Patent Application
20170213927
The present invention relates to the field of electrical and/or electronic devices comprising electrical and/or electronic components, for example encapsulated. The invention particularly applies to devices comprising at least one transparent face enabling the electrical and/or electronic components to emit and/or to receive a luminous flux.
The invention particularly relates to the field of photovoltaic modules that comprise a set of photovoltaic cells connected together electrically, and notably so-called “crystalline” photovoltaic cells, that is to say which are based on silicon crystals or silicon polycrystals.
The invention also relates, in a more general manner, to the field of electrical and/or electronic devices which comprise mechanically fragile components, and in particular optoelectronic components, for example encapsulated, such as CDD (charge coupled devices), CMOS type sensors, or instead the field of flat screens, for example of LCD (liquid crystal display), plasma or LED (light emitting diode) type.
The invention thus proposes an electrical and/or electronic device comprising a system for mechanically protecting at least one electrical and/or electronic component, as well as a method for producing such an electrical and/or electronic device.
A photovoltaic module is an assembly of photovoltaic cells arranged side by side between a first transparent layer, for example based on glass, forming a front face of the photovoltaic module and a second layer, it also being able to be transparent, and for example based on glass, metal or plastic, forming a rear face of the photovoltaic module.
The photovoltaic cells are electrically connected together in series by front and rear electrical contact elements, known as connecting conductors, and formed for example by copper strips, respectively arranged against the front faces (faces located facing the front face of the photovoltaic module intended to receive the luminous fluxes) and rear faces (faces located facing the rear face of the photovoltaic module) of each of the photovoltaic cells.
Furthermore, in order that the photovoltaic module forms a rigid assembly, said module may comprise a frame surrounding an assembly of laminated layers forming an encapsulating assembly in which the photovoltaic cells are arranged. In a variant, the photovoltaic module could also be without such a frame, which may for example be the case for photovoltaic modules arranged vertically, modules with double glazing or instead modules with thicknesses greater than 5 mm.
During the production of the photovoltaic module, two layers (or films) of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) are generally used, between which are arranged the photovoltaic cells and the connecting conductors of the cells, as well as a glass layer superimposed on the EVA layer located facing the front faces of the photovoltaic cells, and a base layer of glass or a composite material such as a laminate based on polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), arranged against the other EVA layer located facing the rear faces of the photovoltaic cells. Nevertheless, after this operation of lamination of the layers, the two layers of EVA have melted to form only a single layer in which the photovoltaic cells are immersed.
This known principle of encapsulation of photovoltaic cells to form a rigid photovoltaic module is not entirely satisfactory and has several drawbacks.
Firstly, such a design is expensive, the techniques implemented to carry out this encapsulation representing around 30% of the total cost of the photovoltaic module.
Also, in order to reduce the production cost of photovoltaic modules and notably to economise the use of silicon in the crystalline photovoltaic cells, a first trend aims to design thinner and thinner photovoltaic cells, to the detriment of their mechanical robustness. In fact, the preceding design does not enable good mechanical protection of the photovoltaic cells to be ensured.
In addition, a second trend aims to use such photovoltaic cells, and notably crystalline photovoltaic cells, in more and more restrictive applications which place them under considerable duress with regard to their mechanical strength.
Yet, photovoltaic cells, and notably crystalline photovoltaic cells, are supple but very fragile and capable of breaking easily.
In particular, these photovoltaic cells can fissure when they are subjected to severe stresses, for example transport linked vibrations. The fissures formed on the photovoltaic cells are sometimes not even visible and do not cause obvious immediate electrical effects, which complicates their detection. In certain situations, such as for example for the so-called NICE encapsulation technology (New Industrial solar Cell Encapsulation technology, developed by Appolon Solar and as described in the patent application WO 03/038911 A1), such stresses, applied to the photovoltaic cells, can also result from temperature variations, for example comprised between around −40° C. and +90° C., which cause pressure variations in the internal volume in which the cells are encapsulated. The greater the surface irregularities (those of glass substrates in particular) inside the volume, the higher the localised stresses.
