Solar cell structure and solar cell installation method

Abstract

Provided is a solar cell structure that can be easily installed even at a location with few flat portions such as a corrugated roof where installation is difficult. Also provided is a solar cell installation method. The solar cell structure comprises: a power generation element; a sealing material that seals a light-receiving surface side and a back surface side of the power generation element; a film-type solar cell module that has a front sheet and a back sheet that sandwich the sealing material from the light-receiving surface side and the back surface side; and a transparent frame that is configured from a transparent plate-shaped body having a larger outer shape than the solar cell module, and to which the light-receiving surface side of the solar cell module is fixed.

Description

Solar cell structure and solar cell installation method

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention relate to solar cell structures and solar cell installation methods.

[0002] Solar cells, which generate electricity using sunlight, have been widely used in recent years as a clean energy source for decarbonization, and their installation is progressing. Among these solar cells, in addition to the conventionally widely used silicon-based solar cells, perovskite solar cells, which use perovskite materials in the photoelectric conversion layer, are also attracting attention. Perovskite solar cells can be made into lightweight, bendable (flexible) film-type solar cells, and have the advantage of being able to be installed in many locations where conventional solar cells are difficult to install.

[0003] When installing film-type solar cells like those mentioned above on the roofs of factories and other facilities, they are often attached using adhesives or adhesive tape, but installation quality can be unstable depending on the weather conditions during installation and the skill of the workers at the installation site. Also, there are installation locations with few flat surfaces, such as folded-plate roofs, where adhesive strength cannot be guaranteed and there is a high risk of peeling.

[0004] In addition, for silicon-based solar cells using single crystal silicon or polycrystalline silicon, a solar cell module has been proposed in which a solar cell element is provided on the back surface of a light-transmitting substrate and sealed with a sealing material, with the aim of increasing power generation efficiency (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] JP 2009-111122 A

[0006] As mentioned above, film-type perovskite solar cells have the potential to be installed in locations where conventional solar cells are difficult to install. However, when installing them by bonding them with adhesive or tape, there are issues such as difficulty in stabilizing installation quality and insufficient adhesive strength in locations with few flat surfaces, such as folded-plate roofs. Furthermore, when installing them in locations with low strength, the entire system, including not only the solar cells themselves but also the components necessary for the installation structure, must be lightweight and easy to install at the installation site.

[0007] The present invention has been made in response to the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a solar cell structure and a solar cell installation method that can be easily installed even in places where installation is difficult due to a small number of flat areas, such as a folded-plate roof.

[0008] The solar cell structure of the embodiment is characterized by comprising a power generation element, a sealing material that seals the light-receiving surface side and back surface side of the power generation element, a film-type solar cell module having a front sheet and a back sheet that sandwich the sealing material from the light-receiving surface side and back surface side, and a transparent base composed of a transparent plate-like body that is larger in outer shape than the solar cell module and to which the light-receiving surface side of the solar cell module is fixed.

[0009] The solar cell installation method of the embodiment is a method for installing solar cells in which a film-type solar cell module is installed in which a power generation element using a perovskite material is sealed in a photoelectric conversion layer, and is characterized in that the light-receiving surface side of the solar cell module is fixed to a transparent base made of a transparent plate-like body whose outer shape is larger than that of the solar cell module to form a solar cell structure, and the transparent base of the solar cell structure is fixed to an installation location.

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a solar cell structure and a method for installing solar cells that can be easily installed even in locations where installation is difficult, such as a folded-plate roof.

[0011] 7 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a film-type solar cell module according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the longitudinal cross-sectional configuration of a solar cell structure according to an embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the solar cell structure of FIG. 2 when viewed from the back surface side. FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing the state in which the solar cell structure according to the embodiment is installed. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the solar cell structure according to the embodiment when viewed from the side when installed. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the procedure for installing the solar cell structure according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing the longitudinal cross-sectional configuration of a modified solar cell structure according to an embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the solar cell structure of FIG. 7 when viewed from the back surface side. FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of another modified solar cell structure according to an embodiment when viewed from the back surface side. FIG. 16 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of another modified solar cell structure according to an embodiment.

