Abstract
A façade element has a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules, in particular organic PV modules, and a plurality of connectors. The PV modules are arranged flat so that each PV module is adjacent to one or more other PV modules. Each of the PV modules have two bus bars for the connection of one or more of the connectors, which bus bars are connected to one or more cells of the PV module. The bus bars of two adjacent PV modules are electrically connected to one another in parallel by a connector, so that the bus bars together with the connectors form an electrical grid.
Claims
1. A facade element, comprising: a plurality of connectors; and a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules, said PV modules being disposed flat, with a result that each of said PV modules is adjacent to at least other one of said PV modules, each of said PV modules having cells and two busbars being connected to at least one of said cells, said busbars provided for connecting to at least one of said connectors, wherein said busbars of two adjacent ones of said PV modules being electrically connected to one another by means of a respective one of said connectors and are connected in parallel with one another, with a result that said busbars form a power supply system with said connectors.
2. The facade element according to claim 1, wherein said two busbars of a respective one of said PV modules run beside one another along an edge region of said respective PV module, with a result that one of said two busbars is an inner busbar and another of said two busbars is an outer busbar.
3. The facade element according to claim 2, wherein, in a respective one of said PV modules, at least one of said busbars is in a form of a closed conductor loop.
4. The facade element according to claim 2, wherein, in a respective one of said PV modules, said inner busbar is interrupted by said outer busbar in order to make contact with said cells.
5. The facade element according to claim 2, wherein, in a respective one of said PV modules, said outer busbar is connected to said cells by means of a bridge which bridges said inner busbar, wherein said bridge is formed by one of said connectors which connects said outer busbar, which is on an outer side of said inner busbar, to a contact section, which is on an inner side of said inner busbar.
6. The facade element according to claim 2, wherein, in a respective one of said PV modules, said outer busbar is connected to said cells by means of a bridge which bridges said inner busbar, wherein said bridge has a diode for stipulating a current direction through said cells.
7. The facade element according to claim 1, wherein a respective one of said PV modules has barrier layers, an active layer, and two conductive layers as electrodes which are encapsulated together with said active layer between said two barrier layers, and between said two barrier layers said two busbars are also disposed, with a result that they are integrated in said respective PV module.
8. The facade element according to claim 7, wherein said busbars of a respective one of said PV modules are produced together with one of said electrodes.
9. The facade element according to claim 7, wherein, in order to establish contact between one of said connectors and one of said PV modules, one said barrier layers has a contact hole formed therein and through which one of said busbars is accessible.
10. The facade element according to claim 7, wherein a respective one of said connectors is configured in such a manner that, during connection to one of said PV modules, said respective connector pierces one of said barrier layers in a region of said two busbars in order to make contact with said busbars.
11. The facade element according to claim 1, wherein all of said cells of a respective one of said PV modules are connected in series with one another in such a manner that a meandering current path is formed.
12. The facade element according to claim 1, wherein said PV modules are a plurality of different types of said PV modules of different sizes.
13. The facade element according to claim 1, wherein said PV modules each have a polygonal configuration and are disposed a tile-like manner.
14. The facade element according to claim 1, further comprising: a secondary laminate having a front side and a rear side, said PV modules are enclosed together between said front side and said rear side of said secondary laminate; and an adhesive, said PV modules are spaced apart from one another by joints in which said adhesive connecting said front side to said rear side is disposed.
15. The facade element according to claim 1, further comprising: a secondary laminate having a front side and a rear side, said PV modules are enclosed together between said front side and said rear side of said secondary laminate; and an adhesive, a respective one of said PV modules has a contoured outer edge, with a result that adjacent ones of said PV modules abut one another only in sections and in a process define at least one recess in which said adhesive connecting said front side to said rear side is disposed.
16. The facade element according to claim 1, wherein a respective one of said PV modules has an outer edge which is contoured in such a manner that an orientation relative to adjacent ones of said PV modules is restricted and polarity reversal protection is formed as a result.
