PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE

Abstract

Disclosed is a photovoltaic module including a transparent material layer, and a plurality of solar cells disposed inside one side of the transparent material layer, and at least one of the plurality of solar cells is disposed to be perpendicular to one side surface of the transparent material layer.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic module comprising: a transparent material layer; and a plurality of solar cells disposed inside one side of the transparent material layer, wherein at least one of the plurality of solar cells is disposed to be perpendicular to one side surface of the transparent material layer.

2. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the transparent material layer is divided into an intermediate area, a lower area, and an upper area in a height direction, and wherein the at least one of the plurality of solar cells, which is disposed to be perpendicular to the one side surface of the transparent material layer, is disposed in the intermediate area.

3. The photovoltaic module of claim 2, wherein the solar cells disposed in the lower area and the upper area are disposed to be inclined toward the intermediate area.

4. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of solar cells are disposed to be perpendicular to the one side surface of the transparent material layer.

5. The photovoltaic module of claim 4, wherein the transparent material layer is divided into an intermediate area, a lower area, and an upper area in a height direction, and wherein a density of the solar cells disposed in the intermediate area is higher than a density of the solar cells disposed in the lower area and the upper area.

6. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the transparent material layer is divided into an intermediate area, a lower area, and an upper area in a height direction, and wherein a width of the solar cells disposed in the intermediate area is higher than a width of the solar cells disposed in the lower area and the upper area.

7. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the one side surface of the transparent material layer has a preset radius of curvature, and wherein the plurality of solar cells are disposed in parallel to an imaginary line that connects an origin of the radius of curvature and the one side surface of the transparent material layer.

8. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the one side surface of the transparent material layer is inclined, and wherein the plurality of solar cells are disposed in parallel to each other.

9. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, further comprising: a glass layer disposed on an opposite side surface of the transparent material layer.

10. The photovoltaic module of claim 9, further comprising: a concentrator disposed in the transparent material layer.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional window.

[0057] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional photovoltaic module.

[0058] FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a conventional photovoltaic module.

[0059] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0060] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating comparison of horizontal arrangement and vertical arrangement states of solar cells.

[0061] FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphs depicting collection rates that vary according to a solar cell arrangement state of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0062] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating arrangement states of solar cells and concentrators of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0063] FIG. 8 is a graph depicting light collection rate states according to installation of solar cells and concentrators of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0064] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0065] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0066] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0067] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE

[0068] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present disclosure should not be construed to be limited to the following embodiments. The embodiments of the present disclosure are provided to describe the present invention for those skilled in the art more completely. Accordingly, the shapes of the components of the drawings are exaggerated to emphasize clearer description thereof.

[0069] The configurations of the present disclosure for clearly describing a solution for the problem that is to be solved by the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings based on a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the same reference numerals are given for the same elements in denoting the reference numerals for the elements even though they are present in different drawings, and when a drawing has to be referenced for a description of the embodiment, the elements in another drawing also may be cited.

[0070] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0071] First, referring to FIG. 4, a photovoltaic module 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may include a transparent material layer 110, a glass layer 120, solar cells 130, and concentrators 140.

[0072] The transparent material layer 110 may have a thin film shape that has a length in a height direction (the Z axis direction), and may be formed of a light transmitting material.

[0073] Here, the transparent material layer 110 includes one side surface 110a, and an opposite side surface 110b that is an opposite surface to the one side surface 110a, in a widthwise direction (the X axis direction).

[0074] The glass layer 120 may be joined to the opposite side surface 110b of the transparent material layer 110 to face a user 1. The glass layer 120 not only may be applied as a window while showing transparent characteristics but also may enhance an efficiency of insulation energy.

[0075] The solar cells 130 may be disposed in a shape that is inserted into one side of the transparent material layer 110.

[0076] Here, the solar cells 130 may have a shape with a thickness “T” and a width “W”.

[0077] For example, thin film type solar cells 130 having a thickness of 10 nm to 10 μm or silicon solar cells 130 having a thickness of 50 μm to 300 μm may be applied as the solar cells 130.

[0078] In detail, the kinds of the solar cells 130 applied in the present disclosure are not limited, but silicon solar cells and the like may be applied in the present disclosure.

[0079] That is, the silicon solar cells may be variously classified according to thin film deposition temperatures, kinds of boards used, and deposition schemes, and may be largely classified into multi-crystalline and crystalline silicon solar cells according to crystal characteristics of the light absorbing layer.

[0080] A crystalline solar cell that is a representative silicon solar cell is a solar cell, a board of which is made of a crystalline silicon wafer. Furthermore, the silicon solar cell is manufactured to have a multi-junction structure, such as a tandem, in which a solar cell that absorbs light of another wavelength is stacked on a silicon solar cell, or a triple junction, in which a solar cell that absorbs light of still another wavelength is stacked thereon, or to have a hybrid structure to increase a conversion efficiency to a level of a silicon solar cell or more.

