Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B39/00—Layout of apparatus or plants, e.g. modular laminating systems
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
  • B32B37/10—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure
  • B32B37/1018—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure using only vacuum
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
  • H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
  • H01L31/042—PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
  • H01L31/048—Encapsulation of modules
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
  • H01L31/18—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2457/00—Electrical equipment
  • B32B2457/12—Photovoltaic modules
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
  • Y10T29/5313—Means to assemble electrical device
  • Y10T29/5317—Laminated device

Definitions

• Laminating system installation including such a lamination system and lamination method implemented using such a lamination system
• the present invention relates to a photovoltaic stack lamination system, a photovoltaic panel manufacturing plant comprising such a lamination system, and a method for lamination of photovoltaic stacks, the method being implemented with the aid of this lamination system.
• the manufacture of a photovoltaic panel includes a step of laminating a stack of different layers.
• This stack comprises a glass panel, intended to form the upper face of the panel, a first encapsulant layer, an arrangement of photovoltaic cells and electrical conductors, a second encapsulant layer, and a rear face formed by a panel. polymeric, composite, or glass material.
• the lamination step consists in encapsulating the photovoltaic cells between the two layers of pressure encapsulant, evacuating the photovoltaic stack and heating, so as to cause crosslinking of the material constituting the encapsulant layers. At the end of this operation, the photovoltaic cells are isolated and protected by the two layers of encapsulant.
• laminator which comprises two compartments separated by a membrane, one of which is intended to contain the photovoltaic stack in order to heat and to put under vacuum this latest.
• the laminator is intended to contain several photovoltaic stacks, so that they are laminated in parallel.
• the present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular the technical problems formulated above, by proposing a new lamination system in which photovoltaic stacks can be freely added or removed during lamination.
• the subject of the invention is a lamination system as defined in claim 1
• the heating compartment is not itself evacuated, so that an addition or withdrawal of the photovoltaic stack can be performed, even though this photovoltaic stack is under vacuum in the waterproof box.
• Each watertight box being able to maintain the vacuum autonomously, that is to say separate from the docking station and the vacuum device, the heating and evacuation operations of each photovoltaic stack can be either grouped in the docking station or separated, by implementing a vacuum device separate from this docking station.
• the invention also relates to a manufacturing facility according to claim 9.
• the invention also relates to a process for laminating photovoltaic stacks.
• the method is implemented using a lamination system according to the above. The method comprises the following steps:
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an installation according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a top view of the installation of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a section of a photovoltaic stack that can be manufactured by installing Figures 1 and 2;
• Figures 4 and 5 are two schematic elevational views of an interconnection machine or chaining belonging to the installation of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 6 is a schematic top view of the interconnecting machine of Figures 4 and 5;
• Figures 7 to 17 are schematic views of a device for preparing interconnection bars, this device belonging to the installation of Figures 1 and 2, shown in several stages of operation;
• Figures 18 to 22 are schematic views of a lamination system according to the invention, shown in several stages of operation;
• Figure 23 illustrates another embodiment of the lamination system of Figures 18 to 22;
• Figure 24 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the lamination system of Figures 18 to 22.
• FIGS. 1 and 2, referenced 1 make it possible to manufacture photovoltaic panels 3 designed to produce electrical energy from solar energy, or more generally from a light source.
• the photovoltaic panels manufactured by the installation are intended to equip a building or a power plant.
• Each photovoltaic panel 3 produced by the installation 1 comprises, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a stack of successive layers, referred to hereinafter as "photovoltaic stack 5".
• the photovoltaic stack 5 comprises a first layer 7, which is intended to form the front face of the photovoltaic panel 3 and to be oriented facing the light source.
• the first layer 7 is, for example, made of glass or any other suitable transparent and rigid material.
• the photovoltaic stack 5 also comprises a second layer 9, which constitutes an encapsulation layer deposited against the first layer 7.
• the stack 5 also comprises a third layer 11, which forms a second encapsulation layer, preferably made in the same material as that of the first layer 7. This material is preferably a polymer capable of undergoing a lamination treatment while being transparent.
• This encapsulating material is for example ethylene-ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). Between the layers 7 and 9 are encapsulated chains 15 of photovoltaic cells 17. A single chain 15 is visible in FIG. 3. Each chain 15 comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells 17 and interconnection bars 19, sometimes called “busbars". bus “or copper bars, electrically connecting in pairs the cells 17 to form the chain 15.
