Abstract:
A solar battery module according to one embodiment comprises: a support substrate having a through-hole formed therein; a plurality of solar battery cells arranged on the support substrate; a busbar which is electrically connected to the solar battery cells; a first connection member which is inserted in the through-hole; and a second connection member which is connected to the first connection member, wherein the second connection member comprises a contact member that contacts the busbar through the through-hole.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field 
         [0002]    Embodiments relate to a solar battery module. 
         [0003]    2. Background 
         [0004]    Recently, as depletion of conventional energy resources such as oil and coal has been predicted and interests in alternative energy to replace them are increasing, a solar battery that produces electric energy from solar energy has entered the spotlight. 
         [0005]    The solar battery (a solar cell or a photovoltaic cell) is a key element of solar photovoltaic power generation in which sunlight is directly converted into electricity. 
         [0006]    As an example, when sunlight having energy greater than band-gap energy (Eg) of a semiconductor is incident on a solar battery made of a p-n junction of the semiconductor, electron-hole pairs are generated, electrons of the electron-hole pairs are gathered at an n layer and holes are gathered at a p layer due to an electric field formed on the p-n junction, and thus an electromotive force (a photoelectron motive force or a photovoltage) between the p and the n occurs. In this case, an operational principle is that a current flows when a load is connected to electrodes at both ends. 
         [0007]    A current generated in the solar battery is connected to a junction box through a busbar. Generally, the busbar is formed on a front surface of a solar battery panel, crosses to a rear surface of the panel through a hole formed in the panel, and is connected to the junction box. 
         [0008]    However, in order to insert the busbar in the hole, a process of folding the busbar at a right angle on a support substrate is required, and the process may cause problems such as thickness inconsistency, stripping of film, cracks, and the like in a folded portion of the busbar. 
         [0009]    Therefore, when the busbar is formed in the solar battery panel, a solar battery module having a new structure capable of improving the durability and reliability thereof is required. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    Embodiments provide a solar battery module capable of being manufactured easily and having improved reliability and durability. 
         [0011]    A solar battery module according to an embodiment includes a support substrate having a through-hole formed therein, a plurality of solar battery cells disposed on the support substrate, a busbar which is electrically connected to the solar battery cells, a first connection member which is inserted in the through-hole, and a second connection member which is connected to the first connection member, wherein the second connection member includes a contact member in contact with the busbar through the through-hole. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a solar battery module according to an embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a cross section of the solar battery according to the embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a top surface of a solar battery panel in the solar battery module according to the embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a side surface of the solar battery panel in the solar battery module according to the embodiment; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a view illustrating the side surface of the solar battery panel in which a connection member is connected to a through-hole according to the embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    In the description of the embodiments, a layer (film), region, pattern, or structure being referred to as being “on/above” or “under/below” a substrate, a layer (film), region, or patterns includes directly being formed thereupon or being an intervening layer. References with respect to “on/above” or “under/below” of each layer will be described based on the drawings. 
         [0019]    The thicknesses or sizes of layers (films), regions, patterns, or structures in the drawings may be modified for the sake of clarity and convenience and do not completely reflect actual thicknesses or sizes. 
         [0020]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0021]    Hereinafter, a solar battery module according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 .  FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the solar battery module according to the embodiment,  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a cross section of the solar battery according to the embodiment,  FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a top surface of a solar battery panel in the solar battery module according to the embodiment,  FIG. 4  is a view illustrating a side surface of the solar battery panel in the solar battery module according to the embodiment, and  FIG. 5  is a side view illustrating the side surface of the solar battery panel in which a connection member is connected to a through-hole according to the embodiment. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the solar battery module according to the embodiment includes a solar battery panel  100 , a protective layer  200  disposed on the solar battery panel  100 , an upper substrate  300  disposed on the protective layer  200 , busbars  400  disposed on the solar battery panel  100 , connection members  500  connected to the busbars  400 , and a frame  600 . 
         [0023]    The solar battery panel  100  may have a plate shape. The solar battery panel  100  may include a support substrate  110  and a plurality of solar batteries  120  disposed on the support substrate  110 . 
         [0024]    The support substrate  110  may include an insulator. The support substrate  110  may be a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, or a metal substrate. Specifically, the support substrate  110  may be a soda lime glass substrate. Alternatively, a ceramic substrate such as alumina, stainless steel, a flexible polymer, and the like may be used as a material of the support substrate  110 . The support substrate  110  may be transparent. The support substrate  110  may be rigid or flexible. 
         [0025]    A through-hole TH may be formed in the support substrate  110 . Specifically, a plurality of through-holes TH may be formed in the support substrate  110 . At least two through-holes TH may be formed. Further, the through-holes TH may be formed to pass through a portion of the solar battery  120  disposed on the support substrate  110 . 
