System for electrically contacting wafer solar cells, in-line production device, and method for producing a wafer solar cell

EP4755152A1Pending Publication Date: 2026-06-10CE CELL ENG GMBH

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
CE CELL ENG GMBH
Filing Date
2024-07-25
Publication Date
2026-06-10

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing systems for electrical contact of wafers solar cells with front-side and rear-side electrodes often experience contact breakdowns due to thickness variations and manufacturing height discrepancies, leading to non-homogeneous current flow and potential damage from local discharges, and are not suitable for bilateral processing of bifacial solar cells.

Method used

The use of electrically conductive transport tapes as upper and lower contact elements, arranged perpendicular to the inline transport direction, with deflection rollers to ensure consistent contact pressure and prevent mechanical damage, allowing for LECO processing on both sides of bifacial solar cells.

Benefits of technology

This solution significantly increases the contact area, preventing contact breakdowns and enabling efficient LECO processing on both sides of bifacial solar cells, ensuring reliable electrical contact and homogeneous current flow while avoiding mechanical damage to the semiconductor material.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a system for electrically contacting wafer solar cells, an in-line production device and a method for producing a wafer solar cell. In particular, the invention relates to a system that is designed for electrically contacting wafer solar cells having a front electrode and having a rear electrode, an in-line production device having such a system and a production method that produces a wafer solar cell using the system or the in-line production device. The object of the invention is therefore that of providing a system for electrically contacting wafer solar cells that avoids breaks in contact with the front electrode or rear electrode when used for LECO processing. Furthermore, the system is also intended to permit double-sided LECO processing of bifacial wafer solar cells. The object is achieved as a result of the wafer solar cell being contacted and transported with electrically conductive tapes.
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Description

[0001] System for electrically contacting wafer solar cells, inline production device and manufacturing method for a wafer solar cell

[0002] The invention relates to a system for electrically contacting wafer solar cells, an inline production device, and a manufacturing method for a wafer solar cell. In particular, the invention relates to a system designed for electrically contacting wafer solar cells with a front-side electrode and a back-side electrode, an inline production device comprising such a system, and a manufacturing method that produces a wafer solar cell using the system or the inline production device.

[0003] Such a system is known from DE 10 2016 009 560 A1. It comprises an upper contact device for electrically contacting the front electrode of the wafer solar cell, a lower contact device for electrically contacting the rear electrode of the wafer solar cell, and an electrical voltage source for applying a defined voltage to the wafer solar cell and regulating the current flow between the upper contact device and the lower contact device. This system is applied to a stationary contacted wafer solar cell, with a single roller or brush being guided along the stationary wafer solar cell to apply voltage to the wafer solar cell. Furthermore, a point light source is guided over the front of the wafer solar cell when the voltage is applied, thereby generating a light-induced current flow.This process is called LECO (Laser Enhanced Cell Optimization) because it particularly improves the electrical contact between the front electrode and the underlying semiconductor material of the wafer solar cell.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2021 123 280 A1 discloses a system for electrically contacting wafer solar cells with a front-side electrode and a back-side electrode. This system comprises an upper contact device for electrically contacting the front-side electrode of the wafer solar cell, a lower contact device for electrically contacting the back-side electrode of the wafer solar cell, and an electrical voltage source for applying a defined voltage to the wafer solar cell and regulating the current flow between the upper contact device and the lower contact device. The upper contact device and the lower contact device are designed and configured to additionally mechanically convey the wafer solar cell during contacting along an inline transport direction for an inline production line for wafer solar cells.In one embodiment, the upper contact device has at least one upper contact element and the lower contact device has at least one lower contact element, wherein the upper and lower contact elements are each designed as a roller or roll with a contact circumference. In a further embodiment, in contrast to the previous embodiment, the lower contact device is designed as a conveyor belt that lies fully against the rear-side electrode and moves at the same speed as the wafer solar cell along the inline transport direction. The system for electrically contacting wafer solar cells known from DE 10 2021 123280 A1 has generally proven itself. However, wafer solar cells with a typical thickness of approximately 150 pm to 180 pm can have thickness variations of up to 20 pm. The front-side electrode and the rear-side electrode can also have additional height variations of up to 10 pm due to manufacturing reasons.When using the known system for LECO processing, this can lead to contact failures between the contact elements, designed as rollers / rollers, and the front or rear electrode. This impairs homogeneous current flow and can cause damage from local discharges (lightning, hotspots). Furthermore, when using the system with a conveyor belt that fully adheres to the rear electrode, double-sided LECO processing of bifacial wafer solar cells is not possible, as the conveyor belt covers the rear of the wafer solar cell, making it inaccessible for illumination.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to create a system for electrically contacting wafer solar cells that, when used in LECO processing, prevents contact breaks with the front-side electrode or back-side electrode. Furthermore, the system should also enable double-sided LECO processing of bifacial wafer solar cells.

