KR20110047713A

KR20110047713A - Solar cell apparatus

Info

Publication number: KR20110047713A
Application number: KR20090104454A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 박희선
Original assignee: 엘지이노텍 주식회사
Priority date: 2009-10-30
Filing date: 2009-10-30
Publication date: 2011-05-09

Abstract

PURPOSE: A photovoltaic power generating apparatus is provided to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency by arranging a solar panel on the sides of a guide panel and a transparent panel. CONSTITUTION: A photovoltaic power generating apparatus includes a guide panel(100) and a solar panel(200). The guide panel has a plate shape. The solar panel is arranged on the sides of the wave guide. The incident light to a wave guide is emitted through the side of the wave guide. The emitted sunlight is inputted to the solar cell and is converted into electric energy.

Description

SOLAR CELL APPARATUS {SOLAR CELL APPARATUS}

Embodiments relate to a photovoltaic device.

Photovoltaic modules that convert light energy into electrical energy using photoelectric conversion effects are widely used as a means of obtaining pollution-free energy that contributes to the preservation of the global environment.

As photovoltaic conversion efficiency of solar cells is improved, many solar power systems with photovoltaic modules have been installed as exterior materials for residential and commercial buildings.

The embodiment is to provide a photovoltaic device that can be used for the exterior walls and windows of buildings, using solar cells of a small area, the entire transmission area.

Photovoltaic device according to an embodiment includes a guide panel having a plate shape; And a solar cell panel disposed on a side of the wave guide.

The solar cell apparatus according to the embodiment arranges the solar cell panel on the side of the guide panel. Accordingly, a large portion of the sunlight incident through the upper surface of the guide panel is guided by the guide panel and is emitted through the side surface.

The emitted sunlight is converted into electrical energy by the solar cell panel. In this way, since the solar cell panel is disposed on the side surface of the guide panel, the entire upper surface of the guide panel becomes a transmission region.

Therefore, the photovoltaic device according to the embodiment substantially corresponds to the entire transmission region.

In addition, since the solar cell panel is disposed on the side of the guide panel, it has a very small area. Therefore, the solar cell apparatus according to the embodiment can be easily manufactured at low cost.

In addition, since the guide panel has a plate shape, the solar cell apparatus according to the embodiment has a substantially plate shape.

Therefore, the photovoltaic device according to the embodiment can be easily applied to the outer wall of the building, can be easily attached to the windows, itself, can also be used as windows.

In the description of the embodiments, each panel, wiring, battery, device, surface, or pattern is formed on or under the "on" of each pattern, wiring, battery, surface, or pattern. In the case described, "on" and "under" include both those that are formed "directly" or "indirectly" through other components. In addition, the upper or lower reference of each component is described with reference to the drawings. The size of each component in the drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of explanation and does not mean the size actually applied.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section taken along line AA ′ in FIG. 2.

1 to 3, the photovoltaic device according to the embodiment includes a guide panel 100, a plurality of solar cell panels 200, a connection wire 300, and a power storage device 400.

The guide panel 100 is transparent and has a plate shape. For example, the guide panel 100 may have a rectangular plate shape.

Examples of the material used for the guide panel 100 include glass or transparent polymer. More specifically, examples of the material used as the guide panel 100 include poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylonitrile styrene (AS), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (polycarbonate). PC, polyethersulfone (PES), polyamide (PA), polyesterimide (PEI), polymethylpentene (PMP), and the like.

The guide panel 100 may have a thickness of about 1 mm to about 10 cm. In more detail, the thickness of the guide panel 100 may be about 0.5 cm to about 2 cm.

The solar cell panels 200 are disposed on the side surface 110 of the guide panel 100. The solar cell panels 200 may surround the side surface 110 of the guide panel 100. For example, the guide panel 100 may include four side surfaces, and the solar cell panels 200 may be disposed on each of the side surfaces 110 of the guide panel 100.

Unlike this, the solar cell panels 200 may be disposed only on a part of the side surface 110 of the guide panel 100. That is, the solar cell panel may be disposed on each of only two side surfaces of the guide panel 100.

The solar cell panel 200 includes a solar cell. In addition, the solar cell panel 200 may further include a support substrate for supporting the solar cell.

The solar cell receives sunlight and converts it into electrical energy. The solar cell may be, for example, a CIGS solar cell, a silicon solar cell, a fuel-sensitized solar cell, a II-VI compound semiconductor solar cell, or a III-V compound semiconductor solar cell.

The connection wire 300 is connected to the solar cell panels 200. In addition, the connection wire 300 is connected to the power storage device 400. The connection wire 300 connects the solar cell panels 200 to each other, and transmits electrical energy generated from the solar cell panels 200 to the power storage device 400.

The electrical storage device 400 stores electrical energy generated from the solar cell panels 200. The power storage device 400 may include a circuit for rectifying the electrical energy.

