Hybrid Bifacial PV Module With Glass Lens Arrays and MJ Cells
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic modules using multijunction cells under concentrated sunlight have not achieved sufficient efficiency gains to offset their additional costs, and prior hybrid modules with Fresnel and plastic lenses are not highly transmissive for both direct and diffuse light, preventing commercial adoption.
Innovation Solution
A bifacial PV module with multijunction cells and glass lens arrays, where direct sunlight is focused onto MJ cells through a glass sheet with copper wires for thermal conduction and electrical connection, while diffuse light is transmitted to silicon cells, using a rapid molding process to form lenses that avoid gas entrapment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If multijunction PV cells are used under concentrated sunlight, then conversion efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The module is segmented into distinct functional zones: concentrated sunlight is focused onto multijunction PV cells for high-efficiency conversion, while diffuse sunlight is directed to silicon PV cells. This segmentation allows each cell type to operate in its optimal performance regime, achieving high overall conversion efficiency without requiring the entire module to be complex.
Solution Approach 2:
Glass lens arrays serve as intermediary optical elements that separate and direct different types of sunlight (concentrated vs. diffuse) to appropriate PV cell types. The lenses act as mediators that enable the hybrid architecture to function efficiently, managing the complexity by providing a clear optical pathway separation.
2Loss of energy
If multijunction PV cells are used under concentrated sunlight, then conversion efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The module uses segmentation to deploy expensive multijunction cells only where concentrated sunlight provides maximum value, while less expensive silicon cells handle diffuse light. This selective deployment optimizes the cost-performance ratio, reducing overall manufacturing cost compared to using multijunction cells throughout the entire module.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the optical parameter of sunlight concentration to match the cost characteristics of different PV cell types. By concentrating sunlight onto small-area multijunction cells while allowing diffuse light to reach larger-area silicon cells, the system achieves high efficiency at lower cost.
3Illumination intensity
If Fresnel and plastic lenses are used to focus sunlight, then direct light concentration is improved, but transmissivity for direct and diffuse light decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system uses composite material construction: glass lens arrays provide high transmissivity for both direct and diffuse light while maintaining effective focusing capability. The glass material combines optical clarity with sufficient refractive index to achieve light concentration, overcoming the limitations of plastic lenses that scatter more light and reduce transmissivity.
4Loss of energy
If hybrid modules with multiple cell types are used, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the module have different optical and electrical characteristics tailored to their function: concentrated light zones use multijunction cells with specific electrical connections, while diffuse light zones use silicon cells. The copper wires provide localized thermal management where needed. This local quality optimization achieves high efficiency without requiring uniform complexity throughout the entire module.
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 module achieves high conversion efficiency by focusing direct sunlight on MJ cells for enhanced power generation, while maintaining diffuse light conversion, with reduced complexity and cost, and allows for efficient thermal management through copper wires, increasing overall efficiency and reducing shipping volume.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of glass convex lenses arranged in an array and attached in position there above. When the hybrid PV module is oriented to face the sun, each lens of the array focuses direct sunlight onto a respective one of the plurality of MJ cell assemblies
Implementation Method 2
The copper wires and connectors are structured to provide at least two functions, namely to: conduct electrical power of the MJ cells to a perimeter of said hybrid PV module and thence via additional electrical wiring to an external circuit, and conduct and spread heat from the plurality of MJ cell assemblies across the upper sheet of glass of the bifacial PV module so that the module serves as a heat sink for the plurality of MJ cells assemblies thereby providing passive convective cooling
Implementation Method 3
The copper wires and connectors are structured to provide at least two functions, namely to: conduct electrical power of the MJ cells to a perimeter of said hybrid PV module and thence via additional electrical wiring to an external circuit
Implementation Method 4
conduct and spread heat from the plurality of MJ cell assemblies across the upper sheet of glass of the bifacial PV module so that the module serves as a heat sink for the plurality of MJ cells assemblies thereby providing passive convective cooling from the lower sheet of glass
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid photovoltaic (PV) module includes a bifacial PV module that has an upper sheet of glass, a lower sheet of glass arranged spaced apart and substantially parallel to the upper sheet of glass, and a plurality of PV cells sandwiched between the upper and lower sheets of glass. The upper sheet of glass has an outside surface on an opposite side from the plurality of PV cells. The hybrid PV module also includes a plurality of copper wires bonded to the outside surface of the upper sheet of glass so as to extend across a width thereof: a plurality of multijunction (MJ) PV cell assemblies positioned and bonded to the outside surface of the upper glass sheet, each MJ cell assembly of the plurality of MJ cell assemblies including an MJ cell, a secondary optical assembly and first and second conductive connectors, each being electrically and thermally connected to the MJ cell and to at least a respective one of the plurality of copper wires; and an upper lens array of a full size of the bifacial PV module and being attached in position there above.