Flexible electrical generators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9406826-B2
Application number	US-201113978467-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2011
Priority date	Nov 18, 2010
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible electrical generator comprising at least one photovoltaic device and a flexible support, wherein said photovoltaic device is attached to the flexible support and wherein the flexible support comprises a fabric comprising high-strength polymeric fibers, said flexible support comprising also a plastomer wherein said plastomer is a semi-crystalline copolymer of ethylene or propylene and one or more C2 to C12 α-olefin co-monomers and wherein said plastomer having a density as measured according to ISO1183 of between 860 and 930 kg/m 3 .

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flexible electrical generator comprising:
a flexible support comprising woven high-strength polymeric fibers and a plastomer impregnating the woven high-strength polymeric fibers, and at least one photovoltaic device attached to the flexible support, wherein
the plastomer is a semi-crystalline copolymer of ethylene or propylene and one or more C2 to C12 α-olefin co-monomers, and wherein the plastomer has a density as measured according to ISO1183 of between 860 and 930 kg/m 3 .

2. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one photovoltaic device is a flexible photovoltaic device.

3. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the woven high-strength polymeric fibers are polyolefin fibers.

4. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the woven high-strength polymeric fibers comprise ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tapes.

5. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the woven high-strength polymeric fibers have deniers in the range of from 0.5 to 20.

6. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the high-strength polymeric fibers have a tensile strength of at least 0.5 GPa.

7. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the plastomer has a tensile modulus of at most 0.6 GPa.

8. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the fabric is a woven fabric having a cover factor of at least 1.5.

9. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the plastomer has a DSC peak melting point as measured according to ASTM D3418 of between 70° C. and 120° C.

10. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the plastomer is a blend of a plastomer and a functionalized polyolefin.

11. The flexible electrical generator of claim 1 , wherein the flexible support has a width and a length for rectangular sheets of at least 100 mm.

12. A method for attaching a photovoltaic device to a flexible support comprising the steps of:
a. providing at least one photovoltaic device, preferably of a flexible type;
b. providing a flexible support comprising high-strength polymeric fibers;
c. placing at least one photovoltaic device on the flexible support; and
d. laminating a layer of a thermoplastic material, wherein said thermoplastic material is preferably a plastomer over the flexible support and over the at least one photovoltaic device.

13. A method for attaching a photovoltaic device to a flexible support comprising the steps of:
a. providing at least one photovoltaic device, preferably of a flexible type;
b. providing a flexible support comprising high-strength polymeric fibers;
c. laminating a molten layer of a thermoplastic material, wherein said thermoplastic material is a plastomer over the flexible support;
d. placing at least one photovoltaic device on the laminated flexible support to create a contact area between the molten layer of thermoplastic material and the at least one photovoltaic device; and
e. cooling the molten layer of thermoplastic material to below its melting temperature.

Assignees

• Plug Johannes Petrus Marinus
• Welzen Leonardus Jacobus Johannus Wilhemus
• Van Duijnhoven Fanciscus Gerardus Henricus
• Swagten Josephina Johanna Maria Gerarda
• Dsm Ip Assets Bv

Inventors

• Plug Johannes Petrus Marinus
• Welzen Leonardus Jacobus Johannus Wilhemus
• Van Duijnhoven Fanciscus Gerardus Henricus
• Swagten Josephina Johanna Maria Gerarda

Classifications

• Y02E10/549

  Organic PV cells · CPC title

• H10K30/50

  Photovoltaic [PV] devices · CPC title

• H10F19/80

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

• H02S30/20 Primary

  Collapsible or foldable PV modules · CPC title

• H01L31/048

  Electricity · mapped topic