[0012] Hereinafter, a solar cell structure and a solar cell installation method according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a film-type solar cell module 110 made of a perovskite solar cell that constitutes a solar cell structure 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1 , the film-type solar cell module 110 includes a power generating element 111 formed on a film-like substrate made of resin or the like, a sealing material 112 that seals the light-receiving surface side of the power generating element 111, a sealing material 113 that seals the back surface side, and a front sheet 114 and a back sheet 115 that sandwich the sealing materials 112 and 113 from the light-receiving surface side and the back surface side. The solar cell module 110 has the property of being bendable (flexible). In addition, the solar cell module 110 is lightweight, with a weight of, for example, 5 kg / m ２ Preferably less than 3 kg / m ２ More preferably, 2 kg / m or less ２ The following is the result.

[0014] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 116 denotes an interconnector, 117 denotes a junction box, 118 denotes a cable, and 119 denotes a connector.

[0015] 2 is a diagram schematically showing a vertical cross-sectional configuration of a solar cell structure 100 according to an embodiment. The solar cell structure 100 includes the solar cell module 110, a transparent base 120, and an adhesive layer 130 interposed between the solar cell module 110 and the transparent base 120 to fix them together.

[0016] The transparent mount 120 is provided on the light-receiving side of the solar cell module 110 and is made of, for example, a transparent resin or the like. Its thickness is preferably a few millimeters (e.g., approximately 1-3 mm) thick, sufficient to ensure the strength of the mount while preventing significant light attenuation. Furthermore, since the solar cell module 110, which is a film-type solar cell, has a bendable (flexible) characteristic, it is preferable that the transparent mount 120 also be made of a sheet-like material that has a bendable (flexible) characteristic, making the entire mount bendable (flexible). The transparent mount 120 is preferably made of a material with excellent rigidity, weather resistance, transparency, flame retardancy, etc., and its toughness is preferably 2.0 or higher. A toughness of 2.0 or higher allows for easy drilling and other processing, even at the installation site. The toughness value of glass is generally approximately 0.7 to 0.9.

[0017] Examples of the fixing layer 130 include transparent double-sided adhesive tape, optically transparent adhesive (OCA), curing adhesives (such as silicone-based or epoxy-based adhesives), solar cell encapsulants (such as EVA, TPO, and ionomer), adhesion using an encapsulant and vacuum lamination, and adhesion using adhesive tape and a refractive index adjuster, as shown in Figures 7 and 8 (described below). When using vacuum lamination, it is preferable to laminate the module together with the transparent base 120 before attaching the junction box 117. In addition to these methods, screw fastening or fastening using a fixing frame (as shown in Figure 9 (described below)) can also be used. However, these methods may result in an air gap between the solar cell module 110 and the transparent base 120, which may reduce output. The thickness of the fixing layer 130 is preferably 1 mm or less. Since the solar cell module 110 is typically several millimeters thick (e.g., approximately 1-3 mm), the overall thickness of the solar cell structure 100 is, for example, approximately 3-6 mm.

[0018] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the solar cell structure 100 as viewed from the back side. As shown in Fig. 3, the transparent base 120 of the solar cell structure 100 is configured to have a larger outer shape than the solar cell module 110, and a plurality of fixing holes 121 are provided in the marginal area of ​​the transparent base 120 outside the solar cell module 110 as a fixing mechanism for fixing the solar cell structure 100 when it is installed in a desired location such as a roof. Note that the fixing mechanism for fixing the solar cell structure 100 to the installation location is not limited to the fixing holes 121, and various fixing jigs or the like may also be provided.

[0019] In the example of the solar cell structure 100 shown in Fig. 3, the dimension of the transparent base 120 in the short side direction is, for example, about 500 mm, the dimension of the long side direction is, for example, about 1500 mm, and the dimension of the short side direction of the region where the power generating element 111 of the solar cell module 110 is formed is, for example, about 300 mm. However, these dimensions are just an example, and other dimensions may be used.

