Patent Publication Number: US-2022239253-A1

Title: Cooling Plate For Solar Panel and Method For Manufacturing Same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     It should be evident that the present patent application is a result of government R&amp;D (Project No.: 1545022193) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The following description relates to a cooling plate for a solar panel, and a method for manufacturing the same. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Photovoltaic power generation generates electricity on a solar panel where p-n bonding is made by performing n-type doping on a silicon crystal, using a photovoltaic effect caused by light energy. To this end, a solar cell for concentrating sunlight, a photovoltaic module that is an assembly of solar cells, and a solar array where solar cells are uniformly arranged are required. In the case of a polycrystalline silicon material that is currently mainstream, the efficiency of a photovoltaic module used for a photovoltaic system is in a range of about 16 to 18%, and is the most important factor for determining the economic feasibility of photovoltaic power generation. In order to continuously improve such power generation efficiency, maintenance and repair through various devices are essential. 
     Solar cells for concentrating sunlight, solar modules, and solar arrays cause an output decrease of about 0.5% when the temperature rises by 1° C. due to a rise in temperature due to sunlight concentration, resulting in reduced power generation efficiency. It is reported that the power generation efficiency decreases by 20 to 30% compared to the maximum because the photovoltaic module is overheated due to a large amount of insolation in summer while an amount of power generated is at its maximum in spring and autumn rather than summer when an amount of sunlight concentrated is at its maximum. 
     The above-described background technology is possessed or acquired by the inventor in a derivation process of the present invention, and is not necessarily a known technology disclosed to the general public prior to filing of the present application. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Goals 
     An aspect provides a cooling plate for a solar panel that has high cooling efficiency and is easy to manufacture, and a method for manufacturing the cooling plate. 
     Technical Solutions 
     According to an aspect, there is provided a cooling plate for a solar panel for cooling a solar panel, the cooling plate including a planar body positioned on a rear surface of the solar panel, and a fluid guide part including a plurality of flow paths for guiding a fluid for cooling the solar panel, between an inlet formed on one side of the planar body and an outlet formed on the other side of the planar body. A surface of the planar body that comes into direct contact with a back sheet of the solar panel may be flat. 
     The planar body may include (i) a plurality of bonding parts capable of being bonded to a counterpart by having a flat shape, and (ii) a flow path sheet having a part that is formed to protrude in an opposite direction with respect to the back sheet of the solar panel so as to provide a space through which the fluid flows, and accordingly functions as a plurality of flow paths. 
     The plurality of bonding parts may be directly bonded to the back sheet of the solar panel, and accordingly the plurality of flow paths may be covered by the back sheet of the solar panel. 
     The planar body may further include a cover sheet having one surface bonded to the back sheet of the solar panel, and the other surface bonded to the plurality of bonding parts, the cover sheet configured to cover the plurality of flow paths. 
     A cross section of the flow path sheet cut in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plurality of flow paths may include a curved shape. 
     In the planar body, a width of a widest part of one of the plurality of flow paths may be greater than 1.2 times and less than 2 times a width of a bonding part formed between the plurality of flow paths. 
     The cooling plate may further include an insulating sheet disposed to cover the flow path sheet, the insulating sheet configured to prevent heat transfer by forming an air layer between the flow path sheet. 
     The insulating sheet may include a plurality of first parts configured to surround two or more flow paths among the plurality of flow paths, and a plurality of second parts positioned between the plurality of first parts, the plurality of second parts fixed to an outer surface of the planar body positioned between the plurality of flow paths. 
     The cooling plate may further include a plurality of cavities formed by perforating a part of the planar body where the plurality of fluid guide parts are not positioned, the plurality of cavities formed to allow a junction box to protrude through the planar body. 
     The fluid guide part may further include a distribution pipe formed in a part of the fluid guide part connected to the inlet or the outlet, the distribution pipe formed perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plurality of flow paths on the planar body. 
     The distribution pipe may include a plurality of sub-distribution pipes formed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the plurality of flow paths, a connection part configured to interconnect ends of the plurality of sub-distribution pipes in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of flow paths, and a plurality of branch parts configured to branch from a sub-distribution pipe close to the plurality of flow paths among the plurality of sub-distribution pipes toward the plurality of flow paths. 
     A flow cross-sectional area of a first sub-distribution pipe directly connected to the inlet or the outlet among the plurality of sub-distribution pipes may be greater than a flow cross-sectional area of a second sub-distribution pipe directly connected to the plurality of branch parts. 
