Module frame and solar cell module

Abstract

A module frame and a solar cell module are disclosed. The solar cell module disclosed herein comprises: a laminate including solar cells; a module frame including a side wall portion disposed to face an outer circumferential side surface of the laminate, a rear wall portion bent and extending from the side wall portion to face the rear surface of the laminate, a front wall portion bent and extending from the side wall portion to face the front surface of the laminate, and a front contact portion extending from the front wall portion so as to be in contact with the front surface of the laminate and having a thickness thicker than that of the front wall portion; and an adhesive interposed between the side wall portion, rear wall portion, and front wall portion, and the laminate.

Description

Module frames and solar modules

[0001] The present invention relates to a module frame supporting a laminate and a solar cell module.

[0002] A solar cell module may include a laminate including solar cells that convert light energy into electrical energy by the photoelectric effect, and a module frame that supports the laminate.

[0003] Generally, aluminum frames applied to solar modules are manufactured by extruding metal materials, but steel frames are manufactured by roll forming the material, and depending on the characteristics of the roll forming manufacturing process, a design is required to manufacture them with sufficient rigidity to withstand bending or twisting.

[0004] The present invention aims to provide an improved module frame and a solar cell module in which an adhesive for bonding a laminate to a module frame does not leak to the front surface of the laminate.

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a module frame formed by overlapping and folding metal plates, and a solar cell module.

[0006] The module frame of the present invention includes: a side wall portion arranged to face an outer peripheral side of a laminate; a back wall portion bent and extended from the side wall portion to face a back surface of the laminate; a front wall portion bent and extended from the side wall portion to face a front surface of the laminate; and a front contact portion extended from the front wall portion to contact the front surface of the laminate and having a thickness thicker than a thickness of the front wall portion.

[0007] The side wall portion and the front wall portion may each include a metal plate overlapped in multiple layers.

[0008] The front contact portion may include overlapping metal plates having at least twice the number of layers of the metal plates included in the front wall portion.

[0009] The solar cell module of the present invention comprises: a laminate including a solar cell; a module frame including a side wall portion arranged to face an outer peripheral side of the laminate, a back wall portion bent and extended from the side wall portion to face a back surface of the laminate, a front wall portion bent and extended from the side wall portion to face a front surface of the laminate, and a front contact portion extending from the front wall portion to contact the front surface of the laminate and having a thickness thicker than the thickness of the front wall portion; and an adhesive interposed between the side wall portion, the back wall portion, the front wall portion, and the laminate.

[0010] The above module frame can be formed by bending a metal plate.

[0011] The side wall portion and the front wall portion may each include a metal plate overlapped in multiple layers.

[0012] The front contact portion may include overlapping metal plates having at least twice the number of layers of the metal plates included in the front wall portion.

[0013] The layer of the metal plate included in the front wall portion may be two layers, and the layer of the metal plate included in the front contact portion may be four layers.

[0014] The front contact portion may include a first contact portion having one end connected to the front wall portion, and a second contact portion connected to the other end of the first contact portion and folded around the other end of the first contact portion so as to overlap and adhere to the first contact portion and extend toward the front wall portion.

[0015] The second contact portion may be positioned closer to the laminate than the first contact portion.

[0016] The above first contact portion can be bent at a bending angle greater than 0° with respect to the front wall portion.

[0017] The above bending angle may be an acute angle.

[0018] One end of the second contact portion may be connected to the other end of the first contact portion, and the other end of the second contact portion may not be in contact with the front surface of the laminate.

[0019] The width of the front wall portion may be larger than the width of the front contact portion.

[0020] The front contact portion may include a curved portion having a curved cross-sectional shape that contacts the front surface of the laminate and protrudes toward the front surface of the laminate.

[0021] The above metal plate may include a core layer including a steel material, and a corrosion-resistant plating layer laminated on the core layer.

[0022] The above corrosion-resistant plating layer may include at least one material selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, and aluminum.

[0023] The above module frame may further include a backup portion, one side of which is connected to the side wall portion and the other side of which is connected to the back wall portion, and which is arranged at the rear of the laminate.

[0024] The above adhesive may be a silicone adhesive.

