WO2019106234A1 - Intégration de photopiles dans des textiles - Google Patents

Intégration de photopiles dans des textiles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2019106234A1
WO2019106234A1 PCT/FI2018/050859 FI2018050859W WO2019106234A1 WO 2019106234 A1 WO2019106234 A1 WO 2019106234A1 FI 2018050859 W FI2018050859 W FI 2018050859W WO 2019106234 A1 WO2019106234 A1 WO 2019106234A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
textile
solar cell
layer
cell structure
colour
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2018/050859
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2019106234A8 (fr
Inventor
Janne HALME
Alpi RIMPPI
Sakari LEPIKKO
Sandra WIRTANEN
Eveliina RONKAINEN
Ilona HYÖTYLÄINEN
Anni LEHTOSALO
Jaana BEIDLER
Peter Lund
Tiina AARRAS
Original Assignee
Aalto-Korkeakoulusäätiö Sr
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aalto-Korkeakoulusäätiö Sr filed Critical Aalto-Korkeakoulusäätiö Sr
Publication of WO2019106234A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019106234A1/fr
Publication of WO2019106234A8 publication Critical patent/WO2019106234A8/fr

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • H02S30/10—Frame structures
    • 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 disclosure relates to the field of textiles, and more particularly to a textile - solar cell structure.
  • solar cells may be desirable to integrate solar cells to textiles, such as clothing, furniture, sails, and curtains.
  • Such integrated solar cells may be used, for example, to provide power and charge various devices, such as wireless sensors, wireless sensor network nodes, smart clothing products, or wearable electronic products such as smart watches.
  • a textile - solar cell structure comprises a textile layer and a solar cell layer, wherein the textile layer is configured to: receive visible light, VIS, and near infrared radiation, NIR, from a first side of the textile layer; optically mask the solar cell layer located on a second side of the textile layer by reflecting at least part of the VIS back to the first side of the textile layer; and transmit at least part of the NIR through the textile layer to the solar cell layer; and wherein the solar cell layer is configured to: receive the NIR transmitted through the textile layer; and convert the received NIR to an electrical current. Since the textile layer can optically mask the solar cell layer, the solar cell layer can become invisible or at least difficult to distinguish when viewed from the first side of the textile layer. Meanwhile, the solar cell layer can generate electrical power using at least the NIR that is passed through the textile layer.
  • the textile layer comprises a VIS transmittance wherein the is sufficiently low so the solar
  • the cell layer is indistinguishable for a human eye when viewed from the first side of the textile layer.
  • the is less than 10 percent.
  • the textile layer comprises: a first VIS re- flectance and a first VIS transmittance and
  • the solar cell layer comprises: a second VIS reflectance and wherein the is sufficiently large
  • the optical power reflected by the solar cell layer to the first side may be approximately proportional to
  • the textile layer may efficiently optically mask the solar cell layer, when this power is low compared to the optical power reflected by the textile layer.
  • the textile layer is located on a first side of the solar cell layer, and wherein the textile - solar cell structure further comprises a background layer located on a second side of the solar cell layer, wherein a colour of the background layer is substantially similar to a colour of the solar cell layer. This may reduce visibility of the solar cell, since contrast between the solar cell and the back- ground material may be reduced.
  • an international commission on illumination, CIE, ⁇ E colour difference is less than 2.0 between the colour of the background layer and the colour of the solar cell layer. This may provide a low contrast be tween the solar cell and the background material.
  • the textile layer comprises a first NIR trans- mittance and wherein the is sufficiently large so that the solar cell layer is able to generate the electric current.
  • the solar cell layer may be able to generate electrical power using the NIR, while the solar cell layer may not be visible to the first side of the textile layer.
  • the textile - solar cell structure further com prises an intermediate layer located between the textile layer and the solar cell layer.
  • the intermediate layer may amplify the optical masking effect of the solar cell layer due to the distance that the intermediate layer adds between the textile layer and the solar cell layer.
  • the intermediate layer is further configured to scatter the VIS transmitted through the textile layer.
  • the scattering may further amplify the optical masking of the solar cell layer.
  • the textile layer is further configured to scat ter the VIS transmitted through the textile layer.
  • the scattering may further amplify the optical masking of the solar cell layer.
  • the textile - solar cell structure further com prises: an outer layer located on the first side of the textile layer.
  • the outer layer may, for example, protect the textile layer and the solar cell layer from mechan ical tear and wear.
  • the textile - solar cell structure further com prises: a structural support layer configured to support the solar cell layer.
  • the mechanical support layer may, for example, prevent unwanted flexing of the solar cell layer .
  • the textile layer further comprises a diffuse transmittance and a specular transmittance, and wherein the diffuse transmittance is greater than the specular transmittance.
  • the tex tile layer may efficiently optically mask the solar cell layer.
  • the solar cell layer further comprises at least one of: monocrystalline silicon; polycrystalline sili con; copper indium gallium selenide; gallium arsenide; germanium; and cadmium telluride. With these materials, the solar cell layer may efficiently convert the NIR to the electrical current.
  • a textile product comprises the textile - solar cell structure according to the first aspect.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a textile - solar cell structure according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a textile - solar cell structure according to another embodiment
