Volume compensation in photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device has an outer transparent casing and a substrate that, together, define an inner volume. At least one solar cell is on the substrate. A filler layer seals the at least one solar cell within the inner volume. A container w
Volume compensation in photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device has an outer transparent casing and a substrate that, together, define an inner volume. At least one solar cell is on the substrate. A filler layer seals the at least one solar cell within the inner volume. A container within the inner volume has an opening in fluid communication with the filler layer. A diaphragm is affixed to the opening thereby sealing the interior of the container from the filler layer. The diaphragm is configured to decrease the volume within the container when the filler layer thermally expands and to increase the volume within the container when the filler layer thermally contracts. In some instances, the substrate is hollowed and the container is formed within this hollow. The container can have multiple openings, each sealed with a diaphragm. There can be multiple containers within the photovoltaic device.
대표청구항▼
1. A photovoltaic device comprising: a) a sealed outer transparent casing;b) a substrate, wherein the substrate and the outer transparent casing define an inner volume;c) at least one solar cell disposed on the substrate within the inner volume;d) a filler that occupies a space in the inner volume,
1. A photovoltaic device comprising: a) a sealed outer transparent casing;b) a substrate, wherein the substrate and the outer transparent casing define an inner volume;c) at least one solar cell disposed on the substrate within the inner volume;d) a filler that occupies a space in the inner volume, wherein the filler comprises a filler composition that directly contacts the at least one solar cell in the inner volume;e) a first airtight sealed container that is either (i) within the inner volume or (ii) defined by a hollow core of the substrate, the container defined by at least one wall and an opening, wherein the opening opens to the filler; andf) a diaphragm sealing the first container from the filler thereby defining a container volume within the container. 2. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the container volume does not contain the filler composition. 3. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the container volume does not contain the filler composition. 4. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, the photovoltaic device further comprising a plurality of containers within the inner volume, the plurality of containers including the first container, and wherein each container in the plurality of containers is defined by at least one wall and an opening;the opening of each container in the plurality of containers opens to the filler layer; and each respective container in the plurality of containers comprises a diaphragm sealing the respective container from the filler layer thereby defining a respective container volume within the container. 5. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is affixed to the opening and seals the opening from the filler layer, and wherein the diaphragm is configured to decrease the container volume when the filler layer thermally expands; and increase the container volume when the filler layer thermally contracts. 6. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises a plug;the diaphragm is inserted into the first container through the opening under conditions of low filler layer pressure; andthe diaphragm expands and adopts a position in the interior of the first container under conditions of high filler layer pressure. 7. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises a plug;the diaphragm is inserted into the first container through the opening under conditions of low filler layer temperature; andthe diaphragm expands and adopts a position in the interior of the first container under conditions of high filler layer temperature. 8. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm includes a head that comprises an expandable or resilient ring that is compressed to fit into the opening of the first container thereby expanding and creating a force against the at least one wall of the first container and sealing the opening and wherein the diaphragm is configured to: decrease the container volume when the filler layer thermally expands, andincrease the container volume when the filler layer thermally contracts. 9. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is affixed to the opening of the first container;the diaphragm comprises a lip that is dimensioned so that it cannot be pressed completely through the opening and into the first container; andthe diaphragm is configured to: decrease the container volume when the filler layer thermally expands, andincrease the container volume when the filler layer thermally contracts. 10. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the filler layer;the diaphragm is affixed to the opening of the first container;the diaphragm is concave with respect to a plane of the opening; andthe diaphragm is configured to: decrease the container volume when the filler layer thermally expands, andincrease the container volume when the filler layer thermally contracts. 11. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the outer transparent casing is cylindrical;the substrate is cylindrical and has a core,the inner volume is an annular space between the cylindrical substrate and the cylindrical outer transparent casing, andall or a portion of the core of the cylindrical substrate is hollowed to form the first container;the at least one solar cell is circumferentially disposed on the substrate;the filler layer occupies the annular inner volume;the diaphragm is affixed to the opening of the first container; andthe diaphragm is configured to: decrease the container volume when the filler layer is in a thermally expanded state, andincrease the container volume when the filler layer is in a thermally contracted state. 12. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the outer transparent casing is sealed;the filler layer is disposed within the sealed outer transparent casing and the filler composition expands in volume when the temperature of the photovoltaic device increases and contracts in volume when the temperature of the photovoltaic device decreases;the substrate comprises a first lateral end and a second lateral end, wherein the substrate is hollowed to form the first container;the diaphragm is associated with and substantially sealing an opening at the first lateral end of the substrate;the filler layer substantially encapsulates the substrate and the at least one solar cell;the container volume decreases in volume when the filler composition expands; andthe container volume increases in volume when the filler composition contracts. 13. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is tubular and comprises an exterior surface and wherein the at least one solar cell is disposed upon the exterior surface. 14. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a hollow core and the first container is formed in the hollow core. 15. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is cylindrical. 16. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is characterized by a cross-section having a bounding shape, wherein the bounding shape is circular, elliptical, a polygon, ovoid, or wherein the bounding shape is characterized by one or more smooth curved surfaces, or one or more arcuate edges. 17. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is cylindrical and the first container is immersed in the filler layer between a solar cell in the at least one solar cell and the outer transparent casing. 18. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the outer transparent casing is tubular and encapsulates the substrate. 19. The photovoltaic device of claim 18, wherein the substrate has a hollow core and the first container is formed in the hollow core. 20. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is configured to decrease the container volume by up to 30 percent during an operating state of the photovoltaic device relative to a non-operating state of the photovoltaic device. 21. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the filler composition has a volumetric thermal coefficient of expansion of greater than 250×10−6/° C. 22. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein a solar cell in the at least one solar cell comprises: a conducting material disposed on the substrate;a semiconductor junction disposed on said conducting material; anda transparent conducting layer disposed on said semiconductor junction. 23. The photovoltaic device of claim 22, wherein the semiconductor junction comprises a heterojunction. 24. The photovoltaic device of claim 22, wherein the semiconductor junction comprises a homojunction, a heterojunction, a heteroface junction, a buried homojunction, a p-i-n junction, or a tandem junction. 25. The photovoltaic device of claim 22, wherein said semiconductor junction comprises an absorber layer and a junction partner layer, wherein said junction partner layer is disposed on said absorber layer. 26. The photovoltaic device of claim 25, wherein said absorber layer is copper-indium-gallium-diselenide and said junction partner layer is In2Se3, In2S3, ZnS, ZnSe, CdlnS, CdZnS, ZnIn2Se4, Zn1-xMgxO, CdS, SnO2, ZnO, ZrO2, or doped ZnO. 27. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, further comprising an antireflective coating disposed on the outer transparent casing. 28. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises plastic or glass. 29. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises metal or metal alloy. 30. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, further comprising an additional one or more containers, wherein each respective container in the additional one or more containers is within the inner volume,each respective container in the additional one or more containers is defined by at least one wall and an opening that opens to the filler layer; anda diaphragm is affixed to each opening of each respective container in the additional one or more containers. 31. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises: a concave extension that fits into the first container; anda head that fits around a perimeter of the opening. 32. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm comprises a plug;the diaphragm is inserted into the first container under conditions of low filler layer pressure; andthe diaphragm expands and adopts a position in the interior of the container under conditions of high filler layer pressure. 33. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein a head of the diaphragm comprises an expandable or resilient ring;the ring is compressed to fit into the opening of the first container thereby expanding and creating a force against the at least one wall of the first container and sealing the opening. 34. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm has a lip and wherein the lip is dimensioned so that it cannot be pressed completely through the opening and into the first container. 35. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is a made of plastic, rubber, a rubber derivative, silicone rubber, or an elastomer. 36. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one solar cell comprises a plurality of solar cells that are monolithically integrated onto the substrate and wherein (i) a first solar cell in the plurality of solar cells is electrically connected in series to a second solar cell in the plurality of solar cells or (ii) a first solar cell in the plurality of solar cells is electrically connected in parallel to a second solar cell in the plurality of solar cells. 37. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is concave with respect to a plane of the opening. 38. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate or the transparent casing is rigid. 39. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate or the transparent casing is made of a linear material. 40. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate or the transparent casing has a Young's modulus of 40 GPa or greater. 41. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the first container is under less than 500 Torr of pressure. 42. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the first container contains an inert gas. 43. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is planar. 44. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one solar cell is circumferentially disposed on the substrate. 45. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic device is elongated. 46. The photovoltaic device of claim 1, wherein the filler composition is viscous.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (13)
Albright Scot P. (El Paso TX) Dugan Larry M. (Boulder CO), Apparatus for encapsulating a photovoltaic module.
Kern Ralf M.,DEX ; Hoegl Helmut,DEX, Element of a photovoltaic solar cell and a process for the production thereof as well as the arrangement thereof in a s.
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