Flexible Solar Fabric Composite for Deformable Outdoor Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing textile structures with integrated solar cells face challenges in balancing deformability, robustness against environmental influences, and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A textile structure comprising a polyester fabric with a butyl rubber layer and a polyacrylonitrile layer, where flexible thin-film solar cells are integrated, with electrical connections routed between these layers, and a transparent protective layer applied, creating a durable and efficient solar cell composite.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If solar cells are integrated with textile materials to enable deformability, then the structure becomes more flexible and adaptable, but robustness against environmental influences and resistance to corrosion deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-layer composite structure consisting of polyester fabric, butyl rubber layer, and polyacrylonitrile layer. This composite material system combines the flexibility and deformability of textile materials with the protective and corrosive-resistant properties of rubber and synthetic polymer layers, thereby achieving both adaptability and reliability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thin film layers of butyl rubber and polyacrylonitrile that conform to the flexible textile substrate. These thin protective films maintain the overall flexibility and deformability of the textile structure while providing barrier protection against environmental factors such as moisture, UV radiation, and corrosion
2Reliability
If protective layers are applied to solar cells to improve robustness, then resistance to environmental factors increases, but energy efficiency and light absorption may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs extremely thin protective films of butyl rubber and polyacrylonitrile that provide environmental protection while minimizing light absorption. The thinness of these layers ensures that they do not significantly attenuate solar radiation, thereby maintaining high energy efficiency of the underlying solar cells while providing necessary protection against moisture and UV degradation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a highly deformable and robust textile structure with high energy efficiency, resistant to corrosion and environmental factors, achieving energy output of approximately 120 W/m².
Implementation Method 1
The combination of polyester fabric, butyl rubber, and polyacrylonitrile provides a tight bond
Implementation Method 2
at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element (14), in particular a highly efficient flexible photovoltaic film with at least one photovoltaic layer
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a fabric structure comprising flexible solar cells, to a process for the production thereof, and to devices containing the fabric structure. The subject matter of the invention is a fabric structure (10) comprising a woven polyester fabric (11) on which a layer of butyl rubber (12) is disposed, a layer of polyacrylonitrile (13) being attached to the butyl rubber layer; at least one flexible thin-film solar cell element (14) is located on the polyacrylonitrile layer, the electrical connecting lines (15) of the at least one solar cell element extending between the polyacrylonitrile layer and the butyl rubber layer.