IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,442,872
Granted Patent B2
US 7,442,872 · App. 10/454,834 · Granted Oct 28, 2008

Method for regenerating photovoltaic module and photovoltaic module

Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,442,872
App. No.
10/454,834
Granted
Oct 28, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention allows a crystalline photovoltaic module having a super straight type structure in which a light-receiving surface side-sealing EVA layer 2 , a photovoltaic cell matrix 3 , a back surface side-sealing EVA layer 4 and a back surface-sealing weatherproof film 5 are laminated sequentially in this order on a light-receiving glass 1 and these components are formed into an integral piece to be reused after it has been used in the market for a long time by extending the lifetime of the photovoltaic module. The regeneration method includes peeling the back surface-sealing weatherproof film 5 , laminating a new back surface side-sealing EVA layer 8 and a new back surface-sealing weatherproof film 9 in a portion in which the film has been peeled, and then curing for crosslinking the new back surface side-sealing EVA layer 8 that is laminated.

Claims (38)

1. A method for regenerating a photovoltaic module in which a light-receiving surface side-sealing resin layer, a photovoltaic cell, an original back surface side-sealing resin layer and a back surface-sealing weatherproof film are laminated sequentially to each other in this order on a light-receiving glass and these components are formed into an integral piece, comprising:

peeling the back surface-sealing weatherproof film;

laminating a new sealing resin and a new back surface-sealing weatherproof film in a portion in which the film has been peeled; and then

curing for crosslinking the new sealing resin that is laminated to form a regenerated back surface side-sealing resin layer, wherein a part or an entire of the regenerated back surface side-sealing resin layer consisting of a two-layer structure consists of the original back surface side-sealing resin layer and the new sealing resin which are laminated together.

2. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,

wherein a temperature distribution in the back surface of the module when current is flowing through the photovoltaic module or a temperature distribution in the back surface of the module when solar light is applied to the light-receiving surface while a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the photovoltaic module are short-circuited is detected by a thermal image detecting apparatus,

a portion to be treated for regeneration is specified based on results of the detection of the temperature distribution, and

a regeneration treatment is performed partially.

3. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,

wherein the back surface-sealing weatherproof film is peeled after the photovoltaic module is exposed outdoors.

4. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,

wherein the back surface-sealing weatherproof film is peeled after the photovoltaic module is exposed to high temperature water vapor.

5. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,

wherein the new sealing resin to be laminated on a portion in which the film has been peeled has a shorter crosslinking time than that of the existing sealing resin sealing the photovoltaic module.

6. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,

wherein the new sealing resin to be laminated on a portion in which the film has been peeled has a lower crosslinking temperature than that of the existing sealing resin sealing the photovoltaic module.

7. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,

wherein the new sealing resin to be laminated on a portion in which the film has been peeled contains a larger amount of an anti-ultraviolet agent than that of the existing sealing resin sealing the photovoltaic module.

8. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 1 ,

wherein the new back surface-sealing weatherproof film to be laminated on a portion in which the film has been peeled is black at least on the light-receiving surface side.

9. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 5 ,

wherein the new back surface-sealing weatherproof film to be laminated on a portion in which the film has been peeled is black at least on the light-receiving surface side.

10. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 6 ,

wherein the new back surface-sealing weatherproof film to be laminated on a portion in which the film has been peeled is black at least on the light-receiving surface side.

11. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 7 ,

wherein the new back surface-sealing weatherproof film to be laminated on a portion in which the film has been peeled is black at least on the light-receiving surface side.

12. The method according to claim 1 ,

wherein before peeling the back surface-sealing weatherproof film, a frame of the photovoltaic module and/or a terminal box are removed, and then the regeneration treatment with the new sealing resin and the new back surface sealing weatherproof film is performed, and thereafter a new terminal box and/or a new frame of the photovoltaic module or the existing terminal box and/or the existing frame of the photovoltaic module that were removed are attached.

13. The method according to claim 5 ,

wherein before peeling the back surface-sealing weatherproof film, a frame of the photovoltaic module and/or a terminal box are removed, and then the regeneration treatment with the new sealing resin and the new back surface sealing weatherproof film is performed, and thereafter a new terminal box and/or a new frame of the photovoltaic module or the existing terminal box and/or the existing frame of the photovoltaic module that were removed are attached.

14. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 6 ,

wherein before peeling the back surface-sealing weatherproof film, a frame of the photovoltaic module and/or a terminal box are removed, and then the regeneration treatment with the new sealing resin and the new back surface-sealing weatherproof film is performed, and thereafter a new terminal box and/or a new frame of the photovoltaic module or the existing terminal box and/or the existing frame of the photovoltaic module that were removed are attached.

15. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 7 ,

wherein before peeling the back surface-sealing weatherproof film, a frame of the photovoltaic module and/or a terminal box are removed, and then the regeneration treatment with the new sealing resin and the new back surface-sealing weatherproof film is performed, and thereafter a new terminal box and/or a new frame of the photovoltaic module or the existing terminal box and/or the existing frame of the photovoltaic module that were removed are attached.

16. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 8 ,

wherein before peeling the back surface-sealing weatherproof film, a frame of the photovoltaic module and/or a terminal box are removed, and then the regeneration treatment with the new sealing resin and the new back surface-sealing weatherproof film is performed, and thereafter a new terminal box and/or a new frame of the photovoltaic module or the existing terminal box and/or the existing frame of the photovoltaic module that were removed are attached.

17. The method for regenerating a photovoltaic module according to claim 9 ,

wherein before peeling the back surface-sealing weatherproof film, a frame of the photovoltaic module and/or a terminal box are removed, and then the regeneration treatment with the new sealing resin and the new back surface-sealing weatherproof film is performed, and thereafter a new terminal box and/or a new frame of the photovoltaic module or the existing terminal box and/or the existing frame of the photovoltaic module that were removed are attached.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2003
From: UMEMOTO, AKIMASA
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 014423/0579 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2002-165831 · Jun 6, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20040003840A1 · Jan 8, 2004