DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Rack assembly for mounting solar modules

Abstract

A rack assembly is provided for mounting solar modules over an underlying body. The rack assembly may include a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly. One or more retention structures may be provided with the plurality of rail structures, where each retention structure is configured to support one or more solar modules at a given height above the underlying body. At least some of the plurality of rail structures are adapted to enable individual rail structures to be sealed over the underlying body so as to constrain air flow underneath the solar modules. Additionally, at least one of (i) one or more of the rail structures, or (ii) the one or more retention structures are adjustable so as to adapt the rack assembly to accommodate solar modules of varying forms or dimensions.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
PVT Solar, Inc. (Fremont, CA)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1078324
Patent Number(s):
8256170
Application Number:
12/949,551
Assignee:
PVT Solar, Inc. (Fremont, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F24 - HEATING F24S - SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS
H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
DOE Contract Number:  
NDO-3-33457-02; NDC-5-55022-01
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY

Citation Formats

Plaisted, Joshua Reed, and West, Brian. Rack assembly for mounting solar modules. United States: N. p., 2012. Web.
Plaisted, Joshua Reed, & West, Brian. Rack assembly for mounting solar modules. United States.
Plaisted, Joshua Reed, and West, Brian. Tue . "Rack assembly for mounting solar modules". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1078324.
@article{osti_1078324,
title = {Rack assembly for mounting solar modules},
author = {Plaisted, Joshua Reed and West, Brian},
abstractNote = {A rack assembly is provided for mounting solar modules over an underlying body. The rack assembly may include a plurality of rail structures that are arrangeable over the underlying body to form an overall perimeter for the rack assembly. One or more retention structures may be provided with the plurality of rail structures, where each retention structure is configured to support one or more solar modules at a given height above the underlying body. At least some of the plurality of rail structures are adapted to enable individual rail structures to be sealed over the underlying body so as to constrain air flow underneath the solar modules. Additionally, at least one of (i) one or more of the rail structures, or (ii) the one or more retention structures are adjustable so as to adapt the rack assembly to accommodate solar modules of varying forms or dimensions.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2012},
month = {9}
}