SOLAR CELL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A solar cell assembly is presented. The solar cell assembly includes one or more solar cell units coupled in series. The solar cell unit includes a first solar cell series and a second solar cell series connected in parallel. The first and second solar cell series include a plurality of solar cells connecting in series respectively. The solar cell assembly also includes a bypass diode coupled to each solar cell unit and shared between the first and second solar cell series in each solar cell unit.

Claims

1. A solar cell assembly, comprising: a first solar cell unit, comprising: a first solar cell series including a plurality of half-cut solar cells connected in series; a second solar cell series including a plurality of half-cut solar cells connected in series; a first cross-connector connecting a first portion of the first solar cell series to a second portion of the first solar cell series; a second cross-connector connecting a first portion of the second solar cell series to a second portion of the second solar cell series; and a first shared bypass diode shared between the first solar cell series and the second solar cell series, the first shared bypass diode coupling the first solar cell series and the second solar cell series in parallel; and a second solar cell unit, coupled in series with the first solar cell unit, comprising: a third solar cell series including a plurality of half-cut solar cells connected in series; a fourth solar cell series including a plurality of half-cut solar cells connected in series; a third cross-connector connecting a first portion of the third solar cell series to a second portion of the third solar cell series; a fourth cross-connector connecting a first portion of the fourth solar cell series to a second portion of the fourth solar cell series; and a second shared bypass diode shared between the third solar cell series and the fourth solar cell series, the second shared bypass diode coupling the third solar cell series and the fourth solar cell series in parallel; and a single, fifth cross-connector connecting the first solar cell unit and second solar cell unit in series.

2. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bypass diode unit including the first shared bypass diode and the single, fifth cross-connector.

3. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first junction box containing the first shared bypass diode.

4. The solar cell assembly of claim 3, wherein the first junction box further contains the second shared bypass diode.

5. The solar cell assembly of claim 3, further comprising a second junction box containing the second shared bypass diode.

6. The solar cell assembly of claim 5, wherein the solar cell assembly comprises: a front side having the first solar cell series, the second solar cell series, the third solar cell series, and the fourth solar cell series; and a rear side having the first junction box and the second junction box.

7. The solar cell assembly of claim 6, wherein the first junction box and the second junction box are located on the solar cell assembly substantially at a centerline of the solar cell assembly.

8. The solar cell assembly of claim 4, wherein the first shared bypass diode or the second shared bypass diode is an integrated bypass diode unit.

9. The solar cell assembly of claim 8, wherein the first shared bypass diode or the second shared bypass diode is integrated in a laminate of the solar cell assembly.

10. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first terminal at an input of the first shared bypass diode and a second terminal at an output of the second shared bypass diode.

11. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first solar cell series and the second solar cell series includes twenty (20) or twenty-four (24) half-cut solar cells.

12. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein an open circuit voltage of the first solar cell series is substantially similar to an open circuit voltage of the second solar cell series.

13. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein the first solar cell series and the second solar cell series are mirror images of each other with respect to the first shared bypass diode of the first solar cell unit, and the third solar cell series and the fourth solar cell series are mirror images of each other with respect to the second shared bypass diode of the second solar cell unit.

14. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein the first solar cell series is located on a first side of the first shared bypass diode, and wherein the second solar cell series is located on a second side of the first shared bypass diode, the second side being opposite the first side.

15. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein the third solar cell series is located on a first side of the second shared bypass diode, and wherein the fourth solar cell series is located on a second side of the second shared bypass diode, the second side being opposite the first side.

16. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cross-connector is located adjacent a first end of the solar cell assembly, and wherein the second cross-connector is located adjacent a second end of the solar cell assembly, the first end being opposite the second end.

17. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein the third cross-connector is located adjacent a first end of the solar cell assembly, and wherein the fourth cross-connector is located adjacent a second end of the solar cell assembly, the first end being opposite the second end.

