Solar Panel Housing with Thermal Header for Lightweight Energy Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solar panels are inefficient in converting solar energy to electricity, require large and heavy metal housings, and are limited to daylight use, necessitating a lightweight and inexpensive housing solution that can operate during both day and night.
Innovation Solution
A solar panel housing made from lightweight materials like foam, with a glazed element and tray design that includes apertures for conduits, end caps, and a top header for enhanced functionality, allowing for thermal energy transfer and electricity generation both day and night.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal housing is used to provide rigidity and structure, then strength and protection are improved, but weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining a rigid frame structure with insulation material (such as foam) filled within the housing cavity. This composite construction provides both structural strength from the frame and weight reduction from the lightweight insulation material, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thin-walled metal forming techniques to create lightweight yet sufficiently strong housing walls. The thin film approach reduces material usage and weight while maintaining adequate structural integrity through optimized wall thickness and framing design.
2Power
If array of solar panels is used to produce sufficient electrical energy, then energy output is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single panel design by incorporating both photovoltaic cells for electricity generation and thermal collection components for heat transfer within the same housing structure. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve higher energy output without requiring separate arrays for each function, thereby reducing overall complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If solar panels are limited to daylight use, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but productivity and energy efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a hybrid solar panel that performs both photovoltaic electricity generation and thermal energy collection/storage functions. The thermal energy collected during daylight can be stored and utilized during nighttime, extending the productive energy availability beyond daylight hours while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
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 provides a lightweight, cost-effective solar panel housing that enhances energy efficiency and usability around the clock, reducing material costs and weight while enabling efficient energy conversion and storage.
Implementation Method 1
Photovoltaics are typically used to collect solar energy and covert the solar energy directly into electricity
Implementation Method 2
solar panels may be used to change the sun's solar energy into thermal energy to heat water that may be used for bathing, washing and swimming
Implementation Method 3
As the water or other fluids circulate through the pipes and solar panels, the solar energy captured by the thermal panels will increase the temperature in the water or other fluids
Data Source
AI summary
A housing for a solar panel is provided that includes a glazed element and a tray, the tray including a plate, side walls a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a top surface and a lip, the lip configured to seat the glazed element, wherein the tray is formed of a single material, wherein the plate, the side walls, the top and the bottom end cap are collectively configured to form a cavity, and wherein the top end cap includes a top header, the top end cap positioned between the top header and the cavity and including at least one pipe extending outwardly from the top header at both side ends and extending a length and throughout an interior space of the to header, and at least one void extending a length and throughout the interior space of the to header, the void positioned proximate the pipe.