PV Array Skirt Assembly for Airflow and Flame Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic (PV) array skirt systems fail to provide adequate structural support, effective flame blocking, sufficient debris prevention, and airflow management, while also being costly and requiring separate grounding wires, which can lead to corrosion issues.
Innovation Solution
A skirt system for PV arrays featuring a screen portion, groove portion, and coupling adapted to connect to adjacent modules, providing angled louvers for airflow, adjustable height, and automatic grounding, with components like anti-rotation components and spring clips for secure attachment and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If prior skirt systems are installed to provide visual screening, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but structural support is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the visual screening function with structural support function into a single integrated skirt assembly. The skirt includes a screen portion for aesthetic screening and a structural portion with mounting features that couple to PV module frames, allowing one component to fulfill both aesthetic and structural roles simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The skirt assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that provides visual screening, structural support, airflow management, and fire blocking all in one device. This eliminates the need for separate components for each function and reduces overall system complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If prior skirt systems use rigid flat screens, then manufacturing is simple, but debris prevention is insufficient due to gaps between screen and roof
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces height adjustability to the skirt system, allowing the screen height to be dynamically adjusted to match varying roof surfaces. This dynamic adjustment capability ensures continuous contact between the screen and roof surface, eliminating gaps that would allow debris accumulation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows modification of the screen height parameter to adapt to different roof conditions. By changing this geometric parameter, the skirt can maintain effective debris blocking across various installation scenarios without requiring complex custom manufacturing for each case.
3Temperature
If air gap is provided beneath PV array for wire management and ventilation, then heat dissipation is improved, but fire safety is compromised due to flame entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different portions of the skirt assembly. The screen portion provides fire blocking to prevent flame entry into the air gap, while the structural portion maintains the air gap configuration for heat dissipation. This localized differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of fire safety and thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The skirt assembly acts as an intermediary component between the PV array and the roof surface. It maintains the beneficial air gap for ventilation while introducing fire blocking capabilities through the screen portion, thus mediating between heat dissipation requirements and fire safety concerns.
4Reliability
If separate grounding wire is used for skirt, then grounding is achieved, but installation complexity and corrosion risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the grounding function into the structural portion of the skirt assembly. The structural portion includes mounting features that couple to PV module frames, which serve as the grounding path. This integration eliminates the need for separate grounding wires and reduces installation complexity while maintaining reliable grounding.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural portion of the skirt serves multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling height adjustment, and establishing electrical grounding. By making the structural portion multi-functional, the patent reduces the total number of components and simplifies installation while ensuring reliable grounding.
Data Source
AI summary
A skirt for photovoltaic arrays provides a screen portion, a groove portion, and a separate coupling adapted to couple the skirt to the skirt of an adjacent photovoltaic array and to a photovoltaic module. Another embodiment provides a screen portion comprising an angled louver and is adapted to partially obscure an area substantially beneath a PV module in a PV array. A further embodiment provides an edge blocking skirt for a PV array comprising a screen portion adapted for mounting a bottom of the screen portion substantially close to a roof.