Apparatus for encapsulating a photovoltaic module
Abstract
The subject inventions concern various photovoltaic module designs to protect the module from horizontal and vertical impacts and degradation of solar cell efficiency caused by moisture. In one design, a plurality of panel supports that are positioned adjacent to the upper panel in a photovoltaic module absorb vertical forces exerted along an axis perpendicular to the upper panel. Other designs employ layers of glass and tempered glass, respectively, to protect the module from vertical impacts. A plurality of button-shaped channels is used around the edges of the photovoltaic module to absorb forces applied to the module along an axis parallel to the module and direct moisture away from the module that could otherwise penetrate the module and adversely affect the cells within the module. A spacer is employed between the upper and lower panels that has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equivalent to the coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one of the panels.
- Inventors:
-
- El Paso, TX
- Boulder, CO
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870127
- Patent Number(s):
- 5460660
- Application Number:
- 08/095,381
- Assignee:
- Photon Energy, Inc. (Golden, CO)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02S - GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- apparatus; encapsulating; photovoltaic; module; subject; concern; various; designs; protect; horizontal; vertical; impacts; degradation; solar; cell; efficiency; caused; moisture; design; plurality; panel; supports; positioned; adjacent; upper; absorb; forces; exerted; axis; perpendicular; employ; layers; glass; tempered; respectively; button-shaped; channels; edges; applied; parallel; direct; otherwise; penetrate; adversely; affect; cells; spacer; employed; panels; coefficient; thermal; expansion; substantially; equivalent; photovoltaic module; thermal expansion; solar cell; positioned adjacent; forces applied; adversely affect; axis perpendicular; substantially equivalent; cell efficiency; module designs; forces exerted; /136/
Citation Formats
Albright, Scot P, and Dugan, Larry M. Apparatus for encapsulating a photovoltaic module. United States: N. p., 1995.
Web.
Albright, Scot P, & Dugan, Larry M. Apparatus for encapsulating a photovoltaic module. United States.
Albright, Scot P, and Dugan, Larry M. Tue .
"Apparatus for encapsulating a photovoltaic module". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870127.
@article{osti_870127,
title = {Apparatus for encapsulating a photovoltaic module},
author = {Albright, Scot P and Dugan, Larry M},
abstractNote = {The subject inventions concern various photovoltaic module designs to protect the module from horizontal and vertical impacts and degradation of solar cell efficiency caused by moisture. In one design, a plurality of panel supports that are positioned adjacent to the upper panel in a photovoltaic module absorb vertical forces exerted along an axis perpendicular to the upper panel. Other designs employ layers of glass and tempered glass, respectively, to protect the module from vertical impacts. A plurality of button-shaped channels is used around the edges of the photovoltaic module to absorb forces applied to the module along an axis parallel to the module and direct moisture away from the module that could otherwise penetrate the module and adversely affect the cells within the module. A spacer is employed between the upper and lower panels that has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equivalent to the coefficient of thermal expansion of at least one of the panels.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 24 00:00:00 EDT 1995},
month = {Tue Oct 24 00:00:00 EDT 1995}
}