Abstract: An absorber tube for solar collectors is provided. The absorber tube comprises a metal tube for carrying and heating a heat transfer medium, a sleeve tube enclosing the metal tube for forming an annular space that can be evacuated, a first container disposed in the annular space and filled with protective gas, an outer ring, and a transition element enclosing the metal tube for sealing off the annular space. The first container includes an outlet opening closed by a closure material, which releases the outlet opening under external actuation for introducing the protective gas into the annular space. The external actuation is applied by an opening unit that is activated for releasing the outlet openings. The first container is fixed in the annular space by a retaining device, which is on the outer ring and/or on the transition element.

Abstract: A method for the wet-chemical etching of a silicon layer in an alkaline etching solution is provided, where the silicon layer is the surface region of a solar cell emitter. The method ensures that the surface region of the emitter is etched-back homogeneously using an oxidant-free alkaline etching solution comprising at least one organic moderator is used for the isotropic etching back of the surface region of the emitter, where the moderator has a dopant concentration of at least 1018 atoms/cm3.

Abstract: A method for the wet-chemical etching of a solar cell emitter is provided. The method performs homogeneous etching using an alkaline etching solution containing at least one oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of peroxodisulphates, peroxomonosulphates and hypochlorite.

Abstract: The invention relates to a solar cell module comprising electrically interconnected solar cells with front and backs, a transparent first layer running along the front sides, which is covered on the front laterally by a transparent cover, as well as a second layer running along the backsides, which is covered at the back by a second cover. In order to prevent and/or minimize a potential-induced reduction to a large extent and/or obtain an improved stability vis-à-vis thermo-cycling, it is suggested that first layer consists of a first polymer material and the second layer consists of a second polymer material deviating from the first polymer material and the fact that specific resistance is larger p1 of the first material is greater than specific resistance p2 of the second material.

Abstract: Process for producing strip-shaped and/or point-shaped electrically conducting contacts on a semiconductor component like a solar cell, includes the steps of applying a moist material forming the contacts in a desired striplike and/or point-like arrangement on at least one exterior surface of the semiconductor component; drying the moist material by heating the semiconductor component to a temperature T1 and keeping the semiconductor element at temperature T1 over a time t1; sintering the dried material by heating the semiconductor component to a temperature T2 and keeping the semiconductor component at temperature T2 over a time t2; cooling the semiconductor component to a temperature T3 that is equal or roughly equal to room temperature, and keeping the semiconductor component at temperature T3 over a time T3; cooling the semiconductor component to a temperature T4 with T4??35° C.

Abstract: An absorber tube, especially for solar collectors in solar thermal power plants with at least one collector mirror, is provided. The absorber tube includes a metal tube for supplying and heating a heat transfer medium, a sheath tube surrounding the metal tube to form an annular space that can be evacuated, a wall extending through the sheath tube and the metal tube to seal the annular space, and a getter material binding free hydrogen in the annular space. The absorber tube has a temperature variation device that changes the temperature of the getter material and the wall.

Abstract: A raw module is provided that includes a substrate, a front electrode layer, a semiconductor layer, and a rear electrode layer. The layers are separated by structuring trenches into sub cells, which are electrically connected in series in an interconnection direction. The module has a first separating region separating the module into two sub modules along a first separating line running in the interconnection direction. The separating region includes: a first and a second isolation trench running parallel to one another and on both sides of the first separating line in the interconnection direction; a third isolation trench extending from the first isolation trench at least as far as the first separating line but not as far as the second isolation trench; and a fourth isolation trench extending from the second isolation trench at least as far as the separating line but not as far as the first isolation trench.

Abstract: An absorber pipe for solar collectors is provided. The absorber pipe includes a metal pipe for and a cladding pipe surrounding the metal pipe to form an annular space that can be evacuated. The absorber pipe can include a wall extending between the cladding pipe and the metal pipe for sealing the annular space and a retaining device for a getter material or a container filled with getter material or inert gas. The retaining device has a receiving section for receiving the getter material or the container. The retaining device is fastened to the wall. The absorber pipe can alternately include a getter material disposed in the annular space for binding free hydrogen present in the annular space and a reflector disposed in the annular space for reflecting radiation. The reflector has a housing with a support section for fastening and protecting the getter material from the radiation.

Abstract: A crystalline solar cell is provided that includes a front-sided n-doped area and a rear-sided p-doped area, a front-sided contact, a rear-sided contact and at least one front-sided first layer made from SiN. In order to reduce degradation of the parallel resistance, a second layer made of at least one material selected from the group SiN, SiOx, Al2Ox, SiOxNy:Hz, a-Si:H, TiOx or containing said type of material is disposed between the first layer and the n-doped area and is then doped for forming imperfections.

Abstract: For forming the separating lines, (5, 6, 7) which are produced in the functional layers (2, 3, 4) deposited on a transparent substrate (1) during manufacture of a photo-voltaic module with series-connected cells (C1, C2, . . . ), at least one laser scanner (8) is used whose laser beam (14) produces in the field (17) scanned thereby a plurality of separating line sections (18, 18?) disposed side by side in the functional layer (2, 3, 4). The laser scanner (8) is moved relative to the coated substrate (1) in the direction (Y) of the separating lines (5, 6, 7), thereby giving rise to an overlap (36) of adjacent fields (17, 17?). At the same time, the laser scanner (8) produces separating line sections (18, 18?) which are of hook-shaped configuration at least at one end (32) so as to form a catching area in which the ends (31, 32) of the separating line sections (18, 18?) of adjacent fields (17, 17?) overlap.

Abstract: A process for forming at least one local contact area of a substrate of an electrical component for contacting the contact area with a connector, in which the substrate, on the contact side, is provided with a sintered porous metal layer. To make available a mechanically durable, electrically faultless solderable contact area, it is proposed that the porous layer be compacted and/or removed in the contact area to be formed.