Although not shown in the drawings, the photovoltaic device according to the embodiment may further include a frame for accommodating the solar cell panels 200 and the side surfaces 110 of the guide panel 100.

In addition, the solar cell apparatus according to the embodiment may further include a sealing member interposed between the frame and the guide panel 100. The sealing member may be interposed between the solar cell panel and the frame, and may prevent the solar cell panel from being exposed to foreign matters.

As shown in FIG. 2, the solar cell apparatus according to the embodiment may be used as a window or may be used as an exterior material of a building. At this time, the photovoltaic device according to the embodiment may be installed standing vertically.

As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the light incident at an angle to the guide panel 100 is guided by total reflection inside the guide panel 100. That is, some of the light incident at an angle to the guide panel 100 is totally reflected through the upper surface 120 and the lower surface 130 and is emitted through the side surface 110.

Thereafter, the guided light is emitted through the side surface 110 of the guide panel 100 and is incident on the solar cell panels 200. Light incident on the solar cell panels 200 is converted into electrical energy and stored in the power storage device 400.

As such, since the solar cell panel is disposed on the side surface 110 of the guide panel 100, the entire upper surface 120 of the guide panel 100 becomes a transmission area.

In addition, since the solar cell panel is disposed on the side surface 110 of the guide panel 100, the solar cell panel has a very small area. Therefore, the solar cell apparatus according to the embodiment can be easily manufactured at low cost.

In addition, since the guide panel 100 has a plate shape, the photovoltaic device according to the embodiment has a substantially plate shape.

In addition, since the solar cell included in the solar cell panel has a very small planar area, it can be easily manufactured to have high efficiency. For example, the solar cell may be manufactured to have a high efficiency of about 16 to 20% or more.

Therefore, the solar cell apparatus according to the embodiment can generate power by using a high efficiency solar cell, and thus has improved performance.

4 is a sectional view showing a solar cell apparatus according to another embodiment. In the present embodiment, the transparent panel 500 will be further described with reference to the above-described embodiment. Except for the changed part, the description of the above-described embodiment may be essentially combined with the description of the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the photovoltaic device according to the embodiment includes a transparent panel 500. The transparent panel 500 is disposed on the upper surface 120 of the guide panel 100. In more detail, the transparent panel 500 may be in close contact with the upper surface 120 of the guide panel 100.

The transparent panel 500 has a plate shape and is transparent. The transparent panel 500 may have a plate shape or a film shape.

Examples of the material used for the transparent panel 500 include glass or a transparent polymer. More specifically, examples of the material used for the transparent panel 500 include poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylonitrile styrene (AS), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate ( polycarbonate (PC), polyethersulfone (PES), polyamide (PA), polyesterimide (PEI) and polymethylpentene (PMP).

The transparent panel 500 may have a lower refractive index than the guide panel 100. Accordingly, since the transparent panel 500 has a refractive index between the guide panel 100 and air, the transparent panel 500 may perform a buffer function. That is, the transparent panel 500 may buffer a difference in refractive index between the guide panel 100 and air.

In addition, since the refractive index of the transparent panel 500 is lower than the refractive index of the guide panel 100, the light incident on the guide panel 100 causes the transparent panel 500 and the guide panel 100 to interface with each other. Induces total reflection at and may be guided to the solar cell panels 200.

The solar cell panels 200 are also disposed on side surfaces of the transparent panel 500.

As previously discussed, the photovoltaic device of this embodiment increases the amount of light incident on the guide panel 100 and makes total reflection easier. In addition, since the solar cell panel is also disposed on the side surface of the transparent panel, the solar cell apparatus according to the embodiment may have improved photoelectric conversion efficiency.

Similarly, the solar cell apparatus according to the present embodiment has a wide transmission area and can be used as a window or building exterior material.

In addition, the features, structures, effects and the like described in the embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to only one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, and the like illustrated in each embodiment may be combined or modified with respect to other embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these combinations and modifications.

Although the above description has been made based on the embodiments, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may not have been exemplified above without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiments. It will be appreciated that many variations and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment can be modified. And differences relating to such modifications and applications will have to be construed as being included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment.

3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section taken along line AA ′ in FIG. 2.

4 is a sectional view showing a solar cell apparatus according to another embodiment.

Claims

A guide panel having a plate shape; And

Photovoltaic device comprising a solar cell panel disposed on the side of the wave guide.

The solar cell apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave guide comprises transparent glass or transparent resin.

The solar cell apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave guide has a rectangular plate shape.

The photovoltaic device of claim 1, further comprising a transparent panel disposed on the guide panel and having a lower refractive index than the guide panel.

The solar cell apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transparent panel is in close contact with the guide panel.

The solar cell apparatus of claim 4, wherein the solar cell panel is disposed on a side surface of the transparent panel.