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a textile - solar cell structure according to another embodiment
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of a textile - solar cell structure according to another embodiment
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic representation of a bifacial textile - solar cell structure according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic representation of a bifacial textile - solar cell structure according to another embodiment
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic representation of a bifacial textile - solar cell structure according to another embodiment
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of a bifacial textile - solar cell structure according to another embodiment
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic representation of an encapsulate textile - solar cell structure ac cording to an embodiment
  • Fig. 10 illustrates a schematic representation an encapsulate textile - solar cell structure of ac cording to another embodiment
  • FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic representation of an encapsulate textile - solar cell structure ac cording to another embodiment
  • Fig. 12 illustrates a schematic representation of an encapsulate textile - solar cell structure ac- cording to another embodiment
  • Fig. 13 illustrates a schematic representation of a quantum efficiency according to an embodiment
  • Fig. 14 illustrates a schematic representation of the spectral sensitivity of a human eye and a crys- talline silicon solar cell
  • Fig. 15 illustrates a schematic representation of energy generation performance of a textile-covered solar cell according to an embodiment
  • Fig. 16 illustrates a schematic representation of transmittance spectra of various textiles according to an embodiment
  • FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic representation of transmittance spectra of various textiles according to another embodiment
  • Fig. 18 illustrates a schematic representation of transmittance spectra of various textiles according to another embodiment
  • Fig. 19 illustrates a schematic representation of a table of textile properties according to an embod iment ;
  • Fig. 20 illustrates a schematic representation of a table of textile properties according to another embodiment
  • Fig. 21 illustrates a schematic representation of a table of textile properties according to another embodiment.
  • Fig. 22 illustrates a schematic representation of a table of textile properties according to another embodiment .
  • a disclo sure in connection with a described method may also hold true for a corresponding device or system configured to perform the method and vice versa.
  • a corresponding de vice may include a unit to perform the described method step, even if such unit is not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures.
  • a corresponding method may include a step performing the described functionality, even if such step is not explicitly described or illustrated in the figures.
  • the features of the various example aspects described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically noted oth erwise .
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a textile - solar cell structure 100 according to an embodiment .
  • the textile - solar cell structure comprises a textile layer 101 and a solar cell layer 102.
  • the textile layer 101 is configured to receive visible light, VIS, and near infrared radiation, NIR, from a first side of the textile layer 101 and optically mask the solar cell layer 102 located on a second side of the textile layer 101 by reflecting at least part of the VIS back to the first side of the textile layer 101.
  • the textile layer 101 is further configured to transmit at least part of the NIR through the textile layer 101 to the solar cell layer 102.
  • the solar cell layer 102 is configured to receive the NIR transmitted through the textile layer 101 and convert the received NIR to an electrical current.
  • the solar cell layer 102 may also be configured to convert VIS passed through the textile layer 101 into an electric current.
  • the solar cell layer 102 may also be configured to convert ultraviolet radiation passed through the tex tile layer 101 into an electric current.
  • the term "textile” may refer to a flex ible material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres, such as yarn or thread.
  • the wavelength of VIS may be defined to be from 380 nanometres (nm) to 700 nm.
  • the wavelength of NIR may be defined to be from 700 nm to 1400 nm .
  • the textile layer 101 may also be referred to as a "primary textile layer” or simply as "textile”.
  • the solar cell layer 102 may also be referred to as a "solar cell”, “solar cells”, or as a "cell”.
  • the textile layer 101 may have high reflectance in the visible (VIS) wavelength region and high trans mittance in the near infrared (NIR) region. This way, visible light is effectively used to produce colours and patterns viewed and appreciated by an observer, whereas the NIR light, which is invisible to human eye, is ef fectively transmitted to the underlying solar cell where it gets absorbed and produces electricity.
  • the solar cell used in this solution would be selected among the types that are sensitive to the NIR radiation. Suitable solar cells include, but are not restricted to, single- and multi-crystalline silicon and CIGS solar cells.
  • the sufficient level of transmittance of the cover textile depends on how much electrical power the solar cell needs to generate in a certain application, for example it depends on the power and energy needs of the wearable or textile-integrated electronics that the solar cell is used for. It also depends on the efficiency and surface area of the used solar cell, as well as on the light irradiance levels available at the use condi tions.
  • the solution works well because in textile-inte grated solar cell applications functionality is more important than energy conversion efficiency, and there fore some of the electricity generation capacity of the solar cell can be sacrificed in favour of better func tionality, in this case textile-like look and feel.
  • the textile - solar cell structure 100 may be utilised in, for example, smart textiles, smart cloth ing, smart furniture and interior textiles, smart out- door textiles, sails with integrated solar cells cur tains, and textile covered toys.
