THIN FILM SOLAR CELL MODULE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
A thin film solar cell module includes a front substrate; a plurality of thin film solar cells disposed on the front substrate; a rear substrate disposed on the thin film solar cells; a plurality of inter-connection terminals electrically connected to the thin film solar cells, respectively, and exposed to an exterior surface of at least one of the front and rear substrates; and a connector electrically connecting the inter-connection terminals in a series or parallel configuration.
1 . A thin film solar cell module, comprising:
a front substrate;
a plurality of thin film solar cells disposed on the front substrate;
a rear substrate disposed on the thin film solar cells;
a plurality of inter-connection terminals electrically connected to the thin film solar cells, respectively, and disposed on the rear substrates; and
a connector electrically connecting the inter-connection terminals in a series or a parallel configuration.
2 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 1 , further comprising
an outer connection terminal electrically connected to at least one of the inter-connection terminals and disposed on the rear substrate, wherein the outer connection terminal is electrically connected to at least one other thin film solar cell module.
3 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 2 , further comprising
a bypass diode disposed inside the outer connection terminal.
4 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein
the inter-connection terminals and the thin film solar cells are electrically connected to each other through busbars which penetrate the rear substrate.
5 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 1 , further comprising
a front plastic layer interposed between the front substrate and the thin film solar cells.
6 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 5 , wherein the front plastic layer is made of a polyethylene vinyl acetate sheet.
7 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 1 , further comprising
a rear plastic layer interposed between the rear substrate and the thin film solar cells.
8 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 7 , wherein the rear plastic layer is made of a polyethylene vinyl acetate sheet.
9 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 8 , wherein
the rear substrate comprises glass, a back sheet, or a combination comprising glass and a back sheet.
10 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 9 , wherein
the back sheet comprises polyethylene terephthalate.
11 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein
the front substrate comprises a low-iron enhanced glass.
12 . A method for manufacturing a thin film solar cell module, the method comprising:
disposing a plurality of thin film solar cells on a front substrate;
disposing a rear plastic layer on a surface of the thin film solar cells;
disposing a rear substrate on the rear plastic layer;
laminating the rear plastic layer and the rear substrate;
electrically connecting a plurality of inter-connection terminals disposed on the rear substrate to each of the thin film solar cells, respectively; and
electrically connecting the inter-connection terminals to each other through a connector.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein
the electrically connecting of the inter-connection terminals to the thin film solar cells further comprises disposing busbars on the thin film solar cells, which penetrate the rear plastic layer and the rear substrate.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein
the thin film solar cells are electrically connected to at least one other thin film solar cell module by an outer connection terminal, which comprises a bypass diode.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising,
disposing a front plastic layer on the front substrate before arranging the thin film solar cells on the front substrate.
16 . The method for manufacturing a thin film solar cell module of claim 15 , wherein the rear plastic layer is a polyethylene vinyl acetate sheet.
17 . The method for manufacturing a thin film solar cell module of claim 12 , wherein the rear plastic layer is a polyethylene vinyl acetate sheet.
18 . The method for manufacturing a thin film solar cell module of claim 12 , wherein the disposing of the rear plastic layer further comprises disposing a polyethylene vinyl acetate sheet on an entire surface of the thin film solar cells.
19 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein the inter-connection terminals and connector are configured to bypass one or more thin film solar cells.
20 . The thin film solar cell module of claim 20 , wherein one or more of the thin film solar cells comprises a fault, and the fault is bypassed.