PHOTOVOLTAIC BUSS BAR SYSTEM

• US 20110203653A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Energized Glass, LLC
• Original Assignee: Energized Glass, LLC
• Inventors: Lundahl, Dave B., Johnson, Steven X.
• Application Number:
  US12/711,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203653A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0201 comprising specially adapted module bus-bar structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03925 including AIIBVI compound materials, e.g. CdTe, CdS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0488 Double glass encapsulation, e.g. photovoltaic cells arranged between front and rear glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Disclosed is a warm window system and photovoltaic system that utilizes individual buss bars. The buss bars of the warm window system are placed within the space between an inside window pane and an outside window pane and creates sufficient physical force to create an electrical contact on the tin oxide layer on the inside surface of the inside pane of glass. The buss bars have a modulus of elasticity to ensure sufficient electrical contact with the tin oxide layer and the photovoltaic layer to prevent the formation of hot spots and securely hold the buss bars in place. Both a z buss bar and c buss bar are also disclosed that are capable of generating a sufficient amount of reactive force to create a secure electrical contact to minimize hotspots and to hold the buss bar in place. The buss bars provide a large contact surface area to provide sufficient electrical contact with the photovoltaic layer to prevent hot spots.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic system comprising:

a layer of glass;

a support layer that is non-conductive;

at least one spacer that is disposed between said layer of glass and said support layer in a peripheral area that provides spacing between said layer of glass and said support layer and cushioning between said layer of glass and said support layer to absorb impacts to said glass layer;

a photovoltaic layer disposed on an inner surface of said layer of glass that creates an electrical charge on a surface of said photovoltaic layer in response to impingement of radiation on said glass layer;

at least two buss bars placed between said photovoltaic layer and said support layer, said buss bars comprising;

a first base portion that is disposed adjacent to an inside surface of said support layer;

a first arm portion that is connected to said first base portion that forms an acute angle with said first base portion;

a second base portion that is disposed adjacent to an inside surface of said support layer;

a second arm portion connected to said second base portion that forms an acute angle with said second base portion;

a curved contact surface connected to said first arm portion and said second arm portion that flattens when said buss bar is compressed between said layer of glass and said support layer, said buss bars having a modulus of elasticity that causes said contact surface to be forced against said photovoltaic layer disposed on said layer of glass, resulting in said contact surface producing a sufficient amount of physical force on said inner surface of said photovoltaic layer to create an electrical contact between said contact surface and said photovoltaic layer so that said contact surface is capable of carrying said electrical charge created on said surface of said photovoltaic layer, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said buss bars in a substantially stationary position between said photovoltaic layer and said support layer.

2. A method of collecting current generated by a photovoltaic layer in a solar cell comprising:

assembling a layer of glass, having said photovoltaic layer disposed on an inner surface of said layer of glass, at least one spacer and a support layer;

providing at least two buss bars having a modulus of elasticity that causes said buss bars to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said photovoltaic layer to create an electrical contact between said buss bars and said photovoltaic layer that is capable of carrying current created by said photovoltaic layer, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said buss bars in a substantially stationary position between said photovoltaic layer and said support layer comprising;

a first base portion that is disposed adjacent to an inside surface of said support surface;

a first arm portion that is connected to said first base portion that forms an acute angle with said first base portion;

a second base portion that is disposed adjacent to said photovoltaic surface;

a second arm portion connected to said second base portion that forms an acute angle with said second base portion;

placing said buss bars between said photovoltaic layer and said support layer;

collecting a current from said photovoltaic layer on said two buss bars.

3. A photovoltaic collector system comprising:

a layer of glass;

a support layer that is non-conductive;

at least one spacer that is disposed between said layer of glass and said support layer in a peripheral area that provides a space between said layer of glass and said support layer and cushioning between said glass layer and said support layer that cushions said glass layer in response to impact to said glass layer;

at least two buss bars placed between said photovoltaic layer and said support layer, said buss bars comprising;

a first base portion that is disposed adjacent to an inside surface of said support layer;

a second base portion that is disposed adjacent to said inside surface of said support surface;

a contact surface connected to said first base portion and said second base portion having a modulus of elasticity that causes said contact surface to be forced against said photovoltaic layer, resulting in said contact surface producing a sufficient amount of physical force on said photovoltaic layer to create an electrical contact between said contact surface and said photovoltaic layer so that said contact surface is capable of carrying a current created by said photovoltaic layer, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said buss bars in a substantially stationary position between said photovoltaic layer and said support layer.

4. A method of collecting current from a photovoltaic layer in a solar collector system comprising:

assembling a layer of glass, having said photovoltaic layer disposed on an inner surface of said layer of glass, at least one spacer and a support layer;

providing at least two buss bars having a modulus of elasticity that causes said buss bars to produce a sufficient amount of physical force on said photovoltaic layer to create an electrical contact between said buss bars and said photovoltaic layer that is capable of carrying a current generated by said photovoltaic layer, and a sufficient amount of physical force to hold said buss bars in a substantially stationary position in said heated window system comprising;

a first base portion that is disposed adjacent to said photovoltaic layer;

a second base portion that is disposed adjacent to an inside surface of said support layer;

placing said at least two buss bars between said photovoltaic layer and said support layer;

collecting current from said photovoltaic layer using said two buss bars.