  • the textile layer 101 can provide same func tions as textiles in general.
  • visual ap pearance such as colours, shapes, patterns, texture
  • visual information such as text, figures, graphics
  • physical feel for touch sensation
  • softness roughness
  • smoothness smoothness
  • fluffiness fluffiness
  • the textile layer 101 reflects at least part of the visible light to produce colour and to optically mask the underlying solar cell, so that the solar cell becomes invisible, or at least difficult to distinguish.
  • the textile layer 101 may have colour. The col our may be selected considering the colour of the un derlying solar cell to improve the masking effect.
  • the colour of the textile layer 101 can be formed for example by the layer reflecting, absorbing, scattering, refract ing, re-emitting, or redirecting in some means, part of the visible light incident on it, thereby affecting the spectral composition of light observed by the person looking at the textile - solar cell structure 100.
  • the colour is ideally formed in means that do not involve absorption of light in the primary textile layer.
  • the col our is formed by reflection, refraction, interference, or by photonic crystal structures.
  • the said structures can be in the textile fibres, or they can be the result of the textile structure (geometrical arrangement of the textile fibres with respect to each other in space) .
  • the colour may have been formed in the textile 101 by using coloured material in the fabrication of the textile, colouring the textile after fabrication of the textile, for example, by dying the textile, or deposit ing coloured, or colour-forming, materials on the tex tile by printing or other means of deposition or at- tachment.
  • the colour may have been formed in the textile 101 by removing colour forming materials from the tex tile 101, for example by bleaching, structuring the tex tile 101, for example by embossing, stamping, laser pro- cessing.
  • the colour of the layer may be fixed or vari able.
  • the colour may change by user interaction, such as pressing or stretching or touching the layer.
  • the colour may change due to some action that requires electricity, for example, by electrochromic reaction, where the electricity is produced by the un derlying solar cell 102.
  • the produced electricity may be used as information on the changed colour state of the electrochromic textile, for example, to stabilize the changed colour, using a feed-back control.
  • the textile layer 101 can act as an optical filter in case the solar cell is used as a photodetector or colour meter.
  • the textile layer 101 transmits at least part of the light through to the underlying solar cell.
  • the reflectance and transmittance of the tex tile layer 101 may be spectrally selective. Ideally is spectrally selective in such a way that it reflects visible light (ideally all) and transmits non-visible light (ideally all, especially near-IR light) .
  • the textile layer 101 may be light-scattering to amplify the optical masking of the solar cell. This effect may be in combination with possible masking due to the intermediate layer 103.
  • the textile layer 101 may incorporate smart textile functionalities. For example, electrical con duction, heating, touch sensing, light emission, water- repellence, water-proofness , breathability (water va pour transmission) , UV protection (blocking) , and elec- tromagnetic interactions.
  • the textile layer 101 may comprise any textile material and textile structures that have the above properties.
  • the textile material can be made of for example man-made fibres or natural fibres or combina tions with different finishing (water and dirt repel lent, water repellent or water proof coatings or lami nations) .
  • the textile structure can be for example wo ven, non-woven, knitted, or bonded sandwich fabrics.
  • the solar cell layer 102 absorbs light and con verts it to electricity.
  • the solar cell layer 102 may have bifacial operation capability, i.e. can absorb light from both sides.
  • the electricity may be used for example as energy to run electrical function in an ap plication, or stored in an energy storage components for later use.
  • the electricity may be used for example as a measurement signal bearing information related to the light absorbed by the solar cell 102 (as in photodiodes, spectroscopy, optical telecommunication, or other ap plications based on detection of electromagnetic radi ation that is visible or invisible to the human eye) .
  • the solar cell 102 can be used as an ultraviolet, UV, visible light, VIS, or near infrared radiation, NIR, light sensor.
  • the solar cell 102 can be used as a colour sensor using coloured front textiles as colour filters.
  • the solar cell layer 102 can be black, white or have any colour. The colour may be selected taking into account the colour of the textile layer 101 to improve the optical masking effect or to contribute to the overall aesthetic design of the textile - solar cell structure 100.
  • the solar cell layer 102 may provide mechanical rigidity to the textile structure. This may be useful or in some textile applications. For example, the solar cell layer 102 can provide mechanical support for the primary textile layer 101 in case when the primary tex tile 101 incorporates touch sensing elements such as textile button, slider, keyboard or touch panel func tionalities .
  • the solar cell 102 can provide electrical en- ergy for powering the said touch sensing functionali ties.
  • the solar cell 102 can be of any type.
  • the solar cell is ideally sensitive to non-visible light, especially near-IR light. This way it may utilize more light that is transmitted through the textile layers 101 in front of it.
  • the solar cell layer 102 may comprise, for ex ample, monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon and copper indium gallium selenide, CIGS.
  • the solar cell layer 102 further comprises at least one of: monocrys talline silicon; polycrystalline silicon; and copper indium gallium selenide; gallium arsenide; germanium; and cadmium telluride.
  • the solar cell maybe insensitive to NIR light, but still function, if some UV or visible light is transmitted through the textile layers 101 in front of it.
