SOLAR-CELL MODULE

Abstract

A solar cell module, having at least one first module segment, wherein the first module segment includes a first subsegment and at least one second subsegment, the first and the second subsegment each have at least one solar cell string and each solar cell string has a plurality of solar cells interconnected in series. The first module segment includes a first and an at least second bypass element and bypass connectors. These bypass elements are interconnected via the bypass connectors within the module segment. The shading properties, the electrical characteristics and the material expenditure in the production of the solar module are advantageously adapted via advantageous circuit and geometry arrangements of the elements.

Claims

1. A solar cell module, comprising: a first module segment (3a), wherein the first module segment (3a) comprises a first subsegment (2a) and at least one second subsegment (2b), the first subsegment and the at least one second subsegment (2a, 2b) each comprise at least one solar cell string (1a, 1b) and each said solar cell string (1a, 1b) comprises a plurality of solar cells (8) connected in series, wherein the first subsegment and the at least one second subsegment (2a, 2b) of the first module segment (3a) each comprise first and second electrical poles (2a.1, 2a.2), wherein the second pole of the first subsegment (2a.2) and the first pole of the second subsegment (2b.1) are electrically conductively connected by a subsegment connector (6a) of the first module segment (3a) to form a series circuit of the first and second subsegment (2a, 2b), the first module segment (3a) comprises a first and at least a second bypass element (4a, 4b), wherein a first pole of the first bypass element (4a.1) of the first module segment (3a) is connected to the first pole of the first subsegment (2a.1) of the first module segment (3a), a second pole of the second bypass element (4b.2) of the first module segment (3a) is electrically conductively connected to the second pole of the second subsegment (2b.2) of the first module segment (3a) and a second pole of the first bypass element (4a.2) of the first module segment (3a) and a first pole of the second bypass element (4b.1) of the first module segment (3a) are electrically conductively connected by a bypass connector (5a) to the subsegment connector (6a) of the first module segment, a second module segment (3b) which comprises a first and at least a second bypass element (4c, 4d), wherein a first pole of the first bypass element (4c.1) of the second module segment (3b) is connected to a first pole of a first subsegment (2c.1) of the second module segment (3b), a second pole of the second bypass element (4d.2) of the second module segment (3b) is electrically conductively connected to a second pole of a second subsegment (2d.2) of the second module segment (3b) and a second pole of the first bypass element (4c.2) of the second module segment (3b), the first pole of the second bypass element (4d.1) of the second module segment (3b) are electrically conductively connected by a bypass connector (5b) to a subsegment connector (6b) of the second module segment (3b), and the first and the second module segment (3a, 3b) are indirectly or directly interconnected in series or in parallel.

2. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass connectors (5) of the first and second module segments (3) are arranged between the first subsegment and the second subsegment (2) of the respective first and second module segments (3).

3. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass connectors (5) of the first and second module segments (3) are arranged between the respective first module segment and the second module segment (3).

4. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one segment connector (7) for the series interconnection or parallel interconnection of the first and second module segments (3) arranged between the first and the second module segment (3).

5. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first module segment and the second module segment (3) which are connected by the at least one segment connector (7) are arranged adjacent to one another in a longitudinal arrangement which is perpendicular to an orientation of the solar cell strings (1).

6. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solar cell strings (1) are arranged such a that the solar cell module has a short edge and a long edge, and the solar cell strings (1) of a subsegment (2) are arranged parallel to the short edge within the solar cell module along a linear row.

7. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solar cell strings (1) of one of the subsegments (2) of one of the module segments (3) comprise an identical number of solar cells (8) as the solar cell strings (1) of the further ones of the subsegments (2) of the module segment (3), and the module segments (3) connected via segment connectors (7) comprise an identical number of solar cell strings (1) and the solar cell strings (1) each comprise the identical number of solar cells (8).

8. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the subsegments (2) of one of the module segments (3) lie in a plane and the bypass elements (4) of the respective module segment (3) are arranged spaced apart from the plane.

9. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple module segment groups (13) are arranged in stacks, so that the solar cells (8) of the solar cell string (1) of the subsegment (2) of one of the module segments (3) and the solar cells (8) of the solar cell string (1) of the subsegment (2) of a further one of the module segments (3) are arranged one over another.

10. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the multiple module segment groups (13) that are stacked over one another are electrically conductively connected via a module segment stack connector so that the module segment stacks (13) are oriented adjacent to one another in a longitudinal arrangement which is perpendicular to an alignment of the solar cell string (1) extension direction.

11. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first subsegment and the second subsegment (2) of the module segment (3) are arranged parallel adjacent to one another and are electrically connected in series in a first peripheral area by the subsegment connector (6).

12. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of a) the bypass connector (5) has a length less than 250 cm, or b) the bypass connector (5) has a length greater than 30 cm.

13. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bypass connector (5) of at least one of the module segments (3) lies in a first plane and the respective solar cells (8) of the module segment (3) lie in a second plane, which is spaced apart from the first plane.

14. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the solar cells (8) or the solar cell module (3) have a rectangular shape having an aspect ratio greater than one.

15. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second module segments (3) of the solar cell module each additionally comprise a subsegment (2) and a third module segment (3) is arranged between the first and the second module segment (3), wherein the first and the second module segment (3) each comprise a third bypass element (4), the subsegments (2) are arranged in four subsegment pairs lying parallel to one another, wherein the three bypass elements (4) of the first module segment (3) are arranged in a middle between the first and the second subsegment pair of the module, the first bypass element and the second bypass element (4) of the third module segment (3) are arranged in a middle between the first subsegment (2) and the second subsegment (2) of the third module segment (3), and the three bypass elements (4) of the second module segment (3) are arranged in a middle between the third and the fourth subsegment pair of the module.

16. The solar cell module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one mirror plane, wherein at least a spatial arrangement of the solar cells and the bypass elements is formed mirror symmetrically to the mirror plane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] Further preferred features and embodiments are explained hereinafter on the basis of exemplary embodiments and figures.

[0071] FIGS. 1 to 11 and FIG. 15 each show an exemplary embodiment of a solar cell module according to the invention.

[0072] FIGS. 12 to 14 show solar cells which are used in the exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] The figures show schematic representations or arrangements which are not to scale. Identical reference signs in the figures designate identical or identically acting elements.

[0074] FIGS. 1, 3 to 11, and 16 each show an exemplary embodiment of a solar cell module according to the invention, which has a mirror plane S. This mirror plane S extends through the arrow symbols shown in the figures and is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In FIGS. 1 and 3 to 11, the spatial arrangements of the solar cells and the spatial arrangements of the bypass diodes are mirror symmetrical to the mirror plane S, but the electrical orientation of the solar cells is not (arrangement of the positive and negative terminals of the solar cell via which the solar cell is connected in series to the adjacent solar cell). The electrical orientation is identified by an arrow symbol in each solar cell. With respect to the electrical orientation of the solar cells, in these exemplary embodiments a translation perpendicular to the mirror plane S of the left half of the solar cell module with respect to the right half is present. In contrast, the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 16 also has a mirror symmetry to the mirror plane S with respect to the electrical orientation of the solar cells.

[0075] The exemplary embodiment of a solar cell module according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises two module segments 3a and 3b. The subsegments 2a and 2b are assigned to the module segments 3a and the subsegments 2c and 2d are assigned to the module segment 3b by dashed lines in each case.

[0076] The solar cell strings 1a and 1b are assigned to the subsegment 2a, and a plurality of solar cells 8 are assigned to each of these strings. The solar cell strings 1c and 1d are assigned to the subsegment 2b, and a plurality of solar cells 8 are assigned to each of these strings. The solar cell strings 1e and 1f are assigned to the subsegment 2c, and a plurality of solar cells 8 are assigned to each of these strings. The solar cell strings 1g and 1h are assigned to the subsegment 2d, and a plurality of solar cells 8 are assigned to each of these strings. By way of example, the solar cells 8 of the solar cell strings 1a to 1h are each in a number of 16. The solar cells are schematically shown by a triangle arranged in a rectangle. This schematic representation represents the equivalent circuit diagram of a solar cell. The underlying equivalent circuit diagram is based on the general procedure description within a solar cell via the two diode module. In this case, the orientation of the triangle within the rectangle refers to the diode arrangement of the two diodes within the equivalent circuit diagram. The technical current flow direction within the solar cell therefore corresponds to a direction directed against the triangle orientation.