• the photovoltaic stack 5 further comprises a fourth layer 13 opposite the first layer 7, and arranged against the third layer 1 1 .
• the fourth layer 13 constitutes the rear face of the photovoltaic panel 3 and can be made either in the same material as the layer 7, or in a different material, rigid and opaque. This material preferably comprises polyvinyl fluoride.
• the fourth layer 13 is a composite material including polyvinyl fluoride as well as other constituents such as aluminum or polyester.
• the stack 5 may comprise additional layers, depending on the intended application for the photovoltaic panel 3.
• the installation 1 comprises a peripheral fence 21 delimiting a closed contour in which the photovoltaic panel 3 is manufactured automatically, so that in normal operation of the installation 1, the U user intervention is performed exclusively from outside the peripheral fence 21, in particular for security reasons.
• the fence 21 has a generally polygonal shape and has eight vertices 21 A, 21 B, 21 C, 21 D, 21 E, 21 F, 21 G and 21 H.
• the vertices 21 C, 21 D, 21 E and 21 F are arranged according to a rectangle.
• the vertices 21 B and 21 G are arranged between the vertices 21 C and 21 F, being distributed along a parallel to these vertices 21 C and 21 F.
• the vertices 21 A and 21 H form a rectangle with the vertices 21 B and 21 G.
• the installation 1 comprises a main entrance 23, disposed between the vertices 21B and 21C, through which a layer 7, intended to belong to a photovoltaic stack 5, can be introduced inside the peripheral fence 21.
• the main entrance 23 comprises an installation supply rotating plate 1 with first layers 7. The orientation of the turntable of the main entrance 23 is performed in a direction of rotation R23.
• the installation 1 also includes a main output 25 for the photovoltaic panels 3 manufactured within the installation.
• the main output 25 is disposed between the vertices 21 F and 21 G.
• the main output 25 also comprises a turntable, in a direction of rotation R25 shown.
• the installation 1 comprises three robots 27, 29 and 31 arranged inside the fence 21. These robots 27, 29 and 31 serve both for conveying and for manufacturing panels 3. Each of these three robots 27, 29 and 31 preferably forms a robot arm independent of the other two, independently programmable. Each robotic arm has several articulated limbs.
• the robots 27 and 31 are able to capture and move photovoltaic stacks 5, taking them one by one, during manufacture, through the layer 7 of the latter.
• each of the robots 27 and 31 orients the layer 7 horizontally with respect to the ground, so that the layer 7 is used as a support for the other components of the photovoltaic panel 3 during all or part of the manufacture of the latter .
• the robot 29 is provided for gripping and moving sealed boxes 47, taking them one by one, as detailed in the following.
• the robot 27 grasps a layer 7 at the main entrance 23 and moves it to a stacking machine 33, according to an arrow D1 shown in FIG. 2.
• the machine 33 is arranged near the The machine 33 deposits the layer 9 on the layer 7 supported by the robot 27.
• the robot 27 orients and moves the layer 7 relative to the machine 33, synchronously, so as to position the layer 7 under the layer 9, while the layer 9 is unwound from a reel storage by the machine 33.
• the displacement of the layer 7 by the robot 27 relative to the machine 33 and the ground allows proper positioning of the layer 7 beneath the layer 9, before the layer 9 is released by the machine 33.
• the layers 7 and 9 then form a photovoltaic stack 5, which will be completed, as described below, so as to form a photovoltaic panel 3 at the end. Manufacturing.
• the user can access the machine 33 via a door 22 formed in the fence 21, in particular for the supply and / or maintenance of this machine 33.
• the robot 27 then moves this stack 5, according to the arrow D2, to a machine 35.
• the machine 35 is positioned near the entrance 23, on one side of the fence 21 extending between the vertices 21 D and E.
• the machine 35 is designed to interconnect photovoltaic cells 17 and thus form photovoltaic cell chains 17.
• the machine 35 described in more detail below, deposits the chains 15 on the second layer 9. While the chains 15 are deposited by the machine 35, the robot 27 synchronously moves the stack 5 so as to distribute the chains 15 in a predetermined arrangement on the upper free surface of the layer 9.
• the robot 27 then pivots the stack 5 a quarter of a turn so as to deposit and weld additional interconnection bars 19 to connect the strings 15 of the 17 between them and thus close a cell circuit 17 formed on the stack 5.
• Some of the bars 19 of the circuit of the stack 5, forming output bars of the future panel 3, are referenced and maintained by a tool of the installation 1.