[0081] The solar cells 130, to which the silicon solar cells having the above characteristics are applied, are inserted into or injection-molded in the transparent material layer 110 to have transparent characteristics.

[0082] In the present disclosure, the solar cells 130 are installed in a horizontal arrangement that is perpendicular to a height direction of the transparent material layer 110, and are installed in a range, in which they are neither hindered by interferences of an incident angle of sunlight nor interfered in a range of a field of view of the user 1.

[0083] Meanwhile, the solar cells 130 may include a plurality of solar cells 130 that are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a height direction (the Z axis direction).

[0084] Here, the plurality of solar cells 130 are preferably disposed to be spaced apart from each other at an equal interval, and are installed in a horizontal arrangement in the transparent material layer 110 in a range, in which they are not interfered in a range of a field of view of the user 1.

[0085] Here, the horizontal arrangement means that they are disposed to have a width in a widthwise direction (the X axis direction) that is perpendicular to the one side surface 110a of the transparent material layer 110 in an upright state in the height direction (the Z axis direction).

[0086] Meanwhile, the perpendicular relationship in the first embodiment of the present disclosure may mean that an angle therebetween is an angle (for example, 80° to 100°) that is adjacent to a right angle.

[0087] However, a range of the angle that defines the perpendicular relationship is not limited in the present disclosure.

[0088] Furthermore, a visual ray, a near-infrared, and an ultraviolet pass through a transparent material layer in spaces between the solar cells 130.

[0089] It is apparent that the light passes through the transparent material layer 110 whereby visibility is secured and the transmission property of the transparent material layer 110 is guaranteed because there is no interference due to a field of view through gaps between the solar cells 130.

[0090] Meanwhile, the solar cells 130 may be of a double-side light reception type as described above, but in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the solar cells 130 may have light receiving surfaces 130a such that the light receiving surfaces 130a face an upper side and have non-light receiving surfaces 130b such that the non-light receiving surfaces 130b face a lower side.

[0091] That is, the solar cells 130 may be installed in a horizontal arrangement in the transparent material layer 110, and may collect the input sunlight L through the light receiving surfaces 130a and may perform a photovoltaic conversion.

[0092] The concentrators 140 may be disposed in a form of a plurality of nano particles in the transparent material layer 110, and may disperse the input sunlight “L” and concentrate the light toward the solar cells 130, and through this, may enhance photovoltaic efficiency.

[0093] Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) may be applied as the concentrators 140.

[0094] Hereinafter, characteristics of the photovoltaic module 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0095] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating comparison of horizontal arrangement and vertical arrangement states of solar cells. FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphs depicting collection rates that vary according to a solar cell arrangement state of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating arrangement states of solar cells and concentrators of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a graph depicting light collection rate states according to installation of solar cells and concentrators of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0096] Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B, as in Table 1 as follows, it can be seen that collection rates vary according to the vertical arrangement or the horizontal arrangement of the solar cells 130.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Incident angle of 0 Transverse 2 Transverse 3 Transverse 4 Longitudinal Longitudinal Longitudinal degrees mm mm mm 2 mm 3 mm 4 mm Jsc 26.2 26.4 26.4 28.8 31.3 33.5 (mA/cm.sup.2) Collection 3.6 2.4 1.8 4 2.9 2.3 rates

[0097] As in Table 1, it may be seen that the collection rate increases when the longitudinal lengths of the solar cells 130 are much larger than the transverse lengths of the solar cells 130 and thus the collection rate becomes higher in the horizontal arrangement than in the vertical arrangement.

[0098] As a result, it is preferable that the solar cells 130 are installed in the horizontal arrangement scheme in the present disclosure.

[0099] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, it may be seen that light collection rates become lower by 20% due to losses related to scattering of the sunlight, reemission of light, and reabsorption of light as the gaps between the solar cells 130 become larger.

[0100] As a result, the plurality of concentrators 140 may be installed between the solar cells 130 to enhance the light collection rate.

[0101] Hereinafter, a solar cell according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

[0102] Meanwhile, in a description of the photovoltaic module according to the another embodiment of the present disclosure, only different configurations from the configurations of the photovoltaic module of the prior embodiment will be described in detail, and a detailed description of the same configurations and the repeated reference numerals will be omitted.

[0103] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0104] Referring to FIG. 9, a photovoltaic module 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure may include the transparent material layer 110, the glass layer 120, solar cells 230, and the concentrators 140.

[0105] Hereinafter, only the configuration of the solar cells 230 will be described in detail in the description of the photovoltaic module 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0106] Here, the transparent material layer 110 is divided into an intermediate area A1, a lower area A2, and an upper area A3 in a height direction.

