High efficiency photovoltaic modules

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9312412-B2
Application number	US-91822709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2009
Priority date	Feb 29, 2008
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to high efficiency solar collection devices having a matte surface, a low refractive index surface, or both, that increases solar radiation transmission into the device. The matte surface is on a thermoplastic and may be provided in many ways, such as by a matting agent, by the use of a matte chill roll, embossing, or other techniques. The matte and/or low refractive index surface may be a coating, film (single or multi-layer) or sheet (single or multi-layer). The invention is especially useful in both rigid and flexible photovoltaic modules.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A high efficiency solar collection device comprising an external, translucent fluoropolymer-based thermoplastic glazing material having an average light transmittance of 95% or more when measured by a Perkin Elmer Lambda 19 Spectrometer using standard transmittance scan from 250 nm-1800 nm, with an integrating sphere over a range from 400 nm to 1100 nm wavelength, wherein the external surface of the fluoropolymer thermoplastic glazing has a matte surface, said matte surface having an Ra of less than or equal to 0.381 micrometers, wherein said fluoropolymer is a polyvinylidene fluoride-based homopolymer or copolymer, and wherein said translucent fluoropolymer-based thermoplastic glazing has a haze as determined by ASTM D1003 of greater than 50 percent.

2. The solar collection device of claim 1 comprising a photovoltaic module.

3. The solar collection device of claim 1 , wherein the surface of said glazing material has a matte surface facing a solar radiation source.

4. The solar collection device of claim 1 , wherein the surface layer of said glazing comprises a low refractive index material, having a refractive index of 1.46 or less.

5. The solar collection device of claim 1 , wherein said average light transmission is greater than or equal to 96 percent.

6. The high efficiency solar collection device of claim 1 , wherein said solar collection device comprises a photovoltaic module.

7. The high efficiency solar collection device of claim 1 , wherein said external, translucent fluoropolymer-based thermoplastic glazing material is not discharge treated.

8. The high efficiency solar collection device of claim 1 , wherein the final treatment of the outer surface of the front glazing material consists of passing said thermoplastic, translucent glazing through a textured chill roller during the cooling process.

Assignees

• O'Brien Gregory S
• Dirkx Ryan R
• Arkema Inc

Inventors

• O'Brien Gregory S
• Dirkx Ryan R

Classifications

• H10F19/804

  Materials of encapsulations · CPC title

• H10F19/80 Primary

  Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells · CPC title

• Y02E10/40

  Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers · CPC title

• H01L31/048 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L31/0481

  Electricity · mapped topic