Photovoltaic module

• US 9,577,573 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trina Solar Limited
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Mun, Hyunrok, Kim, Myonghwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tat, Binh
• Application Number:
  US14/642,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20150180407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 320100-108
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/05 Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells electrodes H01L31/0224; electrical interconnection of thin film solar cells formed on a common substrate H01L31/046; particular structures for electrical interconnecting of adjacent thin film solar cells in the module H01L31/0465; electrical interconnection means specially adapted for electrically connecting two or more PV modules H02S40/36
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/32 comprising DC/AC inverter means associated with the PV module itself, e.g. AC modules
• 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: H02S 40/345 with cooling means associated with the electrical connection means, e.g. cooling means associated with or applied to the junction box cooling means for PV cells H01L31/052, for PV modules H02S40/42
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A photovoltaic module includes: a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cells; a junction box including a dc/dc converter unit to convert the level of DC power supplied from the solar cell module; a plate on one surface of the solar cell module and disposed between the solar cell module and the junction box; and a coupling member attaching and detaching the junction box from the solar cell module.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic module comprising:

a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cells; and

a junction box including a plurality of bypass diodes, a DC/DC converter unit to convert a level of DC power supplied from the solar cell module, and an inverter unit to convert level-converted DC power into AC power,

wherein the junction box outputs the AC power,

wherein the solar cell module further includes a plurality of solar cell strings including some of the plurality of solar cells connected in a row, and a plurality of conductive lines electrically connecting the plurality of solar cell strings and the plurality of bypass diodes within the junction box,

wherein the plurality of conductive lines are extended to a rear surface of the solar cell module through corresponding openings formed in the solar cell module,

wherein the inverter unit outputs the AC power which has the same frequency as an AC frequency of grid,

wherein the inverter unit includes;

upper arm switching elements connected in series; and

lower arm switching elements connected in series and paired with the upper arm switching elements,

wherein a total of the upper and the lower arm switching elements are connected in parallel.

2. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, further comprising:

a plate on one surface of the solar cell module between the solar cell module and the junction box; and

a coupling member attaching and detaching the junction box from the solar cell module.

3. The photovoltaic module of claim 2, wherein the plate includes a coupling groove to couple the coupling member to the plate.

4. The photovoltaic module of claim 2, wherein the junction box further includes a first surface and a second surface having a larger area than the first surface, and an opening formed on the second surface through which at least a portion of the coupling member passes through the junction box.

5. The photovoltaic module of claim 2, further comprising:

an adhesive member covering an end portion of the plate and a contact surface of the solar cell module.

6. The photovoltaic module of claim 2, further comprising:

a heat releasing member between the plate and the solar cell module.

7. The photovoltaic module of claim 6, wherein the heat releasing member has a larger area than the plate.

8. The photovoltaic module of claim 6, wherein the heat releasing member includes a coupling groove to couple the coupling member to the heat releasing member.

9. The photovoltaic module of claim 6, wherein the heat releasing member includes an opening to pass at least a portion of the coupling member through the heat releasing member.

10. The photovoltaic module of claim 6, further comprising:

an adhesive member covering an end portion of the plate and a contact surface of the heat releasing member.

11. The photovoltaic module of claim 2, wherein the solar cell module further includes a rear substrate including a coupling groove to couple the coupling member to the rear substrate.

12. The photovoltaic module of claim 10, wherein the solar cell module further includes a rear substrate including a coupling groove to couple the coupling member to the rear substrate.

13. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the solar cell module further includes a first sealing member and a second sealing member formed on lower and upper surfaces of the plurality of solar cells, respectively, a rear substrate formed on a lower surface of the first sealing member, and a front substrate on an upper surface of the second sealing member.

14. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the junction box is closer to an end portion, to which the conductive lines extend, among both end portions of the solar cell module.

15. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the junction box further includes a capacitor unit to store the DC power supplied from the solar cell module.

16. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the DC/DC converter unit includes a flyback converter.

17. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the DC/DC converter unit includes one of a boost converter, a buck converter, a forward converter, and a buck-boost converter.

18. The photovoltaic module of claim 1, wherein the inverter unit includes one of a boost converter, a buck converter, a forward converter, and a buck-boost converter.