Photovoltaic roofing systems and methods for installing them

A method of installing a photovoltaic roofing system on a roof deck, the photovoltaic roofing system comprising:

• a first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck, each having a headlap region and a butt region having a bottom end;
• a bus bar batten system disposed upon and extending across the headlap regions of the first plurality of roofing elements, the bus bar batten system comprising one or more rigid supports and an electrical interconnection system;
• a plurality of photovoltaic elements, each disposed on one of the first plurality of roofing elements, each operatively engaged with the electrical interconnection system of the bus bar batten system and tenaciously physically engaged with the one or more rigid supports of the bus bar batten system;
• and
• a second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck and covering the bus bar batten system and the headlap regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements,
• the method comprising:
• disposing a first plurality roofing elements on the roof deck in a horizontal arrangement, each having a headlap region and a butt region;
• disposing a bus bar batten system upon and extending across the headlap regions of the first plurality roofing elements, the bus bar batten system comprising one or more rigid supports and an electrical interconnection system;
• disposing a first plurality of photovoltaic elements on the butt regions of the first plurality of roofing elements and operatively engaging them with the electrical interconnection system of the bus bar batten system and tenaciously physically engaging them with the one or more rigid supports of the bus bar batten system;
• and
• disposing a second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements on the roof deck so as to cover the bus bar batten system and the headlap regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements,
• wherein the step of disposing a first plurality of photovoltaic elements on the butt regions of the first plurality of roofing elements and operatively engaging them with the electrical interconnection system of the bus bar batten system and tenaciously physically engaging them with the one or more rigid supports of the bus bar batten system is performed after the step of disposing the second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements on the roof deck.

A kit for the installation of a photovoltaic roofing system comprising:

• a first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck, each having a headlap region and a butt region having a bottom end;
• a bus bar batten system disposed upon and extending across the headlap regions of the first plurality of roofing elements, the bus bar batten system comprising one or more rigid supports and an electrical interconnection system;
• a plurality of photovoltaic elements, each disposed on one of the first plurality of roofing elements, each operatively engaged with the electrical interconnection system of the bus bar batten system and tenaciously physically engaged with the one or more rigid supports of the bus bar batten system;
• and
• a second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck and covering the bus bar batten system and the headlap regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements,
• the kit comprising one or more bus bar batten systems, each comprising one or more rigid supports and an electrical interconnection system;
• and a plurality of photovoltaic elements electrically connectable to the electrical interconnection system of the bus bar batten system, wherein each rigid support comprises one or more recesses facing the butt regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements, the recesses having one or more electrical contacts on an inner surface thereof, the electrical contacts being operatively connected to the electrical interconnection system, and wherein the photovoltaic elements comprise electrodes that are engaged with the electrical contacts of the bus bar batten system, and wherein the bus bar batten system includes a frangible covering disposed over, or one or more caps disposed in the openings of recesses that do not have a photovoltaic elements disposed therein.

A photovoltaic roofing system for use on a roof deck, the photovoltaic comprising;

• a first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck, each having a headlap region and a butt region having a bottom end;
• a bus bar batten system disposed upon and extending across the headlap regions of the first plurality of roofing elements, the bus bar batten system comprising one or more rigid supports and an electrical interconnection system, each rigid support comprising a linearly extending channel or a plurality of recesses facing the butt regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements, the channel or recesses having one or more electrical contacts on an inner surface thereof, the one or more electrical contacts being operatively connected to the electrical interconnection system;
• a plurality of photovoltaic elements, each disposed on one of the first plurality of roofing elements, each comprising electrodes operatively engaged with the one or more electrical contacts of the bus bar batten system and tenaciously physically engaged with the one or more rigid supports of the bus bar batten system;
• and
• a second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck and covering the bus bar batten system and the headlap regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements.

A photovoltaic roofing system for use on a roof deck, the photovoltaic comprising;

• a first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck, each having a headlap region and a butt region having a bottom end;
• a bus bar batten system disposed upon and extending across the headlap regions of the first plurality of roofing elements, the bus bar batten system comprising one or more rigid supports and an electrical interconnection system;
• a plurality of photovoltaic elements, each disposed on one of the first plurality of roofing elements, each operatively engaged with the electrical interconnection system of the bus bar batten system and tenaciously physically engaged with the one or more rigid supports of the bus bar batten system;
• and
• a second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements disposed on the roof deck and covering the bus bar batten system and the headlap regions of the first plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements, the roofing elements of the second plurality of horizontally-arranged roofing elements each having a recess formed in its bottom surface, the bus bar batten system being disposed in the recess.