Patents Assigned to Alion, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130305518Abstract: Rotatable support system for mounting one or more photovoltaic modules and method thereof. The system includes a stiffener configured to be attached to the one or more photovoltaic modules, a column connected to the stiffener through at least a rotatable component, and a foot connected to the column. The column is configured to rotate from a folded position towards an unfolded position, and stop at the unfolded position separated from the folded position by an angle difference. The angle difference represents the maximum range of rotation for the column.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventors: Paul Adriani, Neil Morris, Kevin Hennessy, Andrers Swahn, Thomas Peter Hunt, Luis Francisco Castro Hernandez
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Publication number: 20130248478Abstract: Gantry crane vehicle for performing one or more tasks in a photovoltaic array and method thereof. The gantry crane vehicle includes one or more base plates, and one or more tracks above the one or more base plates. Additionally, the vehicle includes one or more gantry assemblies configured to slide along the one or more tracks, and one or more first support trusses configured to support the one or more tracks above the one or more base plates. Moreover, the vehicle includes one or more second support trusses connected to at least some of the one or more first support trusses, and one or more storage cabinets located on the one or more base plates. The one or more storage cabinets include one or more top surfaces and one or more side surfaces, and the one or more top surfaces are located below the one or more tracks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventors: Timothy Wheeler, Brian Gray
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Publication number: 20130068275Abstract: System and method for mounting one or more photovoltaic modules includes one or more flexible rods, including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, each of the one or more flexible rods further including an inner core and a first jacket surrounding the inner core between the first end and the second end. The first end is configured to be attached to at least one photovoltaic module using one or more first adhesive materials. The second end is configured to be inserted into at least one hole of a modular rail and attached to at least the modular rail using one or more second adhesive materials. The one or more flexible rods are configured to allow at least a lateral movement in a first direction between the photovoltaic module and the modular rail and support at least the photovoltaic module in a second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventors: Anders Swahn, Neil MORRIS, Kevin HENNESSY, Thomas Peter Hunt, Paul ADRIANI
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Publication number: 20120132246Abstract: Photovoltaic module and method for making same. The module includes a first sub-module and a second sub-module. The first sub-module includes a first plurality of photovoltaic cells. The first plurality of photovoltaic cells is connected in series starting with a first photovoltaic cell and ending with a second photovoltaic cell. The first photovoltaic cell includes a first front electrode. The second photovoltaic cell includes a first back electrode. The second sub-module includes a second plurality of photovoltaic cells. The second plurality of photovoltaic cells is connected in series starting with a third photovoltaic cell and ending with a fourth photovoltaic cell. The third photovoltaic cell includes a second front electrode. The fourth photovoltaic cell includes a second back electrode. Additionally, the photovoltaic module includes a first bus bar and a second bus bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Hunt, Anders Swahn, Wolfgang Harald Oels
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Publication number: 20120060924Abstract: Method and system for forming a plurality of cadmium-sulfide layers. The method includes preparing a first solution and a second solution. The method further includes loading at least the first solution and the second solution into a pyrolysis-deposition system and placing a target structure into the pyrolysis-depositions system. The method further includes spraying the first solution through one or more first nozzles towards the target structure, forming, from the sprayed first solution, the first cadmium-sulfide layer, directly or indirectly, on the target structure, spraying the second solution through one or more second nozzles towards the target structure with at least the first cadmium-sulfide layer, and forming, from the sprayed second solution, the second cadmium-sulfide layer directly or indirectly, on the target structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventors: Yuriy B. Matus, Roman Mostovoy
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Publication number: 20120064699Abstract: Method and system for forming a cadmium-sulfide layer on a substrate. The method includes preparing a solution and loading the solution into a pyrolysis-deposition system. The solution uses at least one cadmium-containing solute, at least one sulfur-containing solute, water, and at least one selected material. The pyrolysis-deposition system includes one or more nozzles and one or more heating devices. The method further includes placing a substrate into the pyrolysis-deposition system, adjusting a distance between the substrate and the one or more nozzles, heating the substrate with the one or more heating devices, and spraying the solution including the selected material towards the substrate. The selected material satisfies at least one property selected from a group consisting of the selected material being non-polar, the selected material having at least higher volatility than water, and the selected material having at least lower heat capacity than water.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventors: Yuriy B. Matus, Roman Mostovoy
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Publication number: 20120056638Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a photovoltaic module. The method includes initiating a monitoring process for a photovoltaic module at a predetermined time. The photovoltaic module is connected to at least another module in a photovoltaic string as a part of a photovoltaic array. Additionally, the method includes measuring one or more parameters of the photovoltaic module by a monitoring circuit. The one or more parameters include a module current flowing through the photovoltaic module, a module voltage across the photovoltaic module, and a module temperature of the photovoltaic module. Also, the method includes collecting one or more measurement results of the one or more parameters, transmitting the one or more collected results using one or more radio-frequency signals, and processing information associated with the one or more transmitted results.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventor: Anders Swahn
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Publication number: 20120034799Abstract: System and method for interconnecting photovoltaic modules. The system includes a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module. The first photovoltaic module includes a first bus bar and a first interconnect tab connected to the first bus bar. The second photovoltaic module includes a second bus bar and a second interconnect tab connected to the second bus bar. The system for interconnecting photovoltaic modules additionally includes a module interconnector configured to interconnect the first and the second photovoltaic modules. The module interconnector includes an interconnection component and an interconnection protector. Additionally, the system for interconnecting photovoltaic modules includes a first connection component connecting the interconnection component to the first interconnect tab of the first photovoltaic module and a second connection component connecting the interconnection component to the second interconnect tab of the second photovoltaic module.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Peter HUNT
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Publication number: 20110315221Abstract: Method for making a photovoltaic device and structure thereof. The method includes providing a substrate including a glass layer, a first conductive layer on the glass layer, and a cadmium sulfide layer on the first conductive layer. Additionally, the method includes depositing one or more first materials on the cadmium sulfide layer. The one or more first materials include a first quantity of chemical element cadmium and a second quantity of chemical element tellurium. Moreover, the method includes performing a first thermal treatment to at least the first quantity of chemical element cadmium, the second quantity of chemical element tellurium, and a third quantity of chemical element chlorine, so that a polycrystalline layer composed of at least cadmium telluride is formed on the cadmium sulfide layer. Also, the method includes depositing one or more second materials on a surface of the polycrystalline layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventors: Thomas HUNT, Mark TOPINKA, Christopher RIVEST
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Publication number: 20110284057Abstract: Rail system and method for a photovoltaic array. The system includes at least one modular rail in a first direction. The modular rail includes a first vehicle support surface along the first direction and a first mounting surface along the first direction. The first vehicle support surface is configured to support at least a first vehicle moving in the first direction, and the first mounting surface is configured to support one or more photovoltaic modules mounted on the first mounting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: Alion, Inc.Inventors: Anders Swahn, Wolfgang Oels