Clamping Clip Fastening for Flexible Solar Panels Under Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible solar panels pose challenges in fastening to supporting structures due to their mechanical properties, particularly on non-flat surfaces, as existing adhesive solutions are not reliable and can lead to distortions from thermal expansions.
Innovation Solution
The use of plastic clamping clips with profiled limbs forming a clamping space and a connecting element that allows for relative movement, enabling secure fastening without large-area adhesive connections, and featuring a touch-and-close fastener part for interlocking with the supporting structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive connection is used over the entire lower face of the panel, then the panel can be attached to the supporting structure, but the supporting structure surface must be suitable for adhesive connection and thermal expansions cause distortions or warping
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous adhesive connection is segmented into discrete clamping clips distributed at specific locations. Each clip independently fastens the panel to the supporting structure, eliminating the requirement for the entire surface to be adhesive-compatible and allowing thermal expansion without distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive connection system is replaced with a mechanical clamping system using profiled clips that apply localized clamping force. This mechanical approach substitutes the chemical adhesive bond with physical clamping, enabling fastening to diverse surfaces including those unsuitable for adhesive application.
2Reliability
If large-area connecting elements are used, then the panel can be securely fastened, but the installation effort and material requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into multiple discrete clamping clips positioned at optimized locations along the panel edges. This segmentation reduces the total material required compared to full-area adhesive while maintaining secure fastening through strategically placed mechanical anchors.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniform fastening across the entire panel surface, the clamping clips concentrate fastening force at specific critical locations (panel edges and corners). This local quality approach provides sufficient security with minimal material and installation effort by targeting only the necessary fastening points.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a simple, economical, and reliable fastening method that compensates for thermal expansions and prevents stress and cracking, with low installation effort and no need for extensive adhesive coverage.
Implementation Method 1
profiled limbs opposite one another forming between them a clamping space receiving and clamping between themselves a holding region of a pertinent mat or of a solar panel with a resilient clamping force
Implementation Method 2
The interlocking elements of the part form an adhesive connection to interlocking elements located on the supporting structure
Data Source
AI summary
A device for fastening panel-shaped mats, in particular flexible photovoltaic solar panels, to a supporting structure, has at least one clamping clip (10) in the shape of a section of a plastic profiled body. The clip has opposing profiled limbs (12, 14) forming a clamping space (18) for a holding region (8) of the mat received in it. In the clamping space, the profiled limbs (12, 14) rest with a resilient clamping force against the upper face and the lower face of the holding region (8). The profiled limb (14), which in the clamped state rests against the lower face of the holding region (8) facing the supporting structure, forms a fixing surface (26) on its outer face provided with a connecting element (30) for attaching to the supporting structure.