Hybrid Solar Panel Mounting Assembly for Roof Obstructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The solar industry faces challenges in simplifying the complexity of mounting photovoltaic modules on structures like roofs while maintaining efficiency and flexibility, especially when dealing with obstructions and varying orientations.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid solar panel mounting system that combines rail-based and rail-less components, allowing for stable alignment and flexibility in mounting solar panels on surfaces by using trim-rails, splices, connectors, and adjustable footers to accommodate different orientations and obstructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rail-based mounting system is used, then alignment stability and structural strength are improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into discrete modular components including individual rails, splices for joining rails, connectors for attaching panels, and adjustable footers for roof attachment. This segmentation allows the system to achieve stable alignment through precise modular assembly while reducing overall complexity by enabling standardized, pre-fabricated components that can be installed systematically.
2Strength
If a rail-based mounting system is used, then structural strength is improved, but ease of operation and installation ease worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates adjustable footers that can be positioned at various locations along the rails and adjusted to different heights and angles. This dynamic adjustability maintains structural strength through rigid rail connections while significantly improving ease of installation by allowing workers to adapt the system to different roof conditions and panel orientations without requiring complex custom fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
Connectors serve as intermediary components that simplify the attachment process between rails and photovoltaic panels. These standardized connectors provide a simple interface that maintains structural strength while reducing installation complexity, allowing panels to be quickly attached to the rail system without requiring complex welding or custom fabrication procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hybrid mounting system with adjustable components is used, then adaptability to obstructions and varying orientations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system employs universal components that can serve multiple functions: rails provide both structural support and alignment references, footers can be adjusted to accommodate various roof pitches and obstructions, and connectors can attach panels in different orientations. This multi-functionality achieves high adaptability to obstructions and varying installations while avoiding the need for entirely different system configurations, thereby limiting the increase in overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for mounting a solar panel array on a surface is disclosed. The solar panel array includes a plurality of solar panel modules and a hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly. The hybrid solar panel module mounting assembly includes a component of a rail-based mounting system and a component of a rail-less mounting system. At least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-based mounting system and at least one of the plurality of solar panel modules is mounted on the component of the rail-less mounting system.