JP2006196749A - Method and device for manufacturing solar cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent or restrain generation of damage due to overheating of a photovoltaic cell in the manufacturing method of a solar cell by soldering a tab lead by a lamp heater. <P>SOLUTION: When a tab lead T is electrically connected to a photovoltaic cell S, the tab lead T is disposed in the photovoltaic cell S, and infrared ray is cast from an oblique direction toward the tab lead T by a lamp heater 7 while pressing the tab lead T by a pressing device 4. Consequently, solder of the tab lead T is heated to a melting temperature and the temperature of a portion except the periphery of the tab lead T is prevented from rising higher than the periphery of the tab lead T. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell by soldering a tab lead to a solar cell.

  In recent years, as part of solving environmental problems, there is an increasing demand for solar cells that generate power using solar energy. In this solar cell, a plurality of solar cells that convert sunlight (solar energy) into electrical energy are electrically connected by tab leads. In this case, solder is provided in advance on the surface of the tab lead, and the tab lead is fixed by heating the solder to the melting temperature in a state where the tab lead is arranged in the solar battery cell. There are a method of heating by blowing warm air and a method of heating by irradiating infrared rays from a lamp heater.

  Among them, in the heating method using warm air, hot air is concentrated on the tab lead and blown, but the temperature rises locally, so that the solar cells are likely to be cracked. In recent years, the silicon material has become difficult to obtain, so that the thickness of the solar battery cell is as thin as 200 microns, and this cracking problem becomes significant.

On the other hand, in the heating method using a lamp heater, although the concentrated heating cannot be performed as compared with the case of using the warm air, the solar battery cell is entirely heated, so that the problem of cracking due to local heating can be solved ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
JP2000-22188

  FIG. 3 shows a plan view of one solar cell S in a string formed by electrically connecting a plurality of solar cells S by tab leads T. FIG. When soldering the tab lead T, the lamp heater must be pressed against the solar cell S from above by means of a pressing device. Therefore, the lamp heater avoids this pressing device and is outside the solar cell S (FIG. 3). Infrared rays are irradiated obliquely from above (in the left-right direction).

  In this case, the lamp heater is disposed toward the tab lead T from an obliquely upper side (for example, an angle of 45 degrees), but since the infrared rays are diffused from the lamp heater, the lamp heater is more than the tab lead T closest to the lamp heater. The portion P on the side (the region indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3) is excessively heated, and the temperature at the portion of the tab lead T does not rise as shown on the left side of FIG. There was a problem that the solar battery cell S was damaged due to the increase.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the conventional technical problem, and is a method and apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell by soldering a tab lead with a lamp heater, wherein the solar cell is excessively heated. The purpose is to prevent or suppress the occurrence of damage due to the above.

  In the method for manufacturing a solar battery according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the tab lead is electrically connected to the solar battery cell, the tab lead is disposed on the solar battery cell, and the tab heater is pressed against the tab lead by the pressing device. By irradiating with infrared rays, the solder of the tab lead is heated to the melting temperature, and the temperature of the solar battery cell in the portion other than the vicinity of the tab lead is prevented from rising from the vicinity of the tab lead.

  In the method for manufacturing a solar battery according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the tab lead is electrically connected to the solar battery cell, the tab lead is arranged on the solar battery cell, and the tab heater is pressed against the tab lead by the pressing device. By irradiating infrared rays from the diagonally outward direction, the solder of the tab lead is heated to the melting temperature, and the infrared rays irradiated to the solar cells in the portion adjacent to the lamp heater are limited.

  A manufacturing apparatus for a solar battery according to a third aspect of the invention electrically connects a tab lead to a solar battery cell, and a pressing device that presses the tab lead arranged in the solar battery cell, and infrared rays toward the tab lead. A lamp heater for heating the tab lead solder to a melting temperature by irradiation is provided, and means for limiting the temperature rise in the portion other than the periphery of the tab lead is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solar cell manufacturing apparatus for electrically connecting a tab lead to a solar cell, a pressing device for pressing the tab lead disposed in the solar cell, and an outer side obliquely toward the tab lead. A lamp heater that heats the solder of the tab lead to a melting temperature by irradiating infrared rays from the direction is provided, and the infrared rays irradiated to the solar cells in a portion adjacent to the lamp heater are limited.

  The solar cell manufacturing apparatus of the invention of claim 5 is characterized in that the lower part of the infrared irradiation surface of the lamp heater is covered with a shielding plate.

  According to the present invention, the temperature around the tab lead is effectively increased, and the connection of the tab lead by good soldering is realized, while the occurrence of damage due to the temperature rise of the solar cells in the portion other than the tab lead is prevented or suppressed. Will be able to.

