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US 6,320,116 B1Granted
Methods for improving polymeric materials for use in solar cell applications
AssigneeEvergreen Solar, Inc.
InventorJack I. Hanoka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a solar cell module includes the use of low cost polymeric materials with improved mechanical properties. A transparent encapsulant layer is placed adjacent a rear surface of a front support layer. Interconnected solar cells are positioned adjacent a rear surface of the transparent encapsulant layer to form a solar cell assembly. A backskin layer is placed adjacent a rear surface of the solar cell assembly. At least one of the transparent encapsulant layer and the backskin layer are predisposed to electron beam radiation.
Claims14
A solar cell module comprising:
- a support layer formed of light transmitting material;
- a transparent encapsulant layer adjacent a rear surface of the front support layer, said transparent encapsulant layer comprising:
- a first outer layer of an acid copolymer of polyethylene;
- an inner layer of metallocene polyethylene located adjacent a rear surface of the first outer layer;
- a second outer layer of an acid copolymer of polyethylene located adjacent a rear surface of the layer of metallocene polyethylene;
- a plurality of interconnected solar cells having a first surface disposed adjacent a rear surface of the transparent encapsulant layer;
- and
- a backskin layer disposed adjacent a rear surface of the interconnected solar cells;
- at least one of the transparent encapsulant and the backskin layer having an increased thermal creep resistance while remaining sufficiently thermoplastic to be heat bonded to another surface as a result of being predisposed to an electron beam radiation.
6 more elements
A solar cell module comprising:
- a support layer formed of light transmitting material;
- a transparent encapsulant layer adjacent a rear surface of the front support layer;
- a plurality of interconnected solar cells having a first surface disposed adjacent a rear surface of the transparent encapsulant layer;
- and
- a backskin layer disposed adjacent a rear surface of the interconnected solar cells;
- at least one of the transparent encapsulant and the backskin layer having an increased thermal creep resistance while remaining sufficiently thermoplastic to be heat bonded to another surface as a result of being predisposed to an electron beam radiation having a dosage in a range from about 2 megarads to about 16 megarads.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.