The present invention relates to a shaped photovoltaic roof panels, more specifically, to a shaped photovoltaic roofing panel that contains the load-bearing structure and the unit solar cell that contains solar cells connected in series. The invention also relates to a flexible film solar cells containing at least one unit solar cell, which includes a separate solar cells series-connected in such a way that after installation in the profiled roof panels each battery connected in series, will produce essentially the same amount of current. In the present description, the term "block solar" means a unit consisting of individual solar cells, of which at least two are connected in series. According to the present description flexible film solar cell includes a flexible carrier provided with one or more blocks of solar panels.

Solar panels usually contain photovoltaic layer made of a photovoltaic material, provided between the front electrode (in front of battery) and the rear electrode (behind the battery). The front electrode is transparent or has a possible smaller size, allowing the incident the light to reach the photovoltaic material, where the incident radiation is converted into electrical energy. In this way light can be used to generate electric current, providing an attractive alternative, for example, fossil fuels or nuclear energy.

Currently, solar panels are often used in the form of flat sheets. However, especially when they should be used at homes, it may be desirable from an aesthetic point of view, to use solar panels in the form of a profile, in particular in the form of a recurring profile. In this way, the appearance of solar panels may be agreed with the appearance of the rest of the roof, covered with, for example, tiles or corrugated sheet material. To achieve this goal in the publication WO 99/66563 described roofing panel having the form of multiple rows and/or columns of tiles, and the roof panel is equipped with at least one solar panel.

In U.S. patent 4670293 described a method of manufacturing a semiconductor film on a supporting structure having a non-planar surface such as roof tiles. The semiconductor film may be divided into individual solar cells series-connected with a connecting batteries in the usual way.

In lined with the application Germany 3626450 described glass roofs of the second tile, equipped with a flexible sheet of a solar battery.

In the work Y.Ichikawa et al. Flexible a-Si based solar cells with plastic film substrate, Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 577, pp.703-712 (1999) described the use of flexible film solar panels covering the roof elements. Solar batteries are connected in series with adjacent cells.

In the document EP-A 884432 described curved roof with a sheet of a solar battery. Solar panels can be connected in series in the usual way.

The problem associated with the use of solar panels on the profiled elements of the roof, is that at a certain position of the sun, the angle of irradiation of the solar cell varies as the square of its surface to change its position on the profile. This effect is defined as the shading. Thus, not all parts of the solar panels receive the same amount of incident light and, therefore, the current generated by different parts of the solar battery change with position on the profile. This adversely affects the properties of the current generation of unit solar cells in General.

Usually to increase the voltage of the module film solar cells are divided into a number of individual batteries, which are connected sequentially by connecting the front electrode of one battery with the back electrode of an adjacent battery. So the e in this case, the shading causes problems in relation to the performance of the unit solar cells, because due to the profile of the unit in some positions of the sun, not every battery gets the same amount of incident light. The battery is experiencing the lowest exposure, determines the magnitude of the generated current. Moreover, the battery is experiencing the lowest irradiation, can act as a resistor in series, causing an additional decrease in the output of the unit solar cells.

Thus, there is a need in the profiled photovoltaic roof panels containing block solar panels, which solved these problems.

In accordance with the invention this is achieved by providing a shaped photovoltaic roof panels containing the carrier and block solar panels, and the unit solar cell is divided into separate solar battery, and at least two solar cells are connected in series, with at least one solar panel connected in series with non-adjacent solar battery. Preferably, each solar battery, connected in series, should produce essentially the same amount of current. More preferably, the present invention is directed to a shaped photovoltaic roofing panel that contains the load-bearing structure and BC is to the solar cells, this supporting structure has a recurring profile with the length l of the repetition period and the length k of the profile, where the profile length k is the length of the profile on the length l of the repetition period, the supporting structure provided with a block of solar panels, which are perpendicular to the length of the repetition period is divided into solar panels with₁...with_nwith a width of w₁...w_nand the sum of w₁...w_nequal to the length k of the profile, and at least one battery with₁...with_nconnected in series with a corresponding battery with₁...with_nanother recurring profile, while n is an integer having a value of 2 or more.

