Thin film photovoltaic panel and method
Abstract
A thin film photovoltaic panel includes a backcap for protecting the active components of the photovoltaic cells from adverse environmental elements. A spacing between the backcap and a top electrode layer is preferably filled with a desiccant to further reduce water vapor contamination of the environment surrounding the photovoltaic cells. The contamination of the spacing between the backcap and the cells may be further reduced by passing a selected gas through the spacing subsequent to sealing the backcap to the base of the photovoltaic panels, and once purged this spacing may be filled with an inert gas. The techniques of the present invention are preferably applied to thin film photovoltaic panels each formed from a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged on a vitreous substrate. The stability of photovoltaic conversion efficiency remains relatively high during the life of the photovoltaic panel, and the cost of manufacturing highly efficient panels with such improved stability is significantly reduced.
- Inventors:
-
- El Paso, TX
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 867861
- Patent Number(s):
- 5022930
- Application Number:
- 07/369,181
- Assignee:
- Photon Energy, Inc. (El Paso, TX)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES 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
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- film; photovoltaic; panel; method; backcap; protecting; active; components; cells; adverse; environmental; elements; spacing; top; electrode; layer; preferably; filled; desiccant; reduce; water; vapor; contamination; environment; surrounding; reduced; passing; selected; gas; subsequent; sealing; base; panels; purged; inert; techniques; applied; formed; plurality; arranged; vitreous; substrate; stability; conversion; efficiency; remains; relatively; life; cost; manufacturing; highly; efficient; improved; significantly; photovoltaic panel; significantly reduce; photovoltaic cells; conversion efficiency; water vapor; inert gas; highly efficient; film photovoltaic; photovoltaic cell; significantly reduced; improved stability; selected gas; remains relatively; photovoltaic conversion; active components; cells arranged; preferably applied; environment surrounding; electrode layer; top electrode; active component; adverse environmental; /136/156/438/
Citation Formats
Ackerman, Bruce, Albright, Scot P, and Jordan, John F. Thin film photovoltaic panel and method. United States: N. p., 1991.
Web.
Ackerman, Bruce, Albright, Scot P, & Jordan, John F. Thin film photovoltaic panel and method. United States.
Ackerman, Bruce, Albright, Scot P, and Jordan, John F. Tue .
"Thin film photovoltaic panel and method". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867861.
@article{osti_867861,
title = {Thin film photovoltaic panel and method},
author = {Ackerman, Bruce and Albright, Scot P and Jordan, John F},
abstractNote = {A thin film photovoltaic panel includes a backcap for protecting the active components of the photovoltaic cells from adverse environmental elements. A spacing between the backcap and a top electrode layer is preferably filled with a desiccant to further reduce water vapor contamination of the environment surrounding the photovoltaic cells. The contamination of the spacing between the backcap and the cells may be further reduced by passing a selected gas through the spacing subsequent to sealing the backcap to the base of the photovoltaic panels, and once purged this spacing may be filled with an inert gas. The techniques of the present invention are preferably applied to thin film photovoltaic panels each formed from a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged on a vitreous substrate. The stability of photovoltaic conversion efficiency remains relatively high during the life of the photovoltaic panel, and the cost of manufacturing highly efficient panels with such improved stability is significantly reduced.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 EDT 1991},
month = {Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 EDT 1991}
}