  • the solar cell layer 102 may comprise, for example, amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, CdTe, organic, dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells.
  • the optical masking effect is reached by selecting the colour and other optical properties of the textile lay ers 101 in front of the solar cell 102 so that the solar cell becomes indistinguishable.
  • the solar cell 102 can be rigid, flexible, con- formable, or stretchable to improve the overall textile like performance, look and feel.
  • the solar cell 102 can be itself a textile.
  • the solar cell 102 may have been formed by knitting, weaving, sewing, gluing, laminating, or fab- ricating by other textile fabrication methods, threads, fibres, tapes, strips or other textile fabric elements that have itself solar cell functionality.
  • the solar cell may have been deposited, coated or laminated onto a textile that functions as a substrate or superstrate for the solar cell 102.
  • the solar cell 102 may have been fabricated using a textile layer as one structural and/or functional components in the solar cell struc ture.
  • the solar cell 102 may have been fabricated by attaching (for example depositing) layers of solar cell materials to both sides of a textile.
  • the solar cell 102 may be protected by suitable encapsulation or lamination in the fabrication process of the solar cell - textile structure 100.
  • the solar cell 102 may be replaced by a solar module, that consist of more than one, for example two, three, four, or any number of individual solar cells, connected together electrically in series or in paral lel, to increase the current and/or voltage output of the solar cell - textile 100.
  • the individual solar cells need not be in the same plane, but can be positioned in any geometrical configuration with respect to each other, allowed by flexibility and/or stretchability of the textile layers in-between them.
  • the solution has for example the following ben efits.
  • the solar cells 102 are hidden from the direct view by the observer, either completely or partially, which allows them to blend-in to the overall visual design of the textile, instead of being visually obtru sive .
  • the textile layer 101 in front of the solar cell layer 102 protects the solar cell from mechanical tear and wear.
  • the textile fabric can be continuous and uniform (seamless) , which improves the aesthetics, feel, and durability, and may even lower the manufacturing costs.
  • the textile 101 can be coloured and patterned independently from the colour and shape of the solar cells, which helps blend the solar cells in the overall design, in case the front fabric is visibly semi- trans parent .
  • the textile coloration and pattern design can be tailored according to the colour and dimensions of the solar cells 102, which are usually fixed by the solar cell manufacturer' s selection, to accommodate them as part of the overall design.
  • black solar cell 102 can be made to appear red by covering it with red textile 101
  • a red solar cell 102 can be made to appear made pink by covering it with blue textile 101
  • two solar cells 102 with different colours can be made to appear to have similar colour, by covering them with textile 101 of suitable opposite colour (to match same RGB colour coordinates)
  • the edges of the solar cells 102, covered by visibly semi-transparent textile 101 can be made less easy to distinguish, by having the front textile 101 change colour right at the solar cell edge, so that colour of the result appears to be continuous over the edge.
  • the image of the solar cell 102 when viewed through a semi-transparent front textile can be made diffuse by placing the solar cell 102 at a distance from the front textile 101 that is somewhat light scattering. This further helps the solar cell become less distin guishable.
  • the effect is the same as in frosted glass used e.g. in bathroom windows and walls, or in shower curtains.
  • An ideal solar cell cover textile 101 utiliz ing this effect would have high diffuse transmittance but low specular (direct) transmittance. The farther the solar cell 102 is from the front textile, the stronger is the blurring effect.
  • Specular transmittance may be defined to be the ratio of the power carried by electromagnetic radiation which emerges from a body and is parallel to a beam entering the body, to the power carried by the beam entering the body.
  • Parallel may be defined using a max imum angle. Angles smaller than the maximum angle may be defined to be parallel to the beam. Such maximum angle may be, for example, 4 degrees.
  • Diffuse transmittance may be defined to be the ratio of the power carried by electromagnetic radiation which emerges from a body and is non-parallel to a beam entering the body, to the power carried by the beam entering the body.
  • Non-parallel may be defined using a minimum angle. Angles larger than the minimum angle may be defined to be non-parallel to the beam. Such minimum angle may be, for example, 4 degrees.
  • the textile layer 101 further comprises a diffuse transmittance and a specular transmittance.
  • the diffuse transmittance can be greater than the specular transmittance.
  • High-efficiency solar cells (silicon, CIGS) covered with semi-transparent colorful textiles are more efficient and durable than competing solutions based on inherently colorful dye-sensitized and organic solar cells that are often envisioned for textile-inte gration, but in practice have only a limited range of colour options, and low efficiency and durability.
  • the present structure thus allows realizing more efficient and durable coloured solar cells, in the context of textile integration, compared to dye-sensitized and organic solar cells.
  • the solution still uses non-textile like solar cells 102 that may have limited flexibility and stretchability, this can be mitigated by placing the solar cell 102 in parts of the textile where great flexibility or stretchability is not needed.
  • the solar cells 102 can be integrated into textiles as laminated tape, or as tape seams.
  • the tape provides practical integration solution using existing manufacturing techniques.
  • the tapes are already familiar to the users as thicker and stiffer parts of the fabric, and are placed in the textile product to places that can naturally accommodate thick and stiff structures, such as flexible solar cells.
  • the textile layer 101 comprises: a first VIS reflectance and a first VIS transmittance