Since each battery with₁...with_nrecurring profile captures the same amount of incident light, the corresponding battery₁...with_nother recurring profiles in the unit solar cell, the method serial connections used in the present invention, ensures that the batteries that produce essentially the same amount of current, are connected in series. Thereby the solution of the problem underlying the invention. Unlike roofing panels, known from the prior art, in block solar CROs is part of the panel according to the present invention, at least one solar panel connected in series with non-adjacent solar battery.

By dividing the block of solar panels on individual solar panels in the direction perpendicular to the length of the repetition period of the profile, is provided essentially homogeneous instant exposure on the surface of the battery for each battery, which improves the properties of the current generation of batteries. Under essentially homogeneous irradiation over the surface of the battery for each battery means in this case that the maximum deviation in the exposure, expressed in W/m²on the surface area of the battery is not more than 20% of the average exposure over the entire area of the surface of the battery, preferably not more than 10%, more preferably not more than 5%, even more preferably not more than 1% and most preferably not more than 0.5%.

Connecting at least one battery with₁...with_nconsistently with the corresponding battery with₁...with_nanother recurring profile leads to the fact that batteries that receive essentially the same amount of light and, therefore, will generate essentially the same amount of current, are connected in series. Under the wording of that battery will generate essentially the same amount of current is understood in E. the second case, the maximum deviation in the magnitude of the current generated by the battery, expressed in amperes, for batteries connected in series, is no more than 25% of the average current generated by the battery, connected in series, preferably not more than 10%, more preferably not more than 5%, even more preferably not more than 2% and most preferably not more than 1%.

Although the panel corresponding to the present invention, indicated as a roofing panel, it is obvious that it can be used not only on the roofs, but also on the walls and any other applications where it may be useful to use profiled panels with block solar panels.

The invention is further illustrated with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a spatial view of a section of the roof panels, corresponding to the invention, which shows the length l of the repetition period of the profile, the length of the k-profile battery with₁...with_nand width w₁...w_nbatteries. The roof panel has a sinusoidal profile. At least one of the batteries from₁...with_nthe first profile length are connected in series with the batteries from₁...with_nadjacent the period length of the profile using a wiring (not shown).

Figure 2 shows the cross-section of another roofing panel, the corresponding of the bretania, having a sawtooth profile type. Shows the length l of the repetition period of the profile, the length k of the profile and width w₁...w_nbatteries with₁...with_n. At least one of the batteries from₁...with_nthe first profile length are connected in series with the batteries from₁...with_nadjacent the period length of the profile.

Figure 3 shows the cross-section of another roofing panel corresponding to the invention, again with a different profile. Shows the length l of the repetition period of the profile, the length k of the profile and width w₁...w_nbatteries with₁...with_n. At least one of the batteries from₁...with_nthe first profile length are connected in series with the batteries from₁...with_nadjacent the period length of the profile.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the roof panels in figure 3 with the tabs in the flat section. The separation of the battery is the same as on figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the roof panel having the form of multiple rows and columns of tiles, and the rows of tiles fitted film solar panels.

It should be noted that these drawings are presented schematically. They do not give information about, for example, the number of solar panels per repetition period of the profile, or the length or width of the battery.

As shown above, the goal is to for roof panels, respective of what bretania, irradiation over the surface of each battery was essentially uniform. This does not mean that the irregularities in the surface area of the battery is totally unacceptable. Therefore, the presence of protrusions in the batteries from₃in the embodiment according to figure 4 will be depending on incidence of light to cause some shading effect in the batteries from₃in the result, not the entire surface area of the battery with₃will collect the same amount of light. However, the tabs are fairly low, so the impact of their presence were visible.