17. The facade element according to claim 1, wherein said PV modules are organic PV modules.
18. The facade element according to claim 7, wherein said busbars of a respective one of said PV modules are produced together with one of said electrodes by printing on a conductive material.
19. A photovoltaic (PV) module for a facade element according to claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0061] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, top view of a facade element;
[0062] FIG. 2 is a top view of a section of the facade element from FIG. 1;
[0063] FIG. 3 is a top view of two PV modules and one connector;
[0064] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a PV module;
[0065] FIG. 5 is a top view of one variant of the PV module;
[0066] FIG. 6 is a top view of a further variant of the PV module;
[0067] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a section of one variant of the facade element from FIG. 1;
[0068] FIG. 8 is a side view of sections of a connector;
[0069] FIG. 9 is a top view of a further variant of a PV module;
[0070] FIG. 10 are illustrations of four variants of PV modules of different sizes;
[0071] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of one variant of the facade element; and
[0072] FIG. 12 is a top view of a further variant of a PV module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0073] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an exemplary facade element 2. It is used to form a facade on a building which is not illustrated in any more detail. The facade element 2 has a plurality of PV modules 4, that is to say photovoltaic modules, for converting light into electrical energy. The number of PV modules 4 is dependent on the intended use and the size of the facade element 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the PV modules 4 are organic PV modules, OPV modules for short, which are distinguished by a particular flexibility in terms of their design, on the one hand, and also by a particular mechanical flexibility, on the other hand. As a result, the shape of the PV modules 4 and therefore their outer impression can be freely designed and adapted.
[0074] As becomes clear from FIG. 1, the PV modules 4 are arranged flat, with the result that each PV module 4 is adjacent to one or more other PV modules 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the PV modules 4 are arranged in a planar manner in a common plane. In a variant which is not shown, the PV modules 4 are arranged flat along a bent, arched or curved surface or a surface of any other shape.
[0075] In order to connect the PV modules 4 to one another, the facade element 2 has one or more connectors 6 which can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, but are not explicitly shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows a section from FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows two PV modules 4 which are connected by means of a connector 6. It can clearly be seen in FIG. 3 that a respective PV module 4 has, for connecting the connectors 6, two busbars 8, 10 which are connected to one or more cells 12 of the PV module 4. The cells 12 are formed by an active layer 14 connected to two electrodes 16, 18. This structure of an individual PV module 4 can be seen in FIG. 4 which shows a sectional view of a PV module 4. In order to form a plurality of cells 12, the active layer 14 and the electrodes 16, 18 are structured accordingly. The electrode 16 is applied to a substrate which is not explicitly described, for example made of PET, and extends to the outer edge A of the PV module 4 in the present case. The cells 12 are electrically connected to one another via interconnects, which are not explicitly illustrated, and form a cell array which additionally has at least two connection points 20, 22 which are used to connect the cells 12 to the busbars 8, 10. The busbars 8, 10 then each form a pole of the PV module 4 for tapping off the electrical energy which is generated by the cells 12.
