Granted Patent B2

US 12,446,329 · App. 18/327,724 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Inventors: Alexander Sharenko (Berkeley, CA); Paul Martin Adriani (Palo Alto, CA); Ryan Lemon Devine (Richmond, CA)

Assignee: GAF Energy LLC

H10F19/804B32B5/02B32B7/12B32B17/10B32B25/16B32B27/12B32B27/18B32B27/283B32B27/304B32B27/308B32B27/32B32B27/36B32B37/1207H10F19/807B32B2305/72B32B2307/3065B32B2307/7265B32B2327/18B32B2457/12H10F19/85

Abstract

Claims (41)

1. A roofing system, comprising:

a roof deck; and

a photovoltaic module installed on the roof deck,

wherein the photovoltaic module comprises:

a frontsheet;

a first encapsulant layer;

at least one solar cell,

wherein the first encapsulant layer is between the frontsheet and the at least one solar cell;

a second encapsulant layer,

wherein the at least one solar cell is between and encapsulated by the first encapsulant layer and the second encapsulant layer; and

a backsheet,

wherein the backsheet is in contact with the second encapsulant layer,

wherein the backsheet provides a lowermost surface of the photovoltaic module on the roof deck,

wherein the backsheet comprises a single layer, moisture-resistant, fire-retardant membrane,

wherein the membrane is composed of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), and

wherein the backsheet has a water vapor transmission rate of 0.01 U.S. perm to 0.05 U.S. perm as measured by ASTM E 96, Procedure B.

2. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the backsheet comprises at least one of clays, nanoclays, silicas, carbon black, metal hydroxide, metal foils, graphite, or combinations thereof.

3. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is the sole fire-retardant layer in the photovoltaic module.

4. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the frontsheet contacts the first encapsulant layer.

5. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the frontsheet provides an uppermost surface of the photovoltaic module on the roof deck.

6. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the frontsheet comprises a fire-resistant membrane.

7. The roofing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar cell comprises a plurality of solar cells.

8. A photovoltaic module, comprising:

a frontsheet;

a first encapsulant layer;

at least one solar cell,

wherein the first encapsulant layer is between the frontsheet and the at least one solar cell;

a second encapsulant layer,

wherein the at least one solar cell is between and encapsulated by the first encapsulant layer and the second encapsulant layer; and

a backsheet,

wherein the backsheet is in contact with the second encapsulant layer,

wherein the backsheet provides a lowermost surface of the photovoltaic module,

wherein the backsheet comprises a single layer, moisture-resistant, fire-retardant membrane,

wherein the membrane is composed of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), and

wherein the backsheet has a water vapor transmission rate of 0.01 U.S. perm to 0.05 U.S. perm as measured by ASTM E 96, Procedure B.

9. The photovoltaic module of claim 8 , wherein the backsheet comprises at least one of clays, nanoclays, silicas, carbon black, metal hydroxide, metal foils, graphite, or combinations thereof.

10. The photovoltaic module of claim 8 , wherein the membrane is the sole fire-retardant layer in the photovoltaic module.

11. The photovoltaic module of claim 8 , wherein the frontsheet contacts the first encapsulant layer.

12. The photovoltaic module of claim 8 , wherein the frontsheet provides an uppermost surface of the photovoltaic module.

13. The photovoltaic module of claim 8 , wherein the frontsheet comprises a fire-resistant membrane.

14. The photovoltaic module of claim 8 , wherein the at least one solar cell comprises a plurality of solar cells.

Continuity (7)

References Cited (325)