As indicated above, the roof panel corresponding to the invention, includes a load-carrying structure and at least one block of solar panels. The unit solar cell can be formed directly on the supporting structure, for example, by direct deposition of the various layers of unit solar cells, such as the rear electrode, the photoelectric layer and the front electrode on a glass supporting structure. However, the preferred option of the unit solar cell is a separate manufacturer in the form of a flexible film solar cells, which is then attached to the supporting structure. The advantage of this option is that the film manufacturer of solar panels, including the establishment of serial connections may be the implementation is about to film solar panels in the flat position, while the flexibility of the film unit of solar panels allows you to use it on the profile. For this reason, the invention also relates to a flexible film solar cell equipped with at least one block of solar panels, divided into sets of individual solar cells with₁...with_nwith a width of w₁...w_nand at least one battery with₁...with_nconnected in series with a corresponding battery with₁...with_nwhile n is an integer having a value of 2 or more. This serial connection can be established, for example, as a result of the fact that the unit solar cell is provided with an insulating gaskets, and wiring that implements a serial connection, passes through the gasket. The preferred version of this alternative implementation is explained below in more detail. Obviously, a serial connection can also be accomplished through the supporting structure, that is, the wiring that implements a serial connection, passes through the load-bearing structure.

The number of solar panels with₁...with_nthe length l of the repetition period will depend, including the length l of the repetition period, the change in profile length l of the repetition period and the desired size batteries with₁ n. As a rule, the greater the length l of the repetition period and/or the more complex is the profile, the more desirable the number of batteries per length l of the repetition period. The fact that more complex profile leads to more solar panels per length l of the repetition period, to ensure that the uniformity of the incident light for the individual solar cells will remain within acceptable limits. The size of the solar panels will depend on the width w₁...w_nand, of course, and on their length. The suitable length of solar panels will depend on the profile of the roof panels, as for the unit with solar panels is the preferred profiling in only one direction, namely in the direction of the length l of the repetition period. Profiling unit solar cells in two directions preferably less due to the requirements that apply to the solar battery. The corresponding length will also depend on the selected width of the battery and the desired surface area of the battery. As indicated above, the sum of the widths w₁...w_nbatteries with₁...with_nmust be equal to the length k of the profile. In this regard, it should be noted that the actual width of the serial connection are included in the width w₁...w_nbattery.

Depending on the profile of the roofing panel width w ₁...w_nbatteries can be the same or different. As noted above, it is important that the uniformity of light incidence on individual batteries remained within acceptable limits. For this reason, sometimes it may be appropriate to use a more narrow solar panels on areas of roof panels with a small radius of curvature, while areas with a large radius of curvature allow the use of wider panels. However, if the profile is suitable, for reasons of processing, it is preferable to choose a constant width w₁...w_nbattery.

The length l of the repetition period of the profile of the roof panel in the General case will be in the range of 5 to 100 cm, preferably from 10 to 60 cm, more preferably from 15 to 45 cm

The number of elements n, attributable to the length of the repetition period of the profile, in the General case will be in the range of 2 to 100, preferably from 5 to 50.

In the case of roof panels having such a profile that in some areas of the profile adjacent batteries have the same exposure, such connecting a battery with the same exposure can be connected in series, and this set of batteries connected in series, may, in turn, be connected in series with a corresponding set of elements connected in series to the respective participants of the e profile. In the terminology of the present description connecting a battery with the same exposure can be referred to as podbacali s₁...s_n. A battery pack (s₁...s_nconnected in series, in this case, corresponds to the battery with a width w from a set of batteries with₁...with_nwith a width of w₁...w_n.

Roofing panel according to the present invention includes a bearing structure and block solar panels, equipped with solar panels, connected in series specific way. The supporting structure may be made of one or more subviews, and the roof panel can contain one or more blocks of solar panels.

