Photovoltaic panel having an adhered support frame

Abstract

A photovoltaic panel having a distributed support frame adhered to a photovoltaic module is described. For example, the distributed support frame may include one or more support member or support mounts adhered to the photovoltaic module by an adhesive layer. The photovoltaic module may include layers bound together by an encapsulant. Accordingly, the distributed support frame may be attached to the photovoltaic module during a same lamination process used to laminate the photovoltaic module.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of assembling a PV (photovoltaic) panel and distributed support frame, the method comprising:
 providing one or more members of a distributed support frame;   providing a PV cell of a PV panel; and   adhering the one or more members to the PV panel concurrently with the encapsulation of the PV cell in the PV panel.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein adhering the one or more members to the PV occurs during a lamination process of the encapsulation of the PV cell in the PV panel. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more members are support members and are mechanically coupled to one or more support ribs. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the one or more members of the distributed support frame comprise plastic. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein no aluminum is present in the one or more members of the support frame. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the distributed support frame comprises a central support hub, a plurality of support rails, and a plurality of corner supports, each support rails connected to the support hub and a corner support. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein adhering the one or more members to the PV panel comprises applying an adhesive and wherein the adhesive and the encapsulant are cured simultaneously. 
     
     
         28 . A method of assembling a PV (photovoltaic) panel and distributed support frame, the method comprising:
 providing one or more members of a distributed support frame;   providing a PV cell of a PV panel;   applying an adhesive between the distributed support frame and the PV panel; and   after applying the adhesive curing an encapsulant of the PV cell.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising curing the adhesive. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising concurrently curing the encapsulant and the adhesive. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the distributed support frame comprises a plurality of corners, each corner of the plurality corresponding to a corner of the PV panel. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the distributed support frame comprises plastic. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the PV panel comprises an outward facing perimeter edge and wherein the support frame has a circular hub and ribs extending therefrom, each of the ribs extending to the perimeter edge. 
     
     
         34 . A method of assembling a PV (photovoltaic) panel and distributed support frame, the method comprising:
 providing one or more members of a distributed support frame, the distributed support frame comprising a support hub positioned along a central axis of the PV panel and a plurality of support rails, each support rail cantilevered from the from the support hub;   providing a PV cell of a PV panel;   providing an encapsulant for the PV cell;   applying an adhesive between the distributed support frame and the PV panel;   curing the encapsulant of the PV cell; and   curing the adhesive.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the encapsulant and the adhesive comprise the same material. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the encapsulant and the adhesive are cured at the same time. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein each support rail has a tapered cross-section height, the height diminishing as the support rail extends from the support hub. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the distributed support frame comprises plastic. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the distributed support frame solely comprises plastic. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the encapsulant and the adhesive are the same material and are cured at the same time.