[0025] The above module frame is provided in multiple pieces,

[0026] The above solar cell module may further include a connecting portion connecting a pair of adjacent module frames among the plurality of module frames at a corner portion of the laminate.

[0027] According to the present invention, a module frame with a front contact portion that extends from the front wall portion and is thicker than the front wall portion and contacts the laminate can secure sufficient space between the module frame and the laminate for receiving adhesive. Accordingly, adhesive does not leak onto the front surface of the laminate, and assembly defects in the solar cell module can be prevented.

[0028] The module frame according to the present invention can be manufactured by overlapping and folding metal plates, such as steel plates, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the bending and twisting rigidity can be improved compared to a module frame manufactured from a metal material such as an aluminum alloy.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar cell module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of Fig. 1.

[0031] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part Ⅲ of Figure 2.

[0032] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of part Ⅳ of Figure 3.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a solar cell module according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a solar cell module according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a solar cell module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3.

[0036] Hereinafter, the module frame and solar cell module according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Throughout this process, the thickness of lines and the sizes of components depicted in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined based on their functions in the present invention and may vary depending on the intentions or practices of the user or operator. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

[0037] Additionally, in this specification, when it is said that a part is "connected (or connected)" to another part, this includes not only cases where it is "directly connected (or connected)" but also cases where it is "indirectly connected (or connected)" with another member in between. In this specification, when it is said that a part "includes (or comprises)" a certain component, this does not mean that other components are excluded, but rather that other components can be "included (or comprised)" unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0038] In addition, the "unit," "module," or "part" used in this specification for a component performs at least one function or operation. In addition, the "unit," "module," or "part" may perform the function or operation by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of "units," a plurality of "modules," or a plurality of "parts," excluding a "unit," "module," or "part" that must be performed on specific hardware or performed on at least one processor, may be integrated into at least one module. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0039] In addition, the same reference numerals may refer to the same components throughout this specification. Even if the same or similar reference numerals are not mentioned or described in a specific drawing, they may be described based on other drawings. In addition, even if a part is not indicated by a reference numeral in a specific drawing, that part may be described based on other drawings. In addition, the number, shape, size, and relative size differences of detailed components included in the drawings of this application are set for the convenience of understanding, and do not limit the embodiments and may be implemented in various forms.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar cell module according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part III of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part IV of FIG. 3.

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a solar cell module (1) according to a first embodiment of the present invention may include a laminate (20), a module frame (100), and an adhesive (190). The laminate (20) may include a plurality of solar cells (not shown). The solar cells may convert light energy into electrical energy by the photoelectric effect.

[0042] The laminate (20) may include a pair of protective substrates arranged so that a plurality of solar cells are interposed therebetween. The protective substrates may be made of, for example, a glass material. The laminate (20) may have, for example, a rectangular planar shape.

[0043] The module frame (100) can surround the outer periphery of the laminate (20). An adhesive (190) can be applied and cured so as to be interposed between the module frame (100) and the outer periphery of the laminate (20). The laminate (20) can be supported on the module frame (100) by the adhesive (190).

[0044] The adhesive (190) may be, for example, a silicone adhesive. When cured, the silicone adhesive does not harden like cement, but rather has elasticity like rubber and excellent water repellency. Therefore, it can prevent moisture and foreign substances from penetrating between the module frame (100) and the laminate (20), and can prevent corrosion of the solar cell module (1) and the resulting decrease in durability.

[0045] A solar cell module (1) may have a plurality of module frames (100). For example, a laminate (20) having a rectangular planar shape has four outer peripheral sides (30), and the solar cell module (1) may include four module frames (100) so as to correspond one-to-one to the four outer peripheral sides (30).

[0046] The solar cell module (1) may further include a connecting portion (50). For example, a rectangular laminate (20) has four corner portions (40), and the solar cell module (1) may include four connecting portions (50) so as to correspond one-to-one to the four corner portions (40).

[0047] Among the four module frames (100), a pair of module frames (100) may intersect at one corner (40). Among the intersecting pair of module frames (100), one longitudinal end of one module frame (100) and one longitudinal end of the other module frame (100) may be in contact with each other or may be close enough to almost be in contact with each other.