Yet, such fissures in a photovoltaic cell may, from the moment of their formation or later during the lifetime of the cell, separate and isolate a part of the cell vis-à-vis the electrical contacts of the cell, being able to lead to a loss of a part of the electricity produced by the cell. Among the most critical breaking configurations of photovoltaic cells, “dendritic”, “varied” or instead “exterior parallel” type breaking configurations may notably be cited.
For this reason there exists a need to succeed in efficiently protecting the photovoltaic cells from all risks of damage that they may undergo, and notably those linked to impacts and strong mechanical loads occurring during their lifetime and/or during their handling or transport, to which the photovoltaic modules designed according to the principle of the prior art described above do not succeed in meeting in a significant manner.
Furthermore, the aforementioned drawbacks for photovoltaic modules may also be found in other types of electrical and/or electronic devices comprising mechanically fragile components, and notably in optoelectronic devices such as imaging devices (CCD, CMOS, etc.) or electronic display type devices (LCD, plasma, LED, etc.) comprising encapsulated components, and in which it is sought to obtain good electrical contact with the component(s) of the device despite the surface irregularities of the layers between which the component(s) are encapsulated.
The aim of the invention is thus to overcome at least partially the aforementioned needs and drawbacks of the prior art.
It notably aims to propose an alternative solution for imparting more robustness to an electrical and/or electronic device comprising electrical and/or electronic components, and notably a photovoltaic module comprising photovoltaic cells, in particular crystalline photovoltaic cells.
The invention thus relates, according to one of its aspects, to an electrical and/or electronic device comprising:
Thanks to the invention, it may thus be possible to provide an alternative solution for mechanically protecting the electrical and/or electronic components of an electrical and/or electronic device, and notably the photovoltaic cells of a photovoltaic module. Moreover, the invention may make it possible to impart robustness to an electrical and/or electronic device, notably to the electrical and/or electronic components that it comprises, while remaining satisfactory in terms of weight and flexibility of the electrical and/or electronic device. The system for mechanically protecting the electrical and/or electronic device according to the invention may play the role of shield which prevents any contact between the exterior environment and the electrical and/or electronic component(s) that it protects.
The electrical and/or electronic device according to the invention may moreover comprise one or more of the following characteristics taken in isolation or according to any technically possible combinations thereof.
Said at least one deformation absorption element may be included in a deformation absorption system.
The mechanical protection system and the deformation absorption system may make it possible to protect the electrical and/or electronic component(s) that they protect from impacts and mechanical loads to which they can be subjected during the lifetime of the device according to the invention and/or during handling or transport operations.
The mechanical protection system may thus be similar to a shield superimposed on one or several electrical and/or electronic components for their protection.
The protective element(s) may notably have the shape of a shell superimposed on one or several electrical and/or electronic components.
Advantageously, the presence of a deformation absorption element may make it possible to avoid contact between the external face of the device (front or rear) and an electrical and/or electronic component associated with the deformation absorption element. In this way, it is possible to avoid the risks of damaging, and notably of fissuring, the electrical and/or electronic components of the device.
The device according to the invention may comprise a plurality of electrical contact elements such that each of the two opposite faces of each of said at least two electrical and/or electronic components comprises at least one of the electrical contact elements arranged against said each of the two opposite faces of said each of said at least two electrical and/or electronic components.
The layer of material forming the front face of the device according to the invention, being able to notably comprise one or more protective elements, may be transparent, the electrical and/or electronic components being able to be capable of emitting and/or receiving at least one luminous flux through the front face of the device, for example through one or more protective elements. The protective element(s) may thus be transparent.
The term “transparent” signifies that the material of the layer forming the front face of the device, notably the material of a protective element, is at least partially transparent to visible light, allowing at least around 80% of this light to get through.
Preferentially, each electrical and/or electronic component may be protected mechanically by at least one protective element that is specific thereto.
In other words, the device according to the invention may comprise, for each electrical and/or electronic component, at least one protective element superimposed on the electrical and/or electronic component that it protects, while being arranged facing at least one of the two opposite faces of said electrical and/or electronic component. Thus, a given protective element may only protect a single electrical and/or electronic component.
