PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES HAVING A POLYVINYLIDENE FLUORIDE BACKSHEET

• US 20100175742A1
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arkema Incorporated (Arkema)
• Original Assignee: Arkema Incorporated (Arkema)
• Inventors: Zerafati, Saeid, Burchill, Michael T., Ge, Jiaxin Jason, O'Brien, Gregory S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,050,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/251
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0481 characterised by the composition of the encapsulation material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/049 Protective back sheets
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/18 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a photovoltaic module for capturing and using solar radiation having as a backsheet a composition containing polyvinylidene fluoride. The polyvinylidene fluoride backsheet layer is exposed to the environment and provides chemical resistance, low water vapor transmission, electrical insulation, and UV light protection.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic module, comprising:

a) an outer transparent glazing material;

b) encapsulated interconnected solar cells; and

c) a back sheet comprising a functionalized polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composition, wherein polyvinylidene fluoride composition comprises the outermost back layer.

2. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said backsheet is a single layer of a PVDF composition.

3. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said backsheet comprises a multi-layer sheet of two or more layers.

4. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said PVDF composition is selected from a polyvinylidene fluoride homopolymer, a polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer, a blend of a PVDF polymer with a compatible polymer wherein at least 50 percent by weight of the blend is PVDF, and an acrylic modified fluoropolymer with a minimum PVDF content of 50%.

5. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said functionalized PVDF composition comprises a functionalized PVDF or PVDF blended with a functional co-resin.

6. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said back sheet is a multi-layer structure, having said PVDF composition in the outermost layer, and further comprising at least one barrier layer.

7. The photovoltaic module of claim 6, wherein said barrier layer comprises ethylene vinyl acetate, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, aluminum or reactive polyethylenes.

8. The photovoltaic module of claim 6, wherein said PVDF layer is directly in contact with a tie-layer.

9. The photovoltaic module of claim 6, further comprising a dielectric strength layer.

10. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said backsheet is formed by extrusion lamination.

11. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein said PVDF composition is a PVDF copolymer having from 1 to 29 weight percent of hexafluoropropene.

12. A photovoltaic module, comprising:

c) an outer transparent glazing material;

d) encapsulated interconnected solar cells; and

c) a back sheet comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composition, wherein polyvinylidene fluoride composition is applied to a backsheet substrate as a solvent or aqueous coating composition.

13. The photovoltaic module of claim 12, wherein said backsheet substrate is polyethylene terephthalate or polybutylene terephthalate substrate.

14. The photovoltaic module of claim 12, wherein backsheet substrate is chemically treated to improve adhesion of the PVDF coating.

15. The photovoltaic module of claim 12, wherein said PVDF coating composition is an acrylic-modified fluoropolymer aqueous dispersion.

16. The photovoltaic module of claim 12, wherein said coating composition comprises from 2 to 33 weight percent of crosslinker

17. The photovoltaic module of claim 12, wherein said PVDF is a homopolymer or a copolymer having a melting point is greater then 130°

C.