Patent EA-001908-B1 (EA)
Title: Photovoltaic module and procedure for manufacturing same
Inventor: PLESSING ALBERT
IPC: B32B7/00
Filed: 1999-06-30
Abstract: 1. A photovoltaic module (1) in the form of a laminate, which as the core layer exhibits a solar cell system (2) and encapsulation materials (3, 3') applied on both sides of the latter, characterized in that that at least one encapsulation material layer (3') consists of a sealing layer (4') and a barrier layer (6) and that the barrier layer (6) consists of a plastic film or a plastic film composite, which exhibits an inorganic oxide layer (7) separated out of the vapor phase. 2. A photovoltaic module according to claim 1, characterized in that the inorganic oxide layer (7) consists of the elements aluminum or silicon, and is present in a thickness of 30 to 200 nm. 3. A photovoltaic module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inorganic oxide layer (7) is permeable to light beams in the visible light wave range and near UV wavelength range, while it absorbs these beams in the UV wavelength range at shorter wavelengths. 4. A photovoltaic module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing layer (4') is arranged between the solar cell system (2) and barrier layer (6). 5. A photovoltaic module according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing layer (4') consists of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). 6. A photovoltaic module according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the sealing layer (4') consists of ionomers. 7. A photovoltaic module according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the plastic film on which the inorganic oxide layer is deposited consists of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (ETFE). 8. A photovoltaic module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inorganic oxide layer (7) faces the solar cell system (2) and directly contacts the adjacent sealing layer (4'). 9. A photovoltaic module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inorganic oxide layer (7) faces the solar cell system (2) and contacts the adjacent sealing layer (4') via a primer coat (12). 10. A photovoltaic module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inorganic oxide layer (7) is enveloped on both sides by plastics films or composites (6, 11), wherein at least one plastic film or plastic film composite acts as the barrier layer (6). 11. A photovoltaic module according to claim 10, characterized in that the inorganic oxide layer (7) contacts the plastic films or composites (11) via an adhesive layer (10) and/or a hybrid layer comprised of organic/inorganic networks (10'). 12. A photovoltaic module according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the inorganic oxide layer (7) consists of SiOx, wherein the atomic ratio of silicon to oxygen x lies ranges from 1.3 to 1.7. 13. A procedure for manufacturing a photovoltaic module according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that  a) a plastic film or plastic film composite (6) is provided with an inorganic layer (7) separated out of the vapor phase, that b) a module stack (1) is layered out of the solar cell system (2) and encapsulation materials (3, 3') in such a way that the sealing layers (4, 4') envelop the solar cell system (2) on both sides, that c) the module stack is transported to a vacuum laminator (17) in which the module stack is heated to the softening point of the sealing layers (4, 4') and that d) after the vacuum laminator 17 has been ventilated without recooling, the composite formed out of the module stack is transported into the hardening furnace (23), in which the sealing layers (4, 4') are hardened, so that a laminate (2) in the form of a photovoltaic module is formed, which can re removed from the continuous procedure after recooling.