Flexible photovoltaic module

Abstract

Flexible photovoltaic module. The invention relates to a photovoltaic module (10) comprising: - a transparent upper layer (20) defining an upper surface, - a lower layer (25) defining a lower surface, - at least two photovoltaic structures (30) encapsulated in a transparent polymer encapsulation layer (22) arranged between the lower (25) and upper (20) layers, the two photovoltaic structures (30) being laterally spaced apart, and - at least one slot (40) in the thickness of the photovoltaic module (10) extending longitudinally at least partially between the two photovoltaic structures (30), the slot (40) being closed at least one of its longitudinal ends (45). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Flexible photovoltaic module

[0001] The present invention relates to a photovoltaic module, its manufacturing method and its method of use. Technical field

[0002] Photovoltaic modules are usually manufactured flat and remain flat during use. In the case of integration of a photovoltaic module on a curved surface, the photovoltaic module is usually manufactured directly according to the desired curvature. Some modules are flexible in one direction.

[0003] Patent application KR10-2020-0067110 discloses a photovoltaic panel made from flexible materials, the photovoltaic panel itself being flexible and capable of being integrated into a module.

[0004] It is also known from international application WO2020 / 173321 the juxtaposition of small strings of photovoltaic cells, the strings of cells being spaced apart by a non-zero distance and encapsulated in a flexible composite material and on a flexible substrate layer.

[0005] Patent application KR 10-1775977 describes a photovoltaic module comprising photovoltaic cells encapsulated in a flexible material and covered on both sides with flexible films.

[0006] Patent application CN106299002 relates to a photovoltaic module comprising a plurality of cells connected together by flexible electrical conduction ribbons and encapsulated in a flexible material so as to adapt to the curvature of the upper surface of aircraft wings and to the deformations of the latter in flight.

[0007] Patent applications KR10-2016-0050659 and US20160126380 describe a photovoltaic module having a plurality of strings of juxtaposed cells, the strings being formed by superimposing cells on a flexible support having electrical lines connecting the cells to each other and to the outside. The different strings are electrically connected to each other on the outside.

[0008] In all of the above documents, flexibility is provided by the use of flexible material encapsulating the cells, which allows flexibility of the modules for small curvatures and mainly in a single direction.

[0009] Such photovoltaic modules cannot be integrated on surfaces with large curvatures, in particular on certain automobile roofs or certain building roofs, in particular due to the thickness of the photovoltaic modules.

[0010] There is therefore a need to have a photovoltaic module having better conformability to a curved surface of large curvature and curved according to two different directions, for example on a car roof or a building roof. Summary of the invention

[0011] The invention meets this need using a photovoltaic module comprising a multi-layer stack comprising at least: - a transparent upper layer defining an upper surface of the module, - a lower layer defining a lower surface of the module, - at least two photovoltaic structures encapsulated in a transparent polymer encapsulation layer arranged between the lower and upper layers, the two photovoltaic structures being spaced apart laterally, and - at least one slot in the thickness of the photovoltaic module extending longitudinally at least partially between the two photovoltaic structures, the slot being closed at at least one of its longitudinal ends.

[0012] By “encapsulated”, we understand that the two photovoltaic structures are arranged in the encapsulation layer so that the latter completely surrounds them.

[0013] By "slot" is meant an opening in the thickness of the photovoltaic module which is narrow and elongated along a longitudinal extension direction.

[0014] The presence of the slot in the module makes it possible to integrate and apply the module to a support of great curvature, allowing the photovoltaic structures to move closer together due to the curvature of the support.

[0015] The fact that the slot is closed at one of its ends means that it has a length less than the dimension of the module in the direction of extension of the slot. This makes it possible to keep a strip of material of the module at the end of the slot, in particular for the passage of electrical connections between the adjacent photovoltaic structures. This also makes it possible to have a single-piece module, which facilitates handling and integration on a curved surface.

[0016] Preferably, the photovoltaic module is configured to have a maximum radius of curvature in at least one direction, better still in two orthogonal directions, less than or equal to 10 m, better still less than or equal to 3 m. Preferably, the photovoltaic module is configured to have a minimum radius of curvature in at least one direction, better still in two orthogonal directions, greater than or equal to 500 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 m.

