JP7377701B2 - solar module - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a solar cell module.

2. Description of the Related Art Curved solar cell modules that are compatible with curved surfaces of vehicles, buildings, etc. are known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Such a solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells arranged two-dimensionally, and a first protection member and a second protection member for protecting one main surface side and the other main surface side of the plurality of solar cells. and a sealing material provided between the first protection member and the second protection member to seal the plurality of solar cells, wherein the first protection member or the second protection member has a curved shape. Consists of a glass substrate that holds the

JP2018-26561A

According to such a solar cell module, since the first protection member or the second protection member is made of a glass substrate, the solar cell module has high water resistance and high reliability. However, forming a glass substrate into a curved shape requires relatively high processing temperatures, making it difficult to manufacture solar cell modules.

An object of the present invention is to provide a curved solar cell module that is relatively easy to manufacture.

The solar cell module according to the present invention is a curved solar cell module, and includes a plurality of solar cells arranged two-dimensionally and a resin material, and one main surface side of the plurality of solar cells is A first protective member for protecting, a second protective member including a resin material and for protecting the other main surface side of the plurality of solar cells, and the first protective member and the second protective member. A sealing material provided between the plurality of solar cells and a plurality of flat glass substrates is provided, and the first protection member or the second protection member has the curved shape. The plurality of glass substrates are arranged in a two-dimensional manner between the first protection member and the sealing material and at least one of the second protection member and the sealing material. It is located.

According to the present invention, manufacturing of a curved solar cell module is relatively easy.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the solar cell module according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a glass substrate in the solar cell module shown in FIG. 1. FIG. It is a side view of a solar cell module according to a modification of the present embodiment. It is a side view of a solar cell module according to a modification of the present embodiment. It is a side view of a solar cell module according to a modification of the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts in each drawing. Further, for convenience, hatching, member symbols, etc. may be omitted, but in such cases, other drawings shall be referred to.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the solar cell module according to the present embodiment. A solar cell module 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a curved solar cell module that is placed on a curved surface of a vehicle, a building, or the like. The solar cell module 100 includes a plurality of solar cells 2, a light-receiving side protection member (first protection member) 3, a back side protection member (second protection member) 4, a sealing material 5, and a plurality of glass substrates 6. Equipped with.

The solar cells 2 are two-dimensionally arranged along a curved surface. The solar cells 2 may be arranged at intervals, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, from the viewpoint of superior design, adjacent solar cells 2, 2 may be arranged so that their ends partially overlap, as shown in FIG.

As shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of solar cells 2 have a stacked structure in which they are tilted uniformly in a certain direction, similar to a roof covered with tiles, so this method of arranging the solar cells 2 is called the shingling method. Moreover, a plurality of solar cells 2 connected in a string shape is referred to as a solar cell string (solar cell device).

Examples of the solar cell 2 include a single crystal silicon solar cell, a polycrystalline silicon solar cell, a thin film silicon solar cell, a heterojunction solar cell, a compound solar cell, and an organic thin film solar cell. From the viewpoints of power generation efficiency and design, the solar cell 2 is preferably of a back contact type in which both the p-type electrode and the n-type electrode are arranged on the back surface.

The solar cell 2 is sandwiched between a light-receiving side protection member 3 and a back side protection member 4. A liquid or solid sealing material 5 is filled between the light-receiving side protection member 3 and the back side protection member 4, and thereby the solar cell 2 is sealed.

The sealing material 5 seals and protects the solar cell 2, and is used between the light-receiving side surface of the solar cell 2 and the light-receiving side protection member 3, and between the back surface of the solar cell 2 and the It is interposed between the backside protection member 4 and the backside protection member 4 . The shape of the sealing material 5 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a sheet shape. This is because if it is in a sheet shape, it is easy to coat the front and back surfaces of the planar solar cell 2.

The material of the sealing material 5 is not particularly limited, but preferably has a property of transmitting light (translucency). Moreover, it is preferable that the material of the sealing material 5 has an adhesive property that allows the solar cell 2, the light-receiving side protection member 3, and the back side protection member 4 to be bonded together. Examples of such materials include ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), ethylene ethyl acrylate copolymer resin (EEA), ethylene α-olefin copolymer resin, polyvinyl butyral resin (PVB), and olefin resin. Examples include transparent resin compositions containing thermoplastic resins such as ionomer resins and thermosetting resins such as phenolic resins as main components.

The light-receiving side protection member 3 covers the light-receiving surface (one principal surface) of the solar cell 2 via the sealing material 5 to protect the light-receiving surface of the solar cell 2 . Although the shape of the light-receiving side protection member 3 is not particularly limited, a plate-like or sheet-like shape is preferable since it indirectly covers the planar light-receiving surface.

The material for the light-receiving side protection member 3 is not particularly limited, but like the sealing material 5, it is preferable that the material is transparent and resistant to ultraviolet light. Examples of such materials include polycarbonate resin (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin (ABS), transparent resins whose main components are thermoplastic resins such as acrylic resins, and thermosetting resins such as phenolic resins. Examples include resin compositions such as: The light-receiving side protection member 3 is mainly composed of polycarbonate resin (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin (ABS), acrylic resin, or a blend resin of two or more of these resins. Preferably, it is made of a resin composition. In this way, the light-receiving side protection member 3 is a resin substrate containing a resin material.

The light receiving side protection member 3 maintains a curved shape. Examples of a method for forming the curved shape of the light-receiving side protection member 3 include press processing in which press molding is performed by applying heat and pressure. In press working of a resin substrate, the working temperature may be, for example, approximately 200° C. or more and 300° C. or less, and there is no need to set the working temperature to a high temperature as in press working of a glass substrate.