  In particular, if the lower part of the infrared irradiation surface of the lamp heater is covered with a shielding plate as in claim 5, it is possible to prevent or suppress overheating of the solar cells in the vicinity of the lamp heater with a simple configuration. Will be able to.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a tab lead soldering process of a solar cell manufacturing apparatus 1 of one embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a front view thereof. In addition, in each figure, what is shown with the same code | symbol as FIG. 3 is the same. In the tab lead soldering process of the solar cell manufacturing apparatus 1 of the embodiment, in addition to a crystal type such as single crystal silicon or polycrystalline silicon, an amorphous type using amorphous silicon or a single crystal (crystal-related substrate) is used as a substrate. Electrically connecting a plurality of solar cells S such as a single crystal / amorphous hybrid intrinsic thin-layer (HIT) in which an amorphous layer of silicon is formed on both sides thereof, with two tab leads T and T on the left and right sides This is a process for manufacturing the string 2 according to the above.

  In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes a conveyor (conveying means) composed of an endless belt, which conveys the solar cells S to the right in FIG. 1 by an intermittent operation of stopping for a predetermined time and then moving a predetermined distance. Is. Reference numeral 4 denotes a pressing device disposed above a predetermined soldering position of the conveyor 3, and is composed of a plurality of pins 4A that are moved up and down by driving means (not shown). The pins 4A,... Are arranged corresponding to the two tab leads T, T vertically arranged as shown in FIG. A hot plate (lower heating means) 6 composed of an electric heater is provided below the conveyor 3 at a position corresponding to the lower side of the pressing device 4 and is always energized during the work.

  Furthermore, if the upper direction of the conveyor 3 at a position avoiding the pressing device 4, that is, the depth in FIG. 2 is the traveling direction of the conveyor 3, the conveyor 3 at a position corresponding to the left and right outer sides of the pressing device 4 in the traveling direction of the conveyor 3. On the upper side, lamp heaters 7 are provided. Each of the lamp heaters 7 and 7 includes an infrared lamp L that emits infrared rays when energized, and includes a case 8 in which the inner surface that houses the infrared lamp L is a reflecting mirror surface. Quartz glass 9 is fitted into one surface of the case 8 to form an infrared irradiation surface 7A (infrared irradiation surface) emitted from the infrared lamp L.

  The right lamp heater 7 in FIG. 2 is disposed obliquely so that the irradiation surface 7A is orthogonal to the line connecting the infrared lamp L and the right tab lead T in FIG. 2, and the left lamp in FIG. The heater 7 is arranged obliquely so that the irradiation surface 7A is orthogonal to a line connecting the infrared lamp L and the tab lead T on the left side of FIG. Thereby, the infrared rays emitted from the infrared lamp L of the right lamp heater 7 in FIG. 2 are irradiated obliquely from the upper right (for example, 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal conveyor surface) toward the right tab lead T in FIG. At the same time, the infrared rays emitted from the infrared lamp L of the left lamp heater 7 in FIG. 2 are irradiated obliquely from the upper left (same as above) toward the tab lead T on the left side in FIG.

  Further, in the embodiment, a shielding plate 11 is attached to each of the partial predetermined ranges below the irradiation surfaces 7A and 7A of the lamp heaters 7 and 7, respectively. This shielding plate 11 plays a role of completely shielding the infrared rays passing under the irradiation surface 7A. In this case, the range in which the irradiation surface 7A is blocked by the shielding plate 11 of the right lamp heater 7 in FIG. 2 is such that the infrared rays radiated from the infrared lamp L of the right lamp heater 7 in FIG. 2 is set so as to block the infrared rays irradiated to the solar cells S in a range closer to the lamp heater 7 than the tab lead T, and by the shielding plate 11 of the lamp heater 7 on the left side of FIG. The irradiation surface 7A is blocked by the infrared rays emitted from the infrared lamp L of the left lamp heater 7 in FIG. 2 to the left tab lead T and the right side thereof in FIG. It sets so that the infrared rays irradiated to the photovoltaic cell S of a certain range may be interrupted.

  Next, the operation of the solar cell manufacturing apparatus 1 in the tab lead soldering process with the above configuration will be described. First, two tab leads T having solder coated on the surface are arranged on the left and right sides in the traveling direction of the conveyor 3. Next, solar cells S are placed on the rear half of these tab leads T, T (the rear part in the traveling direction of the conveyor 3) (indicated by the left arrow in FIG. 1). Next, the conveyor 3 is moved a predetermined distance, and the solar battery cell S is moved to the predetermined soldering position described above and stopped for a predetermined time. Next, the left and right strips of tab leads T, T are also placed on the solar cell S.