In a variant, it may be envisaged that a same protective element covers at least two separate electrical and/or electronic components. In other words, the device according to the invention may comprise a protective element superimposed on at least two separate electrical and/or electronic components. Thus, such a protective element may be arranged facing at least one of the two opposite faces of at least one first electrical and/or electronic component and facing at least one of the two opposite faces of at least one second electrical and/or electronic component. Said at least one of the two opposite faces of each of said at least one first and second electrical and/or electronic components may in particular be situated on a same side of the device, that is to say all on the front side or all on the rear side of the device.
Each electrical and/or electronic component may be taken between two protective elements, a first protective element being arranged in superposition with respect to the electrical and/or electronic component(s) that it protects, facing one of its two opposite faces, and a second protective element being arranged in superposition with respect to the electrical and/or electronic component(s) that it protects, facing the other of its two opposite faces.
The first protective element and the second protective element may be assembled together, notably by bonding.
The first protective element and the second protective element may respectively form, at least in part, front and rear faces of the electrical and/or electronic device, between which are only arranged the electrical and/or electronic component, that the first and second protective elements protect, said at least one electrical contact element that is associated with it and at least one first deformation absorption element and a second absorption element arranged on either side of said electrical and/or electronic component.
The device according to the invention may moreover comprise an encapsulating assembly advantageously formed from at least one encapsulation material, and preferably from at least two layers of encapsulation material. Said at least two electrical and/or electronic components are thus encapsulated, notably between the two layers of encapsulation material, with preferably each of the two opposite faces of said at least two electrical and/or electronic components facing one of said at least two layers of encapsulation material, said at least one protective element and said at least one deformation absorption element being arranged relatively to at least one of said at least two layers of encapsulation material such that it extends between the assembly formed by said at least one protective element and said at least one deformation absorption element, and said at least one electrical and/or electronic component that they protect.
It should be noted that, before any operation of lamination of the layers, the assembly encapsulating said at least two electrical and/or electronic components preferentially comprises at least two layers of encapsulation material on either side of said at least two electrical and/or electronic components whereas, after lamination, said at least two layers of encapsulation material are mixed and said at least two electrical and/or electronic components are immersed in the encapsulation material of the encapsulating assembly.
“Encapsulated” should be taken to mean that the electrical and/or electronic components are arranged in a volume, for example hermetically sealed, at least in part formed by said at least two layers of encapsulation material.
Furthermore, all the protective elements and all the associated deformation absorption elements may be arranged on a same first layer of encapsulation material of said at least two layers of encapsulation material, the other second layer of encapsulation material of said at least two layers of encapsulation material being notably covered with a base layer, notably of polymeric type.
The assembly of protective elements may thus define the front face of the device, and the base layer may define the rear face of the device.
The device may moreover comprise a plurality of protective elements and at least one part of the protective elements of the electrical and/or electronic device, notably the totality, may form a substantially regular arrangement of polygonal, notably rectangular or square, shapes.
In particular, at least some of the protective elements may be arranged in the form of a checkerboard, comprising a regular distribution of adjacent squares, or put another way even, be arranged in the form of a bar of chocolate. The arrangement of at least some of the protective elements may thus have a paving aspect. Such an aspect may for example make it possible to meet aesthetic expectations.
The protective element(s) may also comprise at least one openwork channel enabling the passage of said at least one electrical contact element.
Thanks to the presence of such an openwork channel in a protective element, the electrical contact element may be protected by the protective element. In particular, it may avoid undergoing mechanical pressure which would risk damaging it.
The protective element(s) may be made of a material having a hardness greater than 60 on the Rockwell M scale, according to the “Standard Test Method for Rockwell Hardness of Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials” ASTM D785.
The protective element(s) may be made of a material selected from: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate or glass, inter alia.
The deformation absorption element(s) may comprise a deformable material or a compressible material such as a highly pressurised gas.
The highly pressurised gas may for example be a gas with a pressure comprised between 5 and 15 bars.
In a variant, the deformation absorption element(s) may comprise transparent polystyrene.