Roofing panel according to the invention may consist of bleaching blocks with a width equal to the length l of the repetition period, which is equipped with solar panels with a serial connection between at least one of the batteries from₁...with_none block and the respective batteries with₁...with_nthe other unit that is installed when laying blocks on the roof. Whether this option is appropriate will depend largely on the size of the block. If the block size corresponds to the size of conventional roofing shingles, then work on the connection of each block can be prohibitive. With each the second side, for large blocks, for example blocks with a width equal to at least 15 cm and a length equal to at least one meter, preferably with a length coinciding with the length of the roof from the ridge to the gutter, this can be the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a roofing panel having a width at least equal to twice the length l of the repetition period of the profile, and more preferably, the roof panel having a width of from four to twenty-fold values of the length l of the repetition period of the profile. The roof panel preferably has a width of 30-250 cm, more preferably 30-150 see the full width of the roof panel can be covered with several blocks of solar panels, but if the blocks of solar cells made on film solar cells, it is preferable if the roof panel is covered along its width film solar cells containing the width of the panel, one unit of solar panels with solar cells connected in series. The film can be provided with several blocks on the height of the roof panels.

Under the wide roof panels in the context of the present description refers to the width of the roof panels in the direction of the profile. The height of the roof panels is on the management, perpendicular to the width.

The height of the roof panels, corresponding to the invention, is not critical and generally will depend on the usual structural dimensions. The number of blocks of solar panels provided along the length of the roofing panels may vary depending on the situation. If the roof panel is of the form, for example, strips of tile, one unit of solar battery in height, apparently, will be sufficient. If the roof panel above, for example, in the case of a corrugated sheet or aluminum roofing profiles, it may be desirable to increase the number of blocks of solar panels on the height of the panel. This may be desirable because it requires the height of the blocks of solar panels. Alternatively, it may be desirable if the roof panel also has a profile in this direction, for example, because the roof panel has the shape of several arranged one above the other bands tiles. Especially in the case of a higher roof panels may be advisable to use flexible film solar panels, equipped with a certain number of blocks of solar panels.

The preferred implementation of the roofing panel according to the invention is a roofing panel having the form of one or more rows or columns of tiles and at least one row or column of tiles is equipped with a block of solar cells connected in series in accordance with the invention. This version of the implementation is presented in figure 5, which shows the roof panel, the outer side of which has the form of five rows of five tiles each, and each row includes a unit solar cell length in five tiles (shaded). The separation of the battery and the serial connection is not shown. The advantage of this variant is that in terms of appearance it is well suited to the appearance of conventional tiled roof, with its size for easy installation. The supply of individual rows or columns of the unit solar battery eliminates the profiling unit solar cells in two directions. For roof panels of this type, in General, for ease of handling preference is given to panels of a width of 1-10 in "tiles" and height in 1-8 "tiles", and the total number of tiles is preferably at least 4, more preferably at least 8 and most preferably at least 12. The preferred maximum for the number of tiles depends on the size of the "tiles" and the desired size of the finished block.

The main problem with the serial connection in a roofing panel according to the invention consists of the choice of batteries, which must be connected in series. Serial connection as such is simply to connect the back electrode of one battery with the front electrode of the other battery. Design and installation of the required wired connections is a range of specialist knowledge in this field of technology.

As noted above, the invention also relates to a flexible film solar cell equipped with at least one block of solar panels, divided into individual solar cells, and solar cells are connected in series in such way that after mounting on profiled roof panels each element in series connection generates essentially the same amount of current. Appropriate way of establishing the serial connection is the use of layer interconnects. Layers of interconnects, the principle of which is known from semiconductor technology, consist of a pattern of mutually isolated conductive strips. At least one battery of the battery pack with₁...with_nconnected through the conductive strips in the layer interconnects with the rear electrode of the corresponding battery₁...with_nfrom the related set of batteries. Appropriate battery₁connected through the first strips of the layer interconnects corresponding to the battery and with ₂connected through the second strips of the layer interconnects, etc. to eliminate the possibility of a connection layer of TCO (transparent conductive oxide) batteries with the back electrode of the same battery, the conductive strips in the layer interconnects are terminated electrically insulating material. This interrupt can be made by cutting strips or separate use of an insulating material.

