Collapsible photovoltaic module for a large-scale solar power plant

摘要

An elongate photovoltaic (PV) module for use in a solar energy conversion plant for the production of electricity from incident light, the PV-module comprising a top portion with a support panel (G) carrying on a front side a plurality of electrically connected PV cells (D), and a transparent protective layer (A) sealed to the support panel (G) so as to encapsulate the PV-cells (D) between the support panel (G) and the protective layer (A), wherein prior to installation of the PV-module at the deployment site a collapsible portion of the PV-module is configured to be collapsible in a longitudinal direction by folding and/or rolling, wherein the collapsible portion includes at least the top portion, wherein the PV-module further comprises one or more integrated ballast chambers (I) in a bottom portion of the PV-module arranged on a rear side of the support panel (G), wherein said integrated ballast chamber (I) after installation of the PV-module at the deployment site contains an amount of a ballasting material (H) with a weight sufficient to immobilize the PV-module on a supporting surface of the deployment site under predetermined characteristic climate conditions for the deployment site.

主权项

1. An elongate photovoltaic (V) module for use in a solar energy conversion plant for the production of electricity from incident light, the PV-module comprising:
a top portion with a support panel carrying on a front side a plurality of electrically connected PV cells, and a transparent protective layer sealed to the support panel so as to encapsulate the PV cells between the support panel and the protective layer, a collapsible portion configured to be collapsible in a longitudinal direction by folding and/or rolling, wherein the collapsible portion includes at least the top portion, one or more integrated ballast chambers in a bottom portion of the PV-module arranged on a rear side of the support panel, wherein said one or more integrated ballast chambers is adapted to receive an amount of a ballasting material with a weight sufficient to immobilize the PV-module on a supporting surface of a deployment site under pre-determined characteristic climate conditions for the deployment site, wherein the transparent protective layer is made of a flexible material, which is adapted to be distended above the support panel by inflation and/or mechanical distension means so as to form a hollow space between the support panel and the transparent protective layer, wherein the hollow space between the support panel and the transparent protective layer is filled with a protective atmosphere, the PV-module further comprising: a sensor means adapted for providing a signal output in response to the one or more parameters selected from a group of control parameters; and a control unit configured to receive the signal output from the sensor means and to control the protective atmosphere in response to the signal output.