  • the solar cell layer 102 may
  • the may be sufficiently large compared to
  • the solar cell is indistinguishable to a human eye when viewed from the first side of the textile layer.
  • the textile layer 101 comprises a VIS transmittance wherein the
  • the solar cell layer 102 is sufficiently low so the solar cell layer 102 is indistinguishable for a human eye when viewed from the first side of the textile layer 101.
  • the is less than 10 percent (%) . According to another embodiment, the is less than 5 %.
  • the textile layer 101 comprises a first VIS reflectance and the so
  • lar cell layer 102 comprises a second VIS reflectance
  • The may be sufficiently large compared to so that the textile layer 101 - solar cell layer 102 combination appears significantly brighter (has higher luminosity) when viewed from the first side of the textile layer 101, compared to what the same solar cell 102 would appear without the textile layer 101.
  • the difference in the visible reflectance of the textile and the cell is at least 30 %, for example between 30 % and 90%, where 0 % refers to fully black and 100 % to fully whit e.
  • 0 % refers to fully black and 100 % to fully whit e.
  • 10 % an almost black cell
  • 50 % e.g. a grey or col oured solar cell with medium colour brightness
  • the difference is at least 30 %, for example between 30 % and 90%. can be between 35 % and 95 % when is less than 5 %, or between 40 % and 95 % when is less than 10 %,or can be between
  • the textile layer 101 comprises a first NIR transmittance The can be sufficiently large so that the solar cell
  • layer 102 is able to generate the electric current.
  • the textile layer 101 is further configured to scatter the VIS transmitted through the textile layer 101.
  • the textile layer 101 may therefore be also configured to scatter any VIS that is transmitted through the textile layer 101.
  • Such light may be, for example, light reflected from the solar cell layer 102.
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprising an intermediate layer 103 according to an em- bodiment .
  • the textile - so lar cell structure 100 further comprises an intermedi ate layer 103 located between the textile layer 101 and the solar cell layer 102.
  • the intermediate layer 103 may be further configured to scatter the VIS transmitted through the textile layer 101.
  • the intermediate may therefore be also configured to scatter any VIS that is transmitted through the intermediate layer 103.
  • Such light may be, for example, light reflected from the solar cell layer 102.
  • the intermediate layer 103 separates the tex tile layer 101 from the solar cell 102 with a distance.
  • the separation can amplify the optical masking effect by blurring the image of the solar cell 102.
  • the sepa ration distance may be selected to increase or decrease the blurring effect.
  • the distance can be fixed or var iable.
  • the distance can be varied by user actions such as pressing or stretching the layer, so that it results in a change in the visual appearance of the solar cell - textile structure.
  • the user action can be purposeful or happen without specific purpose. For example, it can happen spontaneously as the user moves.
  • the intermediate layer 103 may serve the same functions as the primary textile layer 101, but improve the overall result. It can be amplifying the optical masking, and/or improving the overall aesthetic design and/or feel (touch sensation, softness, etc.)
  • the in termediate layer 103 may have any colour. The colour may be selected taking into account the colour of the un derlying solar cell 102 and the primary textile layer 101, to improve the overall result (optical masking of the solar cell and aesthetic design and feel) .
  • the intermediate layer 103 transmits at least part of the light to the underlying solar cell.
  • the intermediate layer 103 may be spectrally selective: re flects visible light (ideally all) , transmits non-vis- ible light (ideally all, especially near-IR light) .
  • the intermediate layer 103 can additionally attach the primary textile layer 101 and the solar cell 102 together.
  • the intermediate layer 103 can be smart or functional textile layer (see above) .
  • the intermediate layer 103 can comprise, for example, air, foam, polymer, or cellulose.
  • the interme- diate layer 103 can comprise, for example, glue, hot- melt polymer, double-sided tape.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a textile - solar cell structure 100 further com prising an outer layer 104 according to an embodiment.
  • the textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprises an outer layer 104 located on the first side of the textile layer 101.
  • the outer layer 104 can be, for example, an additional outer textile layer.
  • the outer layer 104 may have same functionalities as the primary textile layer 101 and the intermediate layer 103, thereby amplifying those functionalities.
  • the outer layer 104 may comprise a water-proof outer textile layer.
  • the outer layer 104 may comprise a textile layer or a secondary textile layer, such as water proof layer etc.
  • the outer layer 104 can be smart or functional textile layer (see above) .
  • the outer layer 104 can com prise an optional substrate the textile is adhered to.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic representation of a textile - solar cell structure 100 further com prising a structural support layer 105 according to an embodiment .
  • the textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprises a structural sup- port layer 105 configured to support the solar cell layer 102.
  • the structural support layer 105 may comprise an optional substrate the textile is adhered to.
  • the structural support layer 105 can be, for example, wood, glass, table, wall, concrete, plastic, metal, furniture, or other material that the solar cell - textile structure is attached to or placed over.
  • the structural support layer 105 can be, for example, another textile used as a support or substrate.
  • the structural support layer 105 may comprise, for ex ample, clothing, sail, curtain, canopy, tent, bag, back pack, wrapping, package, or any other textile.
  • the structural support layer 105 may comprise a support layer for the solar cell 102, like a strip of metal foil.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic representation of a bifacial textile - solar cell structure 100 ac cording to an embodiment.