Abstract: A cutting mill for crushing broken polycrystalline needle-shaped silicon material, which contains particles that have an aspect ratio of AI with 5<AI ?30, and/or broken Si wafer consisting of laminar particles, wherein the cutting mill has an interior space that is lined with silicon and/or plastic, wherein the cutting mill has a rotational body configured as a multi-sided column, wherein said rotational body, in the regions facing the interior space of the cutting mill, is lined with silicon or features silicon, and wherein blades which run parallel with the longitudinal edges of the rotational body and are disposed in the rotational area of the rotational body, are arranged in the interior space of the cutting mill, and are adjustable with respect to the rotational body.

Abstract: A method is proposed for the solidification of a non-metal melt (130) which is located in a crucible (120) arranged in the device (100), wherein the device (100) has a multiplicity of inductors (100) for the creation of magnetic fields. By feeding in a first set of phase-displaced alternating currents (I1a, I2b, I3c, I4d) having a first frequency (f1), a first travelling field (W1) is created in the melt (130). By feeding in at least one second set of phase-displaced alternating currents (I2a, I2b, I3c, I4d) having a second frequency (f2), a second travelling field (W2) is created in the melt (130) which is directed against the first travelling field (W1), wherein the inductors (100) are arranged on the crucible (120) in a vertically extending arrangement, so that the alternating fields created (W1, W2) pass through the melt (130) in vertical direction (Y) and have a flow force minimum on the crucible or vessel wall.

Abstract: A power supply system (SYS) and a photovoltaic device (PVE) intended therefor and comprising a plurality of DC voltage-generating photovoltaic modules (PVM) are proposed, wherein the photovoltaic modules (PVM) for generating a DC voltage (Udc*) exceeding the withstand voltage or dialectric strength (Umodmax) of the photovoltaic modules (PVM) and suitable for the high-voltage DC transmission are connected in parallel or in series to one another, wherein the power supply system (SYS) comprises a converter substation (UFS) that can be connected to a power supply network (SVN) installed for users, and includes a high-voltage DC transmission power line (HGUE) so as to transmit in the high voltage range the DC voltage (Udc*) generated by the photovoltaic device (PVE) to the converter substation (UFS).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for the application of solder onto a work piece, wherein the solder is soldered on at a soldering temperature TL and subject to the influence of ultrasound. In order to be able to solder without difficulties the solder onto work pieces that exhibit sensitivity to breakage it is proposed that the solder is heated, is applied to the work piece that is supported in particular in a spring-mounted manner, and is soldered-on subject to the influence of ultrasound.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrically conducting metal contact on a semiconductor component having a coating on the surface of a semiconductor substrate. In order to keep transfer resistances low while maintaining good mechanical strength, the invention proposes applying a particle-containing fluid onto the coating, where the particles contain at least metal particles and glass frits, curing the fluid while simultaneously forming metal areas in the substrate through heat treatment, removing the cured fluid and the areas of the coating covered by the fluid, and depositing, for the purposes of forming the contact without using intermediate layers, electrically conducting material from a solution onto areas of the semiconductor component in which the coating is removed while at the same time conductively connecting the metal areas present in said areas on the substrate.

Abstract: A method for chemically treating a disc-shaped substrate having a bottom surface, a top surface and side surfaces by contacting a process medium that is fluid-chemically active with at least the bottom surface of the substrate. The substrate is moved relative to the process medium while forming a triple line between the substrate, the substrate medium and the atmosphere surrounding the substrate and medium. In order to chemically remove errors, particularly in the side surfaces, relative motion should be carried out while avoiding a contacting of the process medium with the top surface of the substrate, where the triple line is formed at a desired height of the side surface facing away from the process medium flow side in relation to the relative motion between the substrate and the process medium. In this way, the atmosphere can be adjusted in relation to the partial pressures of the components in the process medium such that the top surface preserves hydrophobic characteristics.

Abstract: For the manufacture of a photovoltaic module (1), there are attached to a transparent substrate (2) a transparent front electrode layer (3), a semiconductor layer (4) and a rear electrode layer (5) which, for forming cells (C1, C2, . . . , Cn, Cn+1) connected in series, are structured by dividing lines (6, 7, 8). A water-soluble detachment mass (12) is applied using an inkjet printer (15) to the regions of the semiconductor layer (4) at which the dividing lines (8) are to be formed in the rear electrode layer (5), whereon the rear electrode layer (5) is attached. The detachment mass (12), with the regions attached thereto of the rear electrode layer (5), is removed using a water jet (13) while forming the dividing lines (8) in the rear electrode layer (5).

Abstract: For manufacturing a photovoltaic module (1) having on a transparent substrate (2) a transparent front electrode layer (3), a semiconductor layer (4) and a back electrode layer (5) as functional layers, the functional layers (3-5) are removed in the edge area (10) of the substrate (2) with a laser emitting infrared radiation. Subsequently, a back cover (12) is laminated on the coated substrate (2) with an adhesive film (11).

Abstract: A method for producing at least one functional layer on at least one region of a surface of a semiconductor component by applying a liquid to at least the one region, where the functional layer has a layer thickness d1 and the liquid required for forming the functional layer having the thickness d1 has a layer thickness d2. In order that functional layers having a desired thin and uniform thickness are produced in a reproducible manner, it is proposed that the liquid is applied to the at least one region of the surface in excess with a layer thickness d3 where d3>d2 and that subsequently, either with the semiconductor component moved in translational fashion or with the semiconductor component arranged in stationary fashion, excess liquid is removed from the surface in a contactless manner to an extent such that the liquid layer has the thickness d2 or approximately the thickness d2.