[0077] The solar cells of the solar cell strings 1a to 1h are connected in series. The solar cell strings 1a and 1b are arranged interconnected in parallel in the subsegment 2a. The solar cell strings 1e and 1d are arranged interconnected in parallel in the subsegment 2b. The solar cell strings 1e and 1f are arranged interconnected in parallel in the subsegment 2c. The solar cell strings 1g and 1h are arranged interconnected in parallel in the subsegment 2d.

[0078] A subsegment connector 6a is arranged between subsegment 2a and subsegment 2b. This subsegment connector 6a establishes an electrically conductive connection between the pole 2a.2 of the subsegment 2a and the pole 2b.1 of the subsegment 2b. A subsegment connector 6b is arranged between subsegment 2c and subsegment 2d. This subsegment connector 6d establishes an electrically conductive connection between the pole 2c.2 of the subsegment 2c and the pole 2d.1 of the subsegment 2d.

[0079] The pole 4a.1 of the bypass element 4a is electrically conductively connected to the pole 2a.1 of the subsegment 2a. The pole 4b.2 of the bypass element 4b is electrically conductively connected to the pole 2b.2 of the subsegment 2b. The poles 4a.2 and 4b.1 are electrically conductively connected via the bypass connector 5a to the contact 6a.3 of the subsegment connector 6a.

[0080] The pole 4c.1 of the bypass element 4c is electrically conductively connected to the pole 2c.1 of the subsegment 2c. The pole 4d.2 of the bypass element 4d is electrically conductively connected to the pole 2d.2 of the subsegment 2d. The poles 4c.2 and 4d.1 are electrically conductively connected via the bypass connector 5b to the contact 6b.3 of the subsegment connector 6b.

[0081] The bypass elements 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are each designed as a bypass diode. It is also within the scope of the invention to design the bypass elements in an alternative embodiment as described above, for example, each as a MOSFET.

[0082] The module segment 3a is electrically conductively connected to the module segment 3b via a segment connector 7. The segment connector 7 interconnects the pole 2b.2 of the subsegment 2b of the module segment 3a with the pole 2c.1 of the subsegment 2e of the module segment 3b in this case.

[0083] In addition to the circuitry arrangement, the exemplary embodiment has a layout described as follows in a top view. The module segments 3a and 3b are adjacent to one another, wherein the module segment 3b is to the right of the module segment 3a. The subsegments 2a to 2d of the module segments 3a and 3b are arranged in parallel to one another, so that the solar cells 8 of the solar cell strings 1a to 1h arranged in series are also arranged in parallel to one another, wherein the individual solar cells 8 of the solar cell strings 1a to 1h form a solar cell grid which can be divided into rows and columns. A solar module grid is superordinate to the solar cell grid. The arrangement described in this example of the figure may be described via this grid.

[0084] The solar cell module comprises two solar cell columns arranged on the left, with which the subsegment 2a in the form of solar cell strings 1a and 1b are associated. This is followed by a further column which contains the bypass connector 5a. The following columns are again two solar cell columns with which the subsegment 2b in the form of solar cell strings 1c and 1d are associated. The following columns are again two solar cell columns with which the subsegment 2c in the form of solar cell strings 1e and 1f are associated. This is followed by a further column which contains the bypass connector 5b. The following columns are again two solar cell columns with which the subsegment 2d in the form of solar cell strings 1g and 1h are associated.

[0085] The subsegment connector 6a extends within the last row of the solar module grid over the first five columns, which comprises the two solar cell columns of the subsegment 2a, the column of the bypass connector 5a, and the two solar cell columns of the subsegment 2b.

[0086] The subsegment connector 6b extends within the last row of the solar module grid over the second five columns, which comprises the two solar cell columns of the subsegment 2c, that of the bypass connector 5b, and the two solar cell columns of the subsegment 2d.

[0087] The segment connector 7 extends within the first row of the solar module grid over the middle four columns, which comprises the two solar cell columns of the subsegment 2b and the two solar cell columns of the subsegment 2c.

[0088] The second module segment 3b represents a translational displacement of the first module segment 3a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first module segment 3a.

[0089] At the upper edge in FIG. 1, the position is identified schematically by symbols + and at which the positive and negative contact for interconnecting the solar cell module with an external circuit, in particular with further solar cell modules, are arranged on the rear side on the solar cell module. It is within the scope of the invention in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and also in the other figures that in a reversed solar cell direction arrangement, the respective polarization of the contacts of the solar module is exchanged.