The invention thus also relates to film solar cells with block solar panels, divided into sets of individual solar cells with₁...with_ncontaining, from the fall of sunlight to the bottom side, a front electrode, a photovoltaic layer, the rear electrode layer and interconnects containing mutually isolated conductive strips p₁...R_nequipped with an electrically insulating material, and at least one battery with₁...with_nare connected in series through one of the conductive strips p₁...R_nwith the appropriate battery with₁...with_nwhere n is an integer having a value of 2 or more.

A simple embodiment of such film solar battery is a film where the strips of the layer interconnects are at an angle to the separation film solar panels. The angle before occhialino is in the range from 60 to 120° , more preferably from 80 to 100°most preferably from 88 to 92°. In the preferred embodiment, the strips of the layer interconnects essentially perpendicular to the separation block the solar panels. In this embodiment, the serial connection can be established very simply by "perforation" of conductive connections between the TCO-layer one battery with₁...with_nand layer interconnects and between the rear electrode of the corresponding battery₁...with_nof adjacent sets of batteries and a layer of interconnects.

Another way to implement the serial connection is to use conductive strips coated or wires, which are connected with the front electrode of one battery and go along the side of the solar battery to the battery with which it should be connected.

The material of the supporting structure of the roof panel, corresponding to the invention, is not critical. If the supporting structure is transparent, that is made of glass or plastic, the unit solar cells, alternatively, may be provided on the lower side of the supporting structure, providing adequate protection from external influences on the block the solar panels. If the unit solar cell is provided on top of the supporting structure, the supporting structure is not required to perform transparent. Under Tamimi materials in this case are conventional roofing materials, including ceramic materials, concrete, stone, and plastics, in particular, on the basis of recycled plastic, and metals such as steel, zinc and aluminum.

Block of solar panels in the roof panel in accordance with the invention contains, starting back in the forward direction, the back electrode, the photovoltaic layer and the front electrode. Often also present supporting structure to give the unit solar inherent rigidity. The properties of these materials are not critical to the roofing panel according to the invention. The following description serves only the purpose of illustration only.

The bearing block design of solar panels, if present, can be any known substructure. If the supporting structure is present on the front side of the electrode, it should be transparent. The supporting structure may be made for example from glass or transparent polymer. If the supporting structure is located on the side of the rear electrode, it can be both transparent and opaque depending on the envisaged use of the unit solar cells. Suitable materials include flexible materials suitable for use in processes with a rolled material, such as plastic film or metal foil.

The front electrode before occhialino is made of transparent conductive oxide (TCO). Suitable species of TSS include indium oxide-tin, zinc oxide; zinc oxide doped with aluminum, fluorine or boron, cadmium sulfide, cadmium oxide, tin oxide and F-doped SnO₂.

The photovoltaic layer can contain any suitable system known to experts in the art, for example, amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), microcrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC and a-SiC:H, amorphous silicon-germanium (a-SiGe and a-SiGe:H, a-SiSn:H, a-SiSn:h can Also be used CIS (diselenide copper-India CuInSe₂), cadmium telluride, Cu(In,Ga)Se, ZnSe/CIS, ZnO/CIS and Mo/CIS/CdS/ZnO. Preferred is the use of thin-film solar cells, for example, of amorphous or microcrystalline silicon.

The rear electrode, which depending on the use of unit solar cells can also serve as a reflector, may be performed, for example, aluminum, silver, or combinations thereof.

If desirable, the unit solar cell may contain additional known components, such as sealants to protect the unit from external influences.

If, in a preferred embodiment, the flexible film solar panels, provided with a block of solar panels used in roofing panel in accordance with the invention, it is to depict the defaults preferably a flexible film solar cells, designed for manufacture by a continuous process, preferably a process with a rolled material. Particularly preferred flexible film solar cells made as described in WO 98/13882 or WO 99/49483. These publications included in the present description by reference, with regard to the manufacturing process of the flexible film solar cells and materials used for this, with the caveat that the methods of serial connections disclosed in the above publications are not suitable for use in the unit solar cells designed for use in roofing panels according to the invention.