  • the solar cell 102 may be a bifacial solar cell, meaning a solar cell that can absorb and convert to electricity light from both the upper and lower side of the cell 102.
  • the solar cell - textile 100 can be used so that either the upper or the lower side receives light, or in such a way that both sides receive light simultaneously. This may improve the user experi ence, and/or increase energy production by the solar cell 102. This may be important in the latter sense for example for integration into sails, or other vertical structures outdoors, or tilted or horizontal position when there is significant amount of light reflected from the ground, water, snow, or other planes below the plane of the solar cell.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic representation of a bifacial textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprising an intermediate layer 103 according to an embodiment .
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic representation of a bifacial textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprising an outer layer 104 according to an embodi- ment .
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of a bifacial textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprising a structural support layer 105 according to an embodiment .
  • any features of the textile layer 101, the so lar cell layer 102, the intermediate layer 103, the outer layer 104, or the structural support layer 105 disclosed herein in relation to any embodiment may also apply to the embodiments of Fig. 5 - Fig. 8.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic representation of an encapsulate textile - solar cell structure 100 according to an embodiment.
  • the textile layer 101 can surround the solar cell layer 101 and/or the other layers around the edges of the said layers. This can be achieved by wrapping, sowing, knitting, laminating, or by other textile manufacturing methods, one of more textile layers to gether or to itself.
  • the solar cell layer 102 and/or the other tex tile layers can be alternatively embedded inside a con- tinuous textile layers, that is manufactured for example by knitting, or other textile fabrication methods.
  • the textile layer 101 is located on a first side of the solar cell layer 102.
  • the textile - solar cell structure 100 can fur- ther comprise a background layer located on a second side of the solar cell layer 102.
  • a colour of the background layer can be substantially similar to a colour of the solar cell layer 102.
  • the background layer may comprise any layer disclosed herein or the background layer may be any other layer.
  • the background layer may be comprise, for example, a textile layer.
  • a colour may be described using RGB compo nents ⁇ R,G,B ⁇ , where the components refer to red, green, and blue, respectively. Each components may be normalised between 0 and 1.
  • Substantially similar colours may be defined, for example, using Euclidian distance of the colours:
  • index 1 refers to the first colour
  • index 2 refers to the second colour
  • the Euclidian dis tance between the colour of the solar cell layer 102 and the colour of the background layer is less than 0.1. In another embodiment, the Euclidian distance is less than 0.2. In another embodiment, the Euclidian distance is less than 0.3. In another embodiment, the Euclidian distance is less than 0.5. In another embodiment, the Euclidian distance is less than 0.8. These values refer to the case, when the RGB components are normalised between 0 and 1.
  • an international commission on illumination, CIE, DE colour difference is less than 2.0 between the colour of the background layer and the colour of the solar cell layer 102.
  • AE may be less than 3.5. According to another embodiment, AE may be less than 5.0. According to another embodiment, AE may be less than 10.0. According to another embodiment, AE may be less than 20.0.
  • AE is a metric for understanding how the human eye perceives color difference. On a typical scale, the A E value ranges from 0 to 100. AE may be defined, us ing, for example, CIE76 or CIE94 formulas.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic representation of an encapsulate textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprising an intermediate layer 103 according to an embodiment.
  • FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic representation of an encapsulate textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprising an outer layer 104 according to an embodiment .
  • FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic representation of an encapsulate textile - solar cell structure 100 further comprising a structural support layer 105 ac- cording to an embodiment.
  • any features of the textile layer 101, the so lar cell layer 102, the intermediate layer 103, the outer layer 104, or the structural support layer 105 disclosed herein in relation to any embodiment may also apply to the embodiments of Fig. 9 - Fig. 12.
  • the solar cell - textile structure 100 may be additionally en closed inside an outer encapsulation layer to protect the solar cell, or the other layers, from moisture, oxygen mechanical stress, or other external stresses that, without such encapsulation, could compromise the functionality or shorten the functional lifetime of the solar cell - textile structure.
  • the encapsulation may additionally have some, or all the functionalities of the textile layer 101, the intermediate layer 103 and the outer layer 104 described in the embodiments.
  • the encapsulation layer can have colours, textures, patterns, or shapes, that visually mask the underlying solar cell 102, while transmitting some light, for example NIR light, to the underlying solar cell 102.
  • the encapsulation may also contain graphical information or text.
  • the solar cell - textile structure 100 can be surrounded by the encapsulation material. This can improve the durability of the struc ture, for example make it washable.
  • the only material going through the encapsulation layer may be one or more of the textile layers in the structure.
  • Fig. 13 illustrates a schematic representation of a quantum efficiency 1300 according to an embodiment.
  • Fig. 13 shows spectral external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurement of a monocrystalline silicon solar cell when it was covered with a textile layer.