[0090] The maps map 1 to map 4 shown in FIG. 2 show a module segment under different shading conditions and thus show the advantages of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The shadings of the shading scenarios are schematically represented as a dark rectangle over V1 to V4. The respective current flow directions are indicated via the green arrows S1 to S7.

[0091] The scenario 1 which is shown in map 1 is not subject to any shading. A current flow is thus provided from the terminal pole of the module segment identified by via the subsegment 2b via the subsegment connector via the subsegment 2a to the terminal pole identified by +. This represents the normal case of the module. The bypass elements 4 are inactive.

[0092] The scenario 2 which is shown in map 2 is subject to a shading V1. This shading affects solar cells of the subsegment 2a. The solar cells shaded in this scenario are operated with a large negative voltage; this is the case when the current at the operating point of the cell string is above the short-circuit current of the shaded solar cell 8. In this case, a current S3 flows via the bypass connector through the bypass element 4a, the negative voltage at the subsegment 2a is limited by the bypass element 4a and therefore the maximum power loss at the shaded solar cell 8 is also.

[0093] The scenario 3 which is shown in map 3 is subject to a shading V2. This shading affects solar cells of the subsegment 2b. The solar cells shaded in this scenario are operated with a large negative voltage; this is the case when the current at the operating point of the cell string is above the short-circuit current of the shaded solar cell 8. In this case, a current S6 flows via the bypass connector through the bypass element 4b, the negative voltage at the subsegment 2b is limited by the bypass element 4b and therefore the maximum power loss at the shaded solar cell 8 is also.

[0094] The scenario 4 which is shown in map 4 is subject to two shadings V3 and V4. These shadings affect solar cells 8 of the subsegment 2a and solar cells 8 of the subsegment 2b. The solar cells shaded in this scenario are operated with a large negative voltage; this is the case when the current at the operating point of the respective cell string is above the short-circuit current of the shaded cell. In this case, a current S7 flows through the bypass element 4a and the bypass element 4b, the negative voltages at the subsegment 2a at the subsegment 2b are limited by the bypass elements 4a and 4b and therefore the voltage at the shaded solar cells 8 of the subsegments 4a and 4b is also. Due to this advantageous configuration, a residual output power of the solar cell module always remains even upon shading of a complete solar cell. Furthermore, the advantage results that the bypass elements 4a and 4b and the bypass elements 4c and 4d can each be arranged in a junction box.

[0095] FIGS. 3 to 13 each show modified exemplary embodiments. To avoid repetitions, only the significant differences from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are discussed hereinafter:

[0096] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the module segments 3a and 3b comprise a further module segment 3c. This further module segment 3c is electrically conductively connected via the segment connector 7b to the module segment 3b. The module segment 3c is arranged on the right adjacent to the module segment 3b. The advantage results in this way that an expansion of the configuration shown in exemplary embodiment 1 is to be implemented in a structurally simple manner via a module segment addition.

[0097] The module segments 3b and 3c represent a translational displacement of the first module segment 3a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first module segment 3a.

[0098] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 (module group arrangement G2), the module segment 3a comprises two additional subsegments 2c and 2d and two additional bypass elements 4c and 4d. The module segment 3b also comprises two additional subsegments 2g and 2h and two additional bypass elements 4g and 4h. The bypass element 4c is connected in parallel to subsegment 2c. The bypass element 4d is connected in parallel to subsegment 2d. The bypass element 4g is connected in parallel to subsegment 2g. The bypass element 4h is connected in parallel to subsegment 2h. The subsegment 2c together with the bypass element 4c is connected in series to the subsegment 2a of the module segment 3a. The subsegment 2d together with the bypass element 4d is connected in series to the subsegment 2b of the module segment 3a. The subsegment 2g together with the bypass element 4g is connected in series to the subsegment 2d. The subsegment 2g together with the bypass element 4g is connected in series to the subsegment 2e of the module segment 3b. The subsegment 2h together with the bypass element 4h is connected in series to the subsegment 2f of the module segment 3b. In this exemplary embodiment, the bypass elements 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are arranged in the middle between the subsegments 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d and the bypass elements 4e, 4f, 4g, and 4h are arranged in the middle between the subsegments 2e, 2f, 2g, and 2h.

[0099] The module segment 3b represents a translational displacement of the first module segment 3a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first module segment 3a. The subsegments 2c and 2g represent a translational displacement of the subsegment 2a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8. The subsegments 2d and 2h represent a translational displacement of the subsegment 2b with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8.