     According to another aspect, there is provided a method for manufacturing a cooling plate for a solar panel including a planar body having (i) a plurality of bonding parts capable of being bonded to a counterpart by having a flat shape, and (ii) a flow path sheet having a plurality of flow paths that are formed to protrude in one direction so as to provide a space through which a fluid flows, the method including forming a mold, placing a first sheet base on the mold and heating the first sheet base, and molding the first sheet base into a shape of the flow path sheet having the bonding part and the plurality of flow paths, using a vacuum molding scheme. 
     The method may further include attaching a second sheet base having a flat shape to a bonding part of the first sheet base. 
     Effects 
     According to a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an aspect, an effective contact area for heat exchange with respect to a solar panel may be increased compared to a conventional cooling structure, thereby significantly improving cooling efficiency. 
     According to the cooling plate for a solar panel according to an aspect, a cross section of a flow path through which a cooling fluid flows may have a curved shape (example: a part of a circle), and thus the rigidity of the cooling fluid with respect to hydraulic pressure may be increased, thereby providing a cooling plate for a solar panel having high durability. 
     According to a method for manufacturing a cooling plate for a solar panel according to another aspect, the ease of manufacturing may be significantly improved compared to a conventional cooling structure formed by bonding a plurality of pipes, using a molding scheme utilizing vacuum. 
     According to the cooling plate for the solar panel according to an aspect, a bypass flow path may be included in parts through which a cooling fluid is respectively introduced and discharged, thereby improving the flow uniformity of the cooling fluid with respect to the cooling plate for a solar panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan diagram of a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective diagram of a part of an inlet side of a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged diagram of a part of an inlet side of a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective diagram of a part of a central side of a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a flow path and a bonding part according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a photovoltaic module to which a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment is applied. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a photovoltaic module to which a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment is applied. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a photovoltaic module to which a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment is applied. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the illustrative drawings. Regarding reference numerals assigned to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same components will be designated by the same reference numerals, wherever possible, even though they are illustrated in different drawings. In addition, in the description of the example embodiments, detailed description of well-known related configurations or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description interferes with the understanding of the example embodiments. 
     In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used herein to describe components of the example embodiments. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component, and essential, order, or sequence of corresponding components are not limited by these terms. It will be understood that when one component is referred to as being “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “linked to” another component, one component may be “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “linked to” another component via a further component although one component may be directly connected to or directly linked to another component. 
     A component included in any one example embodiment and another component including a function in common with that of the component will be described using the same designation in other example embodiments. Unless otherwise indicated, a description of one example embodiment may be applied to other example embodiments, and a detailed description will be omitted in an overlapping range. 
       FIG. 1  is a plan diagram of a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective diagram of a part of an inlet side of a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 3  is an enlarged diagram of a part of an inlet side of a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective diagram of a part of a central side of a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , a cooling plate for a solar panel  1  for cooling a solar panel (hereinafter referred to as “cooling plate  1 ”) may be disposed on a rear surface of the solar panel to absorb the heat generated by the solar panel, thereby cooling the solar panel. According to the cooling plate  1  according to an example embodiment, an effective contact area for heat exchange may be increased compared to a conventional cooling structure, thereby significantly improving cooling efficiency. The cooling plate  1  may include a planar body  11 , a plurality of cavities  12 , an inlet  13 , an outlet  14 , and a fluid guide part  15 . 
     The planar body  11  may be positioned on the rear surface of the solar panel, and may be formed, for example, by coupling a pair of layers (see  FIG. 8 ). In this case, among opposite surfaces of the planar body  11 , a surface (a rear surface based on  FIG. 1  and an upper surface based on  FIG. 6 ) that comes into direct contact with the solar panel may be flat. According to such a structure, when compared to a cooling structure formed by laterally bonding a general cylindrical pipe, an area where the solar panel and a fluid come into contact with each other by way of the one surface of the planar body  11  may be formed widely. 
     Alternatively, the planar body  11  may be formed as a single layer (see  FIG. 9 ). In this case, the planar body  11  may be understood as having the same structure as a flow path sheet  11   a  to be described later. In this case, the flow path sheet  11   a  may be directly bonded to one side (example: a back sheet) of the solar panel  6  without a cover sheet  11   b  to be described later. It may be understood that the back sheet of the solar panel  6  is the cover sheet  11   b.    
     Hereinafter, a case in which the planar body  11  is formed by coupling a pair of layers  11   a  and  11   b  will be exemplarily described. However, as described above, the planar body  11  may be formed as a single layer  11   a , and thus it should be evident that the planar body  11  may be also bonded directly to the back sheet of the solar panel  6 . 