  • EQE may also be referred to as incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) .
  • IPCE incident photon to current efficiency
  • the quantum efficiency is high, up to 50 %, especially in the near-infrared (NIR) region that can be utilized efficiency by a monocrys talline silicon solar cell.
  • the quantum efficiency is less in the visible region (VIS) , because part of the visible light is reflected or absorbed by the textile, producing the observed colour of the textile.
  • the dip at 450 nm is due to an absorption peak by the dye in the textile .
  • Fig. 14 illustrates a schematic representation of spectral sensitivity 1400 of human eye and a crys talline silicon solar cell according to an embodiment.
  • Fig. 14 shows a spectral comparison of the sunlight spectrum (AM15.G), spectral response (external quantum efficiency) of a monocrystalline silicon solar cell, and the spectral photopic sensitivity curve of the human eye. It can be seen from the figure that the human the silicon solar cell is highly efficiency in the near- infrared (NIR) region from 700 nanometre (nm) to 1000 nm, which is invisible to the human eye.
  • NIR near- infrared
  • a monocrystalline silicon solar cell could be covered with a spectrally selective textile that reflects the visible light (400 nm - 700 nm) , but transmits the NIR light to the underlying solar cell that could convert it efficiently to electricity.
  • Fig. 15 shows the energy generation performance 1500 of a monocrystalline a silicon solar cell when it was covered with various textiles, compared to the per formance of the same solar cell without a textile in front of it. It can be seen that in all the cases the solar cell still produces electricity when covered with a textile layer. The relative performance depends on the structure, thickness, material, and colour darkness of the used textile.
  • Fig. 16 shows the spectral transmittance 1600 of selected solar cell cover textiles of different col- our and materials according to an embodiment.
  • Vertical axis shows the transmittance (%) and horizontal axis shows the light wavelength (nm) .
  • NIR near-infrared
  • the high and wavelength-independent transmittance in the NIR region is due to relatively weak reflection and/or absorption of NIR light by the textile.
  • the reflection and/or ab sorption of NIR light depends on the structure and ma- terial of the textile.
  • the much lower transmittance in the visible region is due to additional reflection and/or absorption of light by the colour pigments in the textile. Because the colour pigments reflect and/or ab sorb light only, or mainly, in the visible region, they do not affect the transmission of light through the textile in the NIR region. For example, we can see in the figure that there are several textiles that have almost zero, for example 5 %, transmittance in some part of the visible region (400 - 700 nm) , but much higher, for example 40 % transmittance in the NIR region.
  • coloured textiles can be used as spectrally selective solar cell covers that have intense colour in the visible region, thus rendering the underlying solar cell invisible or indistinguishable from the textile, while transmitting significant amount of NIR light through the textile to the solar cell that can then convert it to electricity.
  • Fig. 17 illustrates a schematic representation of transmittance spectra 1700.
  • Left part of Fig. 17 shows another collection of transmittance spectra of candidate solar cell cover fabrics.
  • Vertical axis shows the transmittance (%) and horizontal axis shows the light wavelength (nm) .
  • Many of the textiles have high NIR light transmittance and lower, colour-dependent vis ible light transmittance, again certifying these tex tiles as suitable spectrally selective cover textiles for visually masking solar cell that are placed under neath them.
  • the bar plot on the right shows the short- circuit current density in milliamperes per square cen timetre (mA cm -2 ) produced by a monocrystalline silicon solar cell when it was placed under the same cover tex tiles as in the left of Fig. 17.
  • the long bar, corre sponding to value of ca . 38 mA cm -2 is the result of an uncovered solar cell, whereas the shorter bars show re sults of textile-covered solar cells.
  • the textiles in question had intense col ours, or were almost white by appearance, which however, cannot be seen from the embedded photograph on the upper righthand corner of the figure, because only black and white images can be used here.
  • Fig. 18 shows spectral transmittance 1800 of different thermoplastic polyurethane films according to an embodiment.
  • very high, more than 80 % transmittance is seen in the NIR region, and lower, colour-dependent transmittance in the visible region.
  • These cases corresponded to cover plastics that allowed the underlying solar cell to generate electricity at high rate while visually masking them thanks to the colours produced by the pigments in the plastic, which absorbed light only in the visible wavelength region.
  • Fig. 19, Fig. 20, Fig. 21, and Fig. 22 illus trate tables 1900, 2000, 2100, and 2100 comprising sum mary of a broad range of solar cell cover textiles meas- ured and analysed for their performance in different ways, when acting as a cover textiles for monocrystal line silicon solar cells.
  • the tables 1900, 2000, 2100, and 2100 comprise columns textile sample ID number 1901, energy conversion efficiency 1902, short-circuit current density JSC
  • VA 100 %— VT - VR.
  • the Sun Jacket could charge a smart- watch in 30 min under full sunlight (*at full sunlight (100 mW/cm 2 ) assuming the smart watch has a typical 1 watthour (Wh) battery, and there are 20 % circuit losses .
  • the solar cell containing part of the jacket can be removed, which is useful if the rest of the jacket needs to be washed -
  • Energy harvesting circuit with USB converts conditions the DC electricity from the solar cell suit able for the battery
  • the solar cells had 12 % efficiency without a textile cover and 7.5 % efficiency when covered with the textile, which means that the textile fabric preserved 63 % of the efficiency, while optically masking the solar cells from the view.
  • Maximum power of prototype device was estimated to be 4 W (170 mW/cell * 24 cells) for plain cells and 2.5 W for tex tile-covered cells.