[0100] The advantage results in this way that the number of solar cells 8 of a solar cell string 1 of a subsegment 2 which is protected in case of shading via a bypass element 4 is less than in exemplary embodiment 1. Shading losses caused by lesser solar cell string lengths are thus reduced. Furthermore, the reliability is increased, since in case of shading the power loss in the shaded cells, which is dependent on the number of the cells of a solar cell string, is reduced.

[0101] The exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIG. 5 shows an arrangement of three module group arrangements G2.1, G2.2, and G2.3, which each correspond to the module group arrangement G2 from FIG. 4. The module group arrangement G2.3 is arranged on the right adjacent to two module group arrangements G2.1 and G2.2, which represent exemplary embodiment 4. The advantage results in this way that an expansion of the configuration shown in exemplary embodiment 4 is to be implemented in a structurally simple manner via a module segment addition.

[0102] The module group arrangements G2.2 and G2.3 represent a translational displacement of the first module group arrangements G2.1 with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first module group arrangements.

[0103] The exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIG. 6 shows an arrangement of two module group arrangements G2.1, G2.2, which each correspond to the module group arrangement G2 from FIG. 4. The module group arrangement G2.1 comprises two additional subsegments 2i and 2j and two additional bypass elements 4i and 4j. The module group arrangement G2.2 comprises two additional subsegments 2k and 2l and two additional bypass elements 4k and 4l. The bypass element 4i is connected in parallel to subsegment 2i. The bypass element 4j is connected in parallel to subsegment 2j. The bypass element 4k is connected in parallel to subsegment 2k. The bypass element 4l is connected in parallel to subsegment 2l.

[0104] The subsegment 2i together with the bypass element 4i is connected in series to the subsegment 2c of the module group arrangements G2.1. The subsegment 2j together with the bypass element 4j is connected in series to the subsegment 2d of the module group arrangements G2.1. The subsegment 2k together with the bypass element 4k is connected in series to the subsegment 2j. The subsegment 2k together with the bypass element 4k is connected in series to the subsegment 2g of the module group arrangements G2.2. The subsegment 2l together with the bypass element 41 is connected in series to the subsegment 2h of the module group arrangements G2.2.

[0105] The module group arrangements G2.2 represent a translational displacement of the module group arrangements G2.1 with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first subsegment 2a. The subsegments 2i and 2k represent a translational displacement of the subsegments 2a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8. The subsegments 2j and 2l represent a translational displacement of the subsegment 2b with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8.

[0106] The advantage results in this way that the number of solar cells 8 of a solar cell string 1 of a subsegment 2 which is protected in case of shading via a bypass element 4 is less than in the exemplary embodiment 5. Shading losses caused by lesser solar cell string lengths are thus reduced. Furthermore, the reliability is increased, since in case of shading the power loss in the shaded cells, which depends on the number of the cells of a solar cell string, is reduced.

[0107] The exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIG. 7 shows a similar arrangement as shown in FIG. 1. However, in this embodiment the segment connector 7 and the bypass elements 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are housed inside a junction box 9. If one observes the arrangement by means of the solar module grid, the bypass connectors 5a and 5b and the bypass elements 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are in the middle column with two solar cell columns (made up of subsegment 2c and subsegment 2d) on the right and two solar cell columns (made up of subsegment 2a and subsegment 2b) on the left. The advantage results in this way that the segment connector can be housed inside the junction box and is therefore flexibly positionable. Moreover, this has an installation advantage since the interconnection via the junction box is freely accessible. It is therefore possible to couple or decouple a complete module segment easily. Moreover, it is possible to arrange the bypass connectors one over another, in particular perpendicular to a planar extension of the solar cell module. The advantage results in this way that the area utilization is improved, which leads to an increase of the efficiency.

[0108] The exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIG. 8 shows a special embodiment of the embodiment from FIG. 1. In this case, the bypass connectors 5a and 5b are each attached behind the solar cell plane, isolated by an insulation layer 10a and 10b, between the subsegments 2a and 2b or the subsegments 2c and 2d and the bypass elements 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are attached above the subsegment connectors. Because of this arrangement, the solar cells 8 can be arranged in an advantageously uniform grid. All columns are therefore occupied by solar cells 8.

