Integrated thermal module and back plate structure and related methods

An integrated solar module capable of being easy assembled for thermal solar application, the module comprising:

• a solar panel device having an aperture region and a backside region;
• a shaped thickness of material characterized by a fire rating of at least A and mechanical strength capable of maintaining a thickness free from penetration of moisture and a shape to couple with the backside region, the shaped thickness of material including at least a bottom plate, a first side wall, a second side wall;
• an air plenum provided between the backside region and the shaped thickness of material, the air plenum having an intake region located from a first end region of the first side wall to a first end region of the second side wall and an output region located from a second end region of the first side wall to a second end region of the second side wall, the intake region being configured to receive airflows from ambient toward the output region, and the airflows optionally being let to pass through either or both of the first side wall and the second side wall, the airflows being driven through the air plenum by an air moving device to pass an exit region at the bottom plate connecting to a fluid drive region for transferring thermal energy generated by the solar panel device;
• wherein the module is configured to engage with another module in an end-to-end direction and to be attached with a mounting rail to align with another module in a side-to-side direction to form an integrated thermal solar system;
• wherein the integrated thermal solar system comprises an integrated air plenum having air plenums in the end-to-end direction directly connected one output region to another intake region and air plenums in the side-to-side direction connected one side wall across a mounting rail to another side wall;
• wherein the mounting rail includes an outer side wall made of a solid plate and an inner side wall having one or more openings allowing the air flows to pass from one air plenum through a mounting rail to a next air plenum of the integrated air plenum;
• wherein the mounting rail includes one or more openings connecting the one or more openings in the inner side wall.