Solar cells encapsulated with poly(vinyl butyral)
First Claim
1. A solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising (i) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a back side, and (ii) stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet as an encapsulant layer, wherein the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 40°
- C. to about 60°
C., is positioned next to the light-receiving or the back side of the solar cell component and comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition consisting essentially of (a) poly(vinyl butyral), (b) about 10 to about 18 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the composition, and (c) optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of bleaching compounds, adhesion control additives, surface tension controlling agents, processing aides, flow enhancing additives, lubricants, pigments, dyes, flame retardants, impact modifiers, nucleating agents, anti-blocking agents, thermal stabilizers, UV absorbers, UV stabilizers, dispersants, surfactants, chelating agents, adhesives, primers, reinforcement additives and fillers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising (i) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a back side, and (ii) stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet as an encapsulant layer, wherein the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet is positioned next to the light-receiving or the back side of the solar cell component and comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition containing about 10 to about 23 wt % of a plasticizer based on the total weight of the composition.
A process of preparing solar cell assembly comprising (i) providing a solar cell component and a stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet comprising a poly(vinyl butyral) composition containing about 10 to about 23 wt % of a plasticizer based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) composition, and (ii) encapsulating the solar cell component in a polymer matrix comprising the poly(vinyl butyral) composition.
46 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising (i) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a back side, and (ii) stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet as an encapsulant layer, wherein the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 40°
- C. to about 60°
C., is positioned next to the light-receiving or the back side of the solar cell component and comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition consisting essentially of (a) poly(vinyl butyral), (b) about 10 to about 18 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the composition, and (c) optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of bleaching compounds, adhesion control additives, surface tension controlling agents, processing aides, flow enhancing additives, lubricants, pigments, dyes, flame retardants, impact modifiers, nucleating agents, anti-blocking agents, thermal stabilizers, UV absorbers, UV stabilizers, dispersants, surfactants, chelating agents, adhesives, primers, reinforcement additives and fillers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24)
- C. to about 60°
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19. A solar cell pre-laminate assembly consisting essentially of, from top to bottom, (i) an incident layer formed of a transparent material, which is positioned next to, (ii) a front-sheet encapsulant layer that is positioned next to, (iii) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells, which is positioned next to, (iv) an optional second encapsulant layer that is positioned next to, (v) a back-sheet, wherein at least one of the two encapsulant layers is formed of a stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 40°
- C. to about 60°
C. that comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition consisting essentially of (a) poly(vinyl butyral), (b) about 15 to about 18 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the composition, and (c) optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of bleaching compounds, adhesion control additives, surface tension controlling agents, processing aides, flow enhancing additives, lubricants, pigments, dyes, flame retardants, impact modifiers, nucleating agents, anti-blocking agents, thermal stabilizers, UV absorbers, UV stabilizers, dispersants, surfactants, chelating agents, adhesives, primers, reinforcement additives and fillers. - View Dependent Claims (20, 22)
- C. to about 60°
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25. A process of preparing solar cell assembly comprising (i) providing a solar cell component and a stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 40°
- C. to about 60°
C. comprising a poly(vinyl butyral) composition consisting essentially of (a) poly(vinyl butyral), (b) about 10 to about 18 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) composition, and (c) optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of bleaching compounds, adhesion control additives, surface tension controlling agents, processing aides, flow enhancing additives, lubricants, pigments, dyes, flame retardants, impact modifiers, nucleating agents, anti-blocking agents, thermal stabilizers, UV absorbers, UV stabilizers, dispersants, surfactants, chelating agents, adhesives, primers, reinforcement additives and fillers, and (ii) encapsulating the solar cell component in a polymer matrix comprising the poly(vinyl butyral) composition. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
- C. to about 60°
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29. A solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising (i) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a back side, and (ii) stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet as an encapsulant layer, wherein the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 40°
- C. to about 60°
C., is positioned next to the light-receiving or the back side of the solar cell component and comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition consisting of (a) poly(vinyl butyral), (b) about 10 to about 18 wt % of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the composition, and (c) optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of bleaching compounds, adhesion control additives, surface tension controlling agents, processing aides, flow enhancing additives, lubricants, pigments, dyes, flame retardants, impact modifiers, nucleating agents, anti-blocking agents, thermal stabilizers, UV absorbers, UV stabilizers, dispersants, surfactants, chelating agents, adhesives, primers, reinforcement additives and fillers.
- C. to about 60°
Specification