[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a system having the features of patent claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by an inline production device having the features of patent claim 10 and a manufacturing method having the features of patent claim 11. Advantageous modifications and further developments are specified in the subclaims.

[0007] The system for electrically contacting wafer solar cells with a front side electrode and with a back side electrode comprises: an upper contact device for electrically contacting the front side electrode of the wafer solar cell, a lower contact device for electrically contacting the back side electrode

[0008] Electrode of the wafer solar cell and an electrical voltage source for applying a defined voltage to the wafer solar cell and for regulating the current flow between the upper contact device and the lower contact device, wherein the upper contact device and the lower contact device are designed and configured to additionally mechanically convey the wafer solar cell during contacting along an inline transport direction for an inline production line for wafer solar cells.

[0009] According to the invention, it is now provided that the upper contact device has a first upper contact element and a second upper contact element and that the first upper contact element and the second upper contact element are designed as electrically conductive conveyor belts.

[0010] The invention is based on the basic idea of ​​conveying wafer solar cells with a front-side electrode and a back-side electrode by means of conveyor belts and thus contacting the wafer solar cell.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the lower contact device has a first lower contact element and a second lower contact element and the first lower contact element and the second lower contact element are designed as electrically conductive conveyor belts.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the two conveyor belts of the upper contact device are each guided in a rotating manner on at least two deflection rollers and a rotating speed of the two conveyor belts corresponds to the transport speed of the wafer solar cell along the inline transport direction, and that in each case a section of the two rotating conveyor belts of the upper contact device rests on a section of the front-side electrode of the wafer solar cell, and that the two rotating conveyor belts of the upper contact device are arranged at a distance from one another when viewed perpendicular to the inline transport direction, and that the two conveyor belts of the lower contact device are each guided in a rotating manner on at least two deflection rollers and a rotating speed of the two conveyor belts corresponds to the transport speed of the wafer solar cell along the inline transport direction,and that a section of each of the two circulating transport belts of the lower contact device rests against a section of the rear electrode of the wafer solar cell, and that the two circulating transport belts of the lower contact device are arranged at a distance from each other when viewed perpendicular to the inline transport direction.

[0013] The design thus provides for the conveyance of wafer solar cells with a front electrode and a rear electrode by means of at least four circulating conveyor belts, with two of the at least four conveyor belts being positioned at the front electrode and two of the at least four conveyor belts being positioned at the rear electrode of the wafer solar cell. When the conveyor belts are positioned, the conveyor belts at the front and the conveyor belts at the rear are energized by the electrical voltage source with opposite polarity. The upper contact device and the lower contact device are thus designed to jointly convey wafer solar cells in a continuous process, which have metal contacts in the form of the electrodes on the front and rear.Contact between the upper contact device and the lower contact device and the wafer solar cell therefore occurs while the wafer solar cell is moved, so that it is electrically contacted by the contact devices from its front and rear sides. The electrical voltage source serves to bring the wafer solar cell into a predetermined semiconductor state. Preferably, the voltage source is designed to apply voltage to the upper contact device and the lower contact device and, via this, to apply a defined voltage to the wafer solar cell contacting it. In this way, in particular, the current flow between the upper contact device and the lower contact device and thus the current flow through the wafer solar cell can be regulated.

