Hybrid Solar Panel Heat Exchanger Fastening Against Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hybrid solar panels face challenges with non-uniform pressing of heat exchangers, material expansion mismatches, high manufacturing costs, and reliability issues due to displacement of heat exchangers within the frame, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage during handling.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid solar panel design featuring a rigid frame with elastic elements and a blocking element that ensures uniform compression and prevents longitudinal and lateral displacement of the heat exchanger, utilizing support elements and elastic profiles to maintain the heat exchanger in place, allowing for effective thermal exchange and improved aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive methods are used to attach the heat exchanger to the photovoltaic module, then the thermal performance is improved by preventing air presence, but the manufacturing cost substantially increases due to expensive adhesives required for materials with different expansion coefficients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A blocking element is introduced as an intermediary component between the heat exchanger and the frame. This blocking element prevents relative movement between the heat exchanger and frame, eliminating the need for expensive adhesives while maintaining thermal contact and preventing air gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical bonding system (adhesives) with a mechanical constraint system (blocking element). This substitution eliminates the need for expensive specialized adhesives while achieving the same functional goals of preventing displacement and maintaining thermal contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If only two elastic elements are used to press the heat exchanger, then the device complexity is reduced, but the pressing uniformity deteriorates resulting in non-optimal output

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of elastic elementsVSAvoidpressing uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking element is divided into multiple segments (first blocking element and second blocking element) that are distributed at different positions. This segmentation allows each element to independently press the heat exchanger at specific locations, achieving uniform pressing while keeping the overall device simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the heat exchanger is pressed against the photovoltaic module without blocking elements, then the thermal exchange is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to longitudinal and lateral displacement during handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal exchange efficiencyVSAvoidhandling reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking element is pre-installed in the frame to prevent any potential displacement of the heat exchanger before it occurs. By providing preliminary mechanical constraint, the system prevents both thermal contact loss and hydraulic connector damage that would otherwise occur during handling and operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 reliable, cost-effective, and aesthetically improved hybrid solar panel with uniform pressing and enhanced thermal performance, preventing exchanger displacement and ensuring the integrity of hydraulic connectors, thus improving the overall efficiency and durability of the panel.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elastic element adapted to exert a compression force against the lower face of the exchanger in such a way that said exchanger is thrust against the rear face of the photovoltaic module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger arranged facing the rear face of the photovoltaic module in such a way as to cool the latter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

the calories of the cooling can be used in more or less complex heating systems

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

Photovoltaic solar panels make it possible to produce electrical energy from solar radiation. They comprise a plurality of photovoltaic elements (cells or thin layers) that operate according to the principle of the photoelectric effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11139408B2Hybrid solar panel equipped with a device for fastening a heat exchanger

Publication Date: 2021.10.05 DUALSUN

AI summary

Hybrid solar panel including a photovoltaic module having a front face and a rear face, a heat exchanger having a lower face and an upper face, said upper face being arranged facing the rear face of the photovoltaic module, a rigid frame surrounding the photovoltaic module and the heat exchanger, at least one elastic element adapted to exert a compression force against the lower face of the exchanger in such a way that the exchanger is thrust against the rear face of the photovoltaic module, the elastic element bears against at least one bearing element, and the bearing element being in connection with the frame in such a way that at least one portion of the compression force exerted by the elastic element on the bearing element is taken up by the frame.