[0048] The connecting portion (50) can connect the ends of a pair of adjacent module frames (100) that are in contact or nearly in contact with each other. For example, the connecting portion (50) can include a bracket (51) and a fastener (55). The cross-sectional shape of the bracket (51) can be, for example, in the shape of the letter L.

[0049] One side of the bracket (51) may overlap one module frame (100) among a pair of neighboring module frames (100), and the other side of the bracket (51) may overlap another module frame (100) among a pair of neighboring module frames (100).

[0050] The fastener (55) may be, for example, a rivet, a fastening screw, etc. The fasteners (55) may be provided in multiple numbers. Some of the multiple fasteners (55) may penetrate one side of the bracket (51) and one module frame (100) to connect them to each other, and the remaining of the multiple fasteners (55) may penetrate the other side of the bracket (51) and another module frame (100) to connect them to each other.

[0051] The module frame (100) includes a side wall portion (120), a back wall portion (130), a front wall portion (140), and a front contact portion (150).

[0052] The side wall portion (120) is positioned to face the outer peripheral side (30) of the laminate (20). The back wall portion (130) is bent and extended from the side wall portion (120) to face the back surface (25) of the laminate (20). The front wall portion (140) is bent and extended from the side wall portion (120) to face the front surface (21) of the laminate (20). The front contact portion (150) is extended from the front wall portion (140) to contact the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0053] An adhesive (190) is interposed between the side wall portion (120), the back wall portion (130), and the front wall portion (140) and the laminate (20). The side wall portion (120), the back wall portion (130), and the front wall portion (140) may not be in direct contact with the laminate (20).

[0054] The module frame (100) may further include a backup portion (110) that is connected to the side wall portion (120) on one side and to the back wall portion (130) on the other side, and is arranged at the rear of the laminate (20).

[0055] The module frame (100) can be formed by bending a metal plate (101). For example, the module frame (100) can be a plated steel plate including a core layer (102) including a steel material, and a corrosion-resistant plating layer (105) laminated on the core layer (102).

[0056] In the case where the metal plate (101) includes a core layer (102) made of steel, even if the metal plate (101) is thin, it may not be easily bent or twisted along the longitudinal direction of the module frame (100) due to external force. In other words, the bending rigidity and twisting rigidity of the module frame (100) may be improved. For example, the thickness (TH) of the metal plate (101) may be 0.4 to 0.7 mm.

[0057] The corrosion-resistant plating layer (105) is a layer that is more resistant to corrosion than the core layer (102) and can be laminated on both sides of the core layer (102) by a plating method. The corrosion-resistant plating layer (105) can include, for example, at least one material selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, and aluminum.

[0058] The side wall portion (120) and the front wall portion (140) may include metal plates (101) that are overlapped in multiple layers. For example, the side wall portion (120) and the front wall portion (140) may each include two layers of overlapped metal plates (101).

[0059] The back wall portion (130) may include a single-layer metal plate (101). The back wall portion (130) may be bent and connected to the side wall portion (120). The two-layer metal plate (101) belonging to the side wall portion (120) may be branched into the back wall portion (130) and the backup portion (110) from one end (121) of the side wall portion (120) in the thickness direction of the laminate (20).

[0060] One end (131) of the back wall portion (130) can be bent and connected to one layer of metal plates (101) among the two layers of metal plates (101) belonging to the side wall portion (120) in the width direction of the module frame (100) perpendicular to the thickness direction of the laminate (20) and the length direction of the module frame (100).

[0061] The other end (132) of the back wall portion (130) can be connected to the backup portion (110). For example, one end of the backup portion (110) can be connected to one end (121) of the side wall portion (120), and the other end of the backup portion (110) can be connected in a folded manner to the other end (132) of the back wall portion (130).

[0062] The front wall portion (140) can be connected to the other end (122) of the side wall portion (120) in a folded manner. For example, the other end (122) of the side wall portion (120) and one end (141) of the front wall portion (140) can be connected in a folded manner.

[0063] The front contact portion (150) may have a thickness greater than that of the front wall portion (140). For example, the front contact portion (150) may include overlapping metal plates (101) having twice the number of layers of the metal plates (101) included in the front wall portion (140).