[0014] The system can therefore be used to optimize wafer solar cell contacts in the form of front and back electrodes and / or for characterizing wafer solar cells. The system is preferably used to optimize wafer solar cell contacts.

[0015] Wafer solar cells can be designed as monofacial or bifacial, as is well known. In a monofacial design, the front side of the wafer solar cell is the side of the wafer solar cell that receives light, typically sunlight, during normal use, while the back side is the side facing away from light during operation. In a bifacial design, the back side of the wafer solar cell is also designed to absorb light, typically sunlight, and convert it into electrical voltage. The back side of bifacial wafer solar cells is typically optimized to absorb diffuse scattered light. However, designs designed for direct irradiation with sunlight on both sides during normal use are also possible.

[0016] The polarity of the electrical voltage source is preferably adjustable in a range from 0 V to 50 V, more preferably in a range from 10 V to 25 V.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the deflection rollers of the upper contact device and / or the deflection rollers of the lower contact device are displaceable perpendicular to the inline transport direction i. It is proposed that the vertically displaceable deflection rollers be spring-mounted for this purpose. This improves the secure contact of the conveyor belts with the front electrode of the wafer solar cell or the rear electrode of the wafer solar cell.

[0018] The contact pressure of the conductive conveyor belts on the front-side electrode and the back-side electrode of the wafer solar cell is preferably selected such that good electrical contact is made with the wafer solar cell, but no mechanical damage to the sensitive semiconductor wafer material occurs.

[0019] The system is advantageous for the electrical contacting of the front electrode of the wafer solar cell because the contact area is significantly increased by the use of electrically conductive conveyor belts compared to contacting with rollers or cylinders, thus preventing contact failures at the front electrode during LECO processing. The spacing of the two circulating conveyor belts of the upper contact device ensures that the coupling of the point light source onto the solar-active areas of the front of the wafer solar cell, which is necessary for LECO processing, is possible. The light emitted by the point light source can be directed onto the solar-active areas of the front of the wafer solar cell in the free area between the two conveyor belts. The system is therefore suitable for the LECO processing of monofacial and bifacial wafer solar cells with illumination of the front of the wafer solar cells.

[0020] The system is advantageous for electrically contacting the backside electrode of the wafer solar cell because the contact area is significantly increased by the use of electrically conductive conveyor belts compared to contacting with rollers or cylinders, thus preventing contact failures at the backside electrode during LECO processing. Likewise, the spacing of the two circulating conveyor belts of the lower contact device ensures that the point light source can also be coupled onto the backside of the wafer solar cell. This enables simultaneous, bilateral LECO processing of bifacial wafer solar cells. The light emitted by the point light source (or another point light source) can be directed onto the solar-active areas on the backside of the wafer solar cell in the free space between the two conveyor belts of the lower contact device.In principle, the system is also suitable for one-sided LECO processing of monofacial or bifacial wafer solar cells.

[0021] In advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention, the spacing between the circulating conveyor belts is in a range of 1 / 50 to 1 / 4, preferably 1 / 50 to 1 / 10, more preferably 1 / 50 to 1 / 20, of the dimension of the wafer solar cell along the inline transport direction. The smaller the spacing between the conveyor belts, the larger the area contacted by the conveyor belts on the front or back of the wafer solar cell. However, as the spacing decreases, the requirements for guiding the point light source in the area between the adjacent conveyor belts increase.

[0022] In a first embodiment, the conveyor belts themselves are made of a conductive foil or an electrically conductive rubber.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the conveyor belts have a conductive coating. It is proposed that the conductive coating be formed from a conductive foil, a conductive rubber, a conductive foam, or a contact fleece.

