Solar Module Layered Structure for Colored Appearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar modules have a characteristic look that makes them difficult to integrate into building designs, as they cannot be easily colored without reducing efficiency, limiting their use due to visibility issues and lack of color customization options.
Innovation Solution
A solar module with a layered structure comprising solar cells, a transparent or translucent coloring layer, and a background layer that masks the spaces between cells, allowing for a homogeneous colored appearance while maintaining high efficiency through the use of thin coloring layers and materials like glass fibers or fabrics that allow light to pass or reflect photons back to the cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a colored film is added to cover the front face of solar modules, then the aesthetic appearance and color customization are improved, but the efficiency of the modules is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the solar module structure into multiple layers: a front transparent or translucent layer, a middle layer with solar cells, and a back layer. This segmentation allows the front layer to provide aesthetic coloring while remaining transparent to light, thus maintaining efficiency while achieving color customization and design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a transparent or translucent front layer as an intermediary between the light source and the solar cells. This intermediary layer provides the desired aesthetic appearance and color options while allowing light to pass through to the solar cells, thus resolving the contradiction between aesthetics and efficiency.
2Shape
If a thick coloring layer is used to achieve desired color saturation, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the light absorption efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin transparent or translucent front layer instead of a thick coloring layer. This thin film approach provides sufficient color saturation and aesthetic appearance while minimizing the thickness to allow maximum light transmission to the solar cells, thus maintaining high light absorption 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
The solution provides a solar module with a uniform or patterned colored appearance that matches building designs, maintaining high efficiency by using thin coloring layers and materials that enhance light absorption, reducing the visibility of cell contours, and allowing for various color options without significant efficiency loss.
Implementation Method 1
a transparent or translucent coloring layer in front of the solar cell layer, wherein a coloring agent is distributed through at least a portion of the thickness of the transparent or translucent colored layer
Implementation Method 2
materials like glass fibers or fabrics that allow light to pass or reflect photons back to the cells
Data Source
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AI summary
A solar panel having a layered structure. The solar panel comprises a solar cell layer comprising solar cells (1). The solar cells (1) have an active front side having a first dark color. A transparent or translucent coloring layer (3) is arranged in front of the solar cell layer. The transparent or translucent coloring layer (3) has a uniform third color or a non-uniform color.