[0064] Referring to FIG. 3, the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front wall portion (140) may be two layers, and the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front contact portion (150) may be four layers. In this case, the thickness of the front wall portion (140) may be twice the thickness (TH) of the single-layer metal plate (101), and the thickness of the front contact portion (150) may be four times the thickness (TH) of the single-layer metal plate (101). However, unlike the example illustrated in FIG. 3, in another embodiment of the present invention, the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front contact portion (150) may be three or more times the number of layers of the metal plate (101) of the front wall portion (140).

[0065] The front contact portion (150) may include a first contact portion (151) and a second contact portion (155). The first contact portion (151) may have one end (152) connected to the other end (142) of the front wall portion (140).

[0066] The second contact portion (155) may have one end (156) connected to the other end (153) of the first contact portion (150). The second contact portion (155) may be folded around the other end (153) of the first contact portion (151) so as to overlap and closely contact the first contact portion (151) and extend toward the front wall portion (140).

[0067] The second contact portion (155) may be positioned closer to the laminate (20) than the first contact portion (151). For example, the second contact portion (155) may be folded 180° around the other end (153) of the first contact portion (151) and overlapped and placed in close contact with the first contact portion (151).

[0068] The first contact portion (151) can be bent at a bending angle (AN) greater than 0° with respect to the front wall portion (140). For example, the bending angle (AN) can be defined as the angle between an imaginary first straight line (L1) parallel to the width direction of the front wall portion (140) and an imaginary second straight line (L2) parallel to the width direction of the first contact portion (151).

[0069] The bending angle (AN) may be an acute angle. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first contact portion (151) and the second contact portion (155) are in close contact, so that the other end (157) of the second contact portion (155) may not be in contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0070] The module frame (100) can be manufactured through roll forming of a metal plate (101).

[0071] The front contact portion (150) may include a curved portion (160) that comes into contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20) and has a curved cross-sectional shape that protrudes toward the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0072] Since the curved portion (160) is in contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20), the adhesive (190) may not leak across the front contact portion (150) in the space between the outer peripheral side surface (30) of the laminate (20) and the module frame (100) to the front surface (21) of the laminate (20). In addition, since the pressure applied by the front contact portion (150) to the front surface (21) of the laminate (20) is not concentrated but distributed due to the curved portion (160), damage to the laminate (20) may be suppressed.

[0073] The width size (W2) of the front wall portion (140) may be larger than the width size (W2) of the front contact portion (150). Due to the configuration in which the front contact portion (150) has a bending angle (AN) and the configuration in which the width size (W2) of the front wall portion (140) is larger than the width size (W2) of the front contact portion (150), sufficient space may be provided between the front wall portion (140) and the front surface (21) of the laminate (20) in which the adhesive (190) can be filled.

[0074] Accordingly, in the process of assembling a solar cell module (1), when applying adhesive (190) to the inner surfaces of the side wall portion (120), the back wall portion (130), and the front wall portion (140), and bringing the module frame (100) close to the outer periphery of the laminate (20) to cover the outer periphery of the laminate (20), the adhesive (190) does not leak to the front surface (21) of the laminate (20) through the front contact portion (150), and the adhesive strength between the outer periphery of the laminate (20) and the module frame (100) can also be strengthened.

[0075] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a solar cell module according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, a solar cell module (2) according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include a laminate (20), a module frame (200), an adhesive (190), and a joint (50). The laminate (20), the adhesive (190), and the joint (50) are the same as the elements of the same name included in the solar cell module (1) according to the first embodiment of the present invention and are indicated by the same reference numerals, so a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0076] The module frame (200) is formed by bending a metal plate (101) and may include a side wall portion (120), a back wall portion (130), a backup portion (110), a front wall portion (140), and a front contact portion (250). The side wall portion (120), the back wall portion (130), the backup portion (110), and the front wall portion (140) are the same as the elements of the same name included in the solar cell module (1) according to the first embodiment of the present invention and are indicated by the same reference numerals, so a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0077] The front contact portion (250) extends from the front wall portion (140) to contact the front surface (21) of the laminate (20). The front contact portion (250) may have a thickness greater than that of the front wall portion (140). For example, the front contact portion (250) may include overlapping metal plates (101) having twice the number of layers of the metal plates (101) included in the front wall portion (140).

