PV-thermal solar power assembly
AssigneePowerLight Corporation
InventorsJeffrey H. Ansley, Jonathan D. Botkin, Thomas L. Dinwoodie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible solar power assembly includes a flexible photovoltaic device attached to a flexible thermal solar collector. The solar power assembly can be rolled up for transport and then unrolled for installation on a surface, such as the roof or side wall of a building or other structure, by use of adhesive and/or other types of fasteners.
Claims33
A solar power assembly comprising:
- a flexible thermal solar collector;
- a photovoltaic (PV) device mounted to the thermal solar collector to create a solar power assembly;
- and
- the solar power assembly having sufficient flexibility to be transported in a roll to use site, unrolled and attached to a support at the use site.
A solar power assembly comprising:
- a flexible thermal solar collector comprising a plurality of fluid passageways;
- a flexible photovoltaic (PV) device laminate, mounted to the thermal solar collector to create a solar power assembly having sufficient flexibility to be transported in a roll to a use site, unrolled and attached to a support at the use site;
- the flexible PV device laminate comprising a flexible substrate carrying a plurality of interconnected PV devices;
- the solar power assembly being sufficiently flexible to be transported in a roll having a minimum diameter of about 60 cm or smaller.
A hybrid solar power system comprising:
- a solar power assembly comprising:
- a flexible thermal solar collector;
- and
- a photovoltaic (PV) device mounted to the thermal collector to create a solar power assembly having sufficient flexibility to be transported in a roll to a use site, unrolled and attached to a support at the use site,
- an external heated fluid receiver fluidly coupled to the thermal solar collector;
- and
- an external device electrically coupled to the interconnected PV devices.
A method for making a solar power assembly comprising:
- joining a flexible thermal solar collector to a photovoltaic (PV) device to create a flexible solar power assembly;
- and
- rolling the flexible solar power assembly into a solar power assembly roll for transport to a use site.
A method for installing a solar power assembly on a support at a use site comprising:
- unrolling a solar power assembly from a solar power assembly roll, the solar power assembly comprising a flexible thermal collector and a photovoltaic (PV) device mounted to one another;
- and
- attaching the solar power assembly to a support with the flexible thermal collector located between the support and the PV device.
A solar power assembly comprising:
- a polymer thermal solar collector, the polymer thermal solar collector being made at least substantially of a flexible polymer;
- and
- a photovoltaic (PV) device mounted to the polymer thermal solar collector to create a solar power assembly.
A solar power assembly 31 wherein the flexible polymer comprises EPDM.
A solar power unit comprising:
- a thermal solar collector;
- a photovoltaic (PV) device mounted to the thermal solar collector to create a solar power assembly;
- and
- a collapsible glazing mounted to the solar power assembly to overlie the PV device for movement between an upright, inflated condition and a collapsed, deflated condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.