[0024] Furthermore, it is proposed that the conveyor belts of the upper contact device and / or the conveyor belts of the lower contact device are electrically connected to the voltage source via at least one of the two respective deflection rollers.

[0025] One embodiment provides that at least one of the deflection rollers is motor-driven.

[0026] In one embodiment, it is provided that the system has a laser device which moves or projects a laser beam transversely to the inline transport direction in a region formed by the spacing of the transport belts of the upper contact device over a front side of the wafer solar cell and / or in a region formed by the spacing of the transport belts of the lower contact device over a rear side of the wafer solar cell.

[0027] The laser device is preferably designed as a scanning laser capable of generating a high photocurrent. The movement or projection of the laser device is preferably carried out such that the photocurrent generated by the laser device flows via the front electrode and the at least one upper contact element, as well as the rear electrode and the at least one lower contact element, thereby improving the contact properties of the front electrode and / or the rear electrode. The laser device is moved perpendicular to the inline transport direction. Preferably, a laser scanning rate is automatically adaptable to a transport speed at which the wafer solar cell is conveyed in the inline transport direction.

[0028] Furthermore, to achieve the object, an inline production device for a wafer solar cell is proposed, which is equipped with the system according to the invention. In addition to the system described above, the inline production device has a plurality of additional stations for producing the wafer solar cell starting from a semiconductor wafer or from a wafer solar cell semi-finished product.

[0029] Furthermore, a manufacturing method for a wafer solar cell using the system according to the invention is proposed, in which an inline transport speed of the wafer solar cells along the inline transport direction of 0.1 m / min to 60 m / min, preferably of 3 m / min to 20 m / min and particularly preferably of 6 m / min to 20 m / min is realized.

[0030] An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic and not-to-scale spatial representation of a system according to a first embodiment during operation. The system is designed for electrically contacting wafer solar cells W with a front-side electrode (not shown) and with a back-side electrode (not shown). The system has an upper contact device 1 for electrically contacting the front-side electrode of the wafer solar cell W and a lower contact device 2 for electrically contacting the back-side electrode of the wafer solar cell W. Furthermore, the system has an electrical voltage source (not shown) for applying a defined voltage to the wafer solar cell W and for regulating the current flow between the upper contact device 1 and the lower contact device 2.The upper contact device 1 and the lower contact device 2 are designed and configured to additionally mechanically convey the wafer solar cell W during contacting along an inline transport direction i for an inline production line for wafer solar cells.

[0032] The upper contact device 1 comprises a first upper contact element 1.1 and a second upper contact element 1.2, wherein the first upper contact element 1.1 and the second upper contact element 1.2 are designed as electrically conductive conveyor belts. The two conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2 of the upper contact device 1 are each guided in a rotating manner on at least two deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b. The rotating speed of the two conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2 corresponds to the

[0033] Transport speed of the wafer solar cell W along the inline transport direction i. Each section of the two circulating conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2 of the upper contact device 1 rests against a section of the front-side electrode of the wafer solar cell Wan. In the illustration, the lower sections of the two conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2 rest against the front-side electrode of the wafer solar cell W. The two circulating conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2 of the upper contact device 1 are arranged at a distance d1 from each other, viewed perpendicular to the inline transport direction.

[0034] The distances d1, d2 of the circulating conveyor belts are preferably in a range from 1 / 50 to 1 / 4, more preferably from 1 / 50 to 1 / 10, more preferably from 1 / 50 to 1 / 20, of the extent of the wafer solar cell W along the inline transport direction i. The distances d1, d2 do not necessarily have to be equal. The lower contact device 2 has a first lower contact element 2.1 and a second lower contact element 2.1, wherein the first lower contact element 2.1 and the second lower contact element 2.2 are designed as electrically conductive conveyor belts. The two conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2 of the lower contact device 2 are each guided in a rotating manner on at least two deflection rollers 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b, wherein a rotating speed of the two conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2 corresponds to the transport speed of the wafer solar cell W along the inline transport direction i. One section of each of the two rotating conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2 of the lower contact device 2 rests against a respective section of the rear-side electrode of the wafer solar cell W. In the illustration, the upper sections of the two conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2 rest against the front-side electrode of the wafer solar cell W. The two circulating conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2 of the lower contact device 2 are arranged at a distance d2 from one another, viewed perpendicular to the inline transport direction i.