[0078] The number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front wall portion (140) may be two layers, and the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front contact portion (250) may be four layers. In this case, the thickness of the front wall portion (140) may be twice the thickness (TH) of the single-layer metal plate (101) (see FIG. 4), and the thickness of the front contact portion (250) may be four times the thickness (TH) of the single-layer metal plate (101). However, unlike the example illustrated in FIG. 5, in another embodiment of the present invention, the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front contact portion (250) may be three or more times the number of layers of the metal plate (101) of the front wall portion (140).

[0079] The front contact portion (250) may include a first contact portion (251) and a second contact portion (255). The first contact portion (251) may have one end (252) connected to the other end (142) of the front wall portion (140).

[0080] The second contact portion (255) may have one end (256) connected to the other end (253) of the first contact portion (250). The second contact portion (255) may be folded around the other end (253) of the first contact portion (251) so as to overlap and closely contact the first contact portion (251) and extend toward the front wall portion (140).

[0081] The second contact portion (255) may be positioned closer to the laminate (20) than the first contact portion (251). For example, the second contact portion (255) may be folded 180° around the other end (253) of the first contact portion (251) and may be placed in close contact with the first contact portion (251) so as to overlap.

[0082] The first contact portion (251) can be bent at a bending angle (AN) greater than 0° with respect to the front wall portion (140). For example, the bending angle (AN) can be defined as the angle between an imaginary first straight line (L1) parallel to the width direction of the front wall portion (140) and an imaginary second straight line (L2) parallel to the width direction of the first contact portion (251).

[0083] The bending angle (AN) may be an acute angle. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the first contact portion (251) and the second contact portion (255) are in close contact, so that the other end (257) of the second contact portion (255) may not be in contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0084] As illustrated in Fig. 5, the first contact portion (251) and the second contact portion (255) may include two layers of metal plates (101) each overlapping each other. Among the two layers of metal plates (101) belonging to the second contact portion (255), an end (2571) of one layer of metal plates (101) that is in direct contact with the metal plate (101) of the first contact portion (251) extends closer to the side wall portion (120) than an end (2572) of the other layer of metal plates (101) that is in direct contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0085] The front contact portion (250) may include a curved portion (260) that comes into contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20) and has a curved cross-sectional shape that protrudes toward the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0086] Since the curved portion (260) is in contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20), the adhesive (190) may not leak across the front contact portion (250) in the space between the outer peripheral side surface (30) of the laminate (20) and the module frame (100) to the front surface (21) of the laminate (20). In addition, since the pressure applied by the front contact portion (250) to the front surface (21) of the laminate (20) is not concentrated but distributed due to the curved portion (260), damage to the laminate (20) may be suppressed.

[0087] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a solar cell module according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3. The solar cell module (3) according to the third embodiment of the present invention may include a laminate (20), a module frame (300), an adhesive (190), and a joint (50). The laminate (20), the adhesive (190), and the joint (50) are the same as the elements of the same name included in the solar cell module (1) according to the first embodiment of the present invention and are indicated by the same reference numerals, so a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0088] The module frame (300) is formed by bending a metal plate (101) and may include a side wall portion (120), a back wall portion (130), a backup portion (110), a front wall portion (140), and a front contact portion (350). The side wall portion (120), the back wall portion (130), the backup portion (110), and the front wall portion (140) are the same as the elements of the same name included in the solar cell module (1) according to the first embodiment of the present invention and are indicated by the same reference numerals, so a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0089] The front contact portion (350) extends from the front wall portion (140) to contact the front surface (21) of the laminate (20). The front contact portion (350) may have a thickness greater than that of the front wall portion (140). For example, the front contact portion (350) may include overlapping metal plates (101) having twice the number of layers of the metal plates (101) included in the front wall portion (140).

[0090] The number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front wall portion (140) may be two layers, and the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front contact portion (350) may be four layers. In this case, the thickness of the front wall portion (140) may be twice the thickness (TH) of the single-layer metal plate (101) (see FIG. 4), and the thickness of the front contact portion (350) may be four times the thickness (TH) of the single-layer metal plate (101). However, unlike the example illustrated in FIG. 6, in another embodiment of the present invention, the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front contact portion (350) may be three or more times the number of layers of the metal plate (101) of the front wall portion (140).

