JPS62281378A - Inspection of solar battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the sealed up state of a solar battery module to be detected by a method wherein the module is submerged in a sealed vessel while the pressure in the vessel is reduced to check if the solar battery module bubbles or not. CONSTITUTION:In order to inspect a solar battery module, a solar module 9 is submesrged in deionized water selected as a solution 11 while the fitting parts of a vacuum vessel 10 are firmly bonded to one another and then a three way cock 13 is opened to make three ways communicate with one another. Then, the pressure in vacuum vessel 10 is gradually reduced by a pressure reducing device communicating one way. At this time, the degree of vacuum can be checked by a vacuum gauge communicated with one way. In such a constitution, the solar battery module 9 imperfectly sealed up may be subjected to bubbling 14 before the degree of vacuum reaches 76 mmHg when the pressure of deionized water selected as the solution 11 is gradually reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention Industrial Field of Application The present invention provides a solar cell module/particularly a space surrounded by a glass substrate, a metal foil, and a resin layer bonding the two. The present invention relates to an inspection method for inspecting the sealing of a solar cell module in which a solar cell element and a gas are sealed.

Conventional technology solar cells, especially amorphous silicon (hereinafter referred to as A-3T)
Thin film solar cell modules such as (abbreviated as ) solar cells and CdS/CdTe solar cells have been gradually improved from conventional monocrystalline silicon solar cell modules, and recently, for example, as shown in FIG. It has a structure like this.

In FIG. 2, 1 is a solar cell element formed on a glass substrate 2, and 3 is a metal foil, which is adhered to a margin 5 around the substrate 2 through a resin layer 4. And board 2.
Air 6 and an oxygen emitting substance 8 contained in a polyethylene bag 7 are enclosed together with the solar cell element 1 in a space surrounded by the metal foil 3 and the resin layer 4 that adheres the two.

The solar cell module 9 having this structure is easy to manufacture, and since the metal foil 3 or the resin layer 4 laminated thereon is not adhered to the solar cell element 1, it is resistant to heat cycles and has high reliability. Further, in the case of a CdS/CdTe solar cell element, oxygen from the air 6 or the oxygen emitted 8 acts on the solar cell, and the solar cell has a feature of high reliability at high temperatures.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In a solar cell module having the above structure, a solar cell element and air or In the case of a gas-filled solar cell module, if there is a defect in the adhesion of the resin layer and the internal air or gas leaks to the outside, not only the external air but also steam and water will infiltrate. The present invention provides a simple inspection method that can easily detect defects in a solar cell module having the above structure.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention immerses a solar cell module in a liquid in a sealed container, reduces the pressure inside the container, and examines whether bubbles are generated from the solar cell module during the night. This is a method of inspecting the sealing state.

Function: When a solar cell module is immersed in a liquid in a sealed container and the pressure inside the container is reduced, the pressure of the air or gas sealed inside the solar cell module becomes relatively high and tries to escape to the outside. . If there is a defect in the adhesion provided by the resin layer or if the metal foil is perforated, air or gas will naturally form bubbles from that area and rise into the liquid.

The presence or absence of bubbles can be easily observed with the naked eye, making it possible to determine whether the module is properly sealed.

Example Next, the present invention will be explained by examples.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a container for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a vacuum-tight container, which has a container portion containing a liquid 11, a lid portion having a mating portion at its upper end, It consists of The solar cell module 9 is submerged in a liquid 11 with the lid of a vacuum container 10 opened. Vacuum container 1
A hole is cut in the center of the lid of 0, into which a rubber stopper 12 is fitted, and a part of a three-way cock 13 passes through the center of the rubber stopper 12.

The three-way cock 13 can literally lead to passages on three sides.
It is possible that only three specific directions can be communicated.

One of the three-way cocks communicates with the internal space of the vacuum container 10, the other with a pressure reducing device (not shown), and the last one with a vacuum gauge (not shown).

In order to inspect the solar cell module (according to the present invention), the solar cell module 9 is immersed in deionized water selected as the liquid 11, the ground portion of the vacuum container 10 is brought into close contact, and the rear three-way cock 13 is closed. Open it and let it pass through on all three sides.