18. The solar cell assembly of claim 1 wherein the first solar cell series is located in between the first shared bypass diode and the first cross-connector.

19. The solar cell assembly of claim 1 wherein the second solar cell series is located in between the first shared bypass diode and the second cross-connector.

20. The solar cell assembly of claim 1 wherein the third solar cell series is located in between the second shared bypass diode and the third cross-connector.

21. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein the fourth solar cell series is located in between the second shared bypass diode and the fourth cross-connector.

22. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third solar cell unit, coupled in series with the second solar cell unit, comprising: a fifth solar cell series including a plurality of half-cut solar cells connected in series; a sixth solar cell series including a plurality of half-cut solar cells connected in series; a sixth cross-connector connecting a first portion of the fifth solar cell series to a second portion of the fifth solar cell series; a seventh cross-connector connecting a first portion of the sixth solar cell series to a second portion of the sixth solar cell series; and a third shared bypass diode shared between the fifth solar cell series and the sixth solar cell series, the third shared bypass diode coupling the fifth solar cell series and the sixth solar cell series in parallel; and a single, eighth cross-connector connecting the second solar cell unit and third solar cell unit in series.

23. The solar cell assembly of claim 22, wherein the first shared bypass diode and the third shared bypass diode are equidistant from edges of the solar cell assembly on a centerline, and wherein the second shared bypass diode is on the centerline and in-between the first shared bypass diode and the third shared bypass diode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In the drawings, the same reference characters generally refer to same or similar parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are only schematically and not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0018] FIGS. 1a-b show a layout of a solar cell module:

[0019] FIGS. 2a-b show an embodiment of a solar cell assembly layout and a corresponding electrical schematic diagram;

[0020] FIGS. 3a-b show another embodiment of a solar cell assembly layout and a corresponding electrical schematic diagram;

[0021] FIGS. 4a-b show yet another embodiment of a solar cell assembly layout and a corresponding electrical schematic diagram;

[0022] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a junction box; and FIGS. 6a-b show an embodiment of a by-pass diode.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Embodiments generally relate to devices, for example, devices for converting energy of light into electrical energy. More particularly, the devices may be solar cell elements or solar cell modules including a plurality of solar cell elements.

[0024] FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of a solar cell assembly layout 200 and FIG. 2b shows a corresponding electrical schematic diagram. In one embodiment, the solar cell assembly is a solar cell module. In another embodiment, the solar cell assembly is a portion of a solar cell module. The solar cell assembly may include solar cells 204 which may be arranged in one or more solar cell units. As illustrated in FIG. 2a, the solar cell assembly layout 200 includes three solar cell units, for example, a first solar cell unit 211, a second solar cell unit 212 and a third solar cell unit 213. Having solar cell assemblies including another number of solar cell units may also be useful.

[0025] In one embodiment, a solar cell unit includes a first solar cell series and a second solar cell series. For example, the first solar cell unit 211 may include a first solar cell series 221 and a second solar cell series 222. Within each of the solar cell series, a plurality of solar cells may be connected in series. For example, for a solar cell assembly in the form of a 610 solar cell module, the first solar cell series may include 10 solar cells with 15.615.6 cm2 dimensions. The solar cell series may also include other numbers of solar cells, for example, 12 solar cells with 15.615.6 cm2 dimensions for a 612 solar cell module may also be useful. In another embodiment, the solar cell unit includes solar cells cut into a plurality of sections. For example, as shown in FIG. 2a, the solar cells are cut into half and connected in series with each other within each solar cell series. By cutting the solar cells into half, resistive losses, which show a parabolic dependence on the length of the cells, may effectively be reduced. Power output may be improved by about 2%.

