Substructure and solar module system

Abstract

Substructure (2) for solar panels (7), in particular flexible solar panels (7), comprising support rails (1) arranged parallel to one another, characterized in that the support rails (1) are made of a foamed plastic.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a substructure for solar panels, in particular flexible solar panels, comprising support rails arranged parallel to one another and a solar module system comprising at least one solar panel, in particular at least one flexible solar panel.

[0002] In order to be able to use solar modules in locations with low load-bearing capacity, for example, and thus expand their application areas, efforts are being made to reduce their weight. One result of these efforts is the application of proven crystalline silicon solar cells to proprietary polymer composite materials. These solar panels are characterized by their thin layer thickness and flexibility. Their flexible properties are also achieved through their frameless design.

[0003] At their installation site, however, the frameless design means that the solar panels must either be placed directly on a predetermined surface or reinforced by a substructure. A substructure is particularly necessary if the solar panels would otherwise be standing in stagnant water or if the surface is too uneven to allow the solar panels to be placed directly on it. However, these conventional substructures, made of square PVC pipes, are relatively inflexible and do not allow, for example, the solar panels to be arranged at an angle to their surface or construction surface.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to further develop a corresponding substructure that enables a more diverse use of the solar panels.

[0005] The object is achieved with the features of the substructure according to claim 1 and the features of the solar module system according to claim 11. Further developments and advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the respective subordinate claims.

[0006] The substructure for solar panels, in particular flexible solar panels, comprising parallel support rails, is characterized according to the invention in that the support rails are made of a foamed plastic. Compared to the conventional PVC square tubes, the foamed support rails enable a further weight reduction and thus support the lightweight construction of the solar modules when using a substructure. Furthermore, the foamed support rails have the advantage that they can be pressed into almost any shape or cut to size.

[0007] According to a first refinement, the support rails can therefore be wedge-shaped, at least in sections, and form at least one support surface inclined toward a flat construction surface of the substructure. Precipitation falling on inclined solar panels is dissipated accordingly more quickly, thus ensuring a higher energy yield. Orientation toward the sun is also possible.

[0008] In a further embodiment, the support surface of the support rails is inclined by at least 3° relative to the construction surface, in particular between 3° and 8° relative to the construction surface, in particular between 4° and 6° relative to the construction surface, in particular exactly 5° relative to the construction surface. Adapted to the solar panels, the support rails can thus have a height of between 100 mm and 20 mm, for example.

[0009] According to a further refinement, the support rails are provided with transverse stiffeners that connect at least two of the support rails together. This allows the support rails to be arranged at greater distances from one another without the flexible solar panels mounted on them sagging between the support rails.

[0010] To position the transverse stiffeners on the support rails in a predetermined manner, the support rails advantageously have slots into which the transverse stiffeners are inserted. Corresponding to the slots, the transverse stiffeners can be formed in a further embodiment by angled plate sections, of which a first plate section is inserted into the respective associated slot of the support rails, and a second plate section forms a support surface for the solar panels. The slots must therefore be aligned with one another so that several support rails can be connected with one transverse stiffener.

[0011] In a further refinement, the cross bracing is also designed to be aligned at right angles to the support rails. The cross bracing and support rails thus form a uniform grid of rectangles, which is easy to calculate and ensures good support of the solar panels across their surface area.

[0012] In a further development, cable guides are provided on the transverse stiffeners. The cables to be laid for the solar modules are thus located directly beneath the solar panels to be mounted on the substructure. Suitable cable guides can be, for example, cable clamps or clips arranged on the inside of the panel sections arranged at an angle to each other. Cable ties can also be routed through openings in the transverse stiffeners.

[0013] The preferred material for the support rails is foamed polyethylene terephthalate, which can be inexpensively formed into any shape and can also be recycled repeatedly from waste materials, such as old PET bottles. Polyethylene terephthalate is also flame-resistant. A rigid plastic, such as PVC, is also provided for the transverse stiffeners. Alternatively, the transverse stiffeners can also be made of a metallic material.

[0014] The invention further relates to a solar module system comprising at least one solar panel, in particular at least one flexible solar panel. This solar module system is characterized in that the at least one solar panel is mounted on a substructure as described above. The solar panels can thus be mounted on various flat roofs with or without corrugations or the like, with both the solar modules and their cabling being protected from waterlogging.

[0015] According to a further development of the solar module system, at least one solar panel is bonded to the substructure. In combination with the foamed support rails, the solar panels are electrically decoupled from their substrate or construction surface. The rough surface of the foamed support rail, which is a manufacturing characteristic, also ensures good adhesion of any adhesive used. In particular, at least one solar panel is bonded to both the support rails and the transverse stiffeners.

