[1]
The present invention provides a method for curving a solar panel, and such a solar panel. WO 2006/015430 WO2006015430A discloses solar cells which are mounted on a flexible substrate, which flexible substrate is mounted on a curved rigid surface.
[2]
In the past decade the use of curved forms in architecture has greatly increased. In addition, much use is made of glass to allow more sunlight into the living and working environment of people. As well as the quality of the living and working environment, the durability of this environment is also an important factor nowadays, and there is increasing focus on environmentally-friendly energy sources such as solar energy. These aspects are increasingly being combined in building projects, whereby there is an increasing demand for curved solar panels which for instance form part of a curved glass facade or glass roof.
[3]
The manufacture of curved solar panels is at this time limited to hot-curving of the panels. Due to the high temperature necessary for the curving, this curving is not possible at the location where the panels are ultimately mounted in a support structure, and the panels must be supplied by the producer in pre-curved form. This entails the panels having to be transported in curved state from the producer to the construction site.
[4]
A drawback of hot-curved solar panels is that they have to be transported in the curved state, which results in inefficient use of space in means of transport and in the case of interim storage.
[5]
An additional drawback is that hot-curved solar panels are pre-curved and may have variations in curving radius, which sometimes results in a poor connection of the panels to the eventual support structure. It is also less readily possible to anticipate varying tolerances occurring in the building construction.
[6]
A further drawback is that a solar panel curved in the known manner cannot easily withstand movements in the building construction, for instance as a result of wind load.
[7]
The object of the present invention is to provide a method and solar panel in which at least one of the drawbacks associated with the prior art is obviated.
[8]
According to the invention a method according to claim 1 and a solar panel according to claim 3 is provided.
[9]
The present invention makes it possible to transport solar panels from a production location to a construction site in non-curved position, and to then bend the solar panels into the desired curved form at the construction site and fit them on, on top of or against a building. Because the solar panels are still in non-curved position during transport or interim storage, the advantage is gained of this transport and this storage becoming relatively simple, and therefore cheaper and more efficient, while providing architects the option of incorporating the solar panels in curved walls or roofs of buildings. Because the solar panels can furthermore be curved in "cold" state, they can bend so as to follow the surface or building construction in which the panels are mounted.
[10]
The glass can be thermally or chemically tempered. In the embodiment wherein the photovoltaic elements are formed in a film of semiconductor material formed on the plate, chemically tempered glass is recommended in respect of the high temperatures required to form the photovoltaic elements.
[11]
In a further embodiment the assembly is placed on a curved support structure, whereafter the assembly is curved by pressing parts of the peripheral edge against the curved support structure and fixing the assembly in curved position.
[12]
In another further embodiment the assembly is curved by clamping a part of the peripheral edge and then displacing at least a subsequent part of the peripheral edge such that the assembly bends.
[13]
In yet another further embodiment use is made of a pre-formed mould in curving of the assembly.
[14]
The method preferably comprises of fastening one or more holding elements to the solar panel for fixing thereof in the curved state. The holding elements can herein be adapted to provide a number of fastening points or a discontinuous fastening between the one or more holding elements and the solar panel, such as for instance when a holding element is formed by at least one cable or rod. In this embodiment of the present invention the solar panel is held in the curved position by mutually connecting mutually opposite parts of the peripheral edge by means of one or more cables or rods, whereby the bending stress in the assembly is absorbed by a tension in the cables or rods. In another embodiment the assembly is held in the curved position by one or more holding elements which protrude through holes in the plate. The holding elements can however also be adapted to provide linear fastenings between the one or more holding elements and the solar panel, for instance by fixedly clamping the curved solar panel along mutually opposite end edges.
[15]
In yet another embodiment the assembly comprises at least two plates of glass, between which spacers are arranged such that the plates of glass and spacers define a space insulated from the environment.
[16]
In another embodiment the photovoltaic elements are of the crystalline type.
[17]
In yet another embodiment the photovoltaic elements are of the amorphous type.
[18]
Further advantages, features and details of the present invention in general are further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of a description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
figure 1 shows a perspective view of a support structure with a curved support frame for curving a solar panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and fastening the curved solar panel to the support frame; figure 2 shows the same view as figure 1 , wherein the solar panel, not yet curved, rests on the support frame; figure 3 shows the same view as figures 1 and 2 , wherein in accordance with an embodiment of the invention the solar panel is curved into desired form on the support frame and is held fast using glazing bars; figure 4 shows an exploded detail view of an assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; figure 5 shows an exploded detail view of an alternative embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention; figure 6 shows an exploded detail view of a further alternative embodiment of an assembly according to the present invention; figure 7 shows an exploded detail view of an alternative embodiment of an assembly according to the present invention.
[19]
Figure 1 shows a support structure 166 to which is fixed a support frame 162. Solar panel 202 is placed on support frame 162 (see figure 2 ). The sides of solar panel 202 are then pressed against support frame 162, whereby solar panel 202 bends. In figure 3 the solar panel 202 under bending stress is then fixed to support frame 162 in the curved position. In the shown prefer…
