Classifications

• • 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
  • H01L31/0481—Encapsulation of modules characterised by the composition of the encapsulation material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/222—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles for deploying structures between a stowed and deployed state
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64G—COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
  • B64G1/00—Cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/22—Parts of, or equipment specially adapted for fitting in or to, cosmonautic vehicles
  • B64G1/42—Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems
  • B64G1/44—Arrangements or adaptations of power supply systems using radiation, e.g. deployable solar arrays
  • B64G1/443—Photovoltaic cell arrays
• • 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
  • H01L31/0248—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 characterised by their semiconductor bodies
  • H01L31/036—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 characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes
  • H01L31/0392—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 characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including thin films deposited on metallic or insulating substrates ; characterised by specific substrate materials or substrate features or by the presence of intermediate layers, e.g. barrier layers, on the substrate
  • H01L31/03926—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 characterised by their semiconductor bodies characterised by their crystalline structure or particular orientation of the crystalline planes including thin films deposited on metallic or insulating substrates ; characterised by specific substrate materials or substrate features or by the presence of intermediate layers, e.g. barrier layers, on the substrate comprising a flexible substrate
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02S—GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
  • H02S30/00—Structural details of PV modules other than those related to light conversion
  • H02S30/20—Collapsible or foldable PV 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a membrane equipped with photovoltaic cells.
• the invention applies to the field of satellites and space equipment, but can also find application for products on the ground.
• the invention is described with the example of a membrane for a space solar generator, but it also applies to any other type of electrical generation involving a membrane and solar cells.
• a satellite is provided with solar generators to supply it with electricity from solar cells exposed to solar radiation.
• solar panels are rigid panels stored on the satellite's body and provided with a hinge that allows them to be deployed once in orbit. This solution is not optimal, both in terms of on-board weight (rigid panel and articulation) and on-board power (limited size of the rigid panels) and no longer makes it possible to meet the spatial constraints imposed. Indeed, it is desirable to have increasingly powerful solar generators in a volume stored under the restricted fairing.
• the solar cells are arranged on a main substrate.
• the assembly (substrate and solar cells) can then be in the stored configuration (that is to say rolled up) during the launching phase and in the deployed configuration (that is to say unwound) in operation. Since solar cells are extremely fragile, the membrane must perform several functions.
• the main substrate performs a mechanical function. In the stored configuration, it is necessary to maintain and position the cells in a predefined manner in order to guarantee the inter-turn center distance and to ensure a wedging avoiding shocks or movements of the cells with respect to each other. It is also necessary to take up the loads applied to the whole of the main substrate and the solar cells during launch.
• the membrane In the deployed configuration, it is also necessary to maintain and position the cells in a predefined manner, in particular to have a flatness of the deployed surface. Finally, do not disturb the frequency of the complete wing. In other words, it is necessary guarantee good stiffness in the plane.
• Another function to be performed by the membrane is the electrical function. It is necessary to ensure the connections between the solar cells then towards the base of the solar generator.
• a final function that the membrane must perform is the thermal function in order to ensure good thermal regulation of the cells and to be compatible with the partial shading, the source of very large temperature gradients (between - 100 and + 100 ° C, or even - 200 and + 200 ° C).
• the structural adhesive solution requires specific use of the adhesive and a polymerization time varying from 2 to 7 days.
• the 2-day accelerated polymerization requires the parts to be assembled to be placed in a thermal box. This implementation on a complete wing of a solar generator measuring about twenty meters in length would require considerable and expensive means.
• Polymerization in ambient air, more suitable for the size of the solar generator, requires the equipment and the storage room to be immobilized for 7 days.
• the double-sided adhesive solution requires a specific and complicated implementation. Even if double-sided bonding does not require curing time, the process remains difficult to implement and the mechanical strength of the bonding obtained is much lower than that of a structural adhesive. The resistance is very inferior to cold and the resistance to radiation is low.
• Structural glue has a density of approximately 1000 kg / m 3 .
• the impact of the mass on a wing 20 meters in length is therefore not negligible (of the order of 4 kg).
• the adhesive film has a density equivalent to that of the structural adhesive. Its impact on the mass of the wing is therefore significant.
• a gluing solution also has the drawback of a defect in calibrating the thickness and the quantity of glue related to the assembly.
• the invention aims to overcome all or part of the problems mentioned above by providing a membrane of photovoltaic cells making it possible to create a solar generator as powerful as possible with a volume under the cover and an on-board mass as low as possible, while at the same time providing mechanical, electrical and thermal functions.
• the invention relates to a membrane capable of passing from a configuration wound around a first axis Z to a configuration deployed along a second axis X substantially perpendicular to the first axis Z, the membrane comprising: To. A main substrate comprising an upper surface covered at least partially with a first layer comprising a first thermoplastic polymer, b. at least one electrically conductive track, c.
