SOLAR CELL MODULE HAVING AN OVERVOLTAGE PREVENTIVE ELEMENT AND SUNLIGHT POWER GENERATION SYSTEM USING THE SOLAR CELL MODULE

• US 20010032664A1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takehara, Nobuyoshi, Manabe, Naoki
• Granted Patent: US 6,331,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/046 PV modules composed of a plurality of thin film solar cells deposited on the same substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

A solar cell module in which a plurality of photovoltaic elements are installed such that they are electrically connected with each other, wherein an overvoltage preventive element is electrically connected to each photovoltaic element in parallel connection, and said overvoltage preventive element exhibits a one-way continuity and has a minimum operating voltage which is smaller than an open-circuit voltage of said photovoltaic element and is greater than an optimum operating voltage of said photovoltaic element. A sunlight power generation system comprising said solar cell module and an inverter.

Claims

1. A solar cell module in which a plurality of photovoltaic elements are installed such that they are electrically connected with each other, wherein an overvoltage preventive element is electrically connected to each photovoltaic element in parallel connection, and said overvoltage preventive element exhibits a one-way continuity and has a minimum operating voltage which is smaller than an open-circuit voltage of said photovoltaic element and is greater than an optimum operating voltage of said photovoltaic element.

2. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element comprises a plurality of constituent elements which are connected in series and/or parallel connection.

3. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element and the photovoltaic element are connected in parallel connection in a forward direction, and said minimum operating voltage of the overvoltage preventive element is a minimum operating voltage when a forward voltage is impressed to the overvoltage preventive element.

4. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element comprises a plurality of constituent elements electrically connected with each other, and each of said plurality of constituent elements is connected to the photovoltaic element in parallel connection in a forward direction.

5. A solar cell module according to

claim 4

, wherein at least one of the constituent elements comprises a diode.

6. A solar cell module according to

claim 5

, wherein the constituent elements comprise a PN junction diode, a Schottoky barrier diode and a resistance element, or a combination of these.

7. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element and the photovoltaic element are connected in parallel connection in a reverse direction, and said minimum operating voltage of the overvoltage preventive element is a minimum operating voltage when a reverse voltage is impressed to the overvoltage preventive element.

8. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element comprises a plurality of constituent elements electrically connected with each other, and each of said plurality of constituent elements is connected to the photovoltaic element in parallel connection in a reverse direction.

9. A solar cell module according to

claim 8

, wherein at least one of the constituent elements comprises a constant voltage diode.

10. A solar cell module according to

claim 9

, wherein the constituent elements comprise a constant voltage diode and a resistance element, or a combination of these.

11. A solar cell module according to

claim 7

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element has a current bypass function.

12. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein the photovoltaic element, the overvoltage preventive element and a current bypass element are electrically connected in parallel connection.

13. A solar cell module according to

claim 12

, wherein the current bypass element has at least a diode.

14. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein each of the photovoltaic elements has a photoelectric conversion layer comprising a semiconductor layer containing at least silicon atoms or germanium atoms.

15. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein each of the photovoltaic elements has a photoelectric conversion layer containing at least a single crystal silicon material.

24. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein a body comprising said plurality of photovoltaic elements each having said overvoltage preventive element is resin-sealed between at least two weatherable supporting members, said supporting members comprising a resin, a glass, a metal or a combination of these.

25. A solar cell module according to

claim 24

, wherein at least one of said supporting members comprises a fluororesin.

26. A solar cell module according to

claim 24

, wherein one of said supporting members includes a metallic member which is provided at a back face of said resin-sealed body, said metallic member having a form corresponding to that of a roofing material.

27. A solar cell module according to

claim 1

, wherein a body comprising said plurality of photovoltaic elements each having said overvoltage preventive element is embedded in a support comprising a weatherable resin.

16. A solar cell module in which a plurality of photovoltaic elements are installed such that they are electrically connected with each other, wherein an overvoltage preventive element is electrically connected to each photovoltaic element in parallel connection, said overvoltage preventive element exhibits a one-way continuity, and said overvoltage preventive element comprises a plurality of constituent elements and a plurality of connection members electrically connected to said constituent elements such that one of two of the connection members which are adjacent to one of said constituent elements is connected to an upper side of said one constituent element and the other connection member is connected to a lower side of said one constituent element.