     The plurality of cavities  12  may be formed by perforating a part of the planar body  11  where the plurality of fluid guide parts  15  are not positioned. For example, when the planar body  11  is formed by welding a pair of layers, the plurality of cavities  12  may be formed by perforating a part where the pair of layers are welded. For example, the plurality of cavities  12  may pass through the planar body  11  to allow a junction box to protrude. According to the above-described structure of the cooling plate  1 , it may be easily applied to a solar panel to which a half cell technology is applied. The fluid guide part  15  may include a plurality of flow paths for guiding a fluid for cooling the solar panel, between the inlet  13  formed on one side of the planar body  11  and the outlet  14  formed on the other side of the planar body  11 . For example, the fluid guide part  15  may be formed by molding one layer to protrude. The fluid guide part  15  may include a distribution pipe  151 , a uniform distribution area  152 , and a plurality of flow paths  153 . 
     The distribution pipe  151  may be formed in a part connected to the inlet  13  or the outlet  14  of the fluid guide part  15 , and may be formed on the planar body  11  to be long in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plurality of flow paths  153 . For example, two distribution pipes  151  may be disposed in parallel on the planar body  11 , the two distribution pipes  151  may be connected to be vertically in communication, and one of the distribution pipes  151  may extend in a direction away from the inlet  13  or the outlet  14 . The other one of the distribution pipes  151  may distribute the fluid while being closer toward the inlet  13  or the outlet  13 . According to such a structure, the fluid may not directly enter the flow path  153  at a speed and pressure introduced through the inlet  13 , but may bypass an upper part of the planar body  11  and enter the flow path  153  or the uniform distribution area  152 , thereby preventing a phenomenon in which the fluid is intensively injected into the flow path  153  close to the inlet  13  or a bottleneck phenomenon. 
     Specifically, the distribution pipe  151  may include (i) a plurality of sub-distribution pipes  1511  and  1512  formed in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the flow path  153 , (ii) a connection part  1513  that interconnects ends of the plurality of sub-distribution pipes  1511  and  1512  in the longitudinal direction of the flow path  153 , and (iii) a plurality of branch parts  1514  that branch from the sub-distribution pipe  1512  close to the flow path  153  among the plurality of sub-distribution pipes  1511  and  1512  toward the flow path. For example, as illustrated, a flow cross-sectional area of the first sub-distribution pipe  1511  directly connected to the inlet  13  among the plurality of sub-distribution pipes  1511  and  1512  may be greater than a flow cross-sectional area of the second sub-distribution pipe  1512 . 
     The uniform distribution area  152  may flow fluids flowing toward the plurality of flow paths  153  in a uniformly distributed state while converging or dividing the fluids. For example, the uniform distribution area  152  may be disposed on an inlet side and an outlet side. For example, the uniform distribution area  152  may be disposed in at least one of (i) a part between the inlet  13  and the flow path  153 , and (ii) a part between the flow path  153  and the outlet  14 . For example, when there is the flow path  153  that bypasses around the cavity  12  among the plurality of flow paths  153 , a difference in head loss between fluids passing through respective flow paths  153  may occur. Therefore, when a shape of the fluid guide part  15  is changed according to a path through which the fluid flows, the cooling plate  1  may be uniformly cooled by providing the uniform distribution area  152  to flow the fluid at a uniform flow rate. 
     For example, the uniform distribution area  152  may include a grid-type branch path as illustrated. For example, the grid-type branch path may be understood as having a structure formed by arranging a plurality of unit adhesive parts having a predetermined shape (example: a circular shape, a rhombus shape, or a hexagonal shape) in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the flow path  153 . In addition, the arrangement may be made to form a plurality of rows along the longitudinal direction of the flow path  153 . At this time, one unit adhesive part included in one row among the plurality of rows may be disposed to be positioned between a pair of unit adhesive parts included in another adjacent row. According to such a structure, the flow uniformity of a fluid may be further improved. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a flow path and a bonding part according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the planar body  11  may include the cover sheet  11   b  and the flow path sheet  11   a.    
     The cover sheet  11   b , which is one layer constituting the planar body  11 , may include a surface that comes into direct contact with a solar panel. The cover sheet  11   b  may have, for example, a shape in which opposite surfaces are generally flat. The cover sheet  11   b  may have one surface bonded to a back sheet of the solar panel and the other surface bonded to a bonding part  115  of the flow path sheet  11   a  to cover the plurality of flow paths  153 . 