• the robot 27 then moves, according to the arrow D3, the photovoltaic stack 5 again to the machine 33.
• the machine 33 deposits the third layer 1 1 on top the photovoltaic stack 5, while this stack 5 is supported and positioned by the robot 27 relative to the machine 33.
• Orifices are formed through the layer 1 1, through which are passed the output bars while they are always maintained by the aforementioned tools.
• the robot 27 then moves the stack 5 along the arrow D4 to a stacking machine 37 of the fourth layer 13, similar to the machine 33.
• the machine 37 is disposed between the machine 33 and the top 21 E opposite the D.
• the deposition of the fourth layer 13 is carried out according to the same principle as the deposition of the layers 9 and 11.
• the user U can access the machine 37 via a door 24 formed in the fence 21, in particular for the supply and / or maintenance of this machine 37.
• the robot 27 then moves the photovoltaic stack 5 along the arrow D5 to a lamination system 39, which is described in more detail below.
• the lamination system 39 comprises the robot 29, which is responsible for handling the stack 5 in the lamination system 39. Once the lamination has been performed, the robot 29 transmits the stack 5 to the robot 31 according to the arrow D6.
• the robot 31 moves the laminated photovoltaic stack 5 to a deburring machine 41 and integration of junction boxes to the photovoltaic stack 5.
• the machine 41 adds and secures the junction boxes on the stack 5, while the stack 5 is moved by the robot 31 relative to the machine 41, so that it is the movement of the robot that allows to arrange the junction boxes on the stack 5.
• the user U can access the machine 41 through doors 26 formed in the fence 21, in particular for the supply and / or maintenance of this machine 41.
• the installation 1 comprises a station, not shown, for finishing the photovoltaic panel 3.
• the robot 31 moves the photovoltaic panel 3 to the main output 25, so that it can be extracted by the user U.
• the robots 27 and 31 are therefore configured to position and / or move the photovoltaic stack 5 while the machines 33, 35, 37 and 41 operate on this stack 5, the robots 27 and 31 are also programmed to impart a displacement to the 5, or a movement in advance, relative to the machine 33, 35, 37 or 41 concerned, while this machine operates on the stack 5.
• the design of the machines 33, 35, 37 and 41 is simplified.
• the machine 35 for interconnecting or linking photovoltaic cells 17 includes a bracket 59 which rests on the ground via a pillar 61.
• the stem 59 and the pillar 61 are omitted from FIG.
• the bracket 59 supports two robots 63 and 65 of the machine 35.
• the robots 63 and 65 are in this case suspended from the bracket 59 and directed downwards, each robot 63 or 65 forming for example a robotic arm with several members.
• the bracket 59 also supports a welding device 67 able to weld photovoltaic cells 17 with interconnection bars 19.
• the machine 35 also comprises a photovoltaic cell distributor 69.
• the distributor 69 comprises a conveyor 71.
• the installation 1 also comprises a device 75 for preparing the interconnection rods 19, which is described in more detail below, and which is advantageously included in the machine 35, for feeding the conveyor 71 with interconnection bars 19
• the conveyor 71 is able to position a photovoltaic cell 17 in a zone accessible by the robot 65, while at the same time positioning a batch of interconnection bars 19 in an area accessible by the robot 63.
• the batch of interconnect bars 19 comprises three interconnection bars 19, each intended to electrically connect two cells 17 together.
• the machine 35 also comprises a receiving support 73, which is supported at the level of the welding device 67, and in particular between an upper jaw 67A and a lower jaw 67B of the latter, being fixed to the bracket 59 of the machine 35.
• the receiving support 73 preferably comprises a conveyor on which is intended to rest a chain 15 during manufacture.
• the machine 35 is preferably designed to make one chain at a time.
• the robot 65 first grabs a first cell 17 on the conveyor 71 and places it on the receiving support 73.
• the robot 63 grasps a first batch of interconnect bars 19 and positions this first batch on the receiving support 73, arranging the bars 19 of the first batch in their final position, in the chain 15, by
• the interconnection bars 19 of the first batch are then in contact with an upper face of the first cell 17.
• the conveyor of the receiving support 73 moves the first cell 17 and the first batch of bars 19 so as to position the first cell 17 between the upper jaw 67A and the lower jaw 67B of the welding device 67.
• the welding device 67 then performs welds to electrically connect the first batch of interconnection bars 19 with the face superior of the first photovoltaic cell 17.
