The main components of photovoltaic glass
Photovoltaic glass is a type of special glass that integrates solar photovoltaic modules, capable of generating electricity by utilizing solar radiation, and is equipped with related current extraction devices and cables. It consists of glass, solar cells, film, back glass, special metal wires, and other components. It is one of the most innovative high-tech glass products for construction.
The main raw materials of photovoltaic glass include silica sand, soda ash, limestone, dolomite, sodium nitrate, glauber's salt, sodium antimonate, and aluminum hydroxide. Silica sand mainly serves as the network-forming material and typically accounts for the majority of the glass composition. Soda ash is primarily used to provide sodium oxide, which lowers the melting temperature of the glass. Limestone is used to adjust the viscosity of the glass to an appropriate value, ensuring the glass has the required forming time. Glauber’s salt acts mainly as a clarifier, removing bubbles from the glass and improving its light transmittance.
The preparation process of photovoltaic glass generally uses the rolling method, and the production process is divided into two stages: raw sheet production and deep processing. Raw sheet production includes batching, melting, rolling, annealing, and cutting. During the rolling process, molten glass at around 1100°C is rolled at a certain speed by rollers in a rolling machine, then cooled to achieve a glass sheet with a specific thickness, width, and pattern, and a transmittance rate of 91.5%. It is then annealed in an annealing furnace to stabilize the stress distribution of the glass, resulting in a glass sheet with certain strength that is not easily broken and is suitable for cutting and processing. It should be noted that there is a difference between the production lines of photovoltaic patterned glass and float glass; if photovoltaic glass is in short supply, it cannot be directly switched from a float glass production line.
The deep processing process usually involves coating and tempering the raw glass sheets. Coating is done to enhance the light transmittance of photovoltaic glass, while tempering is done to improve the mechanical properties of the glass. Tempered glass has 3 to 5 times the bending strength and 5 to 10 times the impact strength of ordinary glass, thus improving both strength and safety.
This concludes the introduction to the main components of photovoltaic glass by Hengyuantai.