# US 2014/0196767 A1 · Photovoltaic Module Assembly And Method Of Assembling The Same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196767 A1 - Document ID: US20140196767A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/123,374 - Filed: 2012-06-01 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-02 - Assignees: Dow Corning Corporation - Inventors: Kevin Houle; Elizabeth Knazs; Brandy Knutson; David McDougall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196767A1 ## CPC - H02S 30/00: Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion (semiconductor device aspects of modules of electrolytic light sensitive devices H01G9/20, of inorganic PV modules H10F10/00, H10F19/00, of organic PV modules H10K30/00) - F24S 25/632: Side connectors; Base connectors - H02S 30/10: Frame structures - F24S 2025/014: {Methods for installing support elements} - F24S 2025/601: {by bonding, e.g. by using adhesives} - Y02E 10/47: Mountings or tracking - 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) - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A photovoltaic module assembly is mounted on a frame of a racking system of a photovoltaic module installation site. The photovoltaic module assembly includes at least one photovoltaic module and at least one rash. The photovoltaic module includes a back sheet, at least one crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell supported on the back sheet, a first encapsulant layer formed from a silicone composition supported on the photovoltaic cell, and a cover sheet supported on the first encapsulant layer. The rail is fixed relative to the back sheet and is configured to support the one photovoltaic module on the racking system. Adhesive adheres the back sheet of the photovoltaic module to the rail. The adhesive is formed from a room-temperature vulcanizing silicone composition and has a thickness from the rail to the back sheet of between 2.3 mm and 6.0 mm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A photovoltaic module assembly for mounting on a frame of a racking system of a photovoltaic module installation site, said photovoltaic module assembly comprising: at least one photovoltaic module including a back sheet, at least one crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell supported on said back sheet, a first encapsulant layer formed from a silicone composition supported on the photovoltaic cell, and a cover sheet supported on the first encapsulant layer; at least one rail fixed relative to said back sheet, said rail being configured to support said at least one photovoltaic module on the racking system of the photovoltaic module installation site; and adhesive disposed between and contacting said back sheet of said at least one photovoltaic module and said at least one rail to adhere said at least one rail to said at least one photovoltaic module; wherein said adhesive is formed from a room-temperature vulcanizing silicone composition; and wherein said adhesive has a thickness from said rail to said back sheet of between 2.3 mm and 6.0 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one photovoltaic module is further defined as a plurality of photovoltaic modules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one rail is further defined as a plurality of rails. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thickness is measured along a first line extending from said at least one rail to said back sheet of said at least one photovoltaic module and wherein said adhesive has a width between said at least one rail and said back sheet measured along a second line perpendicular to said first line, said width being between 5 mm and 20 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said at least one rail and said back sheet define planar surfaces and wherein said first line extends perpendicularly to said planar surfaces of said at least one rail and said back sheet of said at least one photovoltaic module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said back sheet of said at least one photovoltaic module includes a first end and a second end and wherein said at least one rail continuously extends across said back sheet of said at least one photovoltaic module from said first end to said second end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said back sheet of said at least one photovoltaic module defines a length between a first end and a second end and wherein said at least one rail extends across said back sheet continuously and along substantially said length of said back sheet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said room temperature vulcanizing silicone composition is a condensation curable silicone composition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said condensation curable silicone composition comprises: an organopolysiloxane having at least one hydrolysable group; a crosslinking agent; and a catalyst. ### Claim 10 A method of assembling a photovoltaic module assembly, said method comprising: providing at least one photovoltaic module including at least one crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell, a first encapsulant layer formed from a silicone composition disposed on the photovoltaic cell, and a cover sheet disposed on the first encapsulant layer; providing at least one rail; applying a room-temperature vulcanizing silicone composition to one of the back sheet or the rail; contacting the room-temperature vulcanizing silicone composition to the other of the back sheet or the rail; and curing the room-temperature vulcanizing silicone composition while in contact with the back sheet and the rail to adhere the rail to the back sheet; wherein applying the room temperature vulcanizing silicone composition includes applying the room temperature vulcanizing silicone composition at a thickness such that the room-temperature vulcanizing silicone composition cures into an adhesive adhering the rail to the back sheet and having a thickness from said rail to said back sheet of between 2.3 mm and 6.0 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10 further comprising mounting the at least one rail to a racking system of a photovoltaic cell module installation site. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of providing at least one photovoltaic module is further defined as providing a plurality of photovoltaic modules. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of providing at least one rail is further defined as providing a plurality of rails. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The photovoltaic module assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said at least one rail is further defined as a plurality of rails. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the step of providing at least one rail is further defined as providing a plurality of rails.