  In this case, the upper surface of the solar battery cell S is the plus side, and the lower surface is the minus side. Further, the front portion and the rear portion of the tab lead T are placed over the entire width of the upper surface and the lower surface of the solar cell S (the entire width in the traveling direction of the conveyor 3), and in the traveling direction of the conveyor cell 3 of the solar cell S. They are arranged at a predetermined distance from the left and right ends, respectively (FIG. 2).

  In this manner, with the two tab leads T, T being in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the solar cell S, the pins 4A of the pressing device 4 are lowered during this stop time, and the tab leads T, T are Press against the upper surface of the solar battery cell S. The lower tab leads T, T are also sandwiched between the conveyors 3 and pressed against the lower surface of the solar battery cell S.

  In this state, with the tab lead T pressed against the solar battery cell S, the infrared lamps L, L of the lamp heaters 7, 7 are energized to emit infrared rays. Infrared rays radiated from the respective infrared lamps L and L pass through the irradiation surfaces 7A and 7A and are irradiated obliquely from the outer side toward the tab leads T and T on the upper surface, and the solder of the tab leads T and T is heated to the melting temperature. The Note that the tab leads T, T on the lower surface also heat the solder to the melting temperature by heat conduction due to the temperature rise accompanying infrared irradiation from the upper surface and heating from the hot plate 6 on the lower surface.

  Here, since the infrared rays radiated from the infrared lamp L of the lamp heater 7 diffuse, the tabs T in the lamp heater side from the tab lead T where the solar battery cell S is closest to the lamp heater 7, that is, the tab lead in the traveling direction of the conveyor 3. T, the portion outside T (the portion indicated by P in FIG. 3) is the strongest infrared ray, and as it is, the temperature does not rise at the tab leads T and T as shown on the left side of FIG. The outer portion is excessively heated and the temperature rises, and the solar cell S in that portion is damaged.

  However, as described above, the shielding plate 11 is attached to the lower portion of the irradiation surface 7A of the lamp heater 7 and shields (limits) infrared rays toward the portion. Therefore, as shown on the right side of FIG. The temperature of S is the highest in the tab lead T and the portion around the T. As a result, the tab lead T can be soldered well. On the other hand, the temperature of the portion other than the periphery of the tab lead T, that is, the portion between the tab leads T and T and the portion outside the tab leads T and T (P in FIG. 3) does not rise above the temperature around the tab lead T. Since the temperature is lower than the temperature around T (see the right side of FIG. 6), the portion other than the tab lead T periphery, that is, the portion between the tab leads T, T and the portion closer to the lamp heater than the tab lead T is excessively heated. It can prevent or suppress that it becomes high and damage to the photovoltaic cell S arises.

  Thus, after irradiating infrared rays from the lamp heaters 7 and 7 for a predetermined time while pressing the tab leads T against the solar cells S by the pressing device 4, the infrared lamps L and L are turned off. Even after the light is turned off, the pressing device 4 presses the tab lead T against the solar battery cell S by the pins 4A, and waits until the solder is cooled and the tab lead T is securely connected to the solar battery cell S.

  During this time, the solar cells S are placed on the rear portions of the tab leads T on the upper surface. Thereafter, the conveyor 3 is moved by a predetermined distance, the newly placed solar battery cell S is moved to the soldering position, and the tab leads T and T are again placed on the upper surface thereof. Thereafter, this process is repeated to manufacture the string 2.

  In the embodiment, the shielding plate 11 is attached to the lower portion of the irradiation surface 7A of the lamp heater 7 so as to block the irradiation of infrared rays to the portion on the lamp heater 7 side from the tab lead T of the solar battery cell S. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and only the lower part of the quartz glass 9 fitted on the irradiation surface 7A is coated with a light blocking paint to block infrared rays, or only the lower part of the quartz glass 9 is polished glass. The effect of preventing damage to the solar battery cell S due to overheating can be expected also by a method of blocking part of the infrared rays to the portion P and restricting the amount of passage of the infrared rays.

  Next, FIG. 4 has shown the front view of the solar cell manufacturing apparatus of the other Example of this invention. In addition, what is shown with the same code | symbol as FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 3 in a figure shall show | play the same or similar function. In this case, the shielding plates 11 and 11 are respectively attached to the lower and upper partial predetermined ranges of the irradiation surfaces 7A and 7A of the lamp heaters 7 and 7, respectively. According to such a configuration, it is possible to block infrared rays applied to the solar cells S in a range far from the lamp heater 7.

