Solar module having reflector between cells
Abstract
A photovoltaic module comprising an array of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells disposed in a planar and mutually spaced relationship between a light-transparent front cover member in sheet form and a back sheet structure is provided with a novel light-reflecting means disposed between adjacent cells for reflecting light falling in the areas between cells back toward said transparent cover member for further internal reflection onto the solar cells. The light-reflecting comprises a flexible plastic film that has been embossed so as to have a plurality of small V-shaped grooves in its front surface, and a thin light-reflecting coating on said front surface, the portions of said coating along the sides of said grooves forming light-reflecting facets, said grooves being formed so that said facets will reflect light impinging thereon back into said transparent cover sheet with an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, whereby substantially all of the reflected light will be internally reflected from said cover sheet back to said solar modules, thereby increasing the current output of the module.
- Inventors:
-
- Billerica, MA
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872712
- Patent Number(s):
- 5994641
- Assignee:
- ASE Americas, Inc. (Billerica, MA)
- 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:
- NERL-ZAF-6-14271-13
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- solar; module; reflector; cells; photovoltaic; comprising; array; electrically; interconnected; disposed; planar; mutually; spaced; relationship; light-transparent; front; cover; sheet; form; structure; provided; novel; light-reflecting; means; adjacent; reflecting; light; falling; transparent; internal; reflection; comprises; flexible; plastic; film; embossed; plurality; v-shaped; grooves; surface; coating; portions; forming; facets; formed; reflect; impinging; thereon; angle; incidence; critical; whereby; substantially; reflected; internally; modules; increasing; current; output; reflect light; spaced relationship; transparent cover; cells disposed; sheet form; critical angle; internally reflected; electrically interconnected; internal reflection; spaced relation; adjacent cells; photovoltaic module; means disposed; photovoltaic cells; solar cell; solar cells; front surface; reflected light; photovoltaic cell; adjacent cell; v-shaped grooves; interconnected photovoltaic; current output; module comprising; flexible plastic; light impinging; light falling; mutually spaced; reflecting coating; v-shaped groove; /136/438/
Citation Formats
Kardauskas, Michael J. Solar module having reflector between cells. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Kardauskas, Michael J. Solar module having reflector between cells. United States.
Kardauskas, Michael J. Fri .
"Solar module having reflector between cells". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872712.
@article{osti_872712,
title = {Solar module having reflector between cells},
author = {Kardauskas, Michael J},
abstractNote = {A photovoltaic module comprising an array of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells disposed in a planar and mutually spaced relationship between a light-transparent front cover member in sheet form and a back sheet structure is provided with a novel light-reflecting means disposed between adjacent cells for reflecting light falling in the areas between cells back toward said transparent cover member for further internal reflection onto the solar cells. The light-reflecting comprises a flexible plastic film that has been embossed so as to have a plurality of small V-shaped grooves in its front surface, and a thin light-reflecting coating on said front surface, the portions of said coating along the sides of said grooves forming light-reflecting facets, said grooves being formed so that said facets will reflect light impinging thereon back into said transparent cover sheet with an angle of incidence greater than the critical angle, whereby substantially all of the reflected light will be internally reflected from said cover sheet back to said solar modules, thereby increasing the current output of the module.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999}
}