     The flow path sheet  11   a , which is another layer constituting the planar body  11 , may have a part coupled to the cover sheet  11   b  and a part not coupled to the cover sheet  11   b , and the part not coupled to the cover sheet  11   b  may be formed to protrude so that the fluid flows. 
     For example, the flow path sheet  11   a  and/or the cover sheet  11   b  may be formed of a polymer material such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), or a metal material to increase a cooling effect by speeding heat transfer. For example, in order to secure high bonding properties, the flow path sheet  11   a  and the cover sheet  11   b  may be formed of the same material. For example, the flow path sheet  11   a  and/or the cover sheet  11   b  may have a thickness of 1 to 3 mm so as to maximize the cooling effect. 
     The flow path sheet  11   a  may have (i) a plurality of bonding parts  115  capable of being bonded to a counterpart by having a flat shape, and (ii) a part that is formed to protrude in an opposite direction with respect to the back sheet of the solar panel so as to provide a space through which the fluid flows, and accordingly functions as the plurality of flow paths  153 . 
     For example, when the planar body  11  is formed of a pair of layers  11   a  and  11   b , the counterpart may be the cover sheet  11   b , and the bonding part  115  may be understood as a part bonded to the cover sheet  11   b  (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). As another example, when the planar body  11  is formed of one layer  11   a , the counterpart may be the back sheet of the solar panel  6 , and the bonding part  115  may be directly bonded to the back sheet of the solar panel  6 , and accordingly the plurality of flow paths  153  may be covered by the back sheet of the solar panel  6  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     A width a of a widest part of one of the plurality of flow paths  153  may be greater than a width b of the bonding part  115  formed between the plurality of flow paths  153 . For example, the width a may be 1.2 times greater than the width b. According to such a structure, a ratio of an area where the bonding parts  115  overlap on the planar body  11  may be decreased, and an area occupied by the flow path  153  through which a cooling fluid flows may be increased. For example, the width a may be less than 2 times the width b. According to such a structure, the area where the bonding parts  115  overlap on the planar body  11  may be sufficiently secured, thereby preventing the flow path sheet  11   a  and the cover sheet  11   b  from being separated from each other. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a cross section of the flow path sheet  11   a  cut perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the plurality of flow paths  153  may include a curved shape. In other words, a cross section of the flow path  153  may include a curve (example: a semicircle). For example, the flow path sheet  11   a  may be formed such that a shape that comes into close contact with the bonding part  115  and a semicircle shape that is a cross section of the flow path  153  alternately continue. According to such a structure, not only may the processing of the flow path sheet  11   a  itself be facilitated through a molding scheme utilizing vacuum, as will be described later, but also a contact area of the flow path  153  that comes into contact with the solar panel may be widened while an area of the bonding part  115  is sufficiently secured. In addition, the durability of the cooling plate  1  may be improved by having high rigidity with respect to a hydraulic pressure of the cooling fluid flowing through the flow path  153 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a method for manufacturing the cooling plate  1  may include forming a mold (operation  21 ), placing a first sheet base on the mold and heating the first sheet base (operation  22 ), processing the first sheet base using a vacuum molding scheme (operation  23 ), and attaching a second sheet base to the first sheet base (operation  24 ). 
     In operation  21 , a mold capable of forming a cross section of the flow path sheet into a curved surface may be formed. For example, s shape of the mold may be a wavy shape or a shape in which a flat surface and a curved surface are alternately disposed, according to a shape of a flow path sheet to be manufactured. For example, the mold may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the above-described flow path sheet  11   a . The mold may include a plurality of pores formed through a bottom surface of the mold to enable processing using the vacuum molding scheme in operation  22 . 
     Operation  22  may include placing the first sheet base to be formed as the flow path sheet on the mold, and heating the first sheet base. For example, the mold may be heated, and the first sheet base may be placed. The mold may be heated to a temperature at which the first sheet base has ductility required for processing. 
     Operation  23  may form a vacuum state by discharging air between the mold and the first sheet base through the plurality of pores in the mold. At this time, a space between the mold and the first sheet base may be reduced, and the first sheet base may come into close contact with an inner surface of the mold, thereby forming an outer shape of the mold. Through such a process, the flow path sheet  11   a  may be formed. For example, the first sheet base may be molded into a shape of the flow path sheet having the above-described bonding part and a plurality of flow paths. 
