Semi-transparent Solar Panel with Cell Column Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar panels obstruct sunlight, limiting the area available for solar energy collection and affecting crop growth under agricultural shade structures.
Innovation Solution
A semi-transparent solar panel design featuring cell columns with spaces between them, encapsulant sheets, and frames that allow light to pass through while maintaining solar cell arrangement, including a bottom and top frame to seal the sheets and provide protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional solar panels are used, then solar energy collection is achieved, but sunlight is obstructed and crop growth is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The solar panel is segmented into multiple cell columns with spaces between them, allowing sunlight to pass through the gaps while solar cells in each column collect energy from incident light. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by dividing the panel into light-collecting portions (cells) and light-transmitting portions (spaces).
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the solar panel have different optical properties: areas with solar cells have high light absorption for energy collection, while the spaces between columns have high light transmission for crop illumination. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous achievement of both energy collection and sunlight transmission.
2Illumination intensity
If spaces are added between cell columns to allow light passage, then sunlight transmission is improved, but solar cell arrangement stability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
Encapsulant sheets are introduced as intermediary elements that hold the cell columns in fixed positions while allowing light to pass through the spaces between columns. The encapsulant sheets provide structural stability to maintain the spaced arrangement, preventing displacement while preserving the light-transmitting gaps.
3Stability of the object's composition
If encapsulant sheets and frames are added to maintain cell column arrangement, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Thin encapsulant sheets are used to provide structural support and maintain cell column arrangement without adding significant complexity. These thin films encapsulate the cells and provide a simple yet effective means of structural stabilization compared to more complex rigid framing systems.
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
Enhances solar energy collection by allowing light to pass through while maintaining efficient electricity storage for use during peak hours, suitable for greenhouse roofs and agricultural shade structures.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of cell columns (12) comprising a plurality of solar cells (14)... maintain efficient electricity storage
Data Source
AI summary
A semi-transparent solar panel apparatus for allowing light to pass through solar panels onto crops to maximize solar collection areas includes a plurality of cell columns comprising a plurality of solar cells. Each cell column has a space between the adjacent cell columns to allow light to pass therethrough. A pair of encapsulant sheets is coupled together on either side of the plurality of cell columns to maintain the arrangement of the cell columns. A bottom frame is coupled to the pair of encapsulant sheets. The pair of encapsulant sheets is coupled to a bottom horizontal portion within a bottom vertical portion. A top frame is coupled to the bottom frame with a top vertical portion coupled to the bottom vertical portion of the bottom frame to seal the pair of encapsulant sheets between a top horizontal portion and the bottom horizontal portion.