  Thereby, the infrared rays radiated from the infrared lamps L of the lamp heaters 7 and 7 can be more concentratedly irradiated to the tab leads T and T, and the solar cell S can be more effectively damaged by heat. Can be reduced.

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a front view of a shielding plate 11 of still another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the shielding plate 11 has a plurality of slits 11A. By adjusting the number and area of the slits 11A, it becomes possible to control the amount of infrared rays that are transmitted through the shielding plate 11, so that the temperature distribution generated in the solar cells S is controlled, While the tab lead T is securely fixed, cracks can be reduced more effectively. Instead of forming the slit 11A in the shielding plate 11 in this way, if the shielding plate 11 itself has a frame shape, and an openable / closable shutter that can be adjusted blindly is provided in this frame, it is even easier to transmit infrared rays. The amount can be adjusted.

  Here, in each of the above-described embodiments, the upper surface tab lead T is pressed against the solar cell S only from above by the pressing device 4, and the lower surface tab lead T is heated by the hot plate 6. T may be pressed against the solar battery cell S from below by a similar pressing device, and infrared rays may be irradiated from the outside obliquely downward by a similar lamp heater. In this case, a similar shielding plate is attached.

  In the embodiment, the lamp heaters 7 and 7 are provided on the left and right, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of lamp heaters may be provided on the left and right to irradiate the tab leads T and T with infrared rays from a plurality of locations. .

  Further, in the embodiment, the lamp heaters 7 and 7 are provided at positions avoiding the pressing devices 4 above the tab leads T and T, but conversely, a plurality of lamp heaters 7 are arranged above (or above and below) the solar cells S. However, the tab lead T may be pressed by a pressing device having a structure that avoids the lamp heaters 7. In that case, the temperature of the solar battery cell S in the portion (for example, between the tab leads T and T) where the infrared rays from the lamp heaters 7. It is good to provide the shielding board which restricts irradiation of the infrared rays to a part.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment, the solar cells are stopped during the irradiation of infrared rays from the lamp heater. However, the position of the lamp heater 7 is not limited to this, and the tab lead T is pressed against the solar cells S while being moved. The present invention is also effective in a system in which infrared rays are irradiated from the lamp heater 7 continuously through the lamp.

It is a side view of the solar cell manufacturing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is a front view of the solar cell manufacturing apparatus of FIG. It is a front view of the photovoltaic cell which connected the tab lead. It is a front view of the solar cell manufacturing apparatus of the other Example of this invention. It is a front view of the shielding board of the other Example of the solar cell manufacturing apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows the photovoltaic cell surface temperature in a tab lead soldering process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solar cell manufacturing apparatus 2 String 3 Conveyor 4 Pushing apparatus 6 Hot plate 7 Lamp heater 9 Shielding board L Infrared lamp S Solar cell T Tab lead

Claims (5)

A method of manufacturing a solar cell by electrically connecting a tab lead to a solar cell,
The tab lead is disposed in the solar cell, and the tab lead is heated to the melting temperature by irradiating infrared rays toward the tab lead with a lamp heater while pressing the tab lead with a pressing device. A method for manufacturing a solar cell, characterized in that the temperature of the solar cell in a portion other than the periphery does not rise above the periphery of the tab lead. A method of manufacturing a solar cell by electrically connecting a tab lead to a solar cell,
The tab lead is disposed in the solar cell, and the tab lead is heated to the melting temperature by irradiating infrared rays from the obliquely outward direction toward the tab lead with a lamp heater while pressing the tab lead with a pressing device. And the infrared rays irradiated to the said photovoltaic cell of the part adjacent to the said lamp heater are restrict | limited, The manufacturing method of the solar cell characterized by the above-mentioned. In a solar cell manufacturing apparatus that electrically connects tab leads to solar cells,
A pressing device for pressing a tab lead disposed in the solar battery cell;
A lamp heater for heating the tab lead solder to a melting temperature by irradiating infrared rays toward the tab lead;
An apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell, comprising means for limiting a temperature rise in a portion other than the periphery of the tab lead. In a solar cell manufacturing apparatus that electrically connects tab leads to solar cells,
A pressing device for pressing a tab lead disposed in the solar battery cell;
A lamp heater that heats the solder of the tab lead to a melting temperature by irradiating infrared rays from the obliquely outward direction toward the tab lead,
An apparatus for manufacturing a solar cell, wherein infrared rays irradiated to the solar cell in a portion adjacent to the lamp heater are limited.   The solar cell manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a lower part of the infrared irradiation surface of the lamp heater is covered with a shielding plate.

Images