• a photovoltaic unit comprising a secondary substrate and at least one photovoltaic cell fixed to an upper surface of the secondary substrate, the photovoltaic unit being intended to produce an electric current, and being electrically connected to the at least one electrically conductive track
• the secondary substrate comprising a lower surface, opposite the upper surface of the secondary substrate, oriented towards the upper surface of the main substrate, the lower surface of the secondary substrate being at least partially covered with a second layer comprising a second thermoplastic polymer, and the lower surface of the secondary substrate of the photovoltaic unit and the upper surface of the main substrate being at least partially heat-sealed.
• the photovoltaic unit is a photovoltaic module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells fixed on the upper surface of the secondary substrate.
• the main substrate can be perforated.
• the membrane according to the invention may further comprise at least one additional element comprising a bonding surface covered at least partially with a third layer comprising a third thermoplastic polymer, said bonding surface of the 'additional element being at least partially heat-sealed to the upper surface or a lower surface of the main substrate, opposite the upper surface of the main substrate, the additional element being a protective foam, a cable sheath, an insulator, a connector, an electrical component, a membrane stiffener or a membrane stiffener support loop.
• the main substrate can comprise reinforcing fibers, preferably glass fibers, carbon fibers and / or aramid fibers.
• the first thermoplastic polymer, the second thermoplastic polymer and / or the third thermoplastic polymer is a polymer of the family of polyaryletherketone polymers (PAEK), preferably a polymer of the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) type.
• PAEK polyaryletherketone polymers
• PEEK polyetheretherketone
• thermoplastic polymer and / or the second thermoplastic polymer and / or the third thermoplastic polymer are the same thermoplastic polymer.
• the invention also relates to a satellite comprising at least one such membrane.
• FIG.1 Figure 1 schematically shows a membrane with a photovoltaic cell of the prior art
• FIG.2 Figure 2 schematically shows a membrane with a photovoltaic cell according to the invention
• FIG.3 Figure 3 schematically shows an embodiment of the membrane according to the invention
• Figure 4 schematically shows another embodiment of the membrane according to the invention
• FIG.5 Figure 5 schematically shows another embodiment of the membrane according to the invention.
• FIG.6 Figure 6 schematically shows another embodiment of the membrane according to the invention.
• Figure 7 shows a satellite equipped with at least one membrane according to the invention.
• the same elements will bear the same references in the different figures.
• the invention is presented with the non-limiting example of a membrane for a satellite.
• the invention does not apply only to space equipment, but it can be applied to any membrane with solar cells.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a membrane 5 with a photovoltaic cell 6 of the prior art.
• the membrane 5 comprises a substrate 7.
• the lower surface of the photovoltaic cell 6 is attached to the upper surface of the substrate 7 by means of a glue, an adhesive or a Velcro type fastening system (reference 8).
• the prior art therefore requires the addition of material to assemble the photovoltaic cell 6 on the substrate 7, with all the drawbacks mentioned above.
• FIG. 2 schematically shows a membrane 10 with a photovoltaic cell 17 according to the invention.
• the membrane 10 is able to pass from a configuration wound around a mandrel around a first axis Z to a configuration deployed along a second axis X substantially perpendicular to the first axis Z.
• the mandrel is rotated by a device for motorization, as is usual and known to those skilled in the art.
• the membrane 10 comprises a main substrate 11 comprising an upper surface 12 covered at least partially with a first layer 13 comprising a first thermoplastic polymer.
• the membrane 10 comprises at least one electrically conductive track 14.
• the membrane 10 comprises a photovoltaic unit 15 comprising a secondary substrate 16 and at least one photovoltaic cell 17 fixed on an upper surface 18 of the substrate. secondary 16.
• the photovoltaic unit 15 is intended to produce an electric current, and is electrically connected to the at least one electrically conductive track 14.
• the electrically conductive track 14 is intended to supply the satellite with electrical energy coming from the photovoltaic unit. 15.
• the secondary substrate 16 comprises a lower surface 19, opposite the upper surface 18 of the secondary substrate 16, oriented towards the upper surface 12 of the main substrate 11.
• the lower surface 19 of the secondary substrate 16 is at least partially covered with a second layer 23 comprising a second thermoplastic polymer.
• the lower surface 19 of the secondary substrate 16 of the photovoltaic unit 15 and the upper surface 12 of the main substrate 11 are at least partially heat-sealed.
• the main substrate and the secondary substrate are fused together at their two contacting surfaces (the upper surface 12 of the main substrate 11 and the lower surface 19 of the secondary substrate 16).