[0035] The conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 moving at the transport speed of the wafer solar cell W in the inline transport direction i convey the wafer solar cell W and in doing so contact the front electrode and the back electrode so that the defined voltage generated by the electrical voltage source is applied to the front electrode and the back electrode of the wafer solar cell W. The arrows shown on the deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b symbolize the direction of rotation of these deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b, which is transferred to the respective conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 and thus results in the inline transport direction i of the wafer solar cell W symbolized by the arrows when conveying the wafer solar cell W.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 are made of an electrically conductive rubber. However, the invention is not limited to this. For example, the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 can also be made of a conductive film. Likewise, the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 can also have a conductive coating, which is formed, for example, from a conductive film, a conductive rubber, a conductive foam, or a contact fleece.

[0037] The conveyor belt 1.1 of the upper contact device 1 is electrically connected to the voltage source via at least one of the two deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b. Similarly, the conveyor belt 1.2 of the upper contact device 1 is electrically connected to the voltage source via at least one of the two deflection rollers 1.2a, 1.2b, the conveyor belt 2.1 of the lower contact device 2 is electrically connected to the voltage source via at least one of the two deflection rollers 2.1a, 2.1b, and the conveyor belt 2.2 of the lower contact device 2 is electrically connected to the voltage source via at least one of the two deflection rollers 2.2a, 2.2b. The two conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2 are connected to one pole of the voltage source, and the two conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2 are connected to the other pole of the voltage source. However, the invention is not limited to an electrical connection of the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 via the deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b.For example, additional rollers can be provided for the electrical connection of the conveyor belts to the voltage source.

[0038] For the movement of the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, at least one of the two associated deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b is motor-driven. However, the invention is not limited to this. The drive can also be provided by additional rollers.

