TEXTILE STRUCTURE WITH FLEXIBLE SOLAR CELLS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a textile structure with flexible solar cells, a method for its production, and devices containing the textile structure.

[0002] It has already been proposed to combine solar cells with textile materials.

[0003] DE 10 2010 026 221 A1 discloses a folding roof assembly for a motor vehicle with a convertible top comprising several flexible segments that can be folded onto one another when the top is open, and in which at least one flexible solar module is integrated. The solar module is arranged between an outer UV-transparent layer (e.g., cast resin, PUR, EVA, PVB, etc.) and an inner, flexible layer (film, knitted fabric, woven fabric, etc.).

[0004] EP 1 082 502 B1 discloses an awning with a frame and a movable awning cover that is removable and removable. The awning cover has flexible solar modules on its top. The solar modules are applied as strips to the awning cover (textile, etc.) and sealed with a protective coating. The frame contains a roller body onto which the awning cover can be rolled up. At least one storage cell is connected to the solar modules and mounted in the roller. It stores the electrical energy generated by the solar modules. The awning can be operated with the energy stored in the storage cell.

[0005] EP 3 097 591 A1 relates to a highly efficient flexible photovoltaic film obtained by combining a very flexible ultra-thin photovoltaic film with a very thin prismatic anti-reflection film which absorbs the energy of solar radiation and corrects the angle of the solar rays.

[0006] EP 2 348 543 A1 discloses a textile structure comprising a polyester fabric on which a layer of rubber is arranged, on which a layer is attached on which at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element is located.

[0007] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a textile structure containing solar cells, which combines high deformability and robustness against environmental influences with high energy efficiency, a method for its production, and devices containing the textile structure.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention by a textile structure having the features of claim 1, a method having the features of claim 6, and devices having the features of claims 7-10. Embodiments and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the description, and the illustration.

[0009] The invention relates to a textile structure comprising a polyester fabric on which a layer of butyl rubber is arranged, on which a layer of polyacrylonitrile is applied, on which at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element is located, the electrical connection lines of which are routed between the polyacrylonitrile and butyl rubber layers. The combination of polyester fabric, butyl rubber, and polyacrylonitrile provides a tight bond. This makes the solar cell resistant to corrosion and short circuits. Butyl rubber and polyacrylonitrile create a bond that is tight and, in particular, flexible.

[0010] In one embodiment, the layer thickness of the entire composite is from 1 to 5 mm. In one embodiment, the flexible thin-film solar cell element has a layer thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 mm. In one embodiment, the thickness of the remaining layers is from 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

[0011] In one embodiment, the ends of the electrical connecting cables are connected with an integrated connector. The connector can be integrated over the carrier layers (PAN, butyl rubber, and PES fabric) or over the entire composite, including the solar cells.

[0012] In one embodiment, the at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element is attached to the layer of polyacrylonitrile by means of an adhesive layer or a printing paste.

[0013] In another embodiment, a transparent protective layer is applied to the at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element. In one embodiment, the transparent protective layer comprises a transparent protective film. In one embodiment, the transparent protective film is a polyolefin film or a film made of another transparent plastic material. In another embodiment, the transparent protective layer consists of a transparent and flexible casting resin.

[0014] In one embodiment, the at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element is a highly efficient flexible photovoltaic film with at least one photovoltaic layer. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic layer consists of plate or layer photovoltaic cells. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic cells are thin-film cells made of amorphous silicon. In another embodiment, the photovoltaic cells are cells of the copper, indium, gallium, selenium mixture type (CIGS), the cadmium telluride type (CdTe) or the cadmium selenide type (CdS), the printable or non-printable organic type (OPV), or the dye-sensitized solar cell type (DSSC, DSC). In one embodiment, the photovoltaic layer is encapsulated between two flexible polymer films. In one embodiment, the polymer films are copolymers of ethylene acrylic acid (EAA) or ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA).