[0026] In one embodiment, the first and second solar cell series within the same solar cell unit share a same by-pass diode. The by-pass diode may include a semiconductor material, such as silicon, with two terminals attached. The by-pass diode may be used to circumvent destructive effects of hot-spot heating. In one embodiment, the bypass diode is connected in parallel, but with opposite polarity, to a solar cell or a group of solar cells connected in series. Under normal operation, each solar cell in the group may be forward biased and the bypass diode may be reverse biased. However, when a portion of the solar cell group is shaded, the bypass diode may become forward biased and allow the current produced by the unshaded portion to flow through the by-pass diode, thus avoiding the high resistance of the shaded portion and preventing hot-spot heating.

[0027] For example, the first and second solar cell series 221 and 222 within the first solar cell unit may share a first by-pass diode 2011. In one embodiment, the first solar cell series is connected in parallel with the second solar cell series which may have substantially the same open circuit voltage, Voc, as the first solar cell series. More particularly, the first and second solar cell series may be minor images of each other with respect to the first by-pass diode. Other configurations of the first and second solar cell series within one solar cell unit which achieve the same Voc may also be useful. In one embodiment, the first by-pass diode, first solar cell series and second solar cell series are coupled to each other in parallel. In one embodiment, the cathode of the first by-pass diode may be connected to the positive nodes of both the first and second solar cell series, and the anode of the first by-pass diode may be connected to the negative nodes of both the first and second solar cell series. The configurations of the first and second solar cell series and by-pass diodes within other solar cell units may be similar to that within the first solar cell unit.

[0028] In one embodiment, the solar cell series are connected with the by-pass diodes via cross-connectors 203. The cross-connectors may be made of conductive materials such as metals, comprising e.g. copper, aluminum, silver or alloys thereof. For example, the cross-connectors may be copper ribbons. Other types of conductive materials may also be used for the cross-connectors.

[0029] In one embodiment, the solar cells in a solar cell series are arranged in one or more strings connected in series. For example, for a solar cell assembly having 610 solar cells of 15.615.6 cm2 dimensions, the first solar cell series in the first solar cell unit may include two strings with each string containing 5 solar cells connected in series. Strings with other numbers of solar cells with other dimensions may also be useful.

[0030] For example, as shown in FIG. 2a, for a solar cell assembly having 620 half-cut solar cells of 15.67.8 cm2 dimensions, the first solar cell series in the first solar cell unit may include two strings with each string containing 10 half-cut solar cells connected in series. The two strings within the first solar cell series may be connected in series by cross-connectors 205.

[0031] The other solar cell units within the solar cell assembly may have similar configurations of solar cells as that in the first solar cell unit. In one embodiment, the solar cell units are connected to each other in series, provided that they generate substantially the same output current as each other. In one embodiment, the cross-connectors 203 of some or all the solar cell units within the assembly are combined as one central cross-connector assembly and placed substantially in the centre line of the solar cell assembly/module as shown in FIG. 2a. Due to the symmetry of the solar cell assembly, it may not make a difference for the electrical device structure. Therefore, only a small amount of additional cross-connectors is required when compared to the conventional solar cell assembly/module layout, and the additional area required for the cross-connectors 203 and 205 is kept to a minimum. It may be important not to increase the area of the module during production, so that the same equipment may be used for producing conventional modules. In addition, module efficiency may not be sacrificed, which is the module power normalized to the module area and the standard irradiated power.

[0032] When all solar cells, for example, in the first solar cell unit 211, operate normally and provide enough current to a load, the first by-pass diode 2011 coupled to the first solar cell unit 211 may be reverse biased, and all cells in the first solar cell unit operate close to a maximum power point (MPP). However, when a portion of the first solar cell unit becomes incapable of generating enough current for the load, for example, when the portion of the first solar cell series is shaded from the sun or even damaged, the shaded or damaged portion may become reverse biased and the first by-pass diode 2011 coupled in parallel may become forward biased to conduct currents. The shaded or damaged first solar cell series may not contribute to the power output of the assembly, while the second solar cell series which are not shaded or damaged may still contribute to the power output of the assembly to a small extent. This embodiment may have better performance than the conventional configurations of the solar cell modules in which all solar cells connected parallel to the by-pass diode contribute no power when the by-pass diode is forward biased.