The device may preferentially be a photovoltaic module. Said at least two electrical and/or electronic components may be photovoltaic cells, and notably crystalline photovoltaic cells, or even photovoltaic cells based on amorphous silicon or with thin films such as cells based on CIGS or CdTe, and said at least one electrical contact element may comprise at least one strip of electrically conducting material arranged against the photovoltaic cells and electrically connecting the photovoltaic cells together. The electrical contact element(s) may for example be constituted of a copper strip.
The device according to the invention may furthermore comprise a plurality of protective elements, and may be more rigid at the level of the protective elements than at the level of the connection parts between the protective elements, the suppleness of these connection parts defining the flexibility of the electrical and/or electronic device.
Moreover, the device according to the invention may comprise a plurality of protective elements, and the distance between two successive protective elements may be greater than or equal to 10 mm.
Furthermore, the protective element(s) may for example have a width and/or a length greater than or equal to 100 mm. In particular, the protective element(s) may be substantially in the form of a square of sides greater than or equal to 100 mm.
In an embodiment of the invention, said at least one protective element may be at least partially sunk into at least one of said at least two layers of encapsulation material of the electrical and/or electronic device, notably made of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) resin.
In another embodiment of the invention, the device according to the invention may comprise a plurality of protective elements, and the protective elements may be formed by the association of at least two layers of protective material, partially assembled together, notably by heat welding, the superimposed and non-assembled areas of said at least two layers of protective material comprising a gas, notably highly pressurised, to form the corresponding deformation absorption elements.
Furthermore, the electrical contact element(s) may be at least partially flexible, notably in their part situated between said at least two electrical and/or electronic components.
Furthermore, the electrical and/or electronic components may be electronic image sensors and/or electronic display elements.
Furthermore, the invention also relates, according to another of its aspects, to a method for producing an electrical and/or electronic device, notably such as that defined previously, comprising at least the steps of:
a) assembling a plurality of electrical and/or electronic components together through the intermediary of a plurality of electrical contact elements, notably by welding,
The method according to the invention may comprise any of the aforementioned characteristics, taken in isolation or according to any technically possible combinations thereof with other characteristics.
The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description that follows of exemplary embodiments thereof and by examining the schematic and partial figures of the appended drawing, in which:
In all of these figures, identical references may designate identical or analogous elements.
In addition, the different parts represented in the figures are not necessarily according to a uniform scale, in order to make the figures more legible.
In all the examples described hereafter with reference to
Reference will firstly be made to
The photovoltaic module 1 comprises four photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, electrically connected together by electrical contact elements 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, for example in the form of copper strips. In particular, two electrical contact elements 3a and 3b connect the photovoltaic cells 2a and 2b together, and two other electrical contact elements 3c and 3d connect the photovoltaic cells 2c and 2d electrically together.
In addition, the four photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d comprise respectively opposite faces 2a1 and 2a2, 2b1 and 2b2, 2c1 and 2c2, and 2d1 and 2d2.
Each of the electrical contact elements 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d may be arranged against one of the two opposite faces of each of the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, and notably in an alternating manner. Thus, as an example, as may easily be seen in
Furthermore, in accordance with the invention, each of the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d is mechanically protected by a protective element 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d.
In particular, in the example of
Each of the four protective elements 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d may more particularly be likened to a protective shell or cup.
In the example of
The covering of one or more photovoltaic cells by a protective element may in particular depend on the degree of flexibility desired for the photovoltaic module.
Advantageously, the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d may be identical, notably in terms of dimensions.
Moreover, in accordance with the invention, the photovoltaic module 1 comprises four deformation absorption elements 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d which are arranged respectively in four spaces 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d formed between the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d and the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.
More particularly, as becomes clearer from the section views of
Advantageously, the presence of the deformation absorption elements 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d may make it possible to avoid any contact between the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, and the front face of the photovoltaic module 1, in the present case formed by the four protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d.
In this way, the association of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d and the absorption elements 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d makes it possible to impart mechanical strength to the photovoltaic module 1, in order to limit, or better to avoid, any risk of damaging the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d, and notably in order to avoid any risk of fissuring. In other words, the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d may be covered by a rigid envelope formed by the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d which makes it possible to protect against any mechanical contact with the exterior environment.