[0107] Here, the intermediate area A1 may be defined as an area corresponding to the head of the user 1.

[0108] For example, the intermediate area A1 may be defined as an area corresponding to a distance between 1 m to 2 m from a ground surface.

[0109] Furthermore, the lower area A2 may be defined as an area from a lower end of the transparent material layer 110 to a lower end of the intermediate area A1, and the upper area A1 may be defined as an area from an upper end of the transparent material layer 110 to an upper end of the intermediate area A1.

[0110] The solar cells 230 may include a plurality of solar cells 231, 232, 233, 234, and 235 disposed in the transparent material layer 110.

[0111] As an example, the solar cells 230 may include a plurality of solar cells 231, 232, and 233 disposed in the intermediate area A1 of the transparent material layer 110, and a plurality of solar cells 234 and 235 disposed in the lower area A2 and the upper area A3.

[0112] Here, the lower area A2 and the upper area A3 may be symmetrical to each other.

[0113] Meanwhile, a spacing distance between the plurality of solar cells 231, 232, and 233 disposed in the intermediate area A1 may be smaller than a spacing distance between the plurality of solar cells 234 and 235 disposed in the lower area A2 and the upper area A3.

[0114] That is, a density of the solar cells 231, 232, and 233 disposed in the intermediate area A1 may be higher than a density of the solar cells 234 and 235 disposed in the lower area A2 and the upper area A3.

[0115] Furthermore, a width W1 of the plurality of solar cells 231, 232, and 233 disposed in the intermediate area A1 may be larger than a width W2 of the plurality of solar cells 234 and 235 disposed in the lower area A2 and the upper area A3.

[0116] Meanwhile, since the solar cells 230 have thicknesses of several nano meters to several micro meters, they may not be visible or may be recognized as very thin lines to the user 1 when they are viewed at the same height, but when the heights of the solar cells 230 are different from the height of the view point of the user 1, the recognized thicknesses of the solar cells 230 increases due to the width “W” of the solar cells 230, and thus the visibility may be degraded.

[0117] That is, the photovoltaic module 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure may enhance visibility by dividing the transparent material layer 110 into the intermediate area A1, the lower area A2, and the upper area A3 in the height direction with respect to the view point of the user 1, and adjusting the width of the solar cells 230 disposed in the areas A1, A2, and A3 such that the thicknesses thereof may be viewed as the thickness “T” of nano meters in the same or very similar range at the view point of the user 1.

[0118] Furthermore, the photovoltaic module 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure may enhance photovoltaic efficiency without any degradation of visibility by disposing a larger number of solar cells 230 in the intermediate area A1 having a similar height to that the view point of the user 1 than in the other areas A2 and A3.

[0119] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0120] Referring to FIG. 10, a photovoltaic module 300 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure may include the transparent material layer 110, the glass layer 120, solar cells 330, and the concentrators 140.

[0121] Hereinafter, only the configuration of the solar cells 330 will be described in detail in the description of the photovoltaic module 300 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0122] Here, the transparent material layer 110 is divided into an intermediate area A1, a lower area A2, and an upper area A3 in a height direction.

[0123] Here, the intermediate area A1 may be defined as an area corresponding to the head of the user 1.

[0124] For example, the intermediate area A1 may be defined as an area corresponding to a distance between 1 m to 2 m from a ground surface.

[0125] Furthermore, the lower area A2 may be defined as an area from a lower end of the transparent material layer 110 to a lower end of the intermediate area A1, and the upper area A3 may be defined as an area from an upper end of the transparent material layer 110 to an upper end of the intermediate area A1.

[0126] The solar cells 330 may include a plurality of solar cells 331, 332, and 333 disposed in the transparent material layer 110.

[0127] As an example, the solar cells 330 may include the solar cells 331 disposed in the intermediate area A1 of the transparent material layer 110, and a plurality of solar cells 332 and 333 disposed in the lower area A2 and the upper area A3.

[0128] Here, the lower area A2 and the upper area A3 may be symmetrical to each other.

[0129] Meanwhile, the plurality of solar cells 331 disposed in the intermediate area A1 may be installed in a horizontal arrangement that is perpendicular to a height direction of the transparent material layer 110, and the plurality of solar cells 332 and 333 disposed in the lower area A2 and the upper area A3 may be disposed to face the intermediate area A1 to have a preset angle.

[0130] Here, angles defined by the plurality of solar cells 332 and 333 disposed in the lower area A2 and the upper area A3 and the one side surface 110a of the transparent material layer 110 may be acute angles.