[0091] The front contact portion (350) may include a first contact portion (351) and a second contact portion (355). The first contact portion (351) may have one end (352) connected to the other end (142) of the front wall portion (140).

[0092] The second contact portion (355) may have one end (356) connected to the other end (353) of the first contact portion (350). The second contact portion (355) may be folded around the other end (353) of the first contact portion (351) so as to overlap and closely contact the first contact portion (351) and extend toward the front wall portion (140).

[0093] The second contact portion (355) may be positioned closer to the laminate (20) than the first contact portion (351). For example, the second contact portion (355) may be folded 180° around the other end (353) of the first contact portion (351) and may be placed in close contact with the first contact portion (351) so as to overlap.

[0094] The first contact portion (351) can be bent at a bending angle (AN) greater than 0° with respect to the front wall portion (140). For example, the bending angle (AN) can be defined as the angle between an imaginary first straight line (L1) parallel to the width direction of the front wall portion (140) and an imaginary second straight line (L2) parallel to the width direction of the first contact portion (351).

[0095] The bending angle (AN) may be an acute angle. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first contact portion (351) and the second contact portion (355) are in close contact, so that the other end (357) of the second contact portion (355) may not be in contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0096] As illustrated in Fig. 6, the first contact portion (351) and the second contact portion (355) may include two layers of metal plates (101) each overlapping each other. Among the two layers of metal plates (101) belonging to the second contact portion (355), an end (3571) of one layer of metal plates (101) that is in direct contact with the metal plate (101) of the first contact portion (351) extends further from the side wall portion (120) than an end (3572) of the other layer of metal plates (101) that is in direct contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0097] The front contact portion (350) may include a curved portion (360) that comes into contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20) and has a curved cross-sectional shape that protrudes toward the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0098] Since the curved portion (360) is in contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20), the adhesive (190) may not leak across the front contact portion (350) in the space between the outer peripheral side surface (30) of the laminate (20) and the module frame (100) to the front surface (21) of the laminate (20). In addition, since the pressure applied by the front contact portion (350) to the front surface (21) of the laminate (20) is not concentrated but distributed due to the curved portion (360), damage to the laminate (20) may be suppressed.

[0099] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a solar cell module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a drawing corresponding to FIG. 3. The solar cell module (4) according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention may include a laminate (20), a module frame (400), an adhesive (190), and a joint (50). The laminate (20), the adhesive (190), and the joint (50) are the same as the elements of the same name included in the solar cell module (1) according to the first embodiment of the present invention and are indicated by the same reference numerals, so a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0100] The module frame (400) is formed by bending a metal plate (101) and may include a side wall portion (120), a back wall portion (130), a backup portion (110), a front wall portion (140), and a front contact portion (450). The side wall portion (120), the back wall portion (130), the backup portion (110), and the front wall portion (140) are the same as the elements of the same name included in the solar cell module (1) according to the first embodiment of the present invention and are indicated by the same reference numerals, so a duplicate description will be omitted.

[0101] The front contact portion (450) extends from the front wall portion (140) to contact the front surface (21) of the laminate (20). The front contact portion (450) may have a thickness greater than that of the front wall portion (140). For example, the front contact portion (450) may include overlapping metal plates (101) having twice the number of layers of the metal plates (101) included in the front wall portion (140).

[0102] The number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front wall portion (140) may be two layers, and the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front contact portion (450) may be four layers. In this case, the thickness of the front wall portion (140) may be twice the thickness (TH) of the single-layer metal plate (101) (see FIG. 4), and the thickness of the front contact portion (450) may be four times the thickness (TH) of the single-layer metal plate (101). However, unlike the example illustrated in FIG. 7, in another embodiment of the present invention, the number of layers of the metal plate (101) included in the front contact portion (450) may be three or more times the number of layers of the metal plate (101) of the front wall portion (140).

[0103] The front contact portion (450) may include a first contact portion (451) and a second contact portion (455). The first contact portion (451) may have one end (452) connected to the other end (142) of the front wall portion (140).

[0104] The second contact portion (455) may have one end (456) connected to the other end (453) of the first contact portion (450). The second contact portion (455) may be folded around the other end (453) of the first contact portion (451) so as to overlap and closely contact the first contact portion (451), and the other end (457) may be extended so as to come close to the side wall portion (120).

