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.
Claims6
A method of forming monolithic solar cell module comprising:
- providing a plurality of solar cells and a backskin layer, 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 electron beam radiation having a dosage in a range from about 2 megarads to about 16 megarads;
- forming a metal conducting pattern on the backskin layer;
- and
- positioning the metal conducting pattern adjacent a surface of the solar cells to electrically interconnect the solar cells.
A method of manufacturing a solar cell module comprising:
- placing a transparent encapsulant layer adjacent a rear surface of a front support layer formed of light transmitting material, the transparent encapsulant layer comprising a first outer layer of acid copolymer of polyethylene, an inner layer of metallocene polyethylene located adjacent a rear surface of the first outer layer, and a second outer layer of acid copolymer of polyethylene located adjacent a rear surface of the layer of metallocene polyethylene;
- positioning a plurality of interconnected solar cells adjacent a rear surface of the transparent encapsulant layer;
- placing a backskin layer adjacent a rear surface of the interconnected solar cells to form an assembly;
- laminating the assembly to form a solar cell module;
- and
- irradiating at least the backskin layer with an electron beam to cross-link the backskin layer with a radiation dosage in the range of about 12 megarads to about 16 megarads.
A method of manufacturing a solar cell module comprising:
- placing a transparent encapsulant layer adjacent a rear surface of a front support layer formed of light transmitting material, the transparent encapsulant layer comprising a first outer layer of acid copolymer of polyethylene, an inner layer of metallocene polyethylene located adjacent a rear surface of the first outer layer, and a second outer layer of acid copolymer of polyethylene located adjacent a rear surface of the layer of metallocene polyethylene;
- positioning a plurality of interconnected solar cells adjacent a rear surface of the transparent encapsulant layer;
- placing a backskin layer adjacent a rear surface of the interconnected solar cells to form an assembly;
- laminating the assembly to form a solar cell module;
- and
- irradiating at least the transparent encapsulant layer with an electron beam to cross-link the transparent encapsulant layer with a radiation dosage in the range of about 2 megarads to about 12 megarads.
A method of manufacturing a solar cell module comprising:
- placing a transparent encapsulant layer adjacent a rear surface of a front support layer formed of light transmitting material, the transparent encapsulant layer comprising a first outer layer of acid copolymer of polyethylene, an inner layer of metallocene polyethylene located adjacent a rear surface of the first outer layer, and a second outer layer of acid copolymer of polyethylene located adjacent a rear surface of the layer of metallocene polyethylene;
- positioning a plurality of interconnected solar cells adjacent a rear surface of the transparent encapsulant layer;
- placing a backskin layer adjacent a rear surface of the interconnected solar cells to form an assembly;
- laminating the assembly to form a solar cell module;
- and
- irradiating at least the transparent encapsulant layer with an electron beam to cross-link the transparent encapsulant layer with a radiation dosage in the range of about 8 megarads to about 16 megarads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.