[0015] The invention also relates to a method for producing the textile structure according to the invention. In the method, a layer of butyl rubber is first applied to a polyester fabric. Electrical connecting lines for connecting at least one thin-film solar cell element are laid on the butyl rubber layer. A layer of polyacrylonitrile is applied over the electrical connecting lines in such a way that the ends of the electrical connecting lines are guided through the polyacrylonitrile layer. At least one thin-film solar cell element is then attached to the polyacrylonitrile layer and connected to the electrical connecting lines. In a further embodiment of the method, the other end of the electrical connecting lines is connected to a connector plug.In one embodiment of the method, the flexible thin-film solar cell element is attached to the polyacrylonitrile layer using an adhesive layer or a printing paste. In another embodiment of the method, a transparent protective layer is applied to the flexible thin-film solar cell element. In one embodiment, the transparent protective layer is a transparent protective film. In another embodiment, the transparent protective layer is created by applying a transparent and flexible casting resin. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one thin-film solar cell element can be sewn to the composite of polyacrylonitrile, butyl rubber, and polyester fabric with polyester threads in the outer edge of the composite. This makes the textile structure even more stable and even less prone to delamination.

[0016] The invention also relates to devices comprising or made from the textile structure according to the invention. These include a convertible top comprising the textile structure according to the invention, a carport cover comprising the textile structure according to the invention, a sun sail comprising the textile structure according to the invention, or a boat sail comprising the textile structure according to the invention.

[0017] The advantages of the solution according to the invention include that the textile structure can withstand very high degrees of deformation without direct damage, is waterproof and resistant to environmental influences, and has a high energy efficiency (currently an output of approximately 120 W / m 2 is possible).

[0018] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0019] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0020] The invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing using an embodiment and will be further described with reference to the drawing. It shows: Figure 1 an embodiment of the textile structure according to the invention.

[0021] Figure 1shows an embodiment of the textile structure 10 according to the invention. A layer 12 of butyl rubber is arranged on a polyester fabric 11, onto which a layer 13 of polyacrylonitrile is applied. On the layer 13 of polyacrylonitrile is located at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element 14, the electrical connection lines 15 of which are guided between the polyacrylonitrile layer 13 and the butyl rubber layer 12. The electrical connection lines 15 are connected at one end to the thin-film solar cell element 14 and at their other end to a connecting plug 18. The flexible thin-film solar cell element 14 is attached to the layer 13 of polyacrylonitrile by means of an adhesive layer 16 or a printing paste 16. In the illustrated embodiment, a transparent protective layer 17, for example a transparent protective film, is applied to the flexible thin-film solar cell element 14.In another embodiment, the transparent protective layer 17 consists of a transparent and flexible casting resin. List of reference symbols

[0022] 10Textile structure 11Polyester fabric 12Butyl rubber layer 13Polyacrylonitrile layer 14Thin-film solar cell element 15Connecting cables 16Adhesive layer / printing paste layer 17Transparent protective layer 18Connector

Claims

1. Textile structure (10) with a polyester fabric (11), on which a layer (12) of butyl rubber is arranged, on which a layer (13) of polyacrylnitrile is applied, on which at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element (14) is located, whose electrical connecting lines (15) are guided between the polyacrylnitrile layer (13) and butyl rubber layer (12).

2. Textile structure (10) according to claim 1, wherein the flexible thin-film solar cell element (14) is attached to the polyacrylnitrile layer (13) by means of an adhesive layer (16) or a printing paste (16).

3. Textile structure (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a transparent protective layer (17) is applied to the flexible thin-film solar cell element (14).

4. Textile structure (10) according to claim 3, wherein the transparent protective layer (17) is a transparent protective film.

5. Textile structure (10) according to claim 3, wherein the transparent protective layer (17) consists of a transparent and flexible casting resin.

6. Method for producing a textile structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which a layer (12) of butyl rubber is applied to a polyester fabric (11), electrical connecting lines (15) for connecting at least one thin film-solar cell element (14) are laid on the layer (12) of butyl rubber, a polyacrylnitrile layer (13) is thus applied via the electrical connecting lines (15) so that the ends of the electrical connecting lines (15) are guided through the polyacrylnitrile layer(13), and at least one thin-film solar cell element (14) is attached to the polyacrylnitrile layer (13) and is connected to the electrical connecting lines (15).

7. Convertible soft top comprising a textile structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. Carport cover comprising a textile structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

9. Sunshade comprising a textile structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

10. Boat sail comprising a textile structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.