[0033] For example, for a solar cell assembly including 620 solar half-cut solar cells, 10 half-cut solar cells are connected in series in one string as shown in FIG. 2a. As the solar cell assembly is divided into three solar cell units with one by-pass diode coupled with one solar cell unit, this configuration allows 40 solar cells per by-pass diode without the maximum applied reverse bias voltage exceeding the breakdown voltage. Hot-spots or destruction of solar cells may therefore be reduced.

[0034] In one embodiment the by-pass diodes are housed in one or more junction boxes. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a junction box 550. The junction box may include at least one by-pass diode 501. The junction box may also include input terminal 503 for electrically coupling to respective solar cell strings and output terminal 505 for coupling to an external device, for example, a power conditioner. In one embodiment, the junction box collects electrical power from both solar cell series within some or all solar cell units and outputs the power to the external device.

[0035] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2a, all by-pass diodes in the solar cell assembly are mounted in a single junction box. In another embodiment, a plurality of junction boxes are used with each junction box containing a subset of the by-pass diodes coupled with the solar cell units. For example, equal number of junction boxes as the by-pass diodes may be used with each junction box housing one by-pass diode. As an illustration, three junction boxes may be used to house the three by-pass diodes with each junction box containing one by-pass diode. Other numbers of junction boxes may also be used. For example, two junction boxes may be used with a first junction box housing two by-pass diodes a d a second junction box housing one by-pass diode.

[0036] In one embodiment, the junction boxes are placed on the rear side of the solar cell assembly. The junction boxes may be disposed substantially in the centre line of the rear side of the solar cell assembly. For example, for a solar cell assembly/module including a single junction box housing all by-pass diodes therein, the junction box may be placed substantially in the middle of the rear side of the solar cell assembly/module. For a solar cell assembly/module including a plurality of junction boxes, the junction boxes may be placed substantially in the centre line of the rear side of the solar cell assembly and substantially equidistant from each other or edges of the assembly/module. Other placements of the junction boxes which minimize the amount of cross-connectors may also be useful.

[0037] In yet another embodiment, a subset or all by-pass diodes in the solar cell assembly include integrated by-pass diodes which are integrated in a laminate of the solar cell assembly/module instead of being housed in junction boxes. In one embodiment, a combination of junction boxes and integrated by-pass diodes are used. For example, for a solar cell assembly including three by-pass diodes, a combination of junction boxes and integrated by-pass diodes may be used. More particularly, a second by-pass diode may be an integrated by-pass diode integrated in the laminate of the solar cell assembly/module, while first and third by-pass diodes may be housed in junction boxes together with cross-connectors connecting to external devices or other assemblies/modules. The second by-pass diode may be placed substantially in the middle of the assembly/module while the first and third by-pass diodes may be placed near the edges of the assembly/module.

[0038] FIGS. 6a-b show an embodiment of an integrated by-pass diode unit 650 for being integrated in the laminate. In one embodiment, the integrated by-pass diode unit includes an integrated by-pass diode 601 and two cross-connectors 605 for coupling to adjacent by-pass diodes or external terminals. The cross-connectors may include corrugation structures 655 as a stress relief to prevent the integrated by-pass diode and a mechanical connection between the integrated by-pass diode and the cross-connectors from cracking due to electrical or mechanical overstresses. Other structures for stress relief purposes may also be incorporated in the integrated by-pass diode unit.

[0039] It may be possible that all by-pass diodes in the solar cell assembly are integrated by-pass diodes as shown in FIGS. 3a-b. FIG. 3a shows another embodiment of the solar cell assembly layout 300 and FIG. 3b shows the corresponding electrical schematic diagram. Features in this embodiment which are similar to that described in FIGS. 2a-b will not be described or described in detail. In this embodiment, all by-pass diodes 301 coupled to the solar cell units include integrated by-pass diodes which are integrated into the laminate of the solar assembly/module. In such a case, two integrated by-pass diodes near edges of the module may be connected to two external terminals 302 respectively to connect to an external device or other assemblies/modules. The two external terminals may be disposed in two terminal boxes.