[0017] The module may comprise several slots in the thickness of the photovoltaic module, each extending longitudinally between two adjacent photovoltaic structures, the slots each being closed at at least one of their longitudinal ends. Photovoltaic structure

[0018] Preferably, each photovoltaic structure comprises at least one photovoltaic cell, for example based on silicon, better still a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected to each other by flexible conductive elements, in particular wires, conductive strips or in direct connection, and arranged in at least one row. The photovoltaic cells of each photovoltaic structure may be arranged in at least two rows, in particular parallel to each other, the rows being electrically connected to each other, preferably by flexible conductive elements, in particular wires, conductive strips or in direct connection. Preferably, the photovoltaic cells of the rows are electrically connected to each other in series. The rows of the same photovoltaic structure may be electrically connected to each other in parallel, or preferably in series.

[0019] Preferably, the photovoltaic structures are each elongated along a longitudinal axis. Preferably, the longitudinal axes of the photovoltaic structures are parallel to the direction of extension of the adjacent slot(s) or form an angle less than or equal to 45°, better still less than or equal to 20°, even better still less than or equal to 10° to the direction of extension of the adjacent slot(s). Preferably, the photovoltaic structures are parallel to each other.

[0020] Preferably, the adjacent photovoltaic structures, in particular the closest edges of the photovoltaic cells of two adjacent photovoltaic structures, are spaced apart by a distance less than or equal to 50 mm, better still less than or equal to 25 mm, even better still less than or equal to 20 mm before deformation of the photovoltaic module, i.e. flat.

[0021] Preferably, the adjacent photovoltaic structures, in particular the edges closest to the photovoltaic cells of two adjacent photovoltaic structures, are spaced apart by a distance greater than or equal to 5 mm, better still greater than or equal to 10 mm, before deformation of the photovoltaic module, i.e. flat.

[0022] Preferably, the photovoltaic structures are electrically connected to each other within the encapsulation layer, in particular by one or more conductive elements, in particular flexible ones, encapsulated in the encapsulation layer. Preferably, the flexible conductive elements extend in a zone of the continuous module of material at the closed end of the slot between the adjacent photovoltaic structures. Slot

[0023] Preferably, the slot(s) are rectilinear. Alternatively, the slot(s) may be of another shape, in particular curved or wavy.

[0024] Preferably the longitudinal extension direction of the slot(s) corresponds to the length of the module.

[0025] Preferably, the slots are parallel to each other.

[0026] Preferably, the slots are of substantially identical length. Preferably, the slots are of substantially identical shapes.

[0027] Preferably, the slot(s) have a length greater than or equal to 30%, better still greater than or equal to 40%, better still greater than or equal to 50%, even better still greater than or equal to 60%, preferably greater than or equal to 95%, of the dimension of the photovoltaic module in the direction of extension of the slot.

[0028] Preferably, the length of the slot(s) is configured so that the strip of material extending between the closed end of the slot and the edge of the module in the longitudinal extension direction of the slot is of a dimension in the longitudinal extension direction of the slot greater than or equal to 10 mm, better still greater than or equal to 20 mm.

[0029] Preferably, the slot(s) have one longitudinal end open outwards on one edge of the module. Alternatively, the slot(s) have two closed longitudinal ends.

[0030] The open longitudinal ends of the successive slots along an axis perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal extension of the slots may open alternately outwards on opposite edges of the module. Alternatively, the open longitudinal ends of the successive slots along an axis perpendicular to their direction of longitudinal extension extend outwards from the same edge of the module.

[0031] Preferably, the maximum width of the slot(s), in particular the width of the open end of the slot(s), is less than or equal to 40 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 25 mm, better still between 3 mm and 10 mm, for example of the order of 5 mm.

