Photovoltaic modules, and/or methods of making the same
AssigneeGuardian Industries Corp.
InventorsRobert A. Vandal, Greg Brecht, Vincent E. Ruggero, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for creating improved photovoltaic (PV) modules. In certain example embodiments and first and second glass substrate are provided. A PV array is provided between the first and second glass substrates. The first and second substrates are laminated together with the PV array between the glass substrates. In certain example embodiments the PV module is dimensioned to be similar to an existing roof system (e.g., a sunroof) in a vehicle.
Claims16
A method of making an integrated PV module for a rooftop a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a first glass substrate having a first thickness;
- providing a second glass substrate substantially parallel to the first glass substrate having a second thickness, the second glass substrate having a higher iron content and lower visible transmission than the first glass substrate;
- inserting a solar cell array between the first and second glass substrates;
- and
- laminating together the first and second glass substrates with the solar cell array therebetween, wherein
- the total amount of iron present in the first glass substrate is in the range of 0.001 to 0.06% wt. %, and
- wherein the laminating involves adjusting the amount of heating regarding temperature of the first and second glass substrates to account for differences in rate of thermal expansion of the first and second glass substrates due to the different iron content of the first and second glass substrates, so that a heating profile is used to heat the first glass substrate differently during the laminating compared to how the second glass substrate is heated during the laminating.
A method of making an integrated photovoltaic (PV) module to be placed in a sunroof of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a first glass substrate, the first glass substrate having a thickness of between about 1.5-3.5 mm;
- providing a second glass substrate substantially parallel to the first glass substrate;
- providing a PV array between a major surface of the first glass substrate and a major surface of the second glass substrate;
- and
- laminating together the first and second glass substrates with the PV array therebetween,
- wherein the PV module is for use in a sunroof of the vehicle, wherein
- the total amount of iron present in the first glass substrate is in the range of 0.001 to 0.06 wt. %, wherein the second glass substrate contains more iron than does the first glass substrate, and
- wherein the laminating involves adjusting the amount of heating regarding temperature of the first and second glass substrates to account for differences in rate of thermal expansion of the first and second glass substrates due to the different iron content of the first and second glass substrates, so that a heating profile is used to heat the first glass substrate differently during the laminating compared to how the second glass substrate is heated during the laminating.
A method of making an integrated photovoltaic (PV) module to be placed in a sunroof of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a first glass substrate, the first glass substrate having a thickness of between about 1.5-3.5 mm;
- providing a second glass substrate substantially parallel to the first glass substrate, the second glass substrate having a thickness between about 1.5 and 3.5 mm;
- providing a PV array between a major surface of the first glass substrate and a major surface of the second glass substrate;
- and
- laminating together the first and second glass substrates with the PV array therebetween,
- wherein the PV module is for use in a sunroof of the vehicle, wherein
- the total amount of iron present in the first glass substrate is in the range of 0.01 to 0.02 wt. %, wherein the second glass substrate contains more iron than does the first glass substrate, and the first glass substrate contains at least about four times as much antimony oxide as total iron oxide, and
- wherein the laminating involves adjusting the amount of heating regarding temperature of the first and second glass substrates to account for differences in rate of thermal expansion of the first and second glass substrates due to the different iron content of the first and second glass substrates, so that a heating profile is used to heat the first glass substrate differently during the laminating compared to how the second glass substrate is heated during the laminating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.