Landscapes

  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une structure de type photopile-textile (100). La structure de type photopile-textile (100) comprend une couche textile (101) et une couche de photopile (102). La couche textile (101) peut réfléchir la lumière visible tout en laissant un rayonnement proche infrarouge la traverser pour atteindre la couche de photopile (102). La couche textile (101) peut masquer optiquement la couche de photopile (102), et la couche de photopile (102) peut produire un courant électrique à partir du rayonnement proche infrarouge. L'invention concerne une structure de type photopile-textile (100).
PCT/FI2018/050859 2017-11-28 2018-11-27 Intégration de photopiles dans des textiles WO2019106234A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20176068 2017-11-28
FI20176068 2017-11-28

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2019106234A1 true WO2019106234A1 (fr) 2019-06-06
WO2019106234A8 WO2019106234A8 (fr) 2019-07-25

Family

ID=66664750

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI2018/050859 WO2019106234A1 (fr) 2017-11-28 2018-11-27 Intégration de photopiles dans des textiles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2019106234A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202021104881U1 (de) 2021-09-09 2021-10-07 Rüdiger Schloo Mobile umzuhängende Solarzellen für Smartphones und andere transportable Elektro- sowie elektronische Geräte

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009133336A2 (fr) * 2008-05-02 2009-11-05 Power Textiles Limited Améliorations de textiles ou relatives à des textiles incorporant des cellules photovoltaïques
US20130168381A1 (en) * 2012-01-03 2013-07-04 Reena Srivastava Heat generating article and method of manufacturing same
JP2014038980A (ja) * 2012-08-20 2014-02-27 Fuji Electric Co Ltd 太陽電池付き衣類
CN104665049A (zh) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-03 朱留平 适用于冬天穿着的纳米功能面料保暖服装
US20150171249A1 (en) * 2008-10-31 2015-06-18 Dow Corning Corporation Photovoltaic cell module and method of forming
WO2016149207A1 (fr) * 2015-03-13 2016-09-22 The North Face Apparel Corp. Systèmes de récupération d'énergie, stockage d'énergie, et systèmes et procédés associés

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009133336A2 (fr) * 2008-05-02 2009-11-05 Power Textiles Limited Améliorations de textiles ou relatives à des textiles incorporant des cellules photovoltaïques
US20150171249A1 (en) * 2008-10-31 2015-06-18 Dow Corning Corporation Photovoltaic cell module and method of forming
US20130168381A1 (en) * 2012-01-03 2013-07-04 Reena Srivastava Heat generating article and method of manufacturing same
JP2014038980A (ja) * 2012-08-20 2014-02-27 Fuji Electric Co Ltd 太陽電池付き衣類
CN104665049A (zh) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-03 朱留平 适用于冬天穿着的纳米功能面料保暖服装
WO2016149207A1 (fr) * 2015-03-13 2016-09-22 The North Face Apparel Corp. Systèmes de récupération d'énergie, stockage d'énergie, et systèmes et procédés associés

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202021104881U1 (de) 2021-09-09 2021-10-07 Rüdiger Schloo Mobile umzuhängende Solarzellen für Smartphones und andere transportable Elektro- sowie elektronische Geräte

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2019106234A8 (fr) 2019-07-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN106415334B (zh) 太阳能光伏组件
CN105144397B (zh) 太阳能光伏模块
CN106233168B (zh) 红外透射盖板
JP7489123B2 (ja) 選択可能にアクティブ電磁エネルギーフィルタリング層を実装するオブジェクトを製造するためのシステム及び方法
US8826607B2 (en) Photovoltaic roofing elements and roofs using them
JP2021501479A (ja) ソーラーモジュール
US10767965B2 (en) Adaptive camouflage device, system, method and camouflage apparatus
US20100282241A1 (en) Solar collector
JP2013131785A (ja) 光起電力モジュール用高効率干渉カラーフィルタ
CN110073170A (zh) 遮蔽式颜色匹配的伪装太阳能电池板
Bläsi et al. Morpho butterfly inspired coloured BIPV modules
CN109659373A (zh) 有色太阳能板及包括该有色太阳能板的结构
EP2898534A1 (fr) Filtre d'interférence à couleur de réflexion orange indépendante angulaire et niveau de transmission solaire élevé, convenant à l'intégration en toiture de systèmes d'énergie solaire
WO2019106234A1 (fr) Intégration de photopiles dans des textiles
JP2012227402A (ja) 装飾模様付き太陽電池パネル
CN204834645U (zh) 有色太阳能玻璃
CN112117340A (zh) 一种太阳能组件制备方法
CN112018202A (zh) 一种柔性太阳能组件
JP6349952B2 (ja) 太陽電池付表示装置および太陽電池パネル
EP3782202A1 (fr) Modules photovoltaïques et leurs procédés de fabrication
CN218602455U (zh) 一种高透光彩色bipv太阳能双玻组件
Brzezicki et al. Optical properties of opaque and light-transmitting photovoltaic systems in architecture and their influence on architectural form
EP2305880A2 (fr) Textile de couleur
TW201700035A (zh) 具太陽能發電儲能及無線供電之桌面裝置
Gewohn et al. CUSTOMIZATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES’APPEARANCE BY COLORED TEXTILES (COTEX)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 18884735

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

DPE1 Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 18884735

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1