• the robots 63 and 65 recover a second photovoltaic cell 17 and a second batch of interconnection bars 19 to position them on the receiving support 73. More specifically, the robot 65 deposits the second cell 17 on the first batch of bars 19 so that a lower face of the second cell 17 is in contact with the bars 19 of the second batch. The robot 63 then deposits the second batch of bars 19 on the second cell 17, so that the bars 19 of this second batch are in contact with an upper face of the second cell 17.
• the conveyor of the receiving support 73 advance of a further step so as to bring the second cell 17 between the jaws of the welding device 67, so that the latter welds both the first batch 19 with the second cell 17, thanks to the lower jaw 67B, and the second batch 19 with the second cell 17, thanks to the upper jaw 67A.
• the robot 27 has the stack 5 under the receiving support 73, so that an edge of this stack 5 corresponds to one end of the chain 15.
• the stack 5 can be disposed below the receiving support 73 thanks to the robot 27 and the fact that the support pillar 61 of the bracket 59 is deported relative to the receiving support 73.
• the end of the chain 15 is deposited first on the stack 5, the robot 27 then moving the stack 5 so as to synchronously accompany the deposition of the sequence of the chain 15 to the other end of the latter, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
• each chain 15 intended to belong to the stack 5 is manufactured sequentially and deposited on the stack 5 according to the method described above.
• the chains 15 are in this case arranged parallel to each other, being distributed over the surface of the layer 9.
• the installation 1 comprises the device 75 for preparing the interconnection bars 19, which is advantageously included in the machine 35, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the device 75 is separated from the machine 35, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 17.
• the device 75 comprises a turnstile 77, which is rotatable relative to the ground around a vertical axis X77.
• the rotation of the turnstile 77 about its axis X77 is indexed according to four distinct positions, for example.
• the turnstile 77 has four sets 79 of wire coils.
• the wire of each coil is intended to form one of the aforementioned interconnection bars 19.
• each set 79 comprises three coils so that three son can be cut in parallel.
• three sets 79 are accessible to the user U from a feed zone 81 of the installation 1, visible in FIG.
• the feed zone 81 is itself accessible through a normally closed door 82. Via this feed zone 81, the user U can change, as necessary, the coils of the three games 79 accessible. For each attached orientation of the turnstile 77, the last of the four games is engaged in the device 75.
• the game 79 engaged is visible in Figures 7 to 17.
• the end of the wire of each coil of the set 79 engaged is passed in return pulleys 83 located directly above the turnstile 77.
• the device 75 comprises a fixed clamp 85 and a movable gripper 87 disposed vertically and below the stationary gripper 85.
• Each of the grippers 85 and 87 is configured to move between an open configuration, in which the passage of the wires is left free, and a closed gripping position. son by pinch.
• the return pulleys 83 direct the ends of the three wires of the coils of the set 79 engaged through the fixed clamps 85 and mobile clamps 87, which are initially in open configuration, as illustrated on FIG. FIG. 7.
• the thread of the three reels of the game 79 engaged descends substantially vertically through the clamps 85 and 87.
• the mobile clamp 87 closes on the three wires so as to enter these according to the arrow F1.
• the movable clamp 87 is then moved downwardly away from the stationary clamp 85, so as to drive the three son and thus unwind a predetermined length of son.
• the movable gripper 87 is immobilized and the fixed gripper 85 closes according to the arrow F3, as illustrated in FIG. 10, so as to delimit, for each of the three yarns, a portion of thread.
• the movable clamp 87 exerts a tension on the three parallel portions of wire so as to produce an elongation of each of these portions.
• the movable clamp 87 is then opened and then brought close to the fixed clamp 85 as shown in Figure 13 along the arrow F6.
• the movable clamp 87 is closed according to the arrow F7, while the fixed clamp 85 open according to the arrow F8.
• the movable clamp 87 is then translated downward along the arrow F9, so as to place the elongated and straightened portions of the son against a platen 93, as shown in Figure 15.
• the plate 93 forms an imprint that can capture, form and cut the threads by pressure with a counterprint 95.
• the device 75 also comprises a robot 89, constituted for example by a robotic arm with several limbs, the robot 89 being suspended from a bracket 91 of the device 75.
• the counterprint 95 supported at the end of the robot 89 is approached and pressed against the plate 93 by the robot 89, as represented by the arrow F10, so as to deform the elongate portions of the three son in a predetermined shape.