1. Profiled photovoltaic roofing panel that contains the load-bearing structure and block solar panels, and the unit solar cell is divided into separate solar battery, and at least two solar cells are connected in series, with at least one solar panel connected in series with non-adjacent solar battery.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein each solar cell connected in series, configured to generate the current, essentially the same value.

3. The panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it contains the frame and the block of solar cells, while the supporting structure is periodic the Eski duplicate profile with a length of 1 repetition period and the length k of the profile, where the length of the profile k is the length of the profile on the length 1 of the repetition period, the supporting structure provided with a block of solar panels, which are perpendicular to the length 1 of the repetition period is divided into solar panels c₁...c_nwith a width of w₁...w_nand the sum of w₁...w_nequal to the length k of the profile, and at least one battery c₁...c_nconnected in series with a corresponding battery c₁...c_nanother recurring profile, while n is an integer having a value of 2 or more.

4. The panel according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit solar cell includes a flexible film solar panels.

5. The panel according to claim 3, characterized in that the unit solar cell includes a flexible film solar panels.

6. The panel according to claim 3, characterized in that the width w₁...w_nconstant.

7. The panel according to claim 3, characterized in that it is made of separate blocks with a width equal to one length of the repetition period of the profile.

8. The panel according to claim 3, characterized in that it has a width equal to at least twice the length 1 of the repetition period of the profile, and more preferably is from 4-fold to 20-fold of the length 1 of the repetition period of the profile.

9. Panel of claim 8, characterized in that its width is covered by one unit of solar panels containing film solar the battery, connected in series.

10. The panel according to claim 1, characterized in that it has the form of one or more rows or columns of tiles, and at least one row or column is equipped with a Bank of solar panels.

11. The panel according to claim 3, characterized in that it has the form of one or more rows or columns of tiles, and at least one row or column is equipped with a Bank of solar panels.

12. The panel according to claim 3, characterized in that in one unit of solar batteries all batteries c₁...c_nconnected in series with all relevant battery c₁...c_nwithin the same block of solar panels.

13. The panel according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one battery from a set of c₁...c_nconsists of a set of related Podbara s₁...s_nconnected in series.

14. The flexible film solar cells containing block solar panels, divided into separate solar battery, and at least two solar cells are connected in series, with at least one solar panel connected in series with non-adjacent solar battery.

15. Film solar cell according to 14, characterized in that provided with insulating spacers, and the wiring that implements a serial connection, passes through the insulating strips at the key.

16. The flexible film solar cells containing block solar panels, divided into individual solar cells, and solar cells are connected in series so that after installation of the roofing panel according to any one of the preceding paragraphs each battery in series connection generates a current of essentially the same size.

17. Film solar cell according to item 16, characterized in that provided with insulating spacers, and the wiring that implements a serial connection, passes through the insulating strip.

18. The flexible film solar cells containing block solar panels, divided into sets of individual solar cells c₁...c_nwith a width of w₁...w_nand at least one battery c₁...c_nconnected in series with a corresponding battery c₁...c_nwhile n is an integer having a value of 2 or more.

19. Film solar cells on p, characterized in that provided with insulating spacers, and the wiring that implements a serial connection, passes through the insulating strip.

20. The flexible film solar cells containing block solar panels, divided into sets of individual solar cells c₁...c_ncontaining from Stour is by the fall of sunlight to the lower side, the front electrode, the photovoltaic layer, the rear electrode layer and interconnects containing mutually isolated conductive strips p₁...p_nequipped with an electrically insulating material, and at least one battery c₁...c_nare connected in series through one of the conductive strips p₁...p_nwith the appropriate battery c₁...c_nwhere n is an integer having a value of 2 or more.

21. Film solar cell according to claim 20, characterized in that the strips of the layer interconnects essentially perpendicular to the separation unit of solar panels, with a serial connection is established by "perforation" of conductive connections between the TCO-layer one battery c₁...c_nand layer interconnects and between the rear electrode of the corresponding battery c₁...c_nof adjacent sets of batteries and a layer of interconnects.