[0105] The second contact portion (455) may be positioned closer to the laminate (20) than the first contact portion (451). For example, the second contact portion (455) may be folded 180° around the other end (453) of the first contact portion (451) and overlapped and brought into close contact with the first contact portion (451).

[0106] Unlike the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the first contact portion (451) and the second contact portion (455) are not bent relative to the front wall portion (140), so that the flat area of ​​the second contact portion (455) can be in contact with the front surface (21) of the laminate (20).

[0107] While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, these are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Side wall portion positioned to face the outer peripheral side of the laminate; A back wall portion that is bent and extended from the side wall portion to face the back surface of the laminate; A front wall portion that is bent and extended from the side wall portion to face the front surface of the laminate; and A module frame including a front contact portion extending from the front wall portion to contact the front surface of the laminate and having a thickness thicker than the thickness of the front wall portion.

2. In paragraph 1, A module frame characterized in that the side wall portion and the front wall portion each include a metal plate overlapped in multiple layers.

3. In paragraph 2, A module frame characterized in that the front contact portion includes overlapping metal plates having a number of layers at least twice the number of layers of the metal plates included in the front wall portion.

4. Laminate containing solar cells; A module frame including a side wall portion arranged to face the outer peripheral side of the laminate, a back wall portion bent and extended from the side wall portion to face the back surface of the laminate, a front wall portion bent and extended from the side wall portion to face the front surface of the laminate, and a front contact portion extended from the front wall portion to contact the front surface of the laminate and having a thickness thicker than the thickness of the front wall portion; and A solar cell module characterized by comprising an adhesive interposed between the side wall portion, the back wall portion, the front wall portion, and the laminate.

5. In paragraph 4, A solar cell module characterized in that the above module frame is formed by bending a metal plate.

6. In paragraph 4, A solar cell module characterized in that the side wall portion and the front wall portion each include a metal plate overlapped in multiple layers.

7. In paragraph 6, A solar cell module characterized in that the front contact portion includes overlapping metal plates having a number of layers at least twice the number of layers of the metal plates included in the front wall portion.

8. In paragraph 7, The layer of the metal plate included in the front wall is two layers, A solar cell module characterized in that the layer of the metal plate included in the front contact portion is four layers.

9. In paragraph 4, The above front contact part is, A first contact portion connected to the front wall portion at one end, and A solar cell module characterized in that it includes a second contact portion that is connected to the other end of the first contact portion, overlaps with the first contact portion, and is folded around the other end of the first contact portion so as to be in close contact with the first contact portion and extends toward the front wall portion.

10. In paragraph 9, A solar cell module characterized in that the second contact portion is positioned closer to the laminate than the first contact portion.

11. In paragraph 9, A solar cell module, characterized in that the first contact portion is bent at a bending angle greater than 0° with respect to the front wall portion.

12. In paragraph 11, A solar cell module characterized in that the above-mentioned bending angle is an acute angle.

13. In paragraph 10, One end of the second contact portion is connected to the other end of the first contact portion, A solar cell module characterized in that the other end of the second contact portion does not contact the front surface of the laminate.

14. In paragraph 4, A solar cell module characterized in that the width of the front wall portion is larger than the width of the front contact portion.

15. In paragraph 4, A solar cell module characterized in that the front contact portion includes a curved portion having a curved cross-sectional shape that comes into contact with the front surface of the laminate and protrudes toward the front surface of the laminate.

16. In paragraph 4, A solar cell module characterized in that the metal plate includes a core layer comprising a steel material and a corrosion-resistant plating layer laminated on the core layer.

17. In paragraph 16, A solar cell module, characterized in that the corrosion-resistant plating layer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, and aluminum.

18. In paragraph 4, A solar cell module characterized in that the module frame further includes a backup portion, one side of which is connected to the side wall portion and the other side of which is connected to the back wall portion, and is arranged at the rear of the laminate.

19. In paragraph 4, A solar cell module characterized in that the adhesive is a silicone adhesive.

20. In paragraph 4, The above module frame is provided in multiple pieces, A solar cell module, characterized in that the solar cell module further includes a connecting portion connecting a pair of adjacent module frames among a plurality of module frames at a corner portion of the laminate.

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