Inclined photovoltaic assembly
AssigneePowerLight Corporation
InventorThomas L. Dinwoodie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A PV assembly comprises a base, having a length L, an upwardly extending PV module, having a length H, and a downwardly extending deflector. The PV module and the deflector are preferably secured to the base so that they are placeable at shipping and inclined-use angles. The module may be connected to the base by a living hinge. The deflector may comprise an outer surface having a solar reflectivity of at least about 0.2, and more preferably of at least about 0.7, whereby solar radiation contacting the outer surface may be redirected to an adjacent PV module to increase the power output of the adjacent PV module. The inclined-use angle of the PV module may be about 2° to 15° and a ground cover ratio of H/L may be about 0.6 to about 0.8 for increased power output.
Claims37
A multiple position photovoltaic (PV) assembly, for use on a support surface, comprising:
- a base;
- a PV module having first and second PV module ends;
- a deflector having first and second deflector ends;
- means for placing the PV module and deflector at shipping and inclined-use states with:
- the PV module placeable at shipping and inclined-use angles relative to the base, the inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the PV module extending away from the base;
- and
- the deflector placeable at deflector shipping and deflector inclined-use angles relative to the base, the deflector inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the deflector extending away from the base;
- said second PV module and deflector ends defining a gap therebetween when the PV module and deflector are at their respective inclined-use angle and deflector inclined-use angle.
A multiple position photovoltaic (PV) assembly, for use on a support surface, comprising:
- a base;
- a PV module having first and second PV module ends;
- a living hinge securing the PV module to the base so that the PV module is placeable at shipping and inclined-use angles relative to the base, the inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the PV module extending away from the base;
- a deflector having first and second deflector ends;
- a coupler movably connecting the second PV module end to the second deflector end so that the deflector may move relative to the PV module between deflector shipping and deflector inclined-use angles relative to the base, the deflector inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the deflector extending away from the base;
- a deflector connector securing the deflector to the base thereby placing the PV module and deflector in an inclined-use state with the PV module at said inclined-use angle and the deflector at said deflector inclined-use angle;
- said second PV module and deflector ends defining a gap therebetween when at the respective inclined-use angle and deflector inclined-use angle.
A multiple position photovoltaic (PV) assembly, for use on a support surface, comprising:
- a base;
- a PV module having first and second PV module ends;
- a deflector having first and second deflector ends;
- and
- support structure supporting (a) the PV module at shipping and inclined-use angles relative to the base, the inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the PV module extending away from the base, and (b) the deflector at deflector shipping and deflector inclined-use angles relative to the base, the deflector inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the deflector extending away from the base, said support structure comprising:
- a living hinge securing the first PV module end to the base so that the PV module is placeable at said shipping and inclined-use angles;
- and
- a deflector connector securing the first deflector end to the base so that the deflector may move between said deflector shipping and deflector inclined-use angles relative to the base.
A photovoltaic (PV) assembly comprising:
- a base;
- a PV module having first and second PV module ends;
- a deflector having first and second deflector ends;
- the PV module and deflector mounted to the base with:
- the PV module at an inclined-use angle relative to the base, the inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the PV module extending away from the base and towards the deflector;
- and
- the deflector at a deflector inclined-use angle relative to the base, the deflector inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the deflector extending away from the base and towards the PV module;
- and
- the deflector comprising an outer surface having a solar reflectivity of at least about 0.2, whereby solar radiation contacting the outer surface may be redirected to an adjacent PV module to increase the power output of the adjacent PV module.
A photovoltaic (PV) assembly comprising:
- a base having a base width and a base length L;
- a PV module having a module width and first and second PV module ends defining a module length H therebetween;
- a deflector having first and second deflector ends;
- the PV module and deflector mounted to the base with:
- the PV module at an inclined-use angle relative to the base, the inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the PV module extending away from the base and towards the deflector;
- and
- the deflector at a deflector inclined-use angle relative to the base, the deflector inclined-use angle being an acute angle with the deflector extending away from the base and towards the PV module;
- the inclined-use angle of the PV module being about 2° to 15°;
- and
- a ground cover ratio H/L of being about 0.6 to about 0.8.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.