• the deformed portions are cut by the bearing against the recess 95, to form three interconnect bars 19 constituting a lot.
• the recess 95 is remote from the plate 93 by the robot 89 and carries with it the batch of the three interconnection bars 19 thus formed.
• the robot arm 89 then disposes these interconnection bars 19 on the conveyor 71.
• FIGS 18 to 22 illustrate more specifically the lamination system 39.
• the lamination system 39 can laminate several photovoltaic stacks 5 at the same time, only one of which is illustrated.
• the system 39 can also laminate a single stack 5 at a time.
• the system 39 comprises a docking station 43 with several receiving compartments 45 vertically arranged one above the other and each comprising an access opening from outside the docking station 43. Each opening of access is advantageously closable by a door, not shown.
• the docking station 43 comprises heating means 46, so that the receiving compartments 45 form in this case heating compartments 45, each of which delimits an internal heating volume independent of that of the other heating compartments 45.
• the heating means 46 are, in the example of FIG. 18, formed by independent heating resistors arranged in each of the compartments 45.
• the heating means may alternatively be formed by any heating system adapted to the application, such as a heat transfer fluid system.
• the system 39 preferably comprises a control system, for example electronic, heating means 46.
• the heating means 46 of each heating compartment 45 are designed to carry out heating aimed at causing the layers 9 and 11 of one or more photovoltaic stacks 5 to crosslink.
• the docking station 43 is configured so that the heating each compartment 45 by the heating means 46 is independent of the heating of the other compartments 45.
• the heating means 46 can heat a first of the compartments 45, while a second of the compartments 45 is not heated, at the same time.
• the lamination system 39 also includes a plurality of autonomous and separate sealed boxes 47, two of which are illustrated in the figures.
• Each box 47 forms an element independent of the docking station 43, movable relative to the latter by the robot 29.
• Each box 47 comprises a shell or rigid envelope.
• the boxes 47 are independent of each other, so that they can in particular be moved separately from each other.
• Each compartment 45 is configured to accommodate a single box 47, or alternatively several boxes 47.
• Each box 47 comprises a base 47A and a cover 47B, which are configured to move between a closed configuration and an open configuration.
• the base 47A and the cover 47B form the aforementioned rigid shell of the caisson 47.
• One of the two caissons 47 shown in FIG. 18 is in a closed configuration and is disposed in one of the heating compartments 45.
• the base 47A and the cover 47B together define an internal volume V47 of the box 47, configured to contain the photovoltaic stack 5.
• the internal volume V47 is shown by tearing.
• the shape of the internal volume V47 thus allows, in this example, to contain a single photovoltaic stack 5 at a time, the internal volume can be configured to contain several at a time.
• the internal volume V47 of the box 47 is sealed and may in particular be evacuated.
• the box 47 is provided, in closed configuration, to maintain a constant pressure level in its internal volume V47 and in particular to maintain a vacuum with respect to the outside.
• the second box 47 is shown in open configuration, its base 47A being supported by the robot 29 and its lid 47B being fixed to a bracket 49, which is mounted at the top of the docking station 43.
• the base 47A and the cover 47B are separated and independent of one another.
• the internal volume V47 comprises two chambers separated by a membrane.
• the membrane is for example provided within the base 47A, so as to sealing the opening of this base 47A and to arrange one of the chambers of the box between the membrane and the bottom of the base 47A.
• the other chamber, intended for the reception of the photovoltaic stack 5, is then formed when the cover 47B is closed, between this cover and the membrane of the base 47A.
• Each watertight box is designed to maintain the pressure difference between the outside and each chamber of its internal volume V47, but also between each of these chambers, the membrane being itself waterproof.
• the membrane is disposed in the cover 47B and not in the base
• the two robots 27 and 29 are programmed to introduce the photovoltaic stack 5 in the internal volume V47 of the watertight box 47, while this watertight box 47 is outside the docking station 43, or any other device, and in configuration opened.
• the robot 27 supports the photovoltaic stack 5 from below in the vicinity of the robot 29.
• the robot 29 approaches the base 47A of the box 47 vertically above the photovoltaic stack 5 and from above, until contacting the stack 5 with the base 47A, specifically with the membrane. Once this contact is established, as illustrated in FIG.