17. A solar cell module according to

claim 16

, wherein each of the connection members contains at least a component comprising one or more metals selected from a group consisting of Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Sn and Ni.

18. A solar cell module according to

claim 16

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element and the photovoltaic element are connected in parallel connection in a forward direction, and the overvoltage preventive element has a minimum operating voltage when a forward voltage is impressed to the overvoltage preventive element, said minimum operating voltage of the overvoltage preventive element being smaller than an open-circuit voltage of the photovoltaic element and being greater than an optimum operating voltage of the photovoltaic element.

19. A solar cell module according to

claim 16

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element and the photovoltaic element are connected in parallel connection in a reverse direction, and the overvoltage preventive element has a minimum operating voltage when a reverse voltage is impressed to the overvoltage preventive element, said minimum operating voltage of the overvoltage preventive element being smaller than an open-circuit voltage of the photovoltaic element and being greater than an optimum operating voltage of the photovoltaic element.

20. A solar cell module in which a plurality of photovoltaic elements are installed such that they are electrically connected with each other, wherein an overvoltage preventive element is electrically connected to each photovoltaic element in parallel connection, said overvoltage preventive element exhibits a one-way continuity, and said overvoltage preventive element comprises a plurality of constituent elements and a plurality of connection members electrically connected to said constituent elements, said connection members comprising upper connection members and lower connection members, said constituents elements being spacedly arranged in a common plane while being sandwiched and held between said upper connection members and said lower connection members such that one of said upper connection members is joined to an upper side of (a) one of the constituent elements, one of said lower connection members is joined to a lower side of said constituent element (a) and also to a lower side of (b) the constituent element which is adjacent to said constituent element (a), another upper connection member is joined to an upper side of said constituent element (b) and also to an upper side of (c) the constituent element which is adjacent to said constituent element (b), and one of the remaining lower connection members is joined to a lower side of said constituent element (c).

21. A solar cell module according to

claim 20

, wherein each of the connection members contains at least a component comprising one or more metals selected from a group consisting of Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Sn and Ni.

22. A solar cell module according to

claim 20

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element and the photovoltaic element are connected in parallel connection in a forward direction, and the overvoltage preventive element has a minimum operating voltage when a forward voltage is impressed to the overvoltage preventive element, said minimum operating voltage of the overvoltage preventive element being smaller than an open-circuit voltage of the photovoltaic element and being greater than an optimum operating voltage of the photovoltaic element.

23. A solar cell module according to

claim 20

, wherein the overvoltage preventive element and the photovoltaic element are connected in parallel connection in a reverse direction, and the overvoltage preventive element has a minimum operating voltage when a reverse voltage is impressed to the overvoltage preventive element, said minimum operating voltage of the overvoltage preventive element being smaller than an open-circuit voltage of the photovoltaic element and being greater than an optimum operating voltage of the photovoltaic element.

28. A sunlight power generation system comprising a solar cell module and a system interconnection inverter capable of reverse-flowing a direct-current output from said solar cell module into an alternate current system, said solar cell module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic elements electrically connected with each other, wherein an overvoltage preventive element is electrically connected to each photovoltaic element in parallel connection, said overvoltage preventive element comprises a plurality of constituent elements, said overvoltage preventive element exhibits a one-way continuity and has a minimum operating voltage which is smaller than an open-circuit voltage of said photovoltaic element and is greater than an optimum operating voltage of said photovoltaic element.

29. A sunlight power generation system comprising a solar cell and a mechanism capable of parallel-coupling a direct current power from said solar cell module and a direct current power obtained from a commercial alternate current power supply system by way of rectification to supply to a load, said solar cell module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic elements electrically connected with each other, wherein an overvoltage preventive element is electrically connected to each photovoltaic element in parallel connection, said overvoltage preventive element comprises a plurality of constituent elements, said overvoltage preventive element exhibits a one-way continuity and has a minimum operating voltage which is smaller than an open-circuit voltage of said photovoltaic element and is greater than an optimum operating voltage of said photovoltaic element.

30. A sunlight power generation system according to

claim 29

, wherein said load includes a variable frequency-variable voltage inverter and a power load.