Removable PV Wind Deflector Assembly for Adjustable Tilt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photovoltaic module installations face challenges with wind deflector designs that are either permanently affixed, making installation and maintenance difficult, or are labor-intensive and costly, with limited adjustability in wind deflector orientation, which affects the ground coverage ratio and shading issues in solar energy collection.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic module assembly with a removably mountable wind deflector that can be oriented in multiple positions using a clip system, allowing for easy installation and adjustment without tools, and a kit configuration for non-penetrating installation on flat surfaces, enabling flexible tilt angles and reduced shading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wind deflectors are permanently affixed to PV modules, then wind protection is improved, but installation and maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector system is divided into separate components: the deflector itself and the mounting mechanism. The deflector can be detached from the PV module frame, allowing it to be installed or removed independently. This segmentation enables easy maintenance and replacement without permanently affixing the deflector, thus maintaining reliability while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind deflector transitions from a static, permanently affixed state to a dynamic, removable state. The mounting mechanism allows the deflector to be easily attached and detached, providing adaptability for installation and maintenance operations while maintaining wind protection functionality when mounted.
2Manufacturing precision
If wind deflectors are labor-intensive to install, then installation precision may be improved, but labor cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism is pre-configured with alignment features and attachment points that guide the deflector into the correct position during installation. This preliminary preparation of the mounting structure ensures proper installation precision while reducing the time and labor required, as the deflector naturally aligns with the pre-positioned mounting components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting mechanism incorporates self-aligning features that automatically position the deflector correctly during installation. The design includes built-in guidance structures and attachment mechanisms that ensure proper positioning without requiring complex alignment procedures or specialized installation tools, thereby reducing labor costs while maintaining installation precision.
3Device complexity
If wind deflector orientation is fixed, then structural simplicity is improved, but ground coverage ratio and shading optimization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The wind deflector mounting system enables dynamic adjustment of the deflector's orientation angle relative to the PV module. The mechanism allows the deflector to be positioned at different angles while maintaining structural stability, providing adaptability for optimizing ground coverage ratio and reducing shading without significantly increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for changing the orientation parameter of the wind deflector by adjusting its mounting angle. This parameter adjustment capability enables optimization of ground coverage ratio and shading patterns for different installation configurations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through standardized mounting components.
Data Source
AI summary
A photovoltaic (PV) module assembly including a PV module, a deflector, and a clip. The PV module includes a PV device and a frame. A PV laminate is assembled to the frame, and the frame includes a support arm forming a seat. The deflector defines a front face and a rear face, with the clip extending from either the trailing frame member or the rear face of the deflector. In a mounted state, the deflector is nested within the seat and is releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip. In some embodiments, the support arm forms a second seat, with the PV module assembly providing a second mounted state in which the deflector is in a differing orientation/slope, nested within the second seat and releasably mounted to the trailing frame member via the clip.