         [0026]    Each of the solar batteries  120  may be, for example, a CIGS-based solar battery, a silicon-based solar battery, a dye-sensitized-based solar battery, a III-IV group compound semiconductor solar battery, or a III-V group compound semiconductor solar battery. 
         [0027]    For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , the solar battery  120  may be a CIGS-based solar battery. Specifically, the solar battery  120  may include a rear electrode layer  121  disposed on the support substrate  110 , a light-absorbing layer  122  disposed on the rear electrode layer  121 , a buffer layer  123  disposed on the light-absorbing layer  122 , and a front electrode layer  124  disposed on the buffer layer  123 . The above-described through-hole TH may be formed to pass through the support substrate  110  and the rear electrode layer  121 . 
         [0028]    The rear electrode layer  121  may be a conductive layer. For example, a material used as the rear electrode layer  121  may include a metal such as molybdenum and the like. 
         [0029]    The light-absorbing layer  122  may include an group based compound. For example, the light-absorbing layer  122  may have a copper-indium-gallium-selenide-based (Cu(In,Ga)Se2;CIGS-based) crystal structure, a copper-indium-selenide-based crystal structure, or a copper-gallium-selenide-based crystal structure. 
         [0030]    The buffer layer  123  may include cadmium sulfide (CdS), zinc oxide (ZnO), or the like. 
         [0031]    The front electrode layer  124  may include an oxide. For example, a material used as the front electrode layer  124  may include aluminum doped zinc oxide (Al doped ZnO;AZO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium tin oxide (ITO), or the like. 
         [0032]    The solar batteries  120  may be disposed in a stripe pattern. Further, the solar batteries  120  may be disposed in various forms such as a matrix form or the like. 
         [0033]    The protective layer  200  for protecting the solar battery panel  100  and the upper substrate  300  may be disposed on the solar battery panel  100 . 
         [0034]    The protective layer  200 , which is integrated with the solar battery panel  100  by a lamination process while being disposed on the solar battery panel  100 , prevents the solar battery panel  100  from being corroded due to moisture penetration, and protects the solar battery panel  100  from shocks. The protective layer  200  may be formed of a material such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The protective layer  200  may also be formed under the solar battery panel  100 . 
         [0035]    The upper substrate  300  disposed on the protective layer  200  may be formed of a tempered glass having a high transmittance and an excellent breakage protection function. In this case, the tempered glass may be a low iron tempered glass with low iron content. An embossing process may be performed on an inner side surface of the upper substrate  300  in order to increase a scattering effect of light. 
         [0036]    The frame  600  is disposed on an outside of the solar battery panel  100 . The frame  600  may accommodate the solar battery panel  100 , the protective layer  200 , and the upper substrate  300 . Specifically, the frame  600  may surround side surfaces of the solar battery panel  100 . 
         [0037]    For example, the frame  600  may be a metal frame. Specifically, the frame  600  may include various metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, iron, and the like. 
         [0038]    The busbars  400  may be disposed on the solar battery panel  100 . At least two busbars  400  may be included. The busbars  400  may be connected to the solar batteries  120 . Specifically, the busbars  400  may be directly connected to the solar batteries  120 . More specifically, the busbars  400  may be connected to each of the outermost solar batteries. For example, the busbar  400  may be disposed on the rear electrode layer  121  of the solar battery  120  and connected to the solar battery  120 . 
         [0039]    The busbar  400  may include a conductive tape or a conductive paste. For example, a material used as the busbar  400  may include at least one metal of copper, silver, aluminum, tin, lead, and an alloy thereof. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the busbar  400  may be disposed to pass through the through-hole TH region formed on the support substrate  110 . That is, at least one surface of the busbar  400  may be exposed at a lower surface of the support substrate  110  by the through-hole TH. Accordingly, the busbar  400  may include a first surface  410  in contact with the rear electrode layer  121  and a second surface  420  disposed in the rear electrode layer  121 . The second surface  420  of the busbar  400  may be exposed by the through-hole TH. 
         [0041]    As the through-hole TH passes through the support substrate  110 , an inner side surface of the support substrate  110  may be exposed. Specifically, the support substrate  110  may include a first inner side surface  111  and a second inner side surface  112  which are exposed by the through-hole TH. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the connection member  500  may include a first connection member  510  and a second connection member  520 . 
         [0043]    The first connection member  510  may be disposed in the through-hole TH. Specifically, the first connection member  510  may include a first connection unit  511  in contact with the first inner side surface  111  of the through-hole TH and a second connection unit  512  in contact with the second inner side surface  112  of the through-hole TH. 
         [0044]    The second connection member  520  may include a main body  521  and a contact member  522 . The main body  521  may support the contact member  522 . The contact member  522  may be inserted in the through-hole TH. Specifically, the contact member  522  may be in contact with the first connection member  510  disposed in the through-hole TH, and may be inserted in the through-hole TH. More specifically, the contact member  522  may be in contact with the first connection unit  511  and the second connection unit  512  of the first connection member  510  which are disposed in the through-hole TH, and may be inserted in the through-hole TH. 
