DUAL SEAL PHOTOVOLTAIC ASSEMBLY AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:
- a first substrate, being formed of a transparent or light transmitting material, and a second substrate, each of the first and second substrates having first and second major surfaces, each second surface having a central region and a periphery and the second surfaces facing and spaced apart from one another;
a photovoltaic coating disposed over at least the central region of the second surface of the first substrate or the second substrate; and
a seal system comprising a first seal and a second seal, the seal system disposed between the first and second substrates and joining the first and second substrates to one another, along their peripheries, the seal system enclosing an airspace that extends between the second surfaces of the first and second substrates and along the central regions thereof, the second seal comprising a composition comprising;
a silyl containing polyacrylate polymer;
an alkoxysilane; and
a catalyst.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A photovoltaic assembly including first and second substrates joined together and spaced apart, on either side of an airspace, by a seal system formed of a first seal and a second seal, the second seal comprising one or more silyl terminated polyacrylate polymers. A photovoltaic functional coating is disposed over a second major surface of one of the substrates, which faces the second major surface of the other substrate. Lead wires are coupled to bus bars and/or electrical contacts affixed to the functional coating and routed out from the airspace. Affixing the seal system to the first and second substrates, in order to join the substrates together, may be accomplished by applying pressure to the substrates.
109 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:
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a first substrate, being formed of a transparent or light transmitting material, and a second substrate, each of the first and second substrates having first and second major surfaces, each second surface having a central region and a periphery and the second surfaces facing and spaced apart from one another; a photovoltaic coating disposed over at least the central region of the second surface of the first substrate or the second substrate; and a seal system comprising a first seal and a second seal, the seal system disposed between the first and second substrates and joining the first and second substrates to one another, along their peripheries, the seal system enclosing an airspace that extends between the second surfaces of the first and second substrates and along the central regions thereof, the second seal comprising a composition comprising; a silyl containing polyacrylate polymer; an alkoxysilane; and a catalyst. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 34)
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17. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:
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a first substrate, being formed of a transparent or light transmitting material, and a second substrate, each of the first and second substrates having first and second major surfaces, each second surface having a central region and a periphery and the second surfaces facing and spaced apart from one another; a photovoltaic coating disposed over at least the central region of the second surface of the first substrate or the second substrate; a seal system comprising a first seal and a second seal, the seal system disposed between the first and second substrates and joining the first and second substrates to one another, along their peripheries, the seal system enclosing an airspace that extends between the second surfaces of the first and second substrates and along the central regions thereof, the second seal comprising a composition comprising; a silyl-terminated polyacrylate polymer with an average of at least 1.2 alkoxysilyl chain terminations per molecule of the average formula
SiR1x(OR)3-xwherein R is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, or isopropyl, R1 is methyl or ethyl, and x is 0 or 1; an alkoxysilane; and a catalyst.
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18. A photovoltaic assembly, comprising:
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a first substrate, being formed of a transparent or light transmitting material, and a second substrate, each of the first and second substrates having first and second major surfaces, each second surface having a central region and a periphery and the second surfaces facing and spaced apart from one another; a photovoltaic coating disposed over at least the central region of the second surface of the first substrate or the second substrate; a seal system comprising a first seal and a second seal, the seal system disposed between the first and second substrates and joining the first and second substrates to one another, along their peripheries, the seal system enclosing an airspace that extends between the second surfaces of the first and second substrates and along the central regions thereof, the second seal comprising a composition comprising; a silyl containing polyacrylate polymer; an alkoxysilane; and a catalyst; at least one opening extending through either the seal system or through the substrate opposite the substrate over which the photovoltaic coating is disposed, from the first surface to the second surface thereof; and potting material sealing the at least one opening, wherein the potting material comprises a silyl containing polyacrylate polymer.
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19. A method for making a photovoltaic assembly, the method comprising:
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forming a first substrate and a second substrate, the first and second substrates having first and second major surfaces, each of the second surfaces having a central region and a periphery, and at least the first substrate being transparent; forming a photovoltaic coating over at least the central region of the second surface of the first substrate or the second substrate; providing a seal system comprising a first seal and a second seal, the second seal comprising a composition comprising; a silyl containing polyacrylate polymer; an alkoxysilane; and a catalyst; applying the first seal to the periphery of at least one of the substrates; bringing the first and second substrates together in opposed relationship with the first seal disposed along the peripheries thereof, such that an airspace is formed between the second surfaces and along the central regions thereof; and applying pressure to the assembly to join the first and second substrates together such that the airspace is maintained between the first and second substrates. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for making a photovoltaic assembly, the method comprising:
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providing a first substrate and a second substrate, the first and second substrates having first and second major surfaces, each of the second surfaces having a central region and a periphery, at least the first substrate being transparent, and at least one of the substrates bearing a photovoltaic coating disposed over at least the central region of the second major surface; providing a seal system comprising a first seal and a second seal disposed along the periphery of at least one of the substrates, the second seal comprising a composition comprising; a silyl containing polyacrylate polymer; an alkoxysilane; and a catalyst; bringing the first and second substrates together in opposed relationship with the first seal disposed along the peripheries thereof, such that an airspace is formed between the second surfaces and along the central regions thereof; and applying pressure to the assembly to join the first and second substrates together such that the airspace is maintained between the first and second substrates. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification