Solar Cell Module Interconnection and Light Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Efficient interconnection of solar cells in conventional solar cell modules is challenging, leading to reduced voltage output and lower conversion efficiency due to inefficient charge transport and parasitic conductivity at interconnection regions.
Innovation Solution
A solar cell module design featuring physically separated rear electrical contacts and a metal-metal interconnection contact between solar cells, along with a lens structure that concentrates light away from the interconnection region, reducing electrical resistance and parasitic conductivity, and using a transparent conductor to enhance charge transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If solar cells are interconnected in conventional solar cell modules, then voltage output can be increased, but parasitic conductivity at interconnection regions reduces the voltage output and conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The solar cell module structure is segmented into distinct functional regions: light incident regions for charge separation and interconnection regions for electrical connection. This segmentation allows optimization of each region's function, with the interconnection region specifically designed to minimize parasitic conductivity while maintaining electrical connectivity between solar cells.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the solar cell module are assigned different local properties: the light incident regions have optimized charge separation properties, while the interconnection regions have minimized parasitic conductivity. The interconnection contacts are specifically engineered with metal-metal contacts to reduce contact resistance and parasitic effects at the connection points.
2Reliability
If rear electrical contacts of adjacent solar cells are connected, then charge transport between cells is enabled, but leakage currents reduce the voltage output from the charge separating element
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection path is segmented into dedicated interconnection contacts that physically connect only the necessary elements (transparent conductor of one cell to rear electrical contact of adjacent cell). This segmentation isolates the charge transport path from potential leakage paths through rear electrical contacts, enabling efficient charge transport while minimizing energy loss.
3Productivity
If lens structure concentrates light to charge separating elements, then conversion efficiency is improved, but light concentration at interconnection region increases parasitic conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The lens structure is designed with spatially varying light concentration properties: it concentrates light strongly onto the charge separating elements (light incident regions) to maximize conversion efficiency, while minimizing or avoiding light concentration at the interconnection regions. This local differentiation of light concentration quality ensures high productivity without increasing parasitic conductivity at connection points.
4Reliability
If metal-metal contact is formed between interconnection contact and rear electrical contact, then electrical contact resistance is reduced, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interconnection contacts utilize metal-metal contacts with optimized material parameters and geometric configurations to achieve low contact resistance. By carefully selecting metal materials and optimizing contact geometry, the system achieves reliable electrical connection with minimized material consumption, balancing electrical performance with material efficiency.
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
This design increases parallel resistance, reduces serial resistance, and enhances light energy conversion to electrical energy, resulting in higher voltage output and more efficient charge transport, while minimizing material usage and parasitic conductivity, leading to a more cost-effective and efficient solar cell module.
Implementation Method 1
a lens structure arranged to concentrate light to the charge separating elements of the first and second solar cells
Implementation Method 2
a charge separating element arranged to convert light to an electric voltage
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a solar cell module. The solar cell module (10, 100) comprising a first (102) and a second (104) solar cell, each comprising: a charge separating element (108) arranged to convert light to an electric voltage, a rear electrical contact (106a, 106b), and a transparent conductor (112), wherein the rear electrical contact (106a, 106b) is arranged in electrical contact with a first portion (103) of the charge separating element (108) and the transparent conductor (112) is arranged in electrical contact with a second portion (105) of the charge separating element (108), wherein the solar cells (102, 104) are interconnected at an interconnection region (114), wherein the rear electrical contact (106a) of the first solar cell (102) is physically separated from the rear electrical contact (106b) of the second solar cell (104), wherein an interconnection contact (118) is arranged to form an electrical connection between the transparent conductor (112a) of the first solar cell (102) to the rear electrical contact (106b) of the second solar cell (104), wherein the rear electrical contact (106) and the interconnection contact (118) are metals, and a metal - metal contact is formed by the interconnection contact (118) and the rear electrical contact (106), the solar cell module further comprising a lens structure (122) arranged to concentrate light to the charge separating elements (108) of the first (102) and second (104) solar cells, wherein the lens structure (122) is further arranged such that light is not concentrated at the interconnection region (114).