Photovoltaic Module Frame Openings for Rainwater Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Photovoltaic modules installed outdoors face contamination from rainwater and waste matter, necessitating an efficient drainage solution.

Innovation Solution

A photovoltaic module design featuring a frame with openings at its sides to discharge rainwater or waste matter, formed through a simple process, ensuring effective drainage while maintaining structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If drainage holes are added to discharge rainwater and waste matter, then contamination is reduced, but frame strength is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination from rainwater and waste matterVSAvoidframe strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The frame incorporates openings (drainage holes) at specific locations to enable water and waste matter to pass through, transforming the solid frame into a partially porous structure that maintains strength while enabling drainage functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The frame is segmented by adding discrete openings at strategic positions rather than creating a continuous porous structure, allowing drainage while preserving overall structural integrity in non-critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If openings are formed in the frame for drainage, then drainage efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage efficiencyVSAvoidframe manufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The openings are formed in the frame during the manufacturing process itself, integrating the drainage feature into the initial fabrication rather than adding it as a separate post-processing step, thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2432029B1Photovoltaic module with water drainage

Publication Date: 2016.01.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC

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AI summary

A photovoltaic module has an opening through which rainwater and waste matter are discharged. The photovoltaic module includes a front substrate, a rear substrate disposed opposite to the front substrate, a solar cell disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate, and a frame surrounding edges of the front substrate and the rear substrate, the frame being formed or substantially formed in a rectangular shape, the frame having at least one opening formed at a short side or long side thereof.