[0032] Preferably, the closed end of the or each of the slots has a rounded shape, in particular an oval or circular shape. Such a shape makes it possible to reduce the effect of accumulation of mechanical stresses at the closed end of the slots. Preferably, the closed end of the or each of the slots has a larger dimension transverse to the longitudinal extension direction of the slot as high as possible while maintaining the necessary electrical insulation distances indicated in the IEC 61215 and 61730 standards with respect to adjacent photovoltaic structures, in particular a diameter greater than or equal to 1 mm.

[0033] Preferably, the largest dimension transverse to the direction of longitudinal extension of the closed end of the slot is substantially equal to its width at its opening towards the outside. The fact that the slot(s) ends with a rounding reduces the stresses due to the bringing together of the photovoltaic structures during bending. This prevents deformation or lifting of the module but also makes it more difficult for cracks to propagate at the end of the slot(s).

[0034] Preferably, the slot(s) have a variable width over at least part of their length. The slot(s) may have a decreasing width over part of the length of the slot(s) towards the closed end of the corresponding slot. The longitudinal edges of the slot may form between them a non-zero angle less than or equal to 20°, better still less than or equal to 15°, even better still less than or equal to 5°.

[0035] Preferably, the slot(s) are of decreasing width from an open end outwardly on a side edge of the module to the closed end.

[0036] Alternatively, the slot(s) are of constant width.

[0037] Preferably, the longitudinal edges of the slot(s) are spaced from the edge of the nearest photovoltaic cell by a minimum distance greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, better still greater than or equal to 5 mm, even better still greater than or equal to 15 mm. Such a distance makes it possible to maintain good insulation between the adjacent photovoltaic structures while having a compact module.

[0038] The slot can be filled, in particular after curving on the final surface, with a filling material, in particular polymer-based. Such filling of the slot makes it possible in particular to avoid possible detachment, or infiltration of impurities or water on the surface of the module.

[0039] The module may comprise at least two adjacent and joined sub-modules each comprising at least two photovoltaic structures as described above and at least one slot as described above extending between the two photovoltaic structures of the sub-module. Preferably, the photovoltaic structures of the same sub-module are electrically connected in series. The two sub-modules may be electrically connected in parallel or in series with respect to each other.

[0040] Preferably, the slot(s) of each sub-module have an end open towards the outside of the same edge of the module. Preferably, the slots of the two sub-modules open towards the outside on two opposite lateral edges of the module.

[0041] Preferably, the photovoltaic structures of the two sub-modules extend along the same longitudinal axis two by two and the slot(s) of the two sub-modules extend two by two in the same longitudinal extension direction.

[0042] Preferably, each photovoltaic structure of two sub-modules comprises at least two rows of photovoltaic cells, in particular parallel to each other, the rows of the same photovoltaic structure being electrically connected to each other, in particular in series.

[0043] The module or each sub-module may comprise at least n photovoltaic structures spaced apart laterally and separated from each other by at least n-1 slots as described above, n is greater than or equal to 2, better still greater than or equal to 4. Preferably, the n photovoltaic structures are electrically connected in series with each other. Preferably, the width of each structure is less than or equal to 220 mm, better still less than or equal to 165 mm, better still less than or equal to 90 mm. Preferably, the photovoltaic structures are parallel. Preferably, each photovoltaic structure extends over more than 60%, better still more than 70% of the dimension of the module or sub-module along the longitudinal axis of the photovoltaic structure.

[0044] Preferably, in this embodiment, the slots extend over more than 50% of the dimension of the module or sub-module in the direction of extension of said slot, better still over more than 60%, even better still over more than 95%.

[0045] Preferably, each photovoltaic structure has a thickness, in particular corresponding to the thickness of the cells with the flexible conductive elements, of between 100 and 800 μm. Upper layer

[0046] Preferably, the upper layer is a glass or polymer plate, in particular made of a transparent material, preferably chosen from ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polymethyl methacrylate acrylic (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and their mixture or a multilayer of the aforementioned materials.

[0047] The top layer may be made of a flexible material.