[0039] Furthermore, the system has a laser device 4 which moves or projects a laser beam transversely to the inline transport direction i in an area formed by the spacing of the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2 of the upper contact device 1 over a front side of the wafer solar cell W and in an area formed by the spacing of the conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2 of the lower contact device 2 over a back side of the wafer solar cell W. With this embodiment, LECO processing of a bifacial wafer solar cell W is possible with simultaneous illumination of the front side and the back side. However, the invention is not limited to this. The laser device 4 can also be designed such that the laser beam is moved or projected only over the front side or only over the back side of the wafer solar cell.If the laser beam is directed only over the front side of the wafer solar cell, LECO processing of monofacial and bifacial wafer solar cells is possible under illumination of the front side. If the laser beam is directed only over the back side of the wafer solar cell, LECO processing of bifacial wafer solar cells is possible under illumination of the back side.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows a section of the system design according to Fig. 1 with the conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2, wherein the area between the conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2 with the wafer solar cell W partially located therebetween is also shown as a detailed illustration. The conveyor belts 1.1, 2.1 and the conveyor belts 1.2, 2.2 are spaced apart from one another so that they do not touch one another. For improved contact of the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 on the front-side electrode and the rear-side electrode, the deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b are spring-mounted. In the absence of a wafer solar cell, the conveyor belts 1.1, 2.1 and the conveyor belts 1.2, 2.2 are spaced apart from each other at a distance h1 that is smaller than the thickness h2 of the wafer solar cell. When a wafer solar cell is conveyed between the conveyor belts 1.1, 2.1 or the conveyor belts 1.2, 2.2, the spring-loaded support of the deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b, the deflection rollers 1.1a, 2.1a, the deflection rollers 1.1b, 2.1b, the deflection rollers 1.2a, 2.2a, and the deflection rollers 1.2b, 2.2b are moved relative to one another, so that their distance from one another is increased and thus the distance between the conveyor belts 1.1, 2.1 and the conveyor belts 1.2, 2.2 is also increased. The deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b are therefore displaceable perpendicular to the inline transport direction i. The distance between the conveyor belts 1.1, 2.1 or the conveyor belts 1.2, 2.2 from each other corresponds to the thickness h2 of the wafer solar cell W with the wafer solar cell W in between. Via the spring bearings of the deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b, the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 are pressed against the front electrode or the back electrode of the wafer solar cell W for secure contact. The spring bearings of the deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b thus acts in the direction of the front electrode of the wafer solar cell W located therebetween, and the spring mounting of the deflection rollers 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b acts in the direction of the front electrode of the wafer solar cell W located therebetween. The spring mounting of the deflection rollers advantageously creates an automatic adjustment of the distance h1 to the thickness h2 of the wafer solar cell W, which is subject to variations.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the system according to the invention for electrically contacting wafer solar cells W with a front-side electrode and a rear-side electrode. In this system, three conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 are arranged one behind the other for contacting the front-side electrode, and three conveyor belts 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 are arranged one behind the other for contacting the rear-side electrode. Each conveyor belt is guided in a rotating manner by two deflection rollers. Furthermore, in addition to the deflection rollers 1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b, 2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b, 3.1a, 3.1b, 3.2a, 3.2b, each conveyor belt is assigned two additional rollers 1.1c, 1.2c, 2.1c, 2.2c, 3.1c, 3.2c, which are used, for example, to drive the respective conveyor belt and / or to electrically connect the respective conveyor belt to the corresponding pole of the voltage source. For reasons of clarity, only the reference numerals of the deflection rollers 2.1a, 2.1b and the additional rollers 2 are shown in Fig. 3.1c of the conveyor belt 2.1. The reference numerals of the other conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3 are analogous. Here, too, the invention is not limited to the number of additional rollers shown. In the free area formed between the conveyor belt 1.1 and the conveyor belt 1.2, a first laser 4.1 of the laser device 4 is moved or projected onto the front side of a wafer solar cell W conveyed between the conveyor belts 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2. In the free area formed between the conveyor belt 2.2 and the conveyor belt 2.3, a second laser 4.2 of the laser device 4 is moved or projected onto the back side of a bifacial wafer solar cell W conveyed between the conveyor belts 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3.With the system design shown, a first LECO processing of a bifacial wafer solar cell W is possible with the front side of the wafer solar cell W illuminated, followed by a second LECO processing of this bifacial wafer solar cell W with the back side of the wafer solar cell illuminated. Of course, the arrangement of the first laser 4.1 and the second laser 4.2 can also be reversed, so that a first LECO processing of a bifacial wafer solar cell W is carried out with the back side of the wafer solar cell W illuminated, followed by a second LECO processing of this bifacial wafer solar cell W with the front side of the wafer solar cell illuminated. In Fig. 3, several wafer solar cells W1, W2, W3 are arranged one behind the other in the system.

[0042] One of the systems described above is integrated into an inline production device for a wafer solar cell W (not shown).

[0043] When carrying out a manufacturing method for a wafer solar cell W using one of the above-described systems or the above-mentioned inline production device, an inline transport speed of the wafer solar cells W along the inline transport direction i of 0.1 m / min to 60 m / min, preferably of 3 m / min to 20 m / min and particularly preferably of 6 m / min to 20 m / min is realized.