It is thus possible to protect the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d while also preserving a maximum of flexibility in the photovoltaic module 1, thanks to the use of a protective shell specific to each photovoltaic cell and to the formation of supple parts of the photovoltaic module 1 between the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d.
Throughout the description, and in particular for the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d described here, each protective shell may for example be in the form of a main panel with a plurality of peripheral ribs, substantially perpendicular to the main panel, so as to define a reversed U-shaped section. In particular, each protective shell may be geometrically composed of a main panel, substantially planar, horizontal and of rectangular, square or circular shape, and parts forming ribs, substantially vertical and of rectangular, square or circular shape, extending from each side of the main panel. In the case where the main panel is of circular shape, there may exist a single part forming a substantially vertical rib extending from the periphery of the main panel. The parts forming the ribs may optionally be open-worked in order not to bear at the level of the electrical elements. Each protective shell may be produced by assembly of different parts, namely the main panel and the part(s) forming the ribs, in a single piece, for example moulded or thermoformed, inter alia.
The flexibility of the photovoltaic module 1 may enable it to take different shapes to adapt to different types of surfaces on which the photovoltaic module 1 has been arranged, for example surfaces that are stepped, undulating or even of imperfect flatness.
The thickness of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d may be variable, and notably more reduced when it is wished to confer more flexibility to the photovoltaic module 1 according to the invention. In any event, the thickness of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d may depend on the mechanical stresses applied to the photovoltaic module 1.
Furthermore, in the example of
The other 7b of the two layers of encapsulation material 7a and 7b is furthermore covered with a base layer 8, notably of the polymeric type, which defines the rear face of the photovoltaic module 1, whereas the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, preferentially transparent, define the front face of the photovoltaic module 1.
It should be noted that, advantageously, the four protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d form between them a regular pattern, notably in the form of a bar of chocolate.
This regular shape in the arrangement of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d may make it possible to improve the modularity and the flexibility of the photovoltaic module 1, and also makes it possible to respond to aesthetic expectations.
Thanks to the presence of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d associated with the use of deformation absorption elements 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d, it is thus possible to avoid loading the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d by external mechanical stresses. The invention thus makes it possible to impart the necessary robustness to the photovoltaic module 1 to protect the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.
It should moreover be noted that each of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d may be made of a flexible material, such that the photovoltaic module may, if need be, be folded or rolled as a function of the needs of the targeted applications.
Each of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d may for example be made from a material selected from: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate or glass.
Moreover, each of the deformation absorption elements 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d advantageously comprises a deformable material. In particular, in the example of
In a variant, the deformation absorption elements may be selected from other types of materials, and notably comprise transparent polystyrene, as will be described with reference to
A detail of embodiment of the photovoltaic module 1 of
As may be seen in this
More specifically, in
In this manner, thanks to the presence of openwork channels 9a and 9b formed in the protective shells 4a and 4b, it may be possible to protect the electrical contact elements 3a and 3b from any mechanical pressure that could be exerted on the protective shells 4a and 4b.
Four variants of the method for producing a photovoltaic module 1 in compliance with the invention will now be described hereafter, with reference to
In each of these variants, the method comprises at least the steps consisting in:
Thus, photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d having for example the shape of a square of side equal to 100 mm are firstly produced, these photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d being for example mini-cells cut from cells of larger dimensions, and for example cells having a square shape with sides equal to 156 mm.
These four photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are then assembled together by welding, in accordance with the method of assembly according to the prior art, through the intermediary of electrical contact elements 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, for example in the form of tinned copper strips.
Then, as is illustrated in
The layers of encapsulation materials 7a and 7b may for example be constituted of the resin EVA. Nevertheless, in a variant, the use of the resin EVA could be replaced by other types of transparent resins, and for example selected from the family of polyurethanes, polyolefins, for example modified polyolefin or ionomer, or instead polyvinyl butylene. As an example, it is possible for example to use commercially available products such as Apolhya® of the Arkema company, CVF® of the DNP Solar Company or Jurasol DG3® of the Juraplast Company.
The base layer 8 is for example constituted of a multilayer polymer, for example based on polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). As an example, Tedlar® of the Dupont Company may be cited.
