Solar cell systems and methods of making the same
AssigneeTaka Solar Corporation
InventorChristopher Dwight Barnes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solar cell system and a flexible solar panel are disclosed herein. The solar cell system includes a glass housing, a set of rows of solar cells each defining a front side and a rear side and arranged within the glass housing. The solar cell system can also include a reflective element disposed in the glass housing and facing the rear side of the set of rows of solar cells and a first terminal coupled to a first end of the set of rows of solar cells, traversing through and sealed against the first end of the glass housing. The solar cell system can be configured with other solar cell systems into the flexible solar panel that is deployable in a wide range of potential applications.
Claims20
A solar panel system comprising:
- a set of solar cell modules each comprising:
- a glass housing defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end:
- a set of bifacial solar cells:
- defining a front side configured to face upward and a rear side, opposite the front side configured to face downward;
- and
- arranged within the glass housing;
- a first cap:
- arranged on and sealing the first end of the glass housing;
- defining a first cable interface;
- and
- defining a first electrical interface offset from the first cable interface;
- a second cap:
- arranged on and sealing the second end of the glass housing;
- and
- defining a second cable interface;
- and
- an electrical harness:
- configured to electrically couple to first cable interfaces of the set of solar cell modules;
- a first cable connected to first caps of the set of solar cell modules via first cable interfaces;
- and
- a second cable:
- connected to second caps of the set of solar cell modules via second cable interfaces;
- and
- cooperating with the first cable to locate the set of solar cells.
A solar panel system comprising:
- a set of solar cell modules each comprising:
- a glass housing defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end:
- a set of bifacial solar cells:
- defining a front side configured to face upward and a rear side, opposite the front side configured to face downward;
- and
- arranged within the glass housing;
- a first cap:
- arranged on and sealing the first end of the glass housing;
- defining a first set of cable interfaces offset from a center of the first cap;
- and
- defining a first electrical interface arranged at the center of the first cap;
- a second cap:
- arranged on and sealing the second end of the glass housing;
- and
- defining a second set of cable interfaces offset from a center of the second cap;
- and
- a first set of cables connected to first caps of the set of solar cell modules via the first set of cable interfaces comprising:
- a first upper cable connected to a first cable interface of the first set of cable interfaces positioned above the center of the first cap;
- a first lower cable connected to a second cable interface of the first set of cable interfaces positioned below the center of the first cap opposite the first cable interface;
- and
- a second set of cables connected to second caps of the set of solar cell modules via second cable interfaces comprising:
- a second upper cable connected to a third cable interface of the second set of cable interfaces positioned above the center of the second cap;
- and
- a second lower cable connected to a fourth cable interface of the second set of cable interfaces positioned below the center of the second cap opposite the third cable interface.
A solar panel system comprising:
- a set of solar cell modules each comprising:
- a glass housing defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end:
- a set of solar cells arranged within the glass housing;
- a first cap:
- arranged on and sealing the first end of the glass housing;
- and
- defining a first cable interface;
- and
- a second cap:
- arranged on and sealing the second end of the glass housing;
- and
- defining a second cable interface;
- and
- a first cable connected to first caps of the set of solar cell modules via first cable interfaces;
- a second cable connected to second caps of the set of solar cell modules via second cable interfaces;
- wherein in a first configuration the first cable, the second cable, and the set of solar cell modules occupy a coiled packing arrangement;
- and
- wherein in a second configuration, the first cable, the second cable, and the set of solar cell modules occupy a deployed configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.