[0131] Furthermore, the angle θ1 defined by the solar cells 332 disposed to be closer to the intermediate area A1 and the one side surface 110a of the transparent material layer 110 may be larger than the angle θ2 defined by the solar cells 333 disposed to be farther from the intermediate area A1 and the one side surface 110a of the transparent material layer 110.

[0132] This arrangement, as illustrated in FIG. 10, may be one, in which the plurality of solar cells 331, 332, and 333 are rotated to face the view point of the user 1.

[0133] Meanwhile, since the solar cells 330 have thicknesses of several nano meters to several micro meters, they may not be visible or may be recognized as very thin lines to the user 1 when they are viewed at the same height, but when the heights of the solar cells 330 are different from the height of the view point of the user 1, the recognized thicknesses of the solar cells 330 increases due to the width “W” of the solar cells 330, and thus the visibility may be degraded.

[0134] That is, the photovoltaic module 300 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure may enhance visibility by dividing the transparent material layer 110 into the intermediate area A1, the lower area A2, and the upper area A3 in the height direction with respect to the view point of the user 1, and adjusting the disposition angle of the solar cells 330 disposed in the areas A1, A2, and A3 such that the thicknesses thereof may be viewed as the thickness “T” of nano meters in the same or very similar range at the view point of the user 1.

[0135] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0136] Referring to FIG. 11, a photovoltaic module 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure may include a transparent material layer 410, a glass layer 420, solar cells 430, and the concentrators 140.

[0137] Hereinafter, only the configurations of the transparent material layer 410, the glass layer 420, and the solar cells 430 will be described in detail in the description of the photovoltaic module 400 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0138] Here, the transparent material layer 410 may have a fan shape that has a preset radius of curvature with respect to an origin “P”.

[0139] That is, one side surface 410a and an opposite side surface 410b of the transparent material layer 410 may have an arc.

[0140] The glass layer 420 may be disposed on the opposite side surface 410b to cover the opposite side surface 410b of the transparent material layer 410.

[0141] The solar cells 430 may be disposed to be inserted into the one side surface 410a of the transparent material layer 410, and may include a plurality of solar cells 430.

[0142] Here, the solar cells 430 may be disposed on an imaginary line that extends from the one side surface 410a of the transparent material layer 410 to the origin “P”.

[0143] That is, the solar cells 430 may be disposed to face the origin “P”.

[0144] Here, the origin “P” may have a similar height to the view point of the user 1.

[0145] Meanwhile, since the solar cells 430 have thicknesses of several nano meters to several micro meters, they may not be visible or may be recognized as very thin lines to the user 1 when they are viewed at the same height, but when the heights of the solar cells 430 are different from the height of the view point of the user 1, the recognized thicknesses of the solar cells 430 increases due to the width “W” of the solar cells 430, and thus the visibility may be degraded.

[0146] That is, the photovoltaic module 400 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure may enhance visibility by adjusting the disposition angle of the solar cells 430 disposed in the transparent material layer 410 of the fan shape in the same direction with respect to the view point of the user 1 such that the thicknesses thereof may be viewed as the thickness “T” of nano meters in the same or very similar range at the view point of the user 1.

[0147] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment of a photovoltaic module of the present disclosure.

[0148] Referring to FIG. 12, a photovoltaic module 500 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure may include a transparent material layer 510, the glass layer 120, solar cells 530, and the concentrators 140.

[0149] Hereinafter, only the configurations of the transparent material layer 510 and the solar cells 530 will be described in detail in the description of the photovoltaic module 500 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0150] Here, the transparent material layer 510 may have one side surface 510a that is inclined, and an opposite side surface 510b on an opposite side thereof.

[0151] The solar cells 530 may be disposed to be inserted into the one side surface 510a of the transparent material layer 510, and may include a plurality of solar cells 531, 532, 533, and 534.

[0152] Here, the plurality of solar cells 530 may have different widths according to an inclination of the one side surface 510a of the transparent material layer 510.

[0153] That is, in the photovoltaic module 500 according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure may maintain or enhance photovoltaic efficiency by deforming the shapes of the plurality of solar cells 530 even when the shape of the transparent material layer 510 is deformed.

[0154] The above detailed description exemplifies the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-mentioned contents describe the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure may be used in various other combinations, changes, and environments. That is, the present disclosure can be modified and corrected without departing from the scope of the present disclosure that is disclosed in the specification, the equivalent scope to the written disclosures, and/or the technical or knowledge range of those skilled in the art. The written embodiment describes the best state for implementing the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and various changes required in the detailed application fields and purposes of the present disclosure can be made. Accordingly, the detailed description of the present disclosure is not intended to restrict the present invention in the disclosed embodiment state. Furthermore, it should be construed that the attached claims include other embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0155] 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700: photovoltaic module [0156] 110: transparent material layer [0157] 120: glass layer [0158] 130: solar cells [0159] 140: concentrator