There are chamber-structured modules made from blend poly(phenyl oxide), polycarbonate or other polymers used as elements of photovoltaic panels, thermal solar collectors or heat pump collectors in the form of self-supporting roof or fa ade coverings.

The CN 201 411 839 discloses a corrugated wood laminate module which constitutes a combination of a thermal absorber and a photovoltaic absorber. There are photovoltaic diodes on the convex parts of the corrugation, whereas on the concave parts of the corrugation there is a sunrays reflecting layer and thereby the sunlight is focused on the external pipe mounted to the module. The module does not contain any internal ducts through which heating medium could flow. The structure of the module is complex and therefore it is not possible to simultaneously use the whole surface thereof as a thermal absorber and as a photovoltaic absorber. Despite its corrugated structure, the module does not ensure compensation of thermal expansion along the flow axis of the heating medium, which may constitute a significant obstacle in connecting the hydraulic circuit.

For example, the Chinese utility model CN 201 695 587 discloses a multi-layer polymer corrugated module containing an aluminium sheet which performs the function of a photovoltaic panel. This is not a chamber structure and therefore it is not possible to use a fluid heating medium. The German patent description DE 19800777 Al discloses a transparent layer of thermal insulation in the form of a multi-layer module, wherein each layer has an internal corrugated structure. The aim of this module is to hold sun-heat and heat a fa ade covered therewith. The structure of the module does not ensure compensation of thermal expansion.

The patent US 5338369 Al discloses a chamber-structured polymer module constituting the base of a photovoltaic panel. According to the authors of the invention the construction of the panel allows to make a water-resistant roof covering which may replace traditional roof tiles or shingles. However, due to environmental conditions the sheets of modules of indicated size will be significantly susceptible to thermal deformations. The fact that compensation of thermal expansion of the modules is impossible according to said invention will lead to damage of the PV panel itself as well as electric and structural connections. In practice even relatively small modules of photovoltaic panels are mounted to a base by means of a complex system of fastenings. There is a plethora of patents relating to said systems: US 20090320907 Al, US 7774998 B2, EP 2434230 A2, US 20110138711 Al. Said elements raise costs of the PV installation thus influencing the price of electric energy per unit.

Additionally, the patent US 4201195 A discloses a hot air solar collector which consists of a frame, glazing, the module of a thermal absorber, a perforated module with nozzles for directing air flow on the module of the absorber and thermal insulation. In a special case the module may be corrugated, and between said module and the perforated module for directing air flow there must be a clearance, which stresses the fact that both elements are separate. The module of the absorber does not have any channels for air flow as air flows around the module. This solution is complex, thus costly and it does not solve the problem of compensation of thermal expansion of the absorber and therefore using it as a roofing is impossible in practice.

When large-sized polymer modules are used as self-supporting roof coverings in the form of solar collectors or BIPV panels, mounting thereof to the supporting structure is even more difficult. It is due to significant thermal expansion of polymer modules, which makes it necessary to use specially constructed connecting and fixing elements as those disclosed in the Polish invention application P.392278. However, when the range of temperatures affecting the modules is wide, especially when the adjacent planes are covered with ice, the connecting systems used to date are often unreliable.

The aim of the invention is to devise a universal construction of a module used for constructing photovoltaic panels or thermal solar collectors which having a simple structure and will ensure automatic compensation of thermal expansion and thus will allow for making solar coverings with various configuration possibilities and simple mounting.

The essence of the invention consists in that the module of the absorber in the form of a multilateral sheet, in general quadrilateral, made from polymer plastic comprising at least one layer of ducts is corrugated in its central part with at least two ridges along the whole width thereof, wherein the longitudinal axis of said ridges is transverse in relation to the longitudinal axes of the ducts.

It is most advisable that the sheet of the module have regularly distributed ridges along its length and said ridges create a wave outline with repeated periods.

In order to provide more compositional possibilities of solar coverings consisting of modules it is advisable that individual sheets are made in such a manner that the longitudinal axes of the ridges overlapping with the shape of tops of the ridges are located at an angle ranging between 60° and 120° angle in relation to the longitudinal axes of the ducts.

In the simplest embodiment of the invention the angle between the axes of the ridges and the axes of the dusts is 90°. It is most preferable that the ridges situated along the length of the sheet have a sinusoid outline in side view owing to which ducts bend smoothly along their length with no kinks which may hinder the flow of fluid in the ducts if the modules are used for building fluid collectors. It is also possible to form the ridges in such a manner that in side view on the sheet they have a trapezoidal or a triangular outline, sharing the properties of a sinusoidal outline to a large extent. .

Ridged modules are most preferably applied as solar collectors and/or photovtaic panels. The main advantage of the modules according to the invention is that complete compensation of thermal deformations is possible due to an increase in the deflection curve, which makes it possible to rigidly mount the modules to a base regardless of their length. The appropriate shape of the sheets allows to use the simplest mounting techniques, the same as used for sheets of metal roof tiles or polymer fa ade coverings such as siding. Moreover, it is possible to have the sheets custom-made to fit the size of the architectural composition, the same function is performed by the different shapes of the sheet curves in side view. Modules according to the invention may be applied both as thermal solar collectors or heat-pump collectors as well as BIPV panels being self-supporting roof or fa ade coverings at the same time. An additional advantage of the modules according to the invention is that BIPV panels built therewith may comprise a cooling fluid circuit, which allows for synergistic absorption of solar energy in the form of heat and electricity. The invention is shown in more detail in the embodiment in the drawing, where fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of the module with sinusoidal ridges, fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fragment of the module where the ridges are differently oriented in relation to the ducts, fig. 3 is a fragment of the module according to the invention with trapezoidal ridges in perspective view, and fig. 4 is a fragment of the module according to the invention with triangular ridges in perspective view.

The module (fig. 1) has the form of a sheet 1 made from polymer in the shape of a quadrilateral with one layer of ducts 2, located between the top surface and the bottom surface of the module, through which fluids may flow, alternatively they may be filled with air. Along its length L the sheet 1 has regularly distributed ridges 3 along the whole width S thereof, having a sinusoidal outline in side view, wherein longitudinal axes Oi of ridges 3 are located at an angle a being 90° in relation to longitudinal axes 0 ₂ of the ducts 2. As shown in fig. 2 the ridges 3 may run differently in relation to the ducts 2. Therefore, there might be a case, especially in the embodiment being applied roof coverings, when the longitudinal axes Oi of the ridges 3 are inclined towards the longitudinal axes 0 ₂ of the ducts 2 at an angle a ranging between 60° and 120°. The ridges 3 may have a trapezoid-like shape in side view (fig.3), whereas in a different embodiment they may have a triangular shape in side view (fig. 4). The above described embodiments of a module of an absorber do not exhaust the possible shapes which may be adapted to particular needs. The profile of the ridges may resemble an oval or a polygon. However, the ridges should always be appropriately located in relation to the ducts of the module.