[0020] 3, the junction box 117 is fixed to the rear surface (back sheet 115) of the solar cell module 110 along the long side, and the cable 118 and the connector 119 are also provided along the long side on the rear surface of the solar cell module 110. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, which will be described later, the junction box 117, the cable 118, and the connector 119 may be configured to be fixed along the short side of the solar cell module 110.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows an example of a solar cell structure 100 installed on a roof 200. The roof 200 shown in FIG. 4 has a shape known as a folded-plate roof. That is, the roof 200 is made of folded-plate material having a shape in which recesses (grooves) and protrusions (ridges) are repeated at a constant pitch. Therefore, when the solar cell structure 100 is installed on a folded-plate roof, the spacing (pitch) of the fixing holes 121 provided in the solar cell structure 100 is set to, for example, a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the protrusions (ridges) of the folded-plate material. That is, for example, the spacing is set to the same as the pitch of the protrusions (ridges), or an integer multiple thereof.

[0022] In addition, multiple folded plate materials are arranged side by side with their edges overlapping to form a single large roof, and in this case, the exposed width of one folded plate material is generally referred to as the working width. Therefore, when installing on a folded plate roof, the spacing (pitch) of the fixing holes 121 provided on the solar cell structure 100 can be set to the same as the working width of the folded plate material, for example.

[0023] 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the solar cell structure 100 configured as described above, as viewed from the side, when installed on the roof 200 using the fixing holes 121, and shows an example of a fixing jig 300 used in this case. This fixing jig 300 is provided with legs 301 for supporting the solar cell structure 100 at a distance from the roof 200. In this case, the distance is equal to or greater than the thickness of the junction box 117 of the solar cell module 110. The legs 301 include a pair of plates 301 a, 301 b that are spaced apart from each other, and the upper surface of a member connecting the plates 301 a, 301 b at their tops serves as a support surface 302 for supporting the back side of the transparent frame 120 of the solar cell structure 100.

[0024] A bolt 303 is provided in the space between the plate members 301a and 301b, penetrating the support surface 302. The bolt 303 is passed through the fixing hole 121 of the solar cell structure 100, and a nut 304 is tightened from above, thereby sandwiching and fixing the transparent frame 120 of the solar cell structure 100 between the support surface 302 and the nut 304. In the case of the fixing jig 300, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 , the bolt 303 is fixed in a predetermined position on the roof 200 in advance, and the leg 301 is fitted onto the bolt 303. The solar cell structure 100 is then placed on the leg 301, and the nut 304 is tightened from above.

[0025] As described above, according to this embodiment, the solar cell structure 100 can be easily installed even on a folded-plate roof or the like, which has few flat portions and has traditionally been difficult to install, and a power generation system can be constructed using the solar cell module 110. Note that the installation location of the solar cell structure 100 is not limited to a roof, and it may be, for example, a wall.

[0026] 5 is an example, and the structure of the fixing jig 300 is not limited to the structure shown in Fig. 5, and any structure may be used. Furthermore, by arranging the junction box 117, the cable 118, and the connector 119 in a recess in the folded-plate roof, the transparent frame 120 may be fixed to the roof 200 or the like with double-sided tape or the like in the surrounding margin area where the solar cell module 110 of the transparent frame 120 is not fixed, without using screws as in the fixing jig 300.

[0027] 7 and 8, the transparent base 120 and the solar cell module 110 may be fixed together by adhering the solar cell module 110 to the transparent base 120 at its peripheral edge with double-sided adhesive tape 131, and disposing a refractive index adjuster 132 in the area surrounded by the double-sided adhesive tape 131. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 9, a frame 133 may be provided on the transparent base 120, and the solar cell module 110 may be slid into the frame 133 and inserted therein, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 9.

[0028] Furthermore, when the solar cell structure 100 is installed on a folded-plate roof, a guide member 122 that matches the shape of the recess in the folded-plate roof may be provided on the back side of the transparent frame 120, as shown in Figure 10. By providing such a guide member 122, positioning on the folded-plate roof can be more easily performed, making it possible to install the solar cell structure 100 more easily. Note that it is preferable to provide the guide member 122 in a position that avoids the positions of the fixing holes 121 in the transparent frame 120. Providing such a guide has the advantage that the solar cell module 110 is less likely to be damaged even when placed on the ground.

[0029] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims.

[0030] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The solar cell structure and the solar cell installation method of the present invention can be used in solar power generation facilities, etc. Therefore, they have industrial applicability.