[0076] As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, two adjacent PV modules 4 each are electrically connected to one another by means of a respective connector 6 and are connected in parallel with one another. For this purpose, a respective connector 6 connects the two respective busbars 8, 10 of the PV modules 4 to one another in pairs, thus forming two electrical connections for the two poles. A series connection of PV modules 4 is entirely dispensed with here, with the result that a pure parallel circuit is implemented. A power supply system is implemented overall, in other words: a network or grid of PV modules 4, in which a respective PV module 4 is connected only to its directly adjacent PV modules 4. The connectors 6 are accordingly short and, as shown, are considerably shorter than a respective PV module 4. PV modules 4 which are further away are connected only indirectly via the PV modules 4 in between. The busbars 8, 10 form, with the connectors 6, a power supply system in which current is conducted through adjacent PV modules 4 in succession. An individual connector 6 is electrically connected only to PV modules 4, that is to say not to other connectors 6, but rather an individual connector 6 is connected to other connectors 6 only indirectly via the busbars 8, 10 of the PV modules 4. Nevertheless, a parallel circuit of all PV modules 4 is formed overall. This results from the special combination of the connectors 6 with the busbars 8, 10 which together form a branched, decentralized, bipolar power supply system. In the power supply system, a plurality of current paths S are formed by conducting the current alternately through the busbars 8, 10 and the connectors 6. As a result of the flat arrangement, the power supply system is also branched, that is to say the arrangement of the PV modules 4 in two dimensions results in a plurality of current paths S being formed in different directions. Three exemplary current paths S between two of the PV modules 4 are explicitly depicted in FIG. 1. Corresponding current paths S result between any two of the PV modules 4. The facade element 2 shown here additionally also has a central connection 24 which is connected to the power supply system and therefore to the PV modules 4 and is arranged centrally on the facade element 2 here, thus resulting in current paths S which are particularly short overall.
[0077] In addition to the exemplary embodiment of a PV module 4 shown in FIG. 3, FIGS. 5 and 6 show further exemplary embodiments of a PV module 4. In each of these cases, the two busbars 8, 10 of a PV module 4 are each in the form of elongated conductor tracks 8, 10. The two busbars 8, 10 of a respective PV module 4 run beside one another, that is to say in two tracks as twin conductors, along an edge region 26 of the PV module 4, with the result that one of the two busbars 8, 10 is an inner busbar 8 and the other of the two busbars 8, 10 is an outer busbar 10. In FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the busbars 8, 10 run along the entire edge region 26, but this is not necessarily always the case, as shown by the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 12. However, in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the busbars 8, 10 run along a plurality of sides of the PV module 4, with the result that the latter can be connected to other PV modules 4 in different directions, here four directions, as also becomes clear from FIG. 2. In this manner, the PV modules 4 can be flexibly connected and the facade element 2 has a high degree of design freedom. Instead of routing the busbars 8, 10 along opposite sides of the cells 12, both busbars 8, 10 are routed beside one another in the present case, that is to say as edge conductors. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the two busbars 8, 10 even run parallel to one another. In addition, the two busbars 8, 10 do not follow a straight course, but rather are kinked or bent in order to follow the correspondingly running active layer 14.
[0078] A respective PV module 4 is subdivided into an inner region 28 and an edge region 26. The cells 12 are arranged only in the inner region 28 and do not extend into the edge region 28. The edge region 28 outwardly forms an outer edge A of the PV module 4. The edge region 26 inwardly adjoins the inner region 28 and surrounds the latter. The two busbars 8, 10 are arranged completely in the edge region 26 and therefore between the outer edge A, on the one hand, and the cells 12, on the other hand. The outer busbar 10 runs between the outer edge A and the inner busbar 8, and the inner busbar 8 accordingly runs between the outer busbar 10 and the cells 12. The active layer 16 is not restricted to the inner region 28, but rather extends in the present case into the edge region 26 for the esthetic design of the PV module 4 and overlaps the busbars 8, 10.
[0079] As is especially clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, the busbars 8, 10 of a respective PV module 4 and the connectors 6, which electrically connect the busbars 8, 10 of adjacent PV modules 4, interact in such a manner that a network, in which the PV modules 4 are connected in parallel with one another, is formed. Therefore, the result is a branched power supply system with redundant current paths S, some of which are depicted by way of example in FIG. 1. A respective PV module 4 therefore acts as a distributor, also referred to as a “junction box”, and enables various current paths S.
[0080] It also becomes clear from FIGS. 1 and 2 that, on account of the parallel circuit, PV modules 4 of different sizes can be combined with one another in any desired manner. PV modules 4 of different sizes produce a different amount of current and are therefore not very suitable for a series circuit. Complicated cabling for producing the parallel circuit is avoided by keeping the connectors 6 short and connecting only adjacent PV modules 4 to one another. On account of the busbars 8, 10 running beside one another in the edge region 26, the PV modules 4 can be assembled in different and flexible ways, especially when PV modules 4 of different sizes are combined with one another, as in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 7 shows a section of one variant of the facade element 7, in which gaps 30 are formed in the flat arrangement of the PV modules 4, thus resulting in a facade element 2 having corresponding openings or recesses, for example for windows or doors or the like, which is especially possible on account of the parallel circuit.
[0081] As can be seen, in particular, in FIG. 3 but also in FIG. 2, a respective connector 6 has a bipolar design and therefore has two conductors 32, one for each of the two polarities of the busbars 8, 10. The connector 6 either has a one-part design, that is to say both conductors 32 are combined, or a multi-part design, with the result that the two connections are independent of one another. In principle, it is sufficient if two adjacent PV modules 4 are connected via a single connector 6. However, also suitable is a configuration in which two adjacent PV modules 4 are connected several times, that is to say redundantly, by means of a plurality of connectors 6, as is the case in FIGS. 2 and 7 for some of the larger PV modules 4. This produces further current paths S. The mechanical coupling of the PV modules 4 is also more robust.
[0082] In the PV modules 4 in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, at least one of the busbars 8, 10 is in the form of a closed conductor loop. In FIGS. 5 and 6, both busbars 8, 10 are even each in the form of a closed conductor loop. The busbar 8, 10 in the form of a closed conductor loop completely runs around and encloses the inner region 28 and the cells 12. As a result, the PV module 4 enables a connection on all sides. In this case, the busbar 8, 10 follows the outer contour A of the PV module 4, with the result that, in the case of the square PV modules 4 shown, the busbar 8, 10 accordingly has a square course, here with rounded corners. In contrast, in FIG. 12, the busbars 8, 10 run through the PV module 4 and, as a result, subdivide the cell array into a plurality of, here four, cell sectors 66 which are not connected to one another directly, but rather only indirectly via the busbars 8, 10. In FIG. 12, the two busbars 8, 10 run beside one another and each in a cruciform manner through a center of the PV module 4 and bridge one another in this case. Each cell sector 66 is connected to the two busbars 8, 10, in the present case in such a manner that all cells 12 of a respective cell sector 66 are connected in series with one another.
[0083] Both busbars 8, 10 of a PV module 4 are each electrically connected to the cells 12 via at least one connection point 20, 22. A busbar 8, 10 which is in the form of a conductor loop has the special advantage that the current path S from a connector 6 to the cells 12 always corresponds at most to half a revolution around the cells 12. This is because, starting from the connector, there are always two possible current paths S to the connection point 20, 22, of which the current follows that path with the lowest resistance. In contrast, in the case of an interrupted busbar 8, 10, as in FIG. 3, the current path S is unambiguously predefined.
[0084] Since the two busbars 8, 10 of a respective PV module 4 run beside one another, the inner busbar 8 in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 is basically in the way of the outer busbar 10 when making contact with the cells 12. There are various possibilities for establishing contact between the outer busbar 10 and the cells 12 in the inner region 28. Three suitable configurations are shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 and are described in more detail below.
[0085] In the PV modules 4 in FIG. 3, the inner busbar 8 is interrupted by the outer busbar 10 in order to make contact with the cells 12. The inner busbar 8 is therefore not in the form of a closed conductor loop, but rather has two arms 34 which, starting from the connection point 20 for the cells 12, extend around the latter as far as a feed-through 36 for the outer busbar 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the inner busbar 8 is interrupted only locally and therefore is in the form of an interrupted conductor loop which completely surrounds the cells 12, with the exception of the feed-through 36. In order to make contact with the cells 12, the outer busbar 10 has a branch 38 which runs through the feed-through 36 to the inner region 28 and is connected to the cells 12 there. In the present case, the inner busbar 8 is specifically interrupted on that side of the PV module 4 which is opposite the connection point 20 at which the inner busbar 8 is connected to the cells 12. As a result, both arms 34 of the inner busbar 8 have the same or at least a similar length.