[0048] The thickness of the upper layer may be between 10 pm and 3000 pm. Lower layer

[0049] Preferably, the lower layer is a glass or polymer plate, in particular a pre-impregnated polymer impregnating fibers, in particular having a weight less than or equal to 600 g / m2. The polymer may be made of a material chosen from polyesters, epoxy, silicones, PMMA, PC, rubber, nitriles, acrylics, polyamides, polyurethane. The fibers may comprise magnetic or mineral fillers, glass, carbon, aramid or natural fibers such as hemp, linen or silk.

[0050] The lower layer may be made of a polymeric material alone. The lower layer may be made of a flexible material. The lower layer may be opaque or transparent.

[0051] Preferably, the lower layer is magnetic, in particular it comprises a magnetic material. This facilitates the mechanical retention of the module on the curved surface, especially when the module support has ferromagnetic properties, and thus facilitates its installation and disassembly.

[0052] The lower layer may be formed by a composite material formed from a synthetic elastomer, for example a butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, loaded with a powder of a hard ferromagnetic material, preferably magnetized, for example strontium ferrite grains.

[0053] Preferably, the powder of the lower layer has a Curie temperature greater than or equal to the maximum temperature reached by the lower layer during the manufacture of the module, in particular during the step of laminating the layers together.

[0054] The module may comprise a ferromagnetic plate, in particular made of integrated steel, in particular arranged between the photovoltaic structures and a lower face of the module. The plate may be integrated into the polymer encapsulation layer or integrated into the lower layer.

[0055] For example, the lower layer may be multi-layered and comprise a sub-layer of a magnetic material, in particular as described above, and the ferromagnetic plate, in particular made of steel. The lower layer may comprise an encapsulant sub-layer or an adhesive between the magnetic sub-layer and the ferromagnetic plate.

[0056] Such a ferromagnetic plate improves the retention of the module on its magnetic support by increasing the force required to tear the module from the support.

[0057] The thickness of the lower layer may be between 10 mm and 10 mm. Encapsulation layer

[0058] The encapsulation layer may be formed from at least two sub-layers laminated together, one sub-layer extending between the photovoltaic structures and the upper layer and one sub-layer extending between the photovoltaic structures and the lower layer.

[0059] Preferably, the encapsulation layer is made of a flexible material.

[0060] The encapsulation layer may be made of a material chosen from crosslinked ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) elastomers, crosslinked thermoplastic polyolefin (POR)-based elastomers, thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO)-based elastomers, silicone, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyvinyl butyral and / or functional polyolefin, ionomers (“ionically crosslinked” thermoplastic copolymer).

[0061] The thickness of the encapsulation layer may be greater than or equal to 200 μm, in particular between 400 μm and 1000 μm.

[0062] Preferably, the upper, lower and encapsulation layers are in materials each having a Young's modulus of less than 5 GPa.

[0063] Preferably, the encapsulation layer is in direct contact with the upper and lower layers. Module

[0064] The module and / or the sub-modules may have polygonal contours, in particular rectangular or square, oval or circular.

[0065] The length of the module can be between 75 mm and 4 m, better between 1 m and 2 m.

[0066] Preferably, the module comprises a junction box electrically connected to the photovoltaic structures for connecting the photovoltaic structures to an electrical source.

[0067] The module may comprise an adhesive or one or more double-sided adhesive tapes on its lower surface intended to come into contact with the support. The adhesive or the tape may be arranged on the periphery of the lower surface of the module, in particular on certain areas only or on the entire periphery of the latter. Manufacturing process

[0068] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the module as described previously comprising: - the determination of the difference in dimension between the module when it is flat and the same module placed on a surface having a radius of curvature corresponding to a predetermined maximum radius of curvature, - cutting the slot(s) in the thickness of the multi-layer stack so that the cumulative width of the slots in at least one direction is greater than or equal to the determined dimension difference.

[0069] The method may comprise filling the slot(s) with a filling material, in particular a polymer base.

[0070] The method may include laminating the top, encapsulation, and bottom layers together.

[0071] The method may include magnetizing the lower layer of the module after laminating the different layers together.

