Solar Panel Module Dark Insulating Gap for Thermal Stress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional solar panel modules experience non-uniform thermal stress due to differences in heat absorption between transparent encapsulation materials and solar panels, leading to reduced service life and potential peeling or deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A solar panel module design featuring a separating gap with dark insulating layers that match the color and heat absorption of adjacent solar panels, ensuring uniform thermal expansion and contraction, and including a transparent encapsulation material with equal volumes on opposite edges of the dark insulating layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If transparent encapsulation material is used to connect adjacent solar panels, then the solar panels can be fixed and connected, but non-uniform thermal stress occurs due to different heat absorption rates, leading to peeling and reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection and fixationVSAvoidstructural reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameter (color/absorption rate) of the encapsulation material from transparent to dark-colored, matching the heat absorption characteristics of the solar panels. This parameter change ensures uniform thermal expansion and contraction, eliminating non-uniform thermal stress and preventing peeling while maintaining structural reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies homogeneity by making the encapsulation material have the same color and heat absorption characteristics as the solar panels it connects. This creates uniform thermal properties across the entire assembly, ensuring that all components expand and contract at the same rate under thermal conditions, thereby preventing differential stress and peeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

2Volume of moving object

If transparent encapsulation material with large filling volume is used, then adequate spacing is provided between solar panels, but non-uniform thermal stress is amplified under thermal expansion and contraction, reducing service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling volume of encapsulation materialVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the color parameter of the encapsulation material to dark, matching the solar panels' heat absorption characteristics. This ensures that even with large filling volume providing adequate spacing, the thermal stress remains uniform across all components, preventing peeling and extending service life despite the substantial volume of encapsulation material present.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If dark insulating layer matching solar panel color is used in separating gap, then uniform heat absorption is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex with additional layers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal stress uniformityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by using the encapsulation material to serve multiple purposes: it provides mechanical connection and fixation between solar panels, fills the separating gap to provide spacing, and through its dark coloration matching the solar panels, ensures uniform heat absorption. This eliminates the need for separate dark insulating layers, achieving thermal stress uniformity without increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Temperature

If solar panels are arranged with separating gap between them, then thermal expansion space is provided, but the transparent encapsulation material absorbs heat differently causing non-uniform thermal stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal expansion spaceVSAvoidthermal stress uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the optical parameter (color/absorption rate) of the encapsulation material filling the separating gap from transparent to dark, matching the solar panels. This ensures that the encapsulation material in the separating gap absorbs heat at the same rate as the solar panels, maintaining uniform thermal stress even while providing the necessary thermal expansion space between adjacent panels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 mitigates non-uniform thermal stress, enhances structural reliability, and extends the service life of solar panels by maintaining consistent heat absorption and attachment quality.

Implementation Method 1

the heat absorption degree of the dark insulating layer is substantially the same as the heat absorption degree of the solar panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3214657B1Solar panel module
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 ETERBRIGHT SOLAR CORP
  • EP3214657B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3214657B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3214657B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A solar panel module (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) including a cover (110), a back plate (120), at least two solar panels (130, 130A, 130B), and at least a dark insulating layer (140, 140A, 140B) is provided. The solar panels (130, 130A, 130B) are configured between the cover (110) and the back plate (120) and arranged along a direction. There is a separating gap (G) of a width (D) arranged between the two adjacent solar panels (130, 130A, 130B). In addition, the dark insulating layer (140, 140A, 140B) is disposed in the separating gap.