[0086] In contrast, in the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 5 and 6, in a respective PV module 4, the outer busbar 10 is connected to the cells 12 by means of a bridge 40 which bridges the inner busbar 8. The inner busbar 8 then need not be interrupted, but rather is then likewise in the form of a closed conductor loop here. In one possible configuration which is not explicitly shown, the bridge 40 is a simple conductor element, for example similar to the branch 38 of the outer busbar 10 described above in connection with FIG. 3, with the difference that the branch 38 is now routed through over the inner busbar 8 or below the latter.
[0087] In the variant shown in FIG. 5, the bridge 40 is formed by one of the connectors 6 which connects the outer busbar 10, which is on the outside of the inner busbar 8, to a contact section 42, which is on the inside of the inner busbar 8. Therefore, a contact section 42 which is connected to the cells 12 is arranged on that side of the inner busbar 8 which is opposite the outer busbar 10. In one configuration which is not shown, the contact section 42 corresponds to the connection point 22 to the cells 12 and, in the configuration shown here, the contact section 42 is a separate conductor which leads to the connection point 22 and even runs beside the inner busbar 8 and parallel to the latter in this case.
[0088] In the variant shown in FIG. 6, the bridge 40 has a diode 44 for stipulating the current direction through the cells 12, with the result that negative effects are avoided in the event of failure of the PV module 4 or shading. In principle, a configuration in which the diode 44 is part of the connector 6 in a variant according to FIG. 5 and is connected there between the outer busbar 10 and the contact section 42 is also possible and suitable.
[0089] In the embodiment according to FIG. 12, both busbars 8, 10 run transversely through the PV module and are accordingly not in the form of conductor loops. As already described, the cell array is subdivided into a plurality of cell sectors 66 which are each individually connected to the busbars via respective connection points 20, 22. The individual cell sectors 66 are then connected in parallel with one another. Nevertheless, bridging is also required in the example in FIG. 12, in this case in the center in which the busbars 8, 10 bridge one another by means of bridges which are not explicitly designated. However, it becomes clear overall that the busbars 8, 10 can be designed in a wide variety of ways in order to obtain PV modules 4 which can be used to produce a power supply system.
[0090] Returning to FIG. 4, a respective PV module 4 has two conductive layers as electrodes 16, 18. These are now encapsulated together with the active layer 14 between two barrier layers 46, that is to say the barrier layers 46 cover the electrodes 16, 18 and the active layer 14 on the top side and underside thereof. The active layer 14 and the two electrodes 16, 18 are not necessarily each individual layers, but rather are typically themselves composed of a plurality of layers. The active layer 14 has a semiconductor material for producing charge carriers which then migrate to the electrodes 16, 18 and produce a corresponding current. The entire layer structure composed of the active layer 14 and electrodes 16, 18 is encapsulated between the two barrier layers 46 in order to protect against environmental influences. These barrier layers form an outer sheath of the PV module 4. In the present case, the active layer 14 and the electrodes 16, 18 are laminated between the barrier layers 46 which are therefore also referred to as the primary laminate.
[0091] In the exemplary embodiments shown here, the two busbars 8, 10 are also arranged between the two barrier layers 46 of a respective PV module 4, with the result that the busbars are integrated in the PV module 4. In the present case, the busbars 8, 10 of a respective PV module 4 are produced together with one of the electrodes 16, 18, specifically by printing on a conductive material. One of the electrodes 16, 18, here the so-called top electrode 18, is printed on as a so-called grid electrode, wherein a conductive ink containing conductive particles, for example silver, is used as the conductive material. The busbars 8, 10 are now also printed on in the same process step as the electrode 18, that is to say they are also in the same layer as the electrode 18 in the layer structure of the PV module 4.