Note that the light-receiving side protection member 3 may be an injection molded product since it has a high degree of freedom in shape and has high productivity. Injection molding of resin substrates also does not require high processing temperatures, unlike injection molding of glass substrates.

The backside protection member 4 covers the backside (the other main surface) of the solar cell 2 via the sealing material 5 to protect the backside of the solar cell 2 . The shape of the backside protection member 4 is not particularly limited, but like the light-receiving side protection member 3, a plate-like or sheet-like shape is preferable since it indirectly covers the planar backside.

The material for the backside protection member 4 is not particularly limited, but a material that prevents water from entering (highly water resistant) is preferable. Examples of such materials include thermoplastic resins such as polyester resins, acrylic resins, polycarbonate resins, chain or cyclic polyolefin resins, polyimide resins, and polyfluorocarbon resins, and thermosetting resins such as phenolic resins as main components. Examples include resin compositions. In this way, the back side protection member 4 is a resin substrate (back sheet) containing a resin material.

The plurality of glass substrates 6 are arranged between the light receiving side protection member 3 and the sealing material 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of glass substrates 6 have a flat plate shape and are arranged two-dimensionally along a curved surface. The gap between adjacent glass substrates 6 may be filled with the sealing material 5 or with another adhesive member.

The thickness of the glass substrate 6 is 1.2 mm or less. From the viewpoint of maintaining lighter weight and productivity, the thickness of the glass substrate 6 is more preferably 0.3 mm or more and 0.8 mm or less. In addition, the size of the glass substrate 6 is 1.0 times the size of the solar cell 2 (one solar cell or more and 5.0 times the size of the solar cell 2 x 2 solar cells + the space between the solar cells and at the edges). (insulation distance, etc.) or less.

Here, as described in Patent Document 1, when the light-receiving side protection member or the back side protection member is made of a glass substrate, water resistance is high and reliability is high. However, forming a glass substrate into a curved shape requires relatively high processing temperatures, making it difficult to manufacture solar cell modules.

On the other hand, according to the solar cell module 100 of the present embodiment, since the light-receiving side protection member 3 is made of a resin substrate, the temperature at which the light-receiving side protection member 3 is processed into a curved shape is lower than the temperature at which the glass substrate is processed. Low compared to temperature. This facilitates manufacturing of the curved solar cell module 100.

Here, the resin substrate has lower water resistance than the glass substrate. In this regard, according to the solar cell module 100 of the present embodiment, since the plurality of flat glass substrates 6 are arranged two-dimensionally, water resistance can be improved and reliability can be improved. can do.

Moreover, according to the solar cell module 100 of this embodiment, the light-receiving side protection member 3 and the back side protection member 4 are made of resin substrates, and the thickness of the glass substrate 6 is 1.2 mm or less, so that the solar cell It is possible to reduce the weight of the module 100.

Further, according to the solar cell module 100 of the present embodiment, the size of the glass substrate 6 is 1.0 times or more and 5.0 times or less the size of the solar cell 2, so the flat glass substrate 6 is heated to a high temperature. A curved solar cell module 100 can be obtained without processing the solar cell module 100 into a curved surface and without breaking the relatively thin glass substrate 6.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various changes and modifications can be made. For example, in the embodiment described above, the entire module is formed in a convex manner toward the light-receiving surface side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the entire module may be formed concavely on the light receiving surface side. Alternatively, the present invention may have a configuration in which a portion is formed into a convex or concave curved surface on the light-receiving surface side. Alternatively, the present invention may include both a portion formed on a convex curved surface and a portion formed on a concave curved surface on the light receiving surface side.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the light-receiving side protection member (first protection member) 3 has a curved shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the light-receiving side protection member, the back side protection member (second protection member) 4 may have a curved shape. Also in this embodiment, since the backside protection member 4 is made of a resin substrate, the temperature at which the backside protection member 4 is processed into a curved shape is lower than the processing temperature for a glass substrate. This facilitates manufacturing of the curved solar cell module 100.

Moreover, in the embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. I gave an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of glass substrates 6 are arranged two-dimensionally between the back side protection member (second protection member) 4 and the sealing material 5. As shown in FIG. The protective member) 4 and the sealing material 5 may be arranged two-dimensionally. Even in these forms, water resistance can be improved and reliability can be improved.

2 Solar cell 3 Light receiving side protection member (first protection member)
4 Backside protection member (second protection member)
5 Sealing material 6 Glass substrate 100 Solar cell module

Claims (2)

A curved solar cell module,
A plurality of solar cells arranged two-dimensionally,
a first protection member that includes a resin material and protects one main surface side of the plurality of solar cells;
a second protection member that includes a resin material and protects the other main surface side of the plurality of solar cells;
a sealing material provided between the first protection member and the second protection member and sealing the plurality of solar cells;
A plurality of glass substrates each having a flat plate shape,
Equipped with
The first protection member or the second protection member maintains the curved shape,
The plurality of glass substrates are two-dimensionally arranged between the first protection member and the sealing material and at least on one side between the second protection member and the sealing material ,
The size of the glass substrate is 1.0 times or more and 5.0 times or less the size of the solar cell,
The size of the solar cell is the area, and the size of the glass substrate is the area when the ratio of the length and width of the glass substrate to the length and width of the solar cell is the same.
solar cell module. The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the glass substrate has a thickness of 1.2 mm or less.

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