The nature of the base layer 8, as well as its thickness, may vary as a function of the desired type of protection vis-à-vis the rear face of the photovoltaic module 1, and also as a function of the flexibility expected for the photovoltaic module 1.
In a variant, the base layer 8 may also comprise a metal layer for example made of steel, optionally protected by an additional covering, notably an insulating covering, for example of the polyurethane type, for example of the Pu Damival® type of the Vonrol Company.
Furthermore, the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d are made of PMMA, in particular made of the so-called “impact PMMA” material sold by the Arkema Company under the reference Altugas® ShieldUp. In a variant, the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d may also be made of polycarbonate, such as for example from Macrolon® of the Bayer Company, or even more preferentially for impact resistance, from Lexan® sold by the Sabic Company.
Then, as illustrated in
Furthermore, before assembly of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d on the layer of encapsulation material 7a, a highly pressurised gas is introduced between each protective shell 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d and the layer of encapsulation material 7a to form each of the four deformation absorption elements 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d. The use of a highly pressurised gas may also make it possible to reduce the thickness of the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d. In a variant, although this is less satisfactory, each deformation absorption element 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d could be formed by the surrounding air.
Advantageously, the four deformation absorption elements 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d make it possible to compensate for potential deformations linked to mechanical pressure on the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d, and above all to prevent contact between the protective shells 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d and the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.
In
In this variant, the photovoltaic module 1 is produced by a complete lamination of its constituent layers.
In particular, as illustrated in
Then, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as described previously, it may be provided to inject a highly pressurised gas to form the deformation absorption elements 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d.
In particular, as illustrated in
Another example of carrying out a method in compliance with the invention is furthermore illustrated in
Thus, as illustrated in
In particular, the two layers of protective material 10a and 10b are partially heat welded together so as to form areas assembled by heat welding 11 and areas 12 superimposed but not assembled together.
Thus, as illustrated in front view in
During this third step, illustrated in
Then, into the photovoltaic module 1, at the level of the opening 13 as represented in
Another example of producing a photovoltaic module 1 in compliance with the invention is moreover illustrated in perspective in
In this example, the photovoltaic module 1 is without a base layer 8 and layers of encapsulation material 7a and 7b as described previously.
In reality, each of the four photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d is covered on either side by a first protective element 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d and a second protective element 4e, 4f, 4g and 4h. In particular, as represented in
In this way, the photovoltaic cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d no longer rest on a supple substrate such as formed by encapsulation by use of layers of encapsulation material 7a and 7b, as described previously. On the contrary, they are sandwiched between two protective shells.
This embodiment may enable a simplified assembly of the photovoltaic cells together. In particular, it may no longer be necessary to encapsulate the photovoltaic cells together.
Similarly, it may no longer be necessary to assemble, notably by welding, the electrical contact elements over the whole width of the photovoltaic cells. Indeed, a welding is normally carried out over the whole width of the photovoltaic cells for the assembly of the electrical contact elements in order to avoid being hindered by the resin constituting the layers of encapsulation material 7a and 7b. Nevertheless, without use of such layers of encapsulation material 7a and 7b, a partial welding may be sufficient.
Advantageously, this embodiment of
Furthermore,
More specifically, in certain configurations of use of the photovoltaic module 1, the electrical contact elements may be mechanically loaded and may consequently weaken the photovoltaic cells. In this case, it may be necessary to provide sufficiently supple electrical contact elements.
To do so, a first possibility may consist in playing on the ratio between the thickness and the width of each electrical contact element.
A second possibility may consist in replacing the usual copper strip forming the electrical contact element by a desoldering braid, as taught for example by the international patent application WO 2012/028537 A1.
Finally, a third possibility, illustrated with reference to
Thus, the electrical contact element 3a may for example comprise two rigid portions 14a and 14c respectively assembled to the two photovoltaic cells 2a and 2b, for example by welding or bonding, and comprise a central flexible portion 14b making the link between the two rigid portions 14a and 14c.
Obviously, the invention is not limited to the examples of embodiment that have been described. Various modifications may be made thereto by those skilled in the art.
The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprising at least one”, unless specified otherwise.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1457272 | Jul 2014 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2015/067100 | 7/27/2015 | WO | 00 |