[0016] According to a further development, bonding is also provided between the substrate forming the construction surface and the substructure. Both bonding processes are advantageously carried out using the same adhesive, which, in a further development, ensures a permanently elastic bond between both the substrate and the substructure, as well as between the substructure and the solar panels. According to a further development, a single-component PU adhesive is used in each case, in particular the same single-component PU adhesive.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention, from which further essential features of the invention may emerge, is illustrated in the drawing. Identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the figures of the drawing. They show: Fig. 1: a first perspective view of the structure of a solar module system according to the invention; Fig. 2: a second perspective view of the structure of the solar module system according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3: a third perspective view of the structure of the solar module system according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; Fig. 4: a fourth perspective view of the assembled solar module system according to Fig. 1 to 3; and Fig. 5: a fifth perspective view of the structure of the solar module system according to Fig. 1 to 4;

[0018] Fig. 1 shows support rails 1 of a substructure 2 according to the invention, arranged parallel to one another at a distance. Each of the support rails 1 has three vertical slots 3, wherein the slots 3 of adjacent support rails 1 are aligned with one another. The slots 3 of one of the support rails 1 are evenly distributed along its length. The support rails 1 also have a gradient of, in particular, 5° in their longitudinal extension between an upwardly facing support surface 5 with slots 3 and an opposite, downwardly facing construction surface.

[0019] In Fig. 2, transverse stiffeners 4 are inserted into the slots 3, each with a first of two plate sections 4a arranged at right angles to one another. A transverse stiffener 4 extends over all four support rails 1 and rests with its second plate section 4b on support surfaces 5 of the support rails 1. A 1-component PU adhesive 6 was also applied to the visible side of both the plate sections 4b of the transverse stiffeners 4 and the support surfaces 5.

[0020] According to Fig. 3, the panel sections 4b and the support surfaces 5 were glued to a solar panel 7 placed on top. A cable 8 for connecting the solar panel 7 to a power grid was attached to the facing sides of the panel sections 4a, 4b using a cable clamp 9 as a cable guide below the transverse stiffener 4.

[0021] Out of Fig. 4 shows how two solar panels 7 are to be arranged relative to one another on a substrate, wherein the solar panels 7 are inclined in opposite directions, in particular in an east-west orientation. Furthermore, Fig. 4 cable connections 8a of the cables 8 are visible, which are to be connected to a power grid below the solar panels 7.

[0022] Fig. Figure 5 discloses a package of four solar panels 7, as they are to be arranged on a substrate. Maintenance and assembly aisles are to be provided between such packages.

Claims

[1] Substructure (2) for solar panels (7), in particular flexible solar panels (7), comprising support rails (1) arranged parallel to one another, characterized by that the support rails (1) are made of a foamed plastic. [2] Substructure (2) according to claim 1, characterized by that the support rails (1) are wedge-shaped at least in sections and form at least one support surface (5) inclined to a flat construction surface of the substructure (2). [3] Substructure (2) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the support surface (5) of the support rails (1) is inclined by at least 3° to the construction surface, in particular is inclined between 3° and 8° to the construction surface, in particular is inclined between 4° and 6° to the construction surface, in particular is inclined by exactly 5° to the construction surface. [4] Substructure (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the support rails (1) are assigned transverse stiffeners (4) which connect at least two of the support rails (1) to one another. [5] Substructure (2) according to claim 4, characterized by that the support rails (1) have slots (3) into which the transverse stiffeners (4) are inserted. [6] Substructure (2) according to claim 5, characterized by that the transverse stiffeners (4) are formed by plate sections (4a, 4b) which are angled towards one another, of which a first plate section (4a) is inserted into the respectively associated slot (3) of the support rails (1) and a second plate section (4b) forms a support surface for the solar panels (7) as intended. [7] Substructure (2) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized by that the transverse stiffeners (4) are aligned at right angles to the support rails (1). [8] Substructure (2) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized bythat cable guides are provided on the transverse stiffeners (4). [9] Substructure (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the support rails (1) are made of foamed polyethylene terephthalate. [10] Substructure (2) according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized by that the transverse stiffeners (4) are made of a hard plastic. [11] Solar module system comprising at least one solar panel (7), in particular at least one flexible solar panel (7), characterized by that the at least one solar panel (7) is mounted on a substructure (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10. [12] Solar module system according to claim 11, characterized by that at least one solar panel (7) is glued to the substructure (2). [13] Solar module system according to claim 12, characterized bythat the at least one solar panel (7) is glued to both the support rails (1) and the transverse stiffeners (4). [14] Solar module system according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by that the substructure (2) is glued to a substrate forming the construction surface.

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