Photovoltaic Cladding Frame With Labyrinth Seal for Top-Down Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic cladding systems for buildings require complex assembly, are cumbersome to install, especially for large-format components, and necessitate specific horizontal and vertical ordering, making maintenance and repair difficult, while also being heavy and costly.
Innovation Solution
A component with a frame and panel design featuring a labyrinth seal, allowing for overlapping and interlocking profiles that create a rainproof surface without additional sealing elements, enabling assembly from the top down and allowing for easy replacement of individual components without disturbing others, using a frame with upper and lower profiles that engage in a pivoting movement for efficient drainage and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If large-format photovoltaic modules are used for cladding, then the aesthetic appearance and visual uniformity are improved, but the weight and handling difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cladding system is divided into multiple smaller components (1) that can be individually handled and installed. Each component contains a photovoltaic module (12) framed within a profile structure (2, 3, 4), allowing the overall large-area coverage to be achieved through assembly of manageable units rather than installing single large modules.
2Reliability
If components are laid from bottom to top to achieve proper overlapping, then the rainproof connection is ensured, but the assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The components (1) are designed to be laid in reverse order compared to conventional roofing - from top to bottom rather than bottom to top. The upper profile (4) of each component engages with the lower profile (3) of the component below it, creating a self-supporting overlapping structure that maintains rainproof connection while allowing more efficient installation sequencing.
3Reliability
If lateral frame profiles interlock to create rainproof connection, then the sealing performance is improved, but the maintenance and repair accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the lateral interlocking profiles and relocated to the upper and lower profiles (3, 4) that run in the direction of fall. This allows the lateral profiles to primarily provide structural support and positioning, while the upper/lower profiles create the labyrinth seal through their overlapping engagement, improving accessibility for maintenance.
4Reliability
If additional plastic sealing elements are used to ensure rainproof connection, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The profile structures (2, 3, 4) are designed to create the labyrinth seal through their own geometric configuration and interlocking arrangement. The upper profile (4) with outward-projecting sealing lips and lower profile (3) with inward-projecting sealing lips form the sealing mechanism inherently, eliminating the need for separate plastic sealing elements and reducing material usage.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5(a)~5(c)
AI summary
The element (1) has a frame, and a panel (12) e.g. photo-voltaic module, attached to the frame. The frame includes an upper profile (4) with outer and inner sealing lips (41, 42) projecting towards an outer weather side (13) of the element and a lower profile with outer and inner lips projecting inwardly away from an inner weather side (14) of the element. The upper and lower profiles are brought in engagement with an upper profile and a lower profile (3') of adjacent structural element (1') having outer and inner sealing lips (31', 32'), such that a labyrinth seal (7) is produced.