Solar panel fire skirt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Solar panel installations on roofs pose challenges to maintaining fire resistance and safety, as they can increase the risk of fire spread due to additional weight, heat, and penetrations, necessitating new fire code standards and effective installation methods to prevent or suppress fires.

Innovation Solution

The development of fire blocking apparatuses and systems that utilize heat-sensitive materials and structures to create gaps between solar panels and mounting surfaces, which collapse at elevated temperatures to block flames and prevent fire spread, including support structures with heat-sensitive legs and coupling joints, and fire blocking elements that deform or warp to seal gaps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If solar panels are mounted close to the mounting surface, then ventilation and cooling for solar panels is improved, but fire spread risk increases due to gap allowing flame penetration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation and coolingVSAvoidfire spread risk

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fire blocking apparatus employs a heat-sensitive material that dynamically changes its state based on temperature. During normal operation, the material remains in a first state allowing gaps for ventilation. When exposed to fire temperatures, it transitions to a second state that closes the gaps to block fire spread, thus dynamically adapting to thermal conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The heat-sensitive material undergoes a phase transition or state change in response to temperature variations. At elevated temperatures indicative of fire conditions, the material transforms from a state that permits airflow to a state that seals gaps, utilizing thermal energy to trigger the protective configuration change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Reliability

If fire blocking apparatus is installed, then fire resistance is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire resistanceVSAvoidadditional components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fire blocking apparatus integrates multiple functions into a single component. The heat-sensitive material simultaneously provides structural support during normal operation and fire blocking capability when activated, merging ventilation and fire protection functions into one element rather than requiring separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fire blocking apparatus is self-activating through the heat-sensitive material that automatically responds to temperature changes. The system requires no external control, power source, or manual intervention - the material itself detects fire conditions and executes the fire blocking function autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Extent of automation

If heat-sensitive material is used, then automatic fire response is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to temperature sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic fire responseVSAvoidtemperature sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-sensitive material is selected or engineered with specific thermal parameters tailored to the application. By adjusting the activation temperature, sensitivity threshold, and transition characteristics of the material, the system achieves reliable automatic response while accommodating standard manufacturing tolerances without requiring excessive precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

These solutions enhance fire resistance and safety by effectively blocking flames and heat, ensuring compliance with fire codes and preventing the spread of fire on both flat and tilted roofs, while maintaining ventilation and cooling for solar panels during normal operation.

Implementation Method 1

at least a portion of the panel support structure includes a heat or fire sensitive material configured to melt, deform, or warp at a predetermined temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

configured to melt, deform, or warp at a predetermined temperature such that when the structure is mounted between the solar panel and the mounting surface and heated at or above the predetermined temperature, the panel support structure collapses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS9878188B2Solar panel fire skirt

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 SOLARCITY CORPORATION

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards fire blocking apparatuses. A fire blocking apparatus for a solar panel is mounted to an underlying mounting surface. The fire blocking apparatus includes a panel support structure sized and shaped to be mounted between a solar panel and the mounting surface thereby supporting and creating a gap between at least a portion of the solar panel and the mounting surface, where at least a portion of the panel support structure comprises a heat or fire sensitive material configured to melt, deform, or warp at a predetermined temperature such that when the structure is mounted between the solar panel and the mounting surface and heated at or above the predetermined temperature, the panel support structure collapses to reduce the gap between the at least a portion of the solar panel and the mounting surface.