• the robots 27 and 29 cooperate to turn, according to the arrow R3, the assembly formed by the base 47A and the stack 5, so that the stack 5 is found above the base 47A, the contact between the stack 5 and the base 47A being maintained during the reversal along the arrow R3. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 20, the robot 29 approaches the assembly 5 and 47A of the cover 47B fixed on the bracket 49 and passes the box 47 in closed configuration by placing the base 47A in contact with and securing temporarily with the lid 47B. Temporary joining of the base 47A with the cover 47B can be carried out using any appropriate means.
• the base 47A and the cover 47B are fixed to each other even when the box is in the open position, so that, in this case, the robot 29 can support the box 47 in its entirety, in open configuration as in closed configuration.
• the lamination system 39 also comprises a device for evacuating the internal volume V47 of the box 47, when the box 47 is in closed configuration.
• the evacuation device comprises a vacuum station 51 placed outside the docking station 43 and including, for example, a table 53 on which a watertight box 47 enclosing a photovoltaic stack 5 can be deposited by the robot 29.
• the vacuum station 51 also comprises two lines 55A and 55B, each connected to a source independent vacuum, for evacuating the sealed case 47.
• the lines 55A and 55B are connected to the box 47 during the entire stage of evacuation and is then disconnected from the latter.
• the robot 29 makes the connections and the disconnections of the lines 55A and 55B with the box 47 by moving the box 47 relative to the station 51.
• Quick connectors 56 are provided for fluidically connecting the elements 47, 55A and 55B.
• Each connector 56 comprises a first connector 56A opening on an opening 47C of the box 47, and a second connector 56B complementary to the first connector 56A, the connectors 56A and 56B can be connected and disconnected.
• One of the openings 47C of the box 47 is for example formed through the cover 47B, so as to open into one of the chambers of the internal volume V47 of the box 47, the other opening 47C of the box 47 being formed in the through the base 47A, so as to open into the other chamber of the box 47.
• the evacuation of the box 47 can be performed through these openings 47C when the box 47 is at the station 51 in closed configuration, via the 56A connectors.
• the openings 47C make it possible to vacuum each chamber of the internal volume V47 independently.
• the respective value of the pressure within each chamber of the internal volume V47 is separately controlled via the lines 55A and 55B so that the membrane is pressed against the stack 5 upon evacuation.
• the membrane squeezes the stack 5 to roll the latter, when heat is also provided to the stack 5, as described below.
• the number of openings 47C, connectors 56 and lines 55A and 55B can be adapted.
• the vacuum device 51 optionally comprises a preheating means, not shown, distinct from the docking station 43, for preheating the stack 5 contained in the box 47 before it is introduced into the docking station 43.
• the box 47 containing the photovoltaic stack 5 is transferred by the robot 29 into one of the heating compartments 45 of the docking station 43, as shown in FIG. 22.
• the robot 29 therefore constitutes a device for transferring the watertight box 47 to the heating compartment 45.
• the watertight box 47 retains the the pressure or vacuum value established in each of the chambers of its internal volume V47, even when it is separate from the vacuum station 51 and in particular the connections 56.
• the heating compartments 45 are themselves under vacuum or at a particular pressure value to perform the lamination of the photovoltaic stacks 5.
• the compartments 45 are at atmospheric pressure, so that the sealed boxes 47 can be introduced or removed from the heating compartments 45 at any time.
• the caissons 47 may advantageously be introduced sequentially into the docking station 43, independently of each other.
• the temperature of the heating means 46 of each respective compartment 45 can be independently adjusted for each compartment 45, so as to customize the temperature at which each box 47 is subjected.
• the box 47 being in its compartment 45, the photovoltaic stack 5 is heated while it is contained under vacuum in the internal volume V47 of the waterproof case 47, so that the photovoltaic stack 5 is laminated.
• the robot 29 removes one of the boxes 47 from its heating compartment 45, when the lamination for this particular box 47 is complete.
• the robot 29 thus also serves as a device for transferring the sealed box (s) out of the compartment 45.
• the lamination process of the other stacks 5 possibly present in the docking station 43 is not disturbed.
• the internal volume V47 of the box 47 removed from the docking station 43 is then ventilated, either by the robot 29 or at the vacuum station 51.
• the robot 29 then passes the box 47 from its closed configuration to its open configuration so that the robot 31 can extract the laminated photovoltaic stack 5 of the box 47 in open configuration, while the box 47 is supported by the robot 29 .
• the lamination system 39 thus advantageously operates according to a so-called "first-in, first-out" stack of sealed boxes 47 in the docking station 43, this stack being dimensioned by the residence time required for the lamination of each watertight box 47 in each case. station 43, as well as the desired production rate for the photovoltaic panels.