[0109] The exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIG. 9 shows a special embodiment of the embodiment from FIG. 1. In this case, the bypass connectors 5a and 5b are each attached behind the solar cell plane, insulated by an insulation layer 10a and 10b, and by way of example below subsegment 2b or subsegment 2d and the bypass elements 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are attached above the subsegment connectors. Because of this arrangement, the solar cells 8 can be arranged in an advantageously uniform grid. All columns are therefore occupied by solar cells 8.

[0110] The embodiment shown in FIG. 10 comprises a first module segment 3a and a second module segment 3b, which are each additionally expanded by a subsegment 2e and 2h and a third module segment 3c. This third module segment 3c is arranged between the first module segment 3a and the second module segment 3b. The first module segment 3a and the second module segment 3b each comprise a third bypass element 4c and 4h. The subsegments 2a to 2h are arranged in parallel to one another in four subsegment pairs (2c and 2a, 2d and 2b, 2g and 2e, 2h and 2f). The three bypass elements 4c, 4a, and 4b of the first module segment 3a are arranged in the middle between the first subsegment pair (2c and 2a) and second subsegment pair (2d and 2b) of the module. The first bypass element 4d and second bypass element 4g of the third module segment 3c are arranged in the middle between the first subsegment 2d and the second subsegment 2g of the third module segment 3c. The bypass elements 4e, 4f, and 4h of the second module segment 3c are arranged in the middle between the third subsegment pair (2g and 2e) and fourth subsegment pair (2h and 2f) of the module. The advantage results in this way that the junction boxes in which the bypass elements 4 are housed (junction box 1: 4a, 4b, and 4c, junction box 2: 4d, and 4g, junction box 3: 4e, 4f, and 4h), comprise not more than 3 bypass elements. In the active case of the bypass elements 4, heat is emitted because of the current flow through the bypass elements 4. To distribute this heat uniformly onto the solar cell module, an arrangement having a smaller number of bypass elements per junction box which extends at regular intervals over the solar module surface is advantageous. Moreover, it is advantageous in this embodiment that a bypass connector is used less in comparison to exemplary embodiment 4.

[0111] The module segment 3b represents a translational displacement of the first module segment 3a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first module segment 3a. The module segment 3c represents a translational displacement of the first module segment 3a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first module segment 3a, moreover, the module segment 3c is rotated by 180 counter to the module segment 3a and the associated bypass elements 4d and 4g, wherein the arrangement of the solar cells 8 of the subsegment 2d represents a translational displacement of the subsegment 2b and the arrangement of the solar cells 8 of the subsegment 2g represents a translational displacement of the subsegment 2a. The subsegment 2c represents a translational displacement of the subsegment 2a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8. The subsegment 2h represents a translational displacement of the subsegment 2b with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8.

[0112] The exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIG. 11 shows a special embodiment of the embodiment from FIG. 10. In this case, the module segment 3b is not expanded by one further subsegment, but by two further module segments 3d and 3e. Herein the module segment 3e and also the module segment 3b is expanded in FIG. 10 by a further subsegment 2l and bypass element 4l. The bypass elements 4a, 4b, and 4c of the first module segment 3a are arranged in the middle between the subsegments 2a, 2b, and 2c. The bypass elements 4d and 4g of the third module segment 3c are arranged in the middle between the subsegments 2d and 2g. The bypass elements 4e and 4f of the second module segment 3b are arranged in the middle between the subsegments 2e and 2f. The bypass elements 4h and 4k of the fourth module segment 3d are arranged in the middle between the subsegments 2h and 2k. The bypass elements 4i, 4j, and 4l of the fifth module segment 3e are arranged in the middle between the subsegments 2i, 2j, and 2l. The advantage results in this way than an expansion of the configuration shown in exemplary embodiment 10 is to be implemented in a structurally simple manner via a module segment addition.

[0113] The module segments 3b and 3e represent a translational displacement of the first module segment 3a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first module segment 3a. The module segments 3c and 3d represent a translational displacement of the first module segment 3a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8 and the bypass elements 4. The displacement is perpendicular to the extension direction of the solar cell strings 1a and 1b of the first module segment 3a, moreover, the module segment 3c and 3d and the associated bypass elements 4d and 4g and 4h and 4k are rotated by 180 counter to the module segment 3a, wherein the arrangement of the solar cells 8 of the subsegment 2d and 2h represents a translational displacement of the subsegment 2b and the arrangement of the solar cells 8 of the subsegments 2g and 2k represents a translational displacement of the subsegment 2a. The subsegment 2c represents a translational displacement of the subsegment 2a with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8. The subsegment 2l represents a translational displacement of the subsegment 2b with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8.