[0072] The method may include adding an adhesive or one or more adhesive tapes to the bottom surface of the module. Method of use

[0073] The invention also relates to a method of using a photovoltaic module as described above, comprising deforming the module to conform to a surface, in particular a curved surface, with a radius of curvature greater than or equal to 500 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 m.

[0074] The surface may be the roof of a vehicle or a building, in particular a magnetic surface.

[0075] The method may comprise magnetizing the module by its lower layer on the surface, the surface being magnetic.

[0076] The method may include bonding the bottom surface of the module to the surface using an adhesive or double-sided adhesive tapes.

[0077] Preferably, the surface on which the module is positioned has a radius of curvature greater than or equal to 500 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 m.

[0078] The method may comprise positioning the module so that the direction of the module having the smallest radius of curvature is parallel to the direction of the module intercepting the greatest number of slots, in particular perpendicular to the direction of extension of the slots. Brief description of the drawings

[0079] [Fig. 1] schematically represents an example of a photovoltaic module,

[0080] [Fig.2] is a sectional view along IL II of the example of a photovoltaic module of the [Fig.l],

[0081] [Fig.3] is a sectional view along III-III of the example photovoltaic module of [Fig.l],

[0082] [Fig.4] is a sectional view along IV-IV of the example of a photovoltaic module of [Fig.l],

[0083] [Fig.5] is an enlargement of detail V of [Fig.l],

[0084] [Fig.6] schematically represents a variant of photovoltaic module,

[0085] [Fig.7] schematically represents a variant of photovoltaic module,

[0086] [Fig. 8] schematically represents a variant of photovoltaic module,

[0087] [Fig.9] schematically represents a variant of photovoltaic module, and

[0088] [Fig. 10] is a sectional view of a variant of photovoltaic module. Detailed description

[0089] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a photovoltaic module 10 comprising a multilayer stack formed by at least one transparent upper layer 20 and a lower layer 25 defining the opposite surfaces of the module 10 having photovoltaic structures 30 in an encapsulation layer 22, as can be seen in [Fig. 2]. The surfaces of the module have a rectangular outline. The module 10 comprises between 2 and 60 photovoltaic structures 30.

[0090] Preferably, the upper layer 20 and the lower layer 25 are made of a flexible material, in particular the upper layer 20 is made of ETFE or PET and the lower layer 25 is for example made of nitrile rubber containing magnetized ferrites. Preferably, the upper layer 20 and the lower layer 25 have respective thicknesses s and i between 10 pm and 1 mm for thickness s and between 500 pm and 10 mm for thickness i, in particular substantially equal to 500 pm. The lower layer 25 may be transparent or opaque.

[0091] The encapsulation layer 22 may be formed during manufacture by laminating together two sub-layers arranged on either side of the photovoltaic structures 30. Preferably, the encapsulation layer 22 is made of a flexible material, in particular a thermoplastic polymer material such as TPO. Preferably, the encapsulation layer 22 has a thickness e of between 200 and 1000 μm, for example substantially equal to 400 μm.

[0092] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the encapsulation layer 22 is preferably in direct contact with the upper 20 and lower 25 layers.

[0093] Preferably, the magnetized ferrites of the lower layer 25 have a Curie temperature higher than the temperature reached by the lower layer 25 during the manufacturing process of the module, in particular during the lamination of the layers together. Alternatively, the ferrites of the lower layer 25 are magnetized after the step of laminating the layers together, the Curie temperature of the ferrites can then be lower than the maximum temperature of the lower layer 25 reached during the lamination of the layers together.

[0094] In the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the photovoltaic structures 30 comprise a single row of photovoltaic cells 32 electrically connected together in series by flexible conductive elements 35, in particular conductive wires or ribbons. Each row may comprise one or more cells 35, preferably between 2 and 80 cells 35. Preferably, the photovoltaic structures 30 are parallel to each other and extend longitudinally over part of the length of the module.