[0092] If the busbars 8, 10 are integrated in a respective PV module 4, the busbars 8, 10 are covered by the barrier layers 46. In order to establish contact between a connector 6 and a PV module 4, its one barrier layer 46 has, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, a contact hole 48 through which one of the busbars 8, 10 is accessible. The contact hole 48 is cut into the barrier layer 46, for example when producing the PV module 4. Since there are two busbars 8, 10 in each PV module 4, at least two contact holes 48 are accordingly present, specifically one for each busbar 8, 10. In a variant which is not shown, a contact hole 48 extends over both busbars 8, 10 as a common contact hole 48. In order to make it possible to establish flexible contact on various sides of the PV module 4, a plurality of contact holes 48 are formed for each busbar 8, 10, as can be seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, specifically here two on each side of the PV module 4. In a variant which is not shown, more than two contact holes are formed on one or more sides. In the present cases, the contact holes 48 are also arranged centrally in the edge region 26 of a respective PV module 4, wherein the two contact holes 48 for the different poles are offset relative to one another. However, such a central arrangement is not necessary and, in a variant which is not shown, the contact holes are accordingly not arranged centrally on one or more sides. Overall, the position and number of contact holes depend on the specific application.
[0093] FIG. 8 shows a section of a variant of a connector 6 which, as an alternative to forming contact holes 48, is designed in such a manner that the connector 6, during connection to a PV module 4, pierces its one barrier layer 46 in the region of one of the two busbars 8, 10 in order to make contact with the latter. For this purpose, the connector 6 is in the form of a crimp, for example, and has one or more teeth 50 or mandrels which perforate the barrier layer 46 when being pressed onto the PV module 4 and then establish electrical contact with the busbar 8, 10 underneath. This configuration can fundamentally also be combined with a PV module 4 having contact holes 48.
[0094] In the present case, a respective PV module 4 has a plurality of cells 12 which are connected in series with one another, thus resulting in an accordingly high voltage. In the exemplary embodiments shown, all cells 12 of a respective PV module 4 are also connected in series with one another in such a manner that a meandering current path S is formed. An embodiment of this is shown in FIG. 9, from which it can be gathered that the cells 12 are not arranged beside one another in the form of strips, but rather in a matrix-like manner, specifically in a two-dimensional cell array. A plurality of columns 52 in which the cells are each connected in series are formed as a result. The columns 52 are then connected to one another at their ends, thus correspondingly resulting in a meandering connection in which all cells 12 are connected in series. This minimizes the dead space and increases the area which can be used to produce energy. The meandering connection can also be applied to individual cell sectors 66, as shown in FIG. 12.
[0095] The number of cells shown in the figures is merely exemplary. The number of cells 12 is typically dependent on the planned application and the required voltage. Irrespective of the number of cells 12, all cells 12 of a PV module 4 are of the same size in the present case, with the result that all cells 12 produce the same current. Depending on the dimensions of the PV module 4, the size of an individual cell 12 is possibly very small, but this is not disadvantageous since, on account of the parallel circuit of a plurality of PV modules 4, their currents are added.
[0096] As already explained, on account of the special design of the busbars 8, 10 and the resulting flexible connection, a plurality of PV modules 4 of different sizes can be combined with one another. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the facade element 2 actually has a plurality of different types of PV modules 4 of different sizes. FIG. 10 shows, by way of example, four types of PV modules 4 of different sizes. The different types therefore differ in terms of their size, that is to say the physical dimensions, that is to say here specifically to the effect that they have different areas, with the result that the size of the cells 12 also accordingly differs and the PV modules 4 produce different currents. However, as described, the number of cells is the same, with the result that the different types have the same voltage and can be connected in parallel with one another without any problems. For the larger PV modules 4 in FIG. 10, a design as shown in FIG. 12 is advantageous, with the result that the individual cell sectors 66 then each correspond to one or more base units B of the grid dimension R and are equipped, for example, with cells 12 connected in series according to FIG. 9.