Then, the vacuum vessel io is
The pressure inside is gradually reduced. At this time, it is possible to check the degree of vacuum with a vacuum gauge connected to one side. When the pressure of the liquid 11 is gradually reduced, if the liquid 11 is deionized water, air bubbles 1 are generated from incompletely sealed solar cell modules 11 before the degree of vacuum reaches 760 gq.
4 occurrences were observed.

As this process continued, the bubbles 14 gradually became larger and were observed to rise in the liquid 11. However, the generation of air bubbles 14 was not observed in the completely sealed solar cell module 9.As described above, the sealing quality of the solar cell module can be inspected by observing the presence or absence of air bubbles 14. However, when the liquid 11 is deionized water, it has the advantage that the liquid 11 is very cheap, is nonflammable, and can be easily disposed of after use.

Example 2 In this case, the solar cell module was inspected in the same manner as in Example 1, using carbon tetrachloride chloroform or a 1:1 mixture of both as the liquid instead of deionized water in Example 1. was completed. These liquids are nonflammable and relatively inexpensive for organic solvents.

Example 3 Trichlorethylene, perchlorethylene or trichloroethane was used as the i-isomer. Even using these, the solar cell module could be inspected in the same manner as in Example 1. These liquids are nonflammable and relatively easy to handle on an industrial scale, so it is thought that similar tests can be performed on mixtures of these liquids.

Example 4 In these cases, tetrachlorodifluoroethane, manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd. (trade name: Daiflon 32), trichlorotrifluoroethane (trade name: Guiflon S3), or a mixture thereof (product name: Daiflon S2-T) was used as the liquid. Also, the solar cell module could be inspected in the same manner as in Example 1. These liquids are nonflammable, relatively easy to handle industrially, and are highly safe. Furthermore, these liquids are effective in removing only the dirt and grime attached to the surface of the solar cell module, and are characterized in that they do not damage other module constituent materials.

Example 5 Some of the liquids used in Examples 1 to 4 have low boiling points and are expensive, so we used inexpensive organic solvents with relatively high boiling points such as n-butyl alcohol and toluene in a range that does not become flammable. Example 1 was carried out by using Guiflon S3 with a small amount of n-butyl alcohol added or Dicelon S3 with a small amount of toluene added as the liquid. When a similar test was conducted, it was found that the test could be easily carried out.Effects of the InventionAs described in detail in the embodiments, according to the present invention, the sealing quality of the solar cell module can be easily tested. Moreover, it can be carried out using a simple device.

In particular, when forming a single layer of solar cell modules, there is a process of bonding the metal foil to the glass substrate with a resin layer, but since it is possible to reliably inspect for adhesion failures that occur during this process, there is no risk of defective modules being released on the market. If an organic solvent is used in the liquid, metal foil (in many cases AI) can be used when forming solar cell modules.
It also has a cleaning effect in that dirt, flakes, etc. attached to the surface of the foil can be removed during the inspection process (although a thin resin film is attached to the outer surface).

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the present invention in detail;
The figure is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a solar cell module in which the present invention can be implemented. 9...Solar cell module, 10...Vacuum container, 11...Liquid, 12...Rubber stopper, 13...
...three-way cock, 14...bubbles

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A solar cell element and a solar cell module filled with air or gas are immersed in a liquid in a sealed container in a space surrounded by a glass substrate, metal foil, and a resin layer that adheres the two, 1. A method for inspecting a solar cell module, which comprises reducing the pressure inside a container and examining whether bubbles are generated from the solar cell module. (2) Claim 1 in which the liquid in the container is either carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, or a mixture thereof.
Inspection method for solar cell modules as described in section. (3) The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is a derivative of ethane or ethylene in which hydrogen is replaced with chlorine, such as trichlorethylene, perchlorethylene, or 1,1,1-trichloroethane, or a mixture of such derivatives. How to inspect battery modules. (4) The method for inspecting a solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is a derivative of ethane in which hydrogen is replaced with chlorine and fluorine, such as tetrachlorodifluoroethane or trichlorotrifluoroethane, or a mixture of derivatives thereof. (5) The method for inspecting a solar cell module according to any one of claims 2, 3, and 4, wherein the liquid is a mixture with an organic solvent such as n-butyl alcohol or toluene.