BLOCKING DIODE BOARD FOR ROLLABLE SOLAR POWER MODULE

• US 20190319146A1
• Filed: 03/15/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bardfield, Rina S., Crocker, Thomas P., Waterman, Dale H., Wise, William G.
• Granted Patent: US 11,257,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/222 for deploying structures between a stowed and deployed state
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/443 Photovoltaic cell arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02021 for solar cells electrical connection means, e.g. junction boxes, specially adapted for structural association with photovoltaic modules H02S40/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/03926 comprising a flexible substrate
• 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: H01L 31/0521 using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A blocking diode board (“BDB”) for use with a rollable solar power module (“RSPM”) array is disclosed. The DBD includes a blocking diode, first flat electrical conductor, second flat electrical conductor, first tubular hook, and second tubular hook.

Claims

1. A blocking diode board (“

BDB”

) for use with a rollable solar power module (“

RSPM”

) array, the DBD comprising;

a blocking diode having

a first radial extension that is a first wire and

a second radial extension that is a second wire;

a first flat electrical conductor;

a second flat electrical conductor;

a first tubular hook monolithically extending from the first flat electrical conductor, wherein the first tubular hook is physically and electrically connected to the first radial extension; and

a second tubular hook monolithically extending from the second flat electrical conductor, wherein the second tubular hook is physically and electrically connected to the second radial extension,

wherein the first tubular hook and second tubular hook are located within a first plane and the blocking diode is located in a second plane, and

wherein the first radial extension includes a first bend from the first plane to the second plane and the second radial extension includes a second bend from the first plane to the second plane.

2. The BDB of claim 1, further including a set of ventilation tabs.

3. The BDD of claim 1,

wherein the first flat electrical conductor has a first end and the second flat electrical conductor has a second end,

wherein the first flat electrical conductor includes a third tubular hook monolithically extending from the first flat electrical conductor at a position closer to the first end than the first tubule hook, and

wherein the second flat electrical conductor includes a fourth tubular hook monolithically extending from the second flat electrical conductor at a position farther from the second end than the second tubule hook.

4. The DBD of claim 3, wherein the first electrical conductor and second electrical conductor are asymmetrically position on the DBD as compared to the third electrical conductor and fourth electrical conductor.

5. The BDB of claim 1, wherein the blocking diode is a Voidless Hermetically Sealed Fast Recovery Glass Rectifier.

6. The BDB of claim 1, further including

a second blocking diode having

a first radial extension that is a first wire and

a second radial extension that is a second wire;

a third flat electrical conductor;

a fourth flat electrical conductor;

a third tubular hook monolithically extending from the third flat electrical conductor, wherein the third tubular hook is physically and electrically connected to the third radial extension; and

a fourth tubular hook monolithically extending from the fourth flat electrical conductor, wherein the fourth tubular hook is physically and electrically connected to the fourth radial extension,

wherein the third tubular hook and fourth tubular hook are located within a third plane and the second blocking diode is located in a fourth plane, and

wherein the third radial extension includes a first bend from the third plane to the fourth plane and the fourth radial extension includes a second bend from the third plane to the fourth plane.

7. The BDD of claim 6,

wherein the third flat electrical conductor has a first end and the fourth flat electrical conductor has a second end,

wherein the third flat electrical conductor includes a third tubular hook monolithically extending from the third flat electrical conductor at a position closer to the first end than the first tubule hook, and

wherein the fourth flat electrical conductor includes a fourth tubular hook monolithically extending from the fourth flat electrical conductor at a position farther from the second end than the second tubule hook.

8. The DBD of claim 7, wherein the first electrical conductor and second electrical conductor are asymmetrically position on the DBD as compared to the third electrical conductor and fourth electrical conductor.

9. The BDB of claim 8, wherein the blocking diode and second blocking diodes are Voidless Hermetically Sealed Fast Recovery Glass Rectifiers.

10. The BDB of claim 1,

wherein the BDB is part of a RSPM of the array of RSPM array and

wherein the RSPM includes

a flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate has a flexible substrate length and a top surface that defines a first plane;

a plurality of adjacent strings of a plurality of photovoltaic (“

PV”

) solar cells attached on the top surface of the flexible substrate,

wherein each PV solar cell has a perimeter that is a convex polygon;

wherein the plurality of adjacent strings are configured to be rollable along the flexible substrate length,

wherein each adjacent string of the plurality of adjacent strings has an orientation along the flexible substrate length, and

wherein each two adjacent strings, of a pair of adjacent strings, have corresponding orientations in opposite directions; and

at least one end-tab jumper physically and electrically connected to the plurality of adjacent strings, wherein the at least one end-tab jumper electrically connects the plurality of adjacent strings to form a series circuit.

11. The BDB of claim 1,

wherein the BDB is part of a RSPM of the array of RSPM array and

wherein the RSPM includes

a flexible substrate, wherein the flexible substrate has a flexible substrate length and a top surface;

a plurality of adjacent strings of a plurality of photovoltaic (“

PV”

) solar cells attached on the top surface of the flexible substrate, wherein

the plurality of adjacent strings are nested to produce a higher utilization of the top surface and corresponding reduction in dead zones on the flexible substrate,

each PV solar cell has a perimeter that is a convex polygon, a width, and a length,

an aspect ratio of the width to the length is approximately 2 to 1 to enable rolling along the length,

the plurality of adjacent strings are configured to be rollable along the flexible substrate length,

each adjacent string of the plurality of adjacent strings has an orientation along the flexible substrate length, and

each two adjacent strings, of a pair of adjacent strings, have corresponding orientations in opposite directions; and

at least one end-tab jumper physically and electrically connected to the plurality of adjacent strings, wherein the at least one end-tab jumper electrically connects the plurality of adjacent strings to form a series circuit.