[0095] The cells 35 of the row are spaced apart by a distance c, measured between the closest edges of the adjacent cells, between -2 mm and 200 mm, for example substantially equal to 3 mm. In the example illustrated, all the cells 35 are of the same substantially square shape in top view and of the same thickness. They each extend in top view over a surface area less than or equal to 246 cm2, in particular between 243 cm2 and 245 cm2, for example substantially equal to 244 cm2. They are aligned in the row. However, it could be otherwise, the cells could be connected in parallel, be of different shapes and / or dimensions from each other and / or not be aligned. The cells could for example be rectangular.

[0096] The adjacent photovoltaic structures 30 are spaced apart by a distance d, measured between the closest edges of the cells, of between 1 mm and 50 mm, in particular substantially equal to 10 mm.

[0097] The photovoltaic structures 30 are spaced apart laterally and are separated by a slot 40 in the thickness of the module. The slot 40 passes through all of the layers 20, 22 and 25 previously mentioned over a length / less than the dimension of the module according to the longitudinal extension direction of the slot, here the length D of the module.

[0098] The adjacent photovoltaic structures 30 are connected to each other, in particular in series, by flexible conductive elements 37, in particular conductive wires or ribbons, connecting to each other the adjacent end cells of the adjacent photovoltaic structures, the conductive elements 37 pass into the encapsulation layer 22 at the end of the slot 40.

[0099] The slots 40 extend in the space between the adjacent photovoltaic structures 30 along the length of the module 10 parallel to the photovoltaic structures 30. Preferably, as illustrated, the slots 40 extend along the entire length of the photovoltaic structures 30. In the illustrated example, the slots 40 are open at one end 42 towards the outside and are closed at the other end 45. The successive slots 40 along a direction perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal extension of the slots open alternately towards the outside on the opposite edges of the module 10. In this way, the module 10 forms a continuous material circuit which winds between the slots and in which a continuous electrical circuit is formed by the series mounting of the cells 32 electrically connected by the conductive elements 35 and 37. The slots 40 can extend over a length / greater than or equal to 95% of the length D of the module.Preferably, the slot 40 is as long as possible while maintaining mechanical strength of the module, electrical interconnection of the photovoltaic structures and sufficient electrical insulation between adjacent cells according to the IEC 61215 and 61730 standards. For example, the strip of material at the closed end 45 of the slot may have a dimension m measured between the closed end 45 of the slot and the opposite edge of the module greater than or equal to 5 mm.

[0100] As illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, the slots 40 have a decreasing width from their open end 42 to their closed end 45 and the closed end is widened by an opening of substantially circular or oval contour. Such a structure allows better conformability to a curved surface. The widened end makes it possible to reduce the mechanical stresses at the end of the slot due to the different parts of the module being brought together. This prevents deformation or lifting of the module but also makes it more difficult for a crack to propagate at the closed end 45. The greatest width t of the slot 40 at the opening to the outside may be between 1 mm and 49 mm, for example substantially equal to 5 mm. Preferably, the greatest width t is defined so as to maintain the necessary electrical insulation distances of the IEC 61215 and 61730 standards between the cells 32. The opposite longitudinal edges of the slot may form between them an angle a less than or equal to 15°, better still less than or equal to 10°, and / or less than or equal to 1°. The widened end 45 of the slot may have a width u substantially equal to the greatest width t of the slot 40. The invention is not limited to this form of slot, any other form of slot is envisaged, in particular a slot of rectangular outline rounded or not at its end or a slot of variable width over only part of the length of the slot.

[0101] Preferably, the slots 40 are made by cutting the module after stacking and assembling the different layers.

[0102] The connection circuit extends from a negative terminal 60 to a positive terminal 62 which are connected to a junction box or electronic circuit associated with the module (not shown) which may be attached to the module or remote from the module. The junction box makes it possible to electrically connect the module 10 to the outside.

[0103] When in use, the module 10 is positioned on a surface. Depending on the curvature of the surface, the photovoltaic structures 30 will be able to move closer together to a greater or lesser extent thanks to the slots 40, which makes it possible to bend the module along the median axis X on a curved surface with a small radius of curvature. The radius of curvature is greater than or equal to 500 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 m. The module also has a certain flexibility in length due to the space between the cells of the photovoltaic structures. Preferably, the module is positioned on the surface so that the direction of greatest curvature of the surface is parallel to the direction of greatest curvature of the module, in particular the transverse median axis X. The surface may be curved and has a maximum radius of curvature greater than or equal to 500 mm, better still 1 m.