[0040] This approach may have the advantage of reducing the length of the cross-connectors and thereby reducing the electrical losses in the cross-connectors, which leads to an increased module power output. On top of the higher power output, the module area may also be reduced which leads to an additional increase in module efficiency. Because the approach requires smaller amount of cross-connectors, cheaper connector terminals and less potting material, it may effectively reduce the module production cost. Since the connector terminals and cables may be located near the edges of the module, connecting the modules in a photovoltaic array may be facilitated. The cables may be shorter compared to the solution with mounted junction boxes shown in FIG. 2a. This may result in reduced resistive losses in the cables, reduced cost and easier handling during installation of the modules. Instead of cable connectors, it may also be possible to integrate connector plugs into the sides of the module frames to reduce the resistive losses further.

[0041] FIG. 4a shows an embodiment of the solar cell module 400 and FIG. 4b shows the corresponding electrical schematic diagram. Features in this embodiment which are similar to that described in FIGS. 3a-b will not be described or described in detail. In one embodiment, the solar cell module includes a first solar cell assembly 431 and a second solar cell assembly 432. The first solar cell assembly 431 includes solar cells of 15.63.9 cm2 dimensions. The solar cells may be obtained by cutting solar cells of 15.615.6 cm2 dimensions into quarters. The first solar cell assembly may include one or more solar cell units 412 having a first solar cell series 421 and a second solar cell series 422. Within the solar cell series, a plurality of solar cells may be connected in series. For example, for a solar cell assembly with 620 solar cells of 15.63.9 cm2 dimensions, the first solar cell series may include 20 such solar cells. The first solar cell series may also include other numbers of solar cells, for example, 24 solar cells with 15.63.9 cm2 dimensions for a solar cell assembly with 624 solar cells of 15.63.9 cm2 dimensions. The configurations of the solar cell units may be similar to those described in FIGS. 2a-b and FIGS. 3a-b. For example, the first and second solar cell series with substantially the same Voc may be connected in parallel and share a first by-pass diode 401. More particularly, the first and second solar cell series may be mirror images of each other with respect to the first by-pass diode 401. In one embodiment, the solar cell series are connected with the first by-pass diodes via cross-connectors 403. The cross-connectors 403 of some or all the solar cell units within the first solar cell assembly may be combined as one central cross-connector assembly and placed substantially in the centre line of the first solar cell assembly. In one embodiment, connector terminals 406 are used to couple to the cross-connectors or central cross-connector assembly.

[0042] The configurations of the by-pass diodes and cross-connectors included in the solar cell assemblies in FIGS. 4a-b may be similar to those described in FIGS. 2a-b and FIGS. 3a-b.

[0043] In one embodiment. two solar cell assemblies are included in one solar cell module as illustrated in FIGS. 4a-b. Other numbers of solar cell assemblies may also be included in the solar cell module depending on the requirements and configurations of the solar cells and modules. The solar cell assemblies within one solar cell module may be connected to each other by one connector that connects the first ends and a second connector that connects the second ends of the solar cell assemblies. This is a design that may be more tolerant to shading than conventional designs of solar cell modules.

[0044] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention. The foregoing embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting the invention described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

[0045] Terms such as about in conjunction with a specific distance or size are to be interpreted as not to exclude insignificant deviation from the specified distance or size and may include for example deviations of up to 20%. Furthermore, terms such as substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular are to be interpreted as not to exclude insignificant deviation from the specified arrangement and may include for example deviations of up to 20.

[0046] Finally, it should be noted that the term comprising does not exclude other elements or steps and the a or an does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.