connection and wiring for said photovoltaic energy conversion module;
• said rigid frame member further including horizontal framing members defining first conduits for carrying electrical wiring associated with said photovoltaic energy conversion module and vertical framing members defining mullions adapted as second conduits for said electrical wiring;
• wherein said unitized curtain wall unit is configured to be physically interconnected to an adjacent unitized curtain wall unit within the exterior shell.

A unitized curtain wall unit with glazing material adapted for use in a vertical portion of an exterior shell of a building structure and comprising:

• a metallic frame member;
• a photovoltaic energy conversion module mounted on a panel bounded by said rigid frame member and integrally incorporated within the unitized curtain wall unit;
• a wireway attached to a back portion of said metallic frame member;
• wherein said wireway is adapted to carry both signal and power cables for said photovoltaic energy conversion module;
• said metallic frame member further including:
• i) a pair of first horizontal framing members defining stack joints adapted as first conduits for carrying electrical wiring;
• and
• ii) a pair of vertical framing members defining mullions adapted as second conduits for said electrical wiring;
• wherein wiring can be routed in at least two different pathways and directions within said metallic frame member;
• iii) a pocket portion adapted to receive an edge connector and wiring for said photovoltaic energy conversion module;
• iv) one or more wire routing holes for routing said wiring between said photovoltaic energy conversion module and said wireway;
• v) isolation elements adapted to isolate said photovoltaic energy conversion module from said rigid frame members.
• wherein said unitized curtain wall unit is configured to be physically interconnected to one or more adjacent unitized curtain wall units within the exterior shell to form a continuous multi-story façade for the building structure.