• the main substrate 11 and the secondary substrate 16 form a continuous medium.
• the two substrates do not exhibit any discontinuity.
• the upper surface 12 can be partially covered with the first layer 13 comprising the first thermoplastic polymer or completely.
• the lower surface 19 of the secondary substrate 16 can be partially covered with the second layer 23 comprising the second thermoplastic polymer or completely.
• the first layer 13 and the second layer 23, when they partially cover the surface, can be in the form of bands or dots, with a surface allowing the heat-sealing of the two substrates together.
• the secondary substrate on which the photovoltaic cell 17 is fixed can be seen as an intermediate substrate, but it can also be a part of the photovoltaic cell 17.
• the The invention is applied as above with one or more photovoltaic cells 17, the rear face of which is at least partially covered with the second layer 23 comprising the second thermoplastic polymer.
• the invention therefore makes it possible to assemble the photovoltaic unit to the main substrate 11 without adding material. The assembly is obtained by heat sealing the parts to be assembled.
• the substrates used for this type of application were made of carbon, aluminum or an imide-based polymer (also known as Kapton), that is to say not heat-sealable, so that there was no incentive to practice heat sealing for the assembly of photovoltaic units on a membrane substrate.
• an imide-based polymer also known as Kapton
• the solution proposed by the invention is to heat seal the parts to be assembled.
• the process is applicable on thermoplastic materials or comprising at least one surface of thermoplastic material.
• the two substrates are assembled by external heat input. This external contribution can be made, for example, by heating mirror: the two substrates to be assembled are positioned facing each other, leaving a space in which a heating mirror on both sides is positioned. The substrates are approached to this mirror until the two layers of thermoplastic material have reached their surface melting temperature. When the melting temperatures are reached, the heated mirror is removed. Then the two substrates are brought into contact with each other for a few seconds, as shown at the top of Figure 2. After cooling for a few seconds, heat sealing is performed, as shown at the bottom of Figure 2. Both The substrates no longer form one and the same single piece, as can be seen at the level of the reference 21. Via the zone 21, the two substrates 11, 16 are no longer separate.
• This solution also has the advantage of not adding any assembly material, and therefore, given the thicknesses of the material used, this represents a significant gain in mass on the mass of the solar generator.
• the assembly by heat sealing is also found to be excellent for increasing the thermal conductivity between the two assembled parts, compared to a conventional assembly by glue, film or Velcro.
• thermoelastic effect on the entire wing of the solar generator is optimized with a CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) homogeneous between the different parts (here the substrates 11, 16). This constitutes an improvement of the prior art in which thermoelastic effects could appear between the elements and their binder.
• FIG 3 schematically shows an embodiment of the membrane 10 according to the invention.
• the main substrate 11 is perforated.
• the opening of the main substrate 11 allows better thermal dissipation of heat from the rear face of the photovoltaic cells.
• the photovoltaic unit 15 can be a photovoltaic module 20 comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells 17 fixed on the upper surface 18 of the secondary substrate 16.
• the invention relates to a membrane 10 on which photovoltaic cells can be fixed on the upper surface 18 of the secondary substrate 16 which is itself heat-sealed to the main substrate 11.
• the photovoltaic cells can themselves comprise a layer of thermoplastic polymer heat-sealed to the main substrate 11.
• the photovoltaic cells can be grouped together in the form of a photovoltaic module, itself either comprising a lower surface of thermoplastic polymer, or being fixed on a substrate with a lower surface of thermoplastic polymer.
• the membrane can include a combination of these variants.
• the invention is therefore based on photovoltaic cells or photovoltaic modules optionally assembled together and on the main substrate by heat sealing. As will appear in the remainder of the description, the invention also aims to relate to the main substrate and / or to the photovoltaic unit other additional elements on the same principle of heat sealing, such as for example membrane stiffeners, loops. , wiring brackets, connectors, etc.
• the assembly therefore constitutes a complete solar generator wing which can be very large, without using additional assembly material.
• the invention makes it possible to avoid electrical discontinuities in the case of antistatic photovoltaic modules.
• the assembly of the invention offers insensitivity to radiation compared to a traditional bonding.
• the invention also simplifies the repair in the event of a malfunction of a member of the membrane.
• the solution provides a gain in the overall mechanical performance of the wing by eliminating the mechanical discontinuity between the main substrate and the photovoltaic modules, or else between the photovoltaic modules between them.
• the solution provides thermal gain due to the continuity of material between the assembled elements. This conductive aspect is very important in the case for example of a photovoltaic module on a solid substrate (non-perforated), where the heat exchange between the front face and the rear face of the module is essential. This increased thermal conductivity is beneficial for the electrical performance of the wing.