• the heating means 46 are provided on-board within each box 47, rather than in the docking station 43.
• the heating means of each box 47 are preferably supplied with energy at the same time. using electrical connectors, or coolant connectors, provided within the receiving compartments 45 of the docking station 43.
• the means of heater 46 provide heat within their respective box 47 when it is contained in the receiving compartment 45 to heat the photovoltaic stack 5 contained in the box 47.
• the lamination system 39 comprises a plurality of internal line pairs 57A and 57B, each of which opens into one of the compartments of 45 of the docking station 43, so that that each watertight box 47 introduced into one of the compartments 45 can be connected to one of the internal line pairs 57A and 57B, so as to see its internal volume V47 evacuated within the compartment 45.
• each internal line 57A and 57B is provided with an internal connector 58B located in the compartment 45 concerned, for respectively connecting the cover 47B and the base 47A.
• Each internal connector 58B is compatible with one of the connectors 56A of the housings 47 and can be fluidly connected and disconnected from the latter, so that each connector 58B of each compartment 45 allows to vacuum one of the two chambers of the box 47 concerned, via the opening 47C of this room.
• connectors 58B are provided in each compartment 45 as openings 47C are provided in each box 47, that is to say that at least one connector 58B is provided in each compartment 45.
• the photovoltaic stack 5 is heated within the docking station 43, while it is in the watertight box 47 whose internal volume V47 is evacuated, so that the photovoltaic stack 5 is rolled.
• the docking station 43 comprises only one compartment 45, which can optionally accommodate several boxes 47.
• the ventilation of the internal volume V47 of the caissons 47, the stack 5 of which has been laminated is carried out in the internal volume V47 of other caissons 47, containing a stack 5 to be rolled.
• the vacuum is transferred from one box 47 to the other, to save pumping energy and accelerate the evacuation of the boxes 47.
• the box 47 to ventilate is connected for example a box 47 containing a stack 5 which is not yet laminated.
• the lamination system 39 comprises a vacuum device 151 comprising a plurality of internal lines 157, each of which opens into one of the compartments 45 of the docking station 43.
• each watertight box 47 contained in one of the compartments 45 can be connected to one of the internal lines 157, so as to see its internal volume V47 evacuated within the compartment 45.
• Each internal line 157 is provided with an internal connector 158B located in the compartment 45 concerned, to connect the opening 47C of any box 47 therein, the opening 47C being provided with a connector compatible with the connector 158B.
• the internal connector 158B may be fluidly connected and disconnected from the casing 47 concerned, for example to the introduction of the box 47 in, and the withdrawal of the box 47 of the compartment 45 concerned from the docking station 43, respectively.
• the lines 157 are shunted relative to each other. Each line 157 extends between a distribution point 161 of the vacuum device 151, common to all lines 157, and the aforementioned connector 158B.
• Each line 157 is provided with a separate and independent valve 160 provided between the distribution point 161 and the connector 158B.
• Each valve 160 can be controlled separately from the other valves 160, for example using a programmable controller of the vacuum device 151, possibly under the control of a user.
• Each valve 160 is able to switch between an open state and a closed state, to respectively allow or prohibit a transfer of gas or air via the line 157 concerned. In this way closing or opening the valve prohibits or allows a pressure transfer between the two connected elements.
• the vacuum device 151 of the system 39 of Fig. 24 also includes a vacuum generator 162, which is connected to the distribution point 161 via a main line 163 of the vacuum device 151.
• the main line 163 is provided with a main valve 164, independent of the other valves 160, and located between the vacuum generator 162 and the distribution point.
• each box 47 connected to one of the connectors 158B.
• a box 47 is connected to one of the lines 157 via its connector 158B, it is possible to open the valve 160 of this line 157, while ensuring that the main valve 164 is open and that the generator 162 produces a vacuum, that is to say a depression, so as to evacuate in said box 47, through the line 157 and the main line 163.
• the valve 160 concerned can be closed.
• a second box 47 is connected to another line 157, the same operation can be reproduced. Consequently, the introduction and the evacuation of a second box 47 in the docking station 43 does not disturb the evacuation of the boxes 47 already present in the station 43.
• aeration means for selectively ventilating the internal volume of the caissons 47 under vacuum.
• a ventilation valve for each line 157, a ventilation valve, not shown, between the valve 160 and the connector 158B, the opening of which communicates the internal volume V47 with the outside.