[0114] The above-described module arrangements are also suitable for constructing larger solar cell modules having a large number of solar cells.

[0115] FIG. 12 shows a schematic section through the structure of a single-junction solar cell which was used in the preceding exemplary embodiments. The solar cell shown comprises two contacts 11a and 11b in addition to the actual solar cell layer 12.

[0116] FIG. 13 shows a schematic section through the structure of a dual-junction solar cell which can optionally be used. The solar cell shown comprises two cell layers separated from one another, on the one hand, the top cell layer 12a and the bottom cell layer 12b. In addition to the actual solar cell layers 12a and 12b, the solar cell comprises two contacts 11a and 11b.

[0117] FIG. 14 shows a schematic section through the structure of a 4-terminal dual-junction solar cell which can optionally be used and is especially important in embodiment 15. The solar cell shown has two cell layers insulated from one another, on the one hand, the top cell layer 12a and the bottom cell layer 12b. In addition to the actual solar cell layers 12a and 12b, the solar cell comprises four contacts 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d.

[0118] FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment which is used if 4-terminal dual-junction solar cells are used. The solar cells 8 and bypass elements 4 of the top cell level are arranged and interconnected according to exemplary embodiment 1. The solar cells 8 of the bottom cell level 12b are arranged and interconnected according to exemplary embodiment 1, like the top cell level 12a. These two levels and thus the modules are arranged one over the other and form a module stack.

[0119] It is within the scope of the invention that the solar cell module comprises further module segments. In particular, it is within the scope of the invention that the described configuration of the module segments is repeated multiple times.

[0120] FIG. 16 shows a further exemplary embodiment. This exemplary embodiment differs from the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1 in that the first module segment 3a is reflected along a mirror plane A and this module segment mirroring 3a is interconnected in parallel with the module segment 3a by means of a first segment connector 7a and a second segment connector 7b. In this case, the segment connector 7a and the segment connector 7b are designed as bipolar. The first pole of the first segment connector 7a.1 is electrically conductively connected to the first pole of the first bypass element 4a.1 of the first module segment 3a and the first pole of the first subsegment 2a.1 of the first module segment 3a. The second pole of the first segment connector 7a.2 is electrically conductively connected to the first pole of the mirrored first bypass element 4a.1 of the mirrored first module segment 3a and the first pole of the mirrored first subsegment 2a.1 of the first mirrored module segment 3a. The first pole of the second segment connector 7b.1 is electrically conductively connected to the second pole of the second bypass element 4b.2 of the first module segment 3a and the second pole of the second subsegment 2b.2 of the first module segment 3a. The second pole of the second segment connector 7b.2 is electrically conductively connected to the second pole of the mirrored second bypass element 4b.2 of the mirrored first module segment 3a and the second pole of the mirrored second subsegment 2b.2 of the first mirrored module segment 3a. Subsegments 2a and 2b are electrically conductively connected in series via the subsegment connector 6a, and the subsegments 2a and 2b are electrically conductively connected in series via the subsegment connector 6a, wherein these subsegments (2a and 2b, 2a and 2b) connected in series are connected in parallel to one another via the segment connectors 7a and 7b.

[0121] The advantage results in this way that the total voltage across the solar module is less than in the arrangement according to the first exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1. This is very advantageous if the exemplary embodiment is embodied using tandem solar cells, since these are necessarily to have higher voltages at the operating point due to their structure than conventional single solar cells.

[0122] The solar cell module shown in FIG. 16 has a central mirror plane S which is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and thus perpendicular to the solar cell module (the planar extension of the solar cell module) and extends along the dashed line S. This represents a mirror plane with respect to the spatial arrangement of the solar cells 8, solar cell strings 1, and bypass elements 4 of the solar cell module.

List of Reference Numerals

[0123] 1. solar cell string [0124] 2. subsegment [0125] 3. module segment [0126] 4. bypass element [0127] 5. bypass element connector [0128] 6. subsegment connector [0129] 7. segment connector [0130] 8. solar cell [0131] 9. junction box [0132] 10. insulation layer [0133] 11. contact [0134] 12. cell layer [0135] 13. module segment stack