• By reducing the operating temperature of photovoltaic cells their efficiency is increased. This means that with the same number of photovoltaic cells, the solar generator is more efficient electrically, or at iso-power delivered, the generator will be less expensive with fewer cells.
• the membrane 10 according to the invention may further comprise at least one additional element 30 comprising a connecting surface 31 covered at least partially with a third layer 33 comprising a third thermoplastic polymer.
• said connecting surface 31 of the additional element 30 being at least partially heat-sealed to the upper surface 12 or a lower surface 32 of the main substrate 11, opposite the upper surface 12 of the main substrate 11, the additional element 30 being a protective foam 34, a sheath 35 of cable 36, an insulator, a connector, an electrical component, a membrane stiffener or a support loop 41 of a membrane stiffener.
• FIG. 4 schematically shows another embodiment of the membrane according to the invention.
• the membrane comprises a protective foam 34.
• the protective foam comprises a bonding surface covered at least partially with a layer of thermoplastic polymer.
• the foam 34 is preferably heat-sealed to the lower surface of the main substrate 11 so as to protect, in the coiled configuration of the membrane 10, the photovoltaic cells of the lower coil of the coiled membrane.
• the foam 34 can be heat-sealed to the underside of the secondary substrate, or to the upper surfaces of the substrates 11, 16, at locations making it possible to prevent possible impacts between the cells and / or between the additional elements when the membrane is rolled up.
• All of the foams used can represent large bonding surfaces.
• the heat-sealing of the foam on the substrate allows a mass gain of the membrane.
• FIG. 5 schematically represents another embodiment of the membrane according to the invention.
• the membrane comprises a membrane stiffener support loop 41.
• the support loop 41 comprises a connecting surface covered at least partially with a thermoplastic polymer layer.
• the support loop 41 is preferably heat-sealed to the lower surface of the main substrate 11 so as to ensure material continuity for better mechanical performance as explained previously.
• a stiffener can then be slipped into the support loop 41 to provide better stiffness to the membrane 10.
• the membrane stiffener can comprise a connecting surface covered at least partially with a layer of thermoplastic polymer and the stiffener can then be directly heat-welded to the main substrate 11.
• the invention also applies with a main substrate 11 comprising reinforcing fibers, preferably glass fibers, carbon fibers and / or aramid fibers. These reinforcing fibers are preferably in the main substrate 11.
• FIG. 6 schematically shows another embodiment of the membrane according to the invention.
• the membrane comprises a sheath 35 of cable 36.
• the sheath 35 comprises a connecting surface covered at least partially with a layer of thermoplastic polymer.
• the sheath 35 is preferably heat-sealed to the lower surface of the main substrate 11 so as to ensure material continuity as explained previously.
• the sheath 35 can also be heat sealed to the upper surface of the main substrate 11, near the photovoltaic cells.
• the cable 36 is positioned in the sheath 35.
• the cable 36 can also include a connecting surface covered at least partially with a layer of thermoplastic polymer and the cable 36 can then be directly heat-welded to the main substrate 11.
• any other additional element that can be used on the membrane 10 for example an insulator, a connector, an electrical component such as a thermistor, a diode, a diod board.
• the solution provided by the invention provides an advantage of simplifying the replacement and / or repair of a defective or damaged element, whether it is a photovoltaic cell or one of the additional elements mentioned above. All of these can be replaced if they are defective by a sound element, without risk of delamination or damage to the substrate or the photovoltaic module to which they are attached.
• the first thermoplastic polymer, the second thermoplastic polymer and / or the third thermoplastic polymer is a polymer of the family of polyaryletherketone polymers (PAEK), preferably a polymer of the polyetheretherketone (PEEK) type.
• thermoplastic polymer and / or the second thermoplastic polymer and / or the third thermoplastic polymer are the same thermoplastic polymer. This facilitates the performance of the heat-sealing since the melting temperature to be reached is the same. The insertion and removal of the heated mirror between the surfaces to be fused is therefore more easily controlled.
• Figure 7 shows a satellite equipped with at least one membrane according to the invention.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

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• 2020
  • 2020-04-28 FR FR2004215A patent/FR3109668B1/fr active Active
• 2021
  • 2021-04-27 US US17/921,312 patent/US20230261127A1/en active Pending
  • 2021-04-27 EP EP21720530.1A patent/EP4143890A1/de active Pending
  • 2021-04-27 IL IL297659A patent/IL297659A/en unknown
  • 2021-04-27 KR KR1020227040481A patent/KR20230002886A/ko active Search and Examination
  • 2021-04-27 WO PCT/EP2021/060990 patent/WO2021219641A1/fr unknown
  • 2021-04-27 CN CN202180038210.8A patent/CN115668514A/zh active Pending

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