US 12,337,573 B2
Film for solar concentrator
Michele Tonezzer, Altopiano della Vigolana (IT); Paolo Decarli, Vallelaghi (IT); Donato Vincenzi, Ferrara (IT); and Paolo Bernardoni, Ferrara (IT)
Assigned to POWERGLAX S.R.L., Vallelaghi (IT)
Appl. No. 17/611,144
Filed by POWERGLAX S.R.L., Vallelaghi (IT)
PCT Filed May 29, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/055108
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 13, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/240491, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 3, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 102019000007722 (IT), filed on May 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0250356 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. B32B 17/10 (2006.01); B32B 7/023 (2019.01); B32B 27/08 (2006.01); B32B 27/18 (2006.01); B32B 27/30 (2006.01); H10F 77/45 (2025.01)
CPC B32B 17/10 (2013.01) [B32B 7/023 (2019.01); B32B 27/08 (2013.01); B32B 27/18 (2013.01); B32B 27/30 (2013.01); H10F 77/45 (2025.01); B32B 2307/412 (2013.01); B32B 2307/418 (2013.01); B32B 2307/732 (2013.01); B32B 2457/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
1. A film, comprising:
the film being configured for positioning in a luminescent solar concentrator;
a plastic first layer, made of PVB (Polyvinyl butyral), with chromophore additives dispersed in the first layer, the first layer having a first refraction index and including an expansive light receiving face surface and a perimeter edge surface oriented at a non-parallel angle to the light receiving face surface, the perimeter edge surface having a smaller area than the light receiving face surface;
a transparent plastic second layer coupled to of said first layer in a directly engaging manner, the second layer made of PVB without additives, and having a second refraction index less than said first refraction index and a thickness greater than the first layer;
said second layer being coupled to the light receiving face surface in a directly engaging manner to increase total internal reflection of a luminous radiation inside said first layer, said first layer having the first refraction index increased by the presence of the chromophore additives;
the perimeter edge surface being configured to transmit light to a photovoltaic cell positioned adjacent the perimeter edge surface;
wherein the first layer and the second layer are both free of photovoltaic cells.