     In operation  24 , the cooling plate  1  may be completed by attaching a second sheet base (example: the cover sheet  11   b ) on the formed flow path sheet  11   a . For example, the second sheet base may have a shape in which opposite surfaces are flat. At least a part of the second sheet base may be attached to a bonding part of the first sheet base. 
     For example, in a state in which the first sheet base is molded into the shape of the flow path sheet  11   a , operation  24  may include placing the second sheet base to be formed as the cover sheet  11   b  on the first sheet base before separating the first sheet base from the mold, and attaching the second sheet base to the first sheet base. According to such an operation, at a temperature at which the first sheet base has ductility, the second sheet base may be placed on the first sheet base, and accordingly an additional heating process to bond the first sheet base and the second sheet base to each other may be omitted or reduced, thereby reducing costs and efforts required for a processing process. 
     As another example, operation  24  may include separating the first sheet base molded into the shape of the flow path sheet  11   a  from the mold, and attaching the second sheet base to be formed as the cover sheet  11   b  to the first sheet base. At this time, the attaching may include thermal welding and/or high frequency welding. Alternatively, the attaching may include a conventional processing operation of bonding a polymer material or a metal material. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a photovoltaic module to which a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment is applied. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the photovoltaic module  100  may include the solar panel  6  and a cooling plate  3  (example: the cooling plate  1  of  FIG. 1 ). The cooling plate  3  may include the planar body  11   a  plurality of cavities, an inlet, an outlet, a fixing part  16 , and an insulating sheet  17 . 
     The fixing part  16  may fix the insulating sheet  17  to the flow path sheet  11   a . The fixing part  16  may include an adhesive material such as an epoxy or an elastic adhesive. Alternatively, a part of the flow path sheet  11   a  and a part of the insulating sheet  17  may be attached to each other in a welded state. At this time, as a welding method, a thermal welding scheme and/or a high frequency welding scheme may be used. 
     The insulating sheet  17  may be disposed to cover the flow path sheet  11   a , so that an air layer may be formed between the flow path sheet  11   a  and the heat insulating sheet  17  to prevent heat transfer. When an outdoor temperature is higher than a temperature of the solar panel  30 , the insulating sheet  17  may be heated to the outdoor temperature to prevent a phenomenon in which heat transfer is reversed from the fluid to the solar panel  30 . For example, the insulating sheet  17  may include asbestos, cork, felt, quartz wool or perlite to block heat transfer from the outside. In addition, the insulating sheet  17  may be formed of a transparent material. According to such a structure, whether there is any damage or a congested section may be easily identified with the naked eye, so maintenance is easy. The insulating sheet  17  by itself may prevent heat exchange with the outside, and may also form an air layer between the insulating sheet  17  and the flow path sheet  11   a  to prevent heat transfer by the air layer. For example, the insulating sheet  17  may be formed to have a cross section with a concave-convex shape, and the insulating sheet  17  may be fixed to the flow path sheet  11   a  at intervals to form an air layer around a part of the flow path sheet  11   a  forming the flow path  153 . 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a photovoltaic module to which a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment is applied. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the photovoltaic module  200  may include the solar panel  6  and a cooling plate  4 . The cooling plate  4  may include the flow path sheet  11   a , a plurality of cavities, an inlet, an outlet, the fixing part  16 , and the insulating sheet  17 . 
     As illustrated, it should be noted that the cooling plate  4  may be manufactured by adhering the flow path sheet  11   a  directly to the back sheet of the solar panel  6  without a cover sheet. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a photovoltaic module to which a cooling plate for a solar panel according to an example embodiment is applied. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the photovoltaic module  300  may include the solar panel  6  and a cooling plate  5 . The cooling plate  5  may include the planar body  11   a  plurality of cavities, an inlet, an outlet, the fixing part  16 , and an insulating sheet  27 . 
     The insulating sheet  27  may have a shape surrounding two or more flow paths (example:  153 ). According to such a structure, the photovoltaic module  300  may secure more air layers than the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , thereby further improving an insulation effect caused by the air layers. In other words, the insulating sheet  27  may include a plurality of first parts surrounding at least two flow paths among the plurality of flow paths  153 , and a plurality of second parts fixed to the bonding part  115  of the planar body  11 , and the plurality of first parts and the plurality of second parts may be alternately disposed. In other words, the plurality of second parts may be understood as parts positioned between the plurality of first parts and fixed to an outer surface of the planar body  11  positioned between the plurality of flow paths  153 . 
     A number of example embodiments have been described above. Nevertheless, it should be understood that various modifications may be made to these example embodiments. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.