Photovoltaic module with light reflecting backskin
- Danvers, MA
A photovoltaic module comprises electrically interconnected and mutually spaced photovoltaic cells that are encapsulated by a light-transmitting encapsulant between a light-transparent front cover and a back cover, with the back cover sheet being an ionomer/nylon alloy embossed with V-shaped grooves running in at least two directions and coated with a light reflecting medium so as to provide light-reflecting facets that are aligned with the spaces between adjacent cells and oriented so as to reflect light falling in those spaces back toward said transparent front cover for further internal reflection onto the solar cells, whereby substantially all of the reflected light will be internally reflected from said cover sheet back to the photovoltaic cells, thereby increasing the current output of the module. The internal reflector improves power output by as much as 67%.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- United States Department of Energy
- Assignee:
- Gonsiorawski, Ronald C. (Danvers, MA)
- Patent Number(s):
- 7,238,878
- Application Number:
- 10/458,616
- OSTI ID:
- 913253
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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