• the evacuation device 151 thus makes it possible both to evacuate and to restore the pressure, independently, of one or more of the caissons 47 connected to one of the connectors 158B, as well as to transfer part of the energy of evacuation of a box 47 to the other, by placing in communication the internal volume V47 of these caissons 47. This energy transfer is reflected in a pressure equalization of the internal volumes V47 of the caissons 47 concerned. At the end of this transfer operation, the internal volumes V47, initially at a different pressure level, are found substantially with the same pressure level.
• This lamination system 39 of Fig. 24 may be used in a "first in, first out” operation. To do this, several caissons 47 are successively introduced into the docking station 43, by distributing them in the various compartments 45. For each new caisson 47 introduced, this new caisson 47 is evacuated by activation of the generator 162 and opening of the valve 164 and the valve 160 associated with this new box 47, as explained above. The valve 160 is closed once the vacuum has been completed in this new box 47.
• a pressure equalization is carried out between the first box 47, that is to say the one that was first introduced into the docking station 43, and the last box 47 introduced into the last free compartment 45. Once the pressure equalization has been carried out, it is possible to ventilate and withdraw the first box 47 from its compartment 45, and to continue to vacuum the last box 47 using the generator 162.
• each compartment 45 instead of a single internal line 157 per compartment 45, two internal lines can be provided for each compartment 45, as for the embodiment of FIG. 24.
• one of the internal lines can be connected to the cover and the other at the base of the box 47 introduced into this compartment.
• a valve adapted to open and close the two internal lines, or a valve by internal line, depending on the application.
• the evacuation device comprises means, including in this example the valves 160 and 164, the internal lines 157, the line 163 and the generator 162, for selectively evacuating the internal volume V47 of one or more of the sealed boxes 47 contained in the docking station 43, through the internal connectors 158B to which the sealed boxes 47 whose internal volume V47 to put under vacuum are connected.
• the vacuum device also comprises means for communicating the internal volume V47 of several of the caissons 47 connected to the internal connectors 158B, in order to allow a balancing of the pressure of these internal volumes V47 with respect to each other.
• the presence of the evacuation station 51 and the connection 56 is optional, the evacuation of the internal volume V47 of each watertight box 47 being carried out when the water box 47 is contained in its compartment 45.
• the step of transferring the water chamber 47 in the docking station 43 is performed before the evacuation of the internal volume V47.
• the heating means 46 comprise a heat transfer liquid distribution network 166 and a device 168 for heating and circulating this heat transfer liquid.
• the device 168 comprises, for example, a heat pump and a pump for circulating the heat transfer liquid.
• the network 166 comprises, for each compartment 45, a line 167 for heating this compartment 45.
• the lines 167 are shunted relative to each other and are all powered by the device 168.
• Each line 167 is provided with a valve 169, provided between the compartment 45 concerned and the device 168.
• Each valve 169 is independent and distinct from the other valves 169, and can be controlled independently, for example by means of an automaton of the lamination system 39, under the control of a user.
• each compartment 45 can be heated independently and selectively, more particularly for selectively heating the photovoltaic stacks 5 contained in the caissons 47 placed in all or part of the compartments 45 of the docking station 43.
• the heating means 46 of this embodiment of Figure 24 comprise, for each line 167, a connector adapted to be connected to a reciprocal connector provided for the box 47 contained in the compartment 45 of the line 167 concerned.
• Each box 47 thus comprises a heat transfer fluid connector, as well as an internal network of heat transfer liquid opening on this connector. It is thus possible to feed the internal network of each box 47 introduced into one of the compartments 45 with heat transfer fluid supplied by one of the lines 167.
• Each box 47 then forms in itself a device for lamination of a photovoltaic stack 5, by boarding both means for heating and for evacuating the photovoltaic stack 5 that it contains, these means being fed from the outside of the box 47, namely on the one hand by the generator 162 and on the other hand part by the device 168.
• the machines 33, 35, 37 and 42 and the lamination system 39 can be used independently of one another.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

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• 2016
  • 2016-08-16 FR FR1657778A patent/FR3055167B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2017
  • 2017-05-30 EP EP17725636.9A patent/EP3501046A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2017-05-30 CN CN201780056830.8A patent/CN109804473A/zh active Pending
  • 2017-05-30 WO PCT/EP2017/062964 patent/WO2018033261A1/fr unknown
  • 2017-05-30 US US16/325,896 patent/US11130327B2/en active Active

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