         [0045]    The contact member  522  may be disposed to be fixed in the through-hole TH by the first connection unit  511  and the second connection unit  512 . Specifically, at least one of the first connection unit  511  and the second connection unit  512  is formed in a female screw shape or a male screw shape, and the contact member  522  may have a shape complementary to the at least one connection unit of the first connection unit  511  and the second connection unit  512 . That is, on the other hand, the contact member  522  may be formed in a male screw shape or a female screw shape, and the first connection member  510  and the contact member  522  may be connected in female and male pairs. Accordingly, the contact member  522  may be disposed to be detachably fixed into the through-hole. 
         [0046]    The contact member  522  may include a conductive material. Specifically, the contact member  522  may include a conductive material such as a metal. For example, the contact member  522  may include at least one of aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), and an alloy thereof. 
         [0047]    The contact member  522  may be in contact with the busbar  400  exposed by the through-hole TH. Specifically, a surface of the busbar  400 , which is formed on the solar battery panel  100  and exposed by the through-hole TH, may be in contact with the contact member  522  which is disposed to be fixed to the through-hole TH. 
         [0048]    Accordingly, the contact member  522  may be in electrical contact with the busbar  400 . That is, the contact member  522  and the busbar  400  may be electrically connected. 
         [0049]    The contact member  522  may be connected to the main body  521 , the main body  521  may include wiring  530  connected to the contact member  522 , and the wiring  530  may be connected to a connector disposed outside of the solar battery panel  100 . 
         [0050]    In the solar battery module according to the embodiment, the solar battery module may be easily manufactured, and an efficiency of the solar battery may be improved. 
         [0051]    Conventionally, a busbar may be formed on a solar battery panel, the busbar may pass through a through-hole formed on a support substrate to move to a rear surface of the support substrate and may be connected to a junction box disposed on the rear surface of the support substrate. In this case, the busbar may be folded vertically in the process of passing through the through-hole, and at this time, cracks may occur in a portion at which the busbar is folded. Further, the number of processes such as a process of crossing the busbar to the rear surface of the support substrate and the like is increased, and thus there is a problem in that process efficiency is reduced. 
         [0052]    Accordingly, in the solar battery module according to the embodiment, the through-hole may be formed on the support substrate without directly crossing the busbar to the rear surface of the support substrate, the busbar is disposed at a position in which the through-hole is formed, a surface of the busbar is exposed at the lower surface of the support substrate, and then the busbar may be electrically connected to a connector using a connection member and the like. That is, the connection member may connect the connector to the busbar while serving as a junction box. 
         [0053]    Therefore, since the process of crossing the busbar to the rear surface of the support substrate after vertically folding the busbar may be omitted and the process of folding the busbar is not required, the efficiency of the solar battery can be improved by preventing the busbar from being damaged, and a method of manufacturing the solar battery module can be improved. 
         [0054]    In the solar battery module according to the embodiment, a solar battery module can be manufactured easily and an efficiency of the solar battery can be improved. 
         [0055]    Conventionally, a busbar may be formed on a solar battery panel, the busbar may pass through a through-hole formed on a support substrate to move to a rear surface of the support substrate, and may be connected to a junction box disposed on the rear surface of the support substrate. In this case, the busbar may be folded vertically in the process of passing through the through-hole, and at this time, cracks may occur in a portion at which the busbar is folded. Further, the number of processes such as a process of crossing the busbar to the rear surface of the support substrate and the like is increased, and thus there is a problem in that process efficiency is reduced. 
         [0056]    Accordingly, in the solar battery module according to the embodiment, the through-hole may be formed on the support substrate without directly crossing the busbar to the rear surface of the support substrate, the busbar is disposed at a position in which the through-hole is formed, a surface of the busbar is exposed at the lower surface of the support substrate, and then the busbar may be electrically connected to a connector using a connection member and the like. That is, the connection member may connect the connector to the busbar while serving as a junction box. 
         [0057]    Therefore, since the process of crossing the busbar to the rear surface of the support substrate after vertically folding the busbar may be omitted and the process of folding the busbar is not required, the efficiency of the solar battery can be improved by preventing the busbar from being damaged, and a method of manufacturing the solar battery module can be improved. 
         [0058]    The features, structures, effects, and the like described in the above-described embodiments include at least one embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited only to one embodiment. Further, the features, structures, effects, and the like illustrated in each embodiment may be combined or modified to other embodiments by those skilled in the art. Therefore, contents related to the combination or the modification should be interpreted to be included in the scope of the invention. 
         [0059]    In addition, while the present invention has been particularly described with reference to exemplary embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and applications, which are not illustrated in the above, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, each component illustrated in the embodiments may be modified and made. It should be interpreted that differences related to these modifications and applications are included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.