Flat Photovoltaic Tile Structure for Watertight Roof Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic tiles for pitched roofs face challenges with watertightness, installation difficulty, and overheating, as well as complex wiring configurations.
Innovation Solution
A flat photovoltaic tile design featuring a rigid plastic shell with a photovoltaic element housed within, incorporating overlapping edges and grooves for watertightness, and an electrical connection system for easy installation and power export, using Ethylene Vinyl Acetate films and tempered glass for durability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If photovoltaic tiles are installed on pitched roofs with traditional supports and covering, then power generation is achieved, but installation complexity and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the photovoltaic power generation function with the roof covering function into a single integrated tile. The tile includes a shell made of plastic material with a photovoltaic element fastened inside, eliminating the need for separate supports and traditional roofing materials. This merging reduces installation complexity while maintaining power generation capability.
2Reliability
If photovoltaic tiles are designed with overlapping edges for watertightness, then water protection is improved, but installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tile is designed with distinct overlapping zones: upstream parts that overlap with downstream parts of adjacent tiles, and lateral parts that overlap with lateral parts of neighboring tiles. These segmented overlapping regions create watertight joints while maintaining relatively simple installation through standardized overlapping patterns.
3Strength
If photovoltaic elements are enclosed in rigid shells for protection, then durability is improved, but overheating risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is made of plastic material with specific thermal properties that provide protection while managing heat. The photovoltaic element is fastened inside the shell with spacing and positioning that allows for thermal management, and the shell material itself has thermal characteristics that reduce overheating risk while maintaining protective function.
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
The solution simplifies installation, enhances watertightness, and reduces overheating risks while maintaining efficient power generation, ensuring a reliable and efficient photovoltaic roof covering system.
Implementation Method 1
a flat photovoltaic power generation element... the front face being intended to receive a solar radiation... the photovoltaic element forming a power generation area
Implementation Method 2
at least one silicon-based photovoltaic conversion plate, an upper Ethylene Vinyl Acetate film, and... a lower Ethylene Vinyl Acetate film
Implementation Method 3
a transparent layer consisted of tempered glass
Data Source
AI summary
A flat photovoltaic tile includes a shell made from plastic material and a photovoltaic element in a recess. The tile has front and rear faces, upstream and downstream edges, two right and left lateral edges. Overlapping portions ensure at least water-tightness against liquid water. The tile includes an electrical connection, the rear face including, towards the upstream edge, a tenon intended to hold the tile on a retaining device, in particular a batten. At the photovoltaic element, the tile includes, in its thickness, from the rear face towards the front face: a part of the shell a rear panel, a lower EVA film, a silicon photovoltaic conversion plate, an upper EVA film, and a tempered glass transparent layer, and, elsewhere, the tile includes, in its thickness, the plastic material of the shell.