[0104] The fact that the lower layer 25 is magnetized due to the presence of magnetized ferrites facilitates its integration on a ferromagnetic surface, in particular made of sheet metal or steel, such as the roof of a car or a steel sheet building roof.

[0105] Figures 6 to 9 illustrate alternative embodiments of the module 10.

[0106] The embodiment of [Fig.6] differs from the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 by the fact that the photovoltaic structures 30 and the slots 40 extend in the width k of the module 10.

[0107] The embodiment of [Fig. 7] differs from the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 in the shape of the slots 40. The slots 40 are all identical and have two closed ends 45 and 47 of the same shape as that described previously. The slots 40 may be of decreasing width from the center of the slot towards the ends 45 and 47. The photovoltaic structures 30 are connected in series by passing the conductive elements connecting them alternately in the strip of material on one side or the other of the slots. Alternatively, the photovoltaic structures 30 may be connected in parallel by passing the conductive elements connecting them in the strips of material on both sides of the slots 40.

[0108] The embodiments of Figures 8 and 9 differ from the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 in that the module 10 comprises two sub-modules 10a and 10b juxtaposed along the length of the module 10, the photovoltaic structures 30 of the two sub-modules also extending along the length of the module 10. The two sub-modules 10a and 10b are symmetrical with respect to each other relative to a median axis of the transverse module X and are electrically connected in parallel with each other. The photovoltaic structures 30a and 30b of the sub-modules 10a and 10b have photovoltaic cells 35 electrically connected to each other in series by conductive elements arranged in two longitudinal rows. The photovoltaic structures 30a and 30b of each sub-module 10a and 10b are separated from each other by the slots 40a and 40b respectively.The slots 40a of the sub-module 10a are closed at one end 45 near the median axis X and open outwards on the edge of the sub-module 10a opposite relative to the median axis X. The slots 40b of the sub-module 10b are closed at one end 45 near the median axis X and open outwards on the edge of the sub-module 10b opposite relative to the median axis X. The photovoltaic structures 30a of the sub-module 10a are electrically connected to each other at the central part of the module. The same applies to the photovoltaic structures 30b of the sub-module 10a. The two sub-modules 10a and 10b can be electrically connected to each other in parallel, as illustrated in [Fig.8], or be connected to each other in series, as illustrated in [Fig.9].

[0109] The embodiment of [Fig. 10] differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 in the structure of the lower layer 25. The lower layer 25 is multi-layered and comprises a sub-layer 70 having the previously mentioned structure, i.e. being for example made of nitrile rubber containing magnetized ferrites, and a ferromagnetic plate 72. The ferromagnetic plate 72 may be encapsulated in an encapsulant sub-layer 74 as illustrated. Alternatively, it is fixed to the sub-layer 70 by an adhesive or encapsulated in the encapsulating layer 22.

[0110] The module 10 may also have an adhesive or adhesive tape 80 on its lower face intended to come into contact with the surface to be covered, as can be seen in [Fig.10], the adhesive or adhesive tape 80 may be positioned on the periphery of the lower face.

[0111] The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described. The characteristics of the different embodiments can be combined with each other independently of each other when they are compatible.

[0112] For example, the module may have any other shape, depending on the surface to be covered. The slots may take other shapes than those described. They may not all be parallel to each other and / or of different shapes. Photovoltaic structures may have more than two rows. Adjacent photovoltaic structures may be inclined relative to each other. The cells in a row may be arranged in a staggered pattern. The slots may be filled with an elastic material.

Claims

Claims

1. Photovoltaic module (10) comprising a multilayer stack comprising at least: - a transparent upper layer (20) defining an upper surface of the module, - a lower layer (25) defining a lower surface of the module, - at least two photovoltaic structures (30) encapsulated in a transparent polymer encapsulation layer (22) arranged between the lower (25) and upper (20) layers, the two photovoltaic structures (30) being spaced apart laterally, and - at least one slot (40) in the thickness of the photovoltaic module (10) extending longitudinally at least partially between the two photovoltaic structures (30), the slot (40) being closed at at least one of its longitudinal ends (45).