Claims

List of reference symbols upper contact device first upper contact element, conveyor belt deflection roller deflection roller roller second upper contact element, conveyor belt deflection roller deflection roller roller conveyor belt deflection roller deflection roller roller lower contact device first lower contact element, conveyor belt deflection roller deflection roller roller second lower contact element, conveyor belt deflection roller deflection roller roller conveyor belt deflection roller deflection roller roller laser device first laser second laser Patent claims 1. A system for electrically contacting wafer solar cells (W) with a front-side electrode and with a back-side electrode, comprising: an upper contact device (1) for electrically contacting the front-side electrode of the wafer solar cell (W), a lower contact device (2) for electrically contacting the back-side electrode of the wafer solar cell (W), and an electrical voltage source for applying a defined voltage to the wafer solar cell (W) and for regulating the current flow between the upper contact device (1) and the lower contact device (2), - wherein the upper contact device (1) and the lower contact device (2) are designed and configured to additionally mechanically convey the wafer solar cell (W) during contacting along an inline transport direction (i) for an inline production line for wafer solar cells, characterized in that the upper contact device (1) has a first upper contact element and a second upper contact element and the first upper contact element and the second upper contact element are designed as electrically conductive conveyor belts.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower contact device (2) has a first lower contact element and a second lower contact element and the first lower contact element and the second lower contact element are designed as electrically conductive conveyor belts.

3. Plant according to claim 2, characterized in that the two conveyor belts of the upper contact device (1) are each guided in a rotating manner on at least two deflection rollers (1.1a, 1.1b, 1.2a, 1.2b) and a rotational speed of the two conveyor belts corresponds to the transport speed of the wafer solar cell (W) along the inline transport direction (i), and that in each case a section of the two circulating transport belts of the upper contact device (1) rests against a section of the front-side electrode of the wafer solar cell (W), and that the two circulating transport belts of the upper contact device (1) are arranged at a distance from one another when viewed perpendicular to the inline transport direction (i), and that the two transport belts of the lower contact device (2) are each guided on at least two deflection rollers (2.1a, 2.1b, 2.2a, 2.2b) are guided in a circumferential manner and a circumferential speed of the two conveyor belts corresponds to the transport speed of the wafer solar cell (W) along the inline transport direction (i), and that in each case a section of the two circumferential conveyor belts of the lower contact device (2) rests against a section of the rear side electrode of the wafer solar cell (W), and that the two circumferential conveyor belts of the lower contact device (2) are arranged at a distance from one another when viewed perpendicular to the inline transport direction (i).

4. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor belts are formed from a conductive foil or an electrically conductive rubber.

5. Plant according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the conveyor belts have a conductive coating.

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the conductive coating is formed from a conductive foil, a conductive rubber, a conductive foam or a contact fleece.

7. Installation according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the conveyor belts of the upper contact device (1) and / or the conveyor belts of the lower contact device (2) are electrically connected to the voltage source via at least one of the two respective deflection rollers.

8. System according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the deflection rollers of the upper contact device (1) and / or the deflection rollers of the lower contact device (2) are displaceable perpendicular to the inline transport direction (i).

9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the vertically displaceable deflection rollers are spring-mounted for this purpose.

10. System according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the deflection rollers is motor-driven.

11. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the circulating conveyor belts is in a range from 1 / 50 to 1 / 4, preferably from 1 / 50 to 1 / 10, more preferably from 1 / 50 to 1 / 20, of the extent of the wafer solar cell (W) along the inline transport direction (i).

12. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system has a laser device which moves or projects a laser beam transversely to the inline transport direction (i) in a region formed by the spacing of the conveyor belts of the upper contact device (1) over a front side of the wafer solar cell and / or in a region formed by the spacing of the conveyor belts of the lower contact device (2) over a rear side of the wafer solar cell.

13. Inline production apparatus for a wafer solar cell (W) comprising a system according to one of the preceding claims.

14. A manufacturing method for a wafer solar cell (W) using a system according to one of claims 1 to 10 or the inline production device according to claim 13, wherein an inline transport speed of the wafer solar cells (W) along the inline transport direction (i) of 0.1 m / min to 60 m / min, preferably of 3 m / min to 20 m / min and particularly preferably of 6 m / min to 20 m / min is realized.