[0031] 100...solar cell structure, 110...solar cell module, 111...power generation element, 112...sealing material, 113...sealing material, 114...front sheet, 115...back sheet, 116...interconnector, 117...junction box, 118...cable, 119...connector, 120...transparent frame, 121...fixing hole, 122...guide member, 130...fixing layer, 131...double-sided adhesive tape, 132...refractive index adjuster, 133...frame, 200...roof, 300...fixing jig, 301...legs, 301a, 301b...plate material, 302...support surface, 303...bolt, 304...nut

Claims

1. A film-type solar cell module having a power generation element, a sealing material that seals the light-receiving side and the back side of the power generation element, and a front sheet and a back sheet that sandwich the sealing material from the light-receiving side and the back side, A transparent plate-like body with a larger outer diameter than the aforementioned solar cell module is used as a transparent mounting frame to which the light-receiving side of the solar cell module is fixed, It is equipped with, Each of the aforementioned solar cell module and the aforementioned transparent frame is flexible and has a thickness of 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. The aforementioned transparent stand is made of resin, The toughness of the plate-like body is 2.0 or greater. A solar cell structure characterized by the following features.

2. A solar cell structure according to claim 1, A fixing layer is provided between the light-receiving surface of the solar cell module and the transparent mounting frame, thereby fixing the solar cell module and the transparent mounting frame together. A solar cell structure characterized by the following features.

3. A solar cell structure according to claim 1 or 2, The transparent frame has a fixing mechanism for securing it to the installation site in the remaining area outside the part where the solar cell module is fixed. A solar cell structure characterized by the following features.

4. A solar cell structure according to claim 3, The aforementioned fixing mechanism consists of fixing holes formed at intervals corresponding to the pitch of the protrusions on the corrugated metal roof. A solar cell structure characterized by the following features.

5. A solar cell structure according to claim 4, The transparent frame has a guide member on its back side that matches the shape of the recess in the corrugated metal roof. A solar cell structure characterized by the following features.

6. A solar cell structure according to claim 4, The aforementioned solar cell module is a perovskite solar cell that uses a perovskite material in its photoelectric conversion layer. A solar cell structure characterized by the following features.

7. A method for installing a solar cell, comprising installing a film-type solar cell module in which a power generation element using a perovskite material is sealed in a photoelectric conversion layer, A solar cell structure is formed by fixing the light-receiving side of the solar cell module to a transparent mounting frame, which is made of a transparent plate-like body with a larger outer diameter than the solar cell module. Each of the aforementioned solar cell module and the aforementioned transparent frame is flexible and has a thickness of 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. The aforementioned transparent stand is made of resin, The toughness of the plate-like body is 2.0 or higher. The transparent frame of the solar cell structure is fixed to the installation location. A method for installing solar cells characterized by the following.

8. A method for installing a solar cell according to claim 7, In the transparent frame, the outer margin area of ​​the part to which the solar cell module is fixed is fixed to the installation site. A method for installing solar cells characterized by the following.

9. A method for installing a solar cell according to claim 8, The corrugated metal roof is fixed using fixing holes formed in the margin area at intervals corresponding to the pitch of the protrusions of the corrugated metal roof. A method for installing solar cells characterized by the following.

10. A method for installing a solar cell according to claim 9, A fixing jig is fixed into the fixing hole, creating a gap between the transparent frame and the corrugated roof that is greater than the thickness of the junction box of the solar cell module. A method for installing solar cells characterized by the following.

11. A film-type solar cell module having a power generation element, a sealing material that seals the light-receiving side and the back side of the power generation element, and a front sheet and a back sheet that sandwich the sealing material from the light-receiving side and the back side, A transparent plate-like body with a larger outer diameter than the aforementioned solar cell module is used as a transparent mounting frame to which the light-receiving side of the solar cell module is fixed, It is equipped with, The transparent frame is flexible and has a thickness of 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. The transparent frame is made of resin. A solar cell structure characterized by the following features.

12. A method for installing a solar cell, comprising installing a film-type solar cell module in which a power generation element using a perovskite material is sealed in a photoelectric conversion layer, A solar cell structure is formed by fixing the light-receiving side of the solar cell module to a transparent mounting frame, which is made of a transparent plate-like body with a larger outer diameter than the solar cell module. The transparent frame is flexible and has a thickness of 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. The aforementioned transparent stand is made of resin, The transparent frame of the solar cell structure is fixed to the installation location. A method for installing solar cells characterized by the following.