[0097] It can be seen, in particular in FIG. 1, but also in FIGS. 2 and 7, that in the exemplary embodiments shown here a plurality of types of PV modules 4 do not only differ in terms of their size, but also are adapted to a grid dimension R which has a particular size as a base unit B. The sizes of the various types are each integer multiples of this base unit B. The smallest PV module 4 in FIG. 10 therefore has the size of the base unit B and therefore represents, as it were, an individual pixel in the overall flat arrangement of the PV modules 4. Each PV module 4 then corresponds to one or more pixels, depending on its size. As can be seen in FIG. 2, in the configuration shown there, the connectors 6 likewise follow the grid dimension R, with the result that the connectors 6 are arranged in a manner distributed at regular intervals over the entire flat arrangement of the PV modules 4. However, this is not necessary. If appropriate, as shown, accordingly large PV modules 4 are connected several times to an accordingly large, adjacent PV module 4 via a plurality of connectors 6.
[0098] The PV modules 4 also have a polygonal design and are arranged in a tile-like manner, as becomes clear in FIG. 1, for example. In the present case, the PV modules 4 are specifically rectangular and accordingly have four corners, thus also resulting in a rectangular grid dimension R. More specifically, the grid dimension R shown here even has a square as a base unit B, with the result that the PV modules 4 are then accordingly rectangles or even squares, the respective area of which corresponds to an integer multiple of the base unit B, as shown in FIG. 10, for example. In this manner, the PV modules 4 can be arranged in an optically attractive manner in the form of a brick wall or a backsplash, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7. The parallel circuit of the PV modules 4 need not necessarily be arranged in such a grid dimension, but rather other arrangements are also possible and suitable, including those in which the PV modules 4 are spaced further apart from one another or are loosely distributed or are arranged in a freestanding manner or a combination thereof.
[0099] The optical impression of a respective PV module 4 is produced by a corresponding design of the individual elements of a respective PV module 4, with the result that a certain design also results overall for the facade element 2. In the configurations shown, the busbars 8, 10 and the active layer 14 of a respective PV module 4 are designed for this purpose in such a manner that the result is an irregular contour, here specifically a brick finish. However, the PV modules 4 need not necessarily be arranged flush with one another, as shown, but rather, in contrast, are arranged in a freestanding manner and are accordingly spaced apart from one another in one variant. The barrier layers 46 are usually transparent, but the active layer 14 and the busbars 8, 10 are not, with the result that the optical impression of an individual PV module 4 and of the facade element 2 is decisively determined overall by the shape of the busbars 8, 10 and of the active layer 14. These two elements are therefore used for design.
[0100] The facade elements 2 shown here are themselves each a laminate in which the PV modules 4 are laminated together between two layers. This is shown in FIG. 10 which shows a sectional view of a facade element 2 in order to illustrate its layer structure. The PV modules 4 are enclosed together between a front side 54 and a rear side 56 of a secondary laminate. In the present case, the front side 54 and the rear side 56 are connected to the PV modules 4 by means of an adhesive 58 and are thereby fixed and fastened to one another. Overall, the PV modules 4 are integrated in the facade element 2.
[0101] In the flat arrangement of the PV modules 4, a plurality of recesses, which the adhesive 58 can enter, are also formed between said PV modules, with the result that the adhesive extends through the area of the PV modules 4 and directly connects the front side 54 to the rear side 56. Such recesses may be implemented in various ways. The adhesive 58 also covers the PV modules 4 and the connectors 6, with the result that they are connected overall to the front side 54 and the rear side 56.
