Exterior Siding Material with Integrated Solar Panel and Cable Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar panel installations for buildings are costly and inefficient, with high installation costs and limited suitability due to structural and exposure limitations, resulting in only 22% of residential rooftops being suitable for solar power generation, and existing wall applications have complicated processes and low electrical output.
Innovation Solution
A siding material with integrated solar panels and channels for electrical cables, designed for easy installation and optimized tilt angles to enhance solar exposure, featuring perforations for ventilation and a channel system for cable management, mimicking vinyl siding installation processes to reduce costs and increase energy generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If solar panels are installed on building walls at vertical orientation, then installation complexity is reduced, but electrical generation output is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The solar panel mounting system incorporates an adjustable tilt mechanism that allows the panels to be positioned at optimal angles (30-80 degrees from vertical) rather than being fixed in a single vertical orientation. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maximize solar exposure and electrical generation output while maintaining ease of installation through a standardized mounting framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the orientation parameter of solar panels from fixed vertical (90 degrees from horizontal) to an adjustable range (30-80 degrees from vertical). This parameter modification significantly improves electrical generation output by optimizing solar exposure angles while the modular mounting system keeps installation complexity manageable.
2Use of energy by moving object
If solar panels are installed on rooftops, then solar exposure is maximized, but structural limitations and roof suitability restrict application to only 22% of residential rooftops
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions solar panel installation from the horizontal rooftop plane to the vertical wall plane. This dimensional change allows solar panels to be installed on building surfaces that were previously unsuitable for rooftop solar, including walls with limited solar exposure, thereby expanding adaptability to various building types while maintaining effective solar energy generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solar panel mounting system is designed as a universal solution that can be applied to various building wall surfaces regardless of roof characteristics. This multi-functional approach enables installation on different building types and wall orientations, making solar energy generation accessible to buildings that would not qualify for traditional rooftop solar installation.
3Productivity
If existing wall solar panel applications are implemented, then solar power generation is enabled on vertical surfaces, but installation process is very complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into modular components including separate mounting brackets, adjustment mechanisms, and panel attachment elements. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual components, simplified installation through piece-by-piece assembly, and easier maintenance or replacement of specific parts without affecting the entire solar panel array.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a specialized mounting system as an intermediary component between the building wall and the solar panels. This intermediary structure provides standardized attachment points, integrated tilt adjustment mechanisms, and simplified connection interfaces, thereby reducing installation complexity and cost while enabling effective solar power generation on vertical surfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables quick, economical solar panel installation on building walls, increasing energy generation by up to 30% compared to vertical applications, making solar power more viable for unsuitable rooftops and simplifying maintenance and repair with a scalable, ventilated, and efficient solar panel system.
Implementation Method 1
Each unit comprises a solar panel, a mounting system, and a photovoltaic cell array
Data Source
AI summary
A siding material for a building configured to hold one or more solar panels is disclosed including a siding shell including a first section and/or a second section, wherein each first and/or second section includes an essentially flat face disposed at an angle ranging from about 30 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to the ground or a perpendicular plane extending from a side of the building. In addition, one or more surfaces of the first section and/or the second section are perforated, and the first section and/or the second section each include a channel configured to hold an electrical cable.