SOLAR CELL ASSEMBLY

• US 20160141435A1
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rec Solar Pte. Ltd. (Reliance New Energy Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Rec Solar Pte. Ltd. (Reliance New Energy Ltd.)
• Inventors: SRIDHARA, Shankar Gauri, DIESTA, Noel G., ROSTAN, Philipp Johannes, WADE, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 10,749,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/02 Wire-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 7/20 for programme-control, e.g. adaptive programme-control systems in general G05B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4155 characterised by programme execution, i.e. part programme or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a programme
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45221 Edm, electrical discharge machining, electroerosion, ecm, chemical
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/044 including bypass diodes bypass diodes in the junction box H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0443 comprising bypass diodes integrated or directly associated with the devices, e.g. bypass diodes integrated or formed in or on the same substrate as the photovoltaic cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0504 specially adapted for series or parallel connection of solar cells in a module
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/108 using diodes blocking reverse current flow H02J1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/466 Scheduling the operation of the generators, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a given demand
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/34 comprising specially adapted electrical connection means to be structurally associated with the PV module, e.g. junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers

Abstract

A solar cell assembly (200) is presented. The solar cell assembly includes one or more solar cell units (211) coupled in series. The solar cell unit includes a first solar cell series (221) and a second solar cell series (222) connected in parallel. The first and second solar cell series include a plurality of cells (202) connecting in series respectively. The solar cell assembly also includes a by-pass diode (201) coupled to each solar cell unit and shared between the first and second solar cell series in each solar cell unit.

Claims

1. A solar cell assembly comprising:

one or more solar cell units coupled in series, wherein the solar cell unit comprises a first solar cell series and a second solar cell series coupled in parallel, the first and second solar cell series each including a plurality of solar cells connecting in series respectively; and

a by-pass diode coupled to each solar cell unit, wherein the by-pass diode is coupled in parallel with the first solar cell series and second solar cell series respectively.

2. The solar cell assembly of claim 1 wherein the solar cell unit and the by-pass diode form a solar cell module.

3. The solar cell assembly of claim 1 wherein the solar cell unit and the by-pass diode form a portion of a solar cell module.

4. The solar cell assembly of claim 1 wherein the first solar cell series has substantially the same open circuit voltage, Voc, as the second solar cell series in the solar cell unit.

5. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second solar cell series are mirror images of each other with respect to the by-pass diode.

6. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein the solar cell series are coupled with the by-pass diodes via cross-connectors.

7. The solar cell assembly of claim 6 wherein the cross-connectors of some or all the solar cell units are combined as one central cross-connector assembly.

8. The solar cell assembly of claim 7 wherein the central cross-connector assembly is placed substantially in a centre line of the solar cell assembly.

9. The solar cell assembly of claim 1, wherein a subset or all the by-pass diodes are included in one or more junction boxes.

10. The solar cell assembly of claim 9 wherein all by-pass diodes are included in a single junction box.

11. The solar cell assembly of claim 9 wherein a plurality of junction boxes are used with each junction box containing the subset of the by-pass diodes.

12. The solar cell assembly of claim 11 wherein the each junction box contains one by-pass diode.

13. The solar cell assembly in of claim 1, wherein a subset or all by-pass diodes include one or more integrated by-pass diodes, wherein the one or more integrated by-pass diodes are integrated in a laminate of the solar cell assembly.

14. The solar cell assembly of claim 13 wherein a first subset of the by-pass diodes include one or more integrated by-pass diodes and a second subset of the by-pass diodes are included in one or more junction boxes.

15. The solar cell assembly of claim 13 wherein the integrated by-pass diode comprises anode and cathode which each are coupled to one of cross-connectors.

16. The solar cell assembly of claim 15 wherein the cross-connectors comprise corrugation structures as a stress relief to prevent one of the integrated by-pass diode and a mechanical connection between the integrated by-pass diode and the cross-connectors from cracking due to electrical or mechanical overstresses.

17. The solar cell assembly of claim 9 wherein the one or more junction boxes are placed substantially in a centre line of the solar cell assembly.

18. The solar cell assembly of claim 1 wherein the by-pass diodes are placed substantially in a centre line of the solar cell assembly.

19. The solar cell assembly of claim 1 wherein a first subset of the by-pass diodes are included in one or more junction boxes and a second subset of the by-pass diodes comprise integrated by-pass diodes which are integrated in a laminate of the solar cell assembly.

20. The solar cell assembly of claim 13 comprising external terminals for coupling to output cross-connectors of the integrated by-pass diode which is placed near edges of the solar cell assembly.