2. Module according to claim 1, comprising several slots (40) in the thickness of the photovoltaic module (10), in particular rectilinear and parallel to each other, each extending longitudinally between two adjacent photovoltaic structures (30), the slots (40) each being closed at at least one of their longitudinal ends (45).

3. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each photovoltaic structure (30) comprises at least one photovoltaic cell (32), better still a plurality of photovoltaic cells (32) electrically connected to each other by flexible conductive elements (35), in particular wires, conductive strips or in direct connection, and arranged in at least one row.

4. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each photovoltaic structure (30) comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells (32) electrically connected to each other by flexible conductive elements (35), in particular wires, conductive strips or direct connection, and arranged in at least two rows, in particular parallel to each other, the rows being electrically connected to each other, preferably by flexible conductive elements, in particular wires, conductive strips or in direct connection.

5. A module according to any preceding claim, wherein adjacent photovoltaic structures (30) are spaced apart they have a distance d less than or equal to 50 mm.

6. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the photovoltaic structures (30) are electrically connected to each other within the encapsulation layer (22), in particular by one or more conductive elements (37) encapsulated in the encapsulation layer (22) extending in a continuous zone of the module of material at the closed end (45) of the slot (40) between the adjacent photovoltaic structures (30).

7. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the slot(s) (40) have a length greater than or equal to 30%, better still greater than or equal to 40%, better still greater than or equal to 50%, even better still greater than or equal to 60%, preferably greater than or equal to 95%, of the dimension of the photovoltaic module in the direction of extension of the slot.

8. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the slot(s) (40) have a longitudinal end (42) open towards the outside on an edge of the module.

9. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the open longitudinal ends (42) of the successive slots along an axis perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal extension of the slots can open alternately outwards on opposite edges of the module.

10. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the closed end (45) of the or each of the slots (40) has a rounded shape, in particular an oval or circular shape.

11. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the slot(s) (40) have a width decreasing over a portion of length f of the slot(s) (40) towards the closed end (45) of the corresponding slot (40), in particular from an open end towards the outside (42) on a lateral edge of the module to the closed end (45), the longitudinal edges of the slot forming between them a non-zero angle α less than or equal to 20°, better still less than or equal to 15°, even better still less than or equal to 5°.

12. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least n photovoltaic structures (30) spaced apart laterally and separated from each other by at least n-1 slots (40), n being greater than or equal to 2, better still greater than or equal to 4, the slots (40) preferably extending over more than 50% of the dimension of the photovoltaic module in the direction of extension of said slot, better over 60%, even better over 95%.

13. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two adjacent and joined sub-modules (10a, 10b) each comprising at least two photovoltaic structures (30a, 30b) and at least one slot (40a, 40b) extending between the two photovoltaic structures (30a, 30b) of the sub-module (10a, 10b), the slots (40a, 40b) of the two sub-modules (10a, 10b) open outwards on two opposite lateral edges of the module (10), each photovoltaic structure (30a, 30b) of two sub-modules preferably comprising at least two rows of photovoltaic cells (35), in particular parallel to each other, the rows of the same photovoltaic structure (30a, 30b) being electrically connected to each other, in particular in series.

14. A module according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower layer (25) is magnetic.

15. Method for manufacturing the module (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: - determining the difference in dimension between the module (10) when it is flat and the same module affixed to a surface having a radius of curvature corresponding to a predetermined maximum radius of curvature, - cutting out the slot(s) (30) in the thickness of the multi-layer stack so that the cumulative width of the slots (40) in at least one direction is greater than or equal to the determined difference in dimension.

16. A method of using a photovoltaic module (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising deforming the module (10) to conform to a surface, in particular a curved surface with a radius of curvature greater than or equal to 500 mm, better still greater than or equal to 1 m.

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