US 11,671,051 B2
Cost effective frame design for thinner wafers
Noel G. Diesta, Singapore (SG); and Shankar Gauri Sridhara, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to REC SOLAR PTE. LTD., Singapore (SG)
Appl. No. 16/618,661
Filed by REC SOLAR PTE. LTD., Singapore (SG)
PCT Filed Jun. 1, 2018, PCT No. PCT/IB2018/053933
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 2, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/220593, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 6, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1708735 (GB), filed on Jun. 1, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0313605 A1, Oct. 1, 2020
Int. Cl. H02S 30/10 (2014.01); H02S 40/34 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 30/10 (2014.12) [H02S 40/34 (2014.12)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar module comprising:
a solar laminate comprising a plurality of solar cells interposed between a transparent front cover sheet and a rear cover sheet;
a frame enclosing the solar laminate at lateral edges of the solar laminate;
a reinforcement strut arranged at a rear surface of the solar laminate between opposing portions of the frame;
a spacer element cooperating with the frame so as to push the reinforcement strut in direction towards the laminate;
wherein the frame has a frame surface and a frame thickness, the frame surface being defined by a length of the frame multiplied by a width of the frame;
wherein a ratio between the frame surface and the frame thickness is between 45000 and 70000, with dimensions of the frame being measured in millimeters;
wherein the spacer element and the reinforcement strut comprises two separate and non-integral elements;
wherein the spacer element is made with an electrically conductive material; and
wherein the spacer element has a U-shape with an inner leg inserted into an interior volume of the strut and an outer leg arranged at an outer surface of the strut.