[0102] In one expedient configuration, the PV modules 4 are spaced apart from one another by joints 60 in the form of recesses in which the adhesive 58 is arranged. A configuration with joints 60 between the PV modules 4 has already been shown in FIG. 1. The joints 60 are considerably narrower than a respective PV module 4 and also considerably narrower than the grid dimension R. For the dimensions of the PV modules 4 and their adaptation to the grid dimension R and the base unit B, slight deductions or additions are made to the size, if appropriate, in order to enable additional joints 60 between adjacent PV modules 4, with the result that the size of a PV module does not necessarily correspond exactly to an integer multiple of the base unit.
[0103] As an alternative or in addition to the described joints 60, a respective PV module 4 has a contoured outer edge A, with the result that adjacent PV modules 4 abut one another only in sections and in the process form one or more recesses 62 in which an adhesive 58 connecting the front side 54 to the rear side 56 is arranged. This shall be explained, by way of example, on the basis of the PV modules 4 in FIG. 3 which have corresponding recesses 62. The outer edge A of a respective PV module 4 is generally rectangular, here even square, and is now set back in sections, with the result that additional steps or notches are formed along the outer edge A. Two PV modules 4, the outer edges A of which are placed onto one another, then abut one another, but not in the region of the steps or notches which form corresponding recesses 62 through the interaction of the two outer edges A of the adjacent PV modules 4. Such recesses 62 are produced, for example, by additionally processing the barrier layers 46 of a respective PV module 4, wherein one or more recesses 62 or cut out or stamped in. In a variant which is not explicitly shown, the recesses 62 are alternatively or additionally in the form of holes in the barrier layers 46. These holes extend completely through a respective PV module 4 and thus allow the adhesive 58 to enter.
[0104] The recesses 62 are formed only in the edge region 26 and therefore do not influence the inner region 28, the cells 12 and the active layer 14. The recesses 62 shown are rectangular or in the form of strips, but many other forms are fundamentally likewise suitable. In the present case, a PV module 4 also has a plurality of recesses 62 which are arranged on different sides of the PV module 4, with the result that the PV module 4 is surrounded or framed by adhesive 58 from a plurality of sides in the finished facade element 2.
[0105] In one possible configuration, a PV module 4 has an outer edge A which is contoured in such a manner that an orientation relative to adjacent PV modules 4 is restricted and polarity reversal protection is formed as a result. An example of this is shown in FIG. 3. Two complementary structures 64, for example a tip and an indentation on opposite sides of a respective PV module 4, are formed there on the outer edge A. An outer edge A contoured in such a manner stipulates the orientation of the PV modules 4 relative to one another.
[0106] The various concepts described above can fundamentally be used individually and in any desired combination. This relates especially but not exclusively to the concept with joins 60 and recesses 62, the interruption or bridging of the inner busbar 8, the meandering connection of cells 12 in a PV module 4 and the polarity reversal protection.
[0107] The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: [0108] 2 Facade element [0109] 4 PV module [0110] 6 Connector [0111] 8 Busbar, inner busbar [0112] 10 Busbar, outer busbar [0113] 12 Cell [0114] 14 Active layer [0115] 16 Electrode [0116] 18 Electrode [0117] 20 Connection point [0118] 22 Connection point [0119] 24 Central connection [0120] 26 Edge region [0121] 28 Inner region [0122] 30 Gap [0123] 32 Conductor (of a connector) [0124] 34 Arm [0125] 36 Feed-through [0126] 38 Branch [0127] 40 Bridge [0128] 42 Contact section [0129] 44 Diode [0130] 46 Barrier layer [0131] 48 Contact hole [0132] 50 Teeth [0133] 52 Column [0134] 54 Front side [0135] 56 Rear side [0136] 58 Adhesive [0137] 60 Join [0138] 62 Recess [0139] 64 Structure (for polarity reversal protection) [0140] 66 Cell sector [0141] A Outer edge [0142] B Base unit [0143] R Grid dimension [0144] S Current path
