in Induced-draft injection systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an induced-draft injection system comprising an injection line in fluid communication with a duct under negative pressure, a particulate storage containing particulate, and a feeder receiving the particulate from the particulate storage and feeding the particulate to the injection line. The negative pressure in the duct supports the transportation of at least a portion of the particulate through the injection line and into the duct. Inside the duct, a binding portion of the particulate is bound to a portion of mercury in a flue gas passing through the duct, thus enabling a portion of the mercury to be filtered out of the flue gas. Full Article
in Apparatus and methods for large particle ash separation from flue gas using screens having semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Apparatus for separating ash particles from a flue gas. The apparatus includes a screen that has a plurality of semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces. The semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces having holes through which said flue gas flows and through which the ash particles will not pass. The screen has a single layer for performing the separation in a manner such that the ash particles fall away from the screen and collect outside of the screen. A method of reducing velocity of a flue gas passing through screening apparatus for separating flue gas from ash particles. The method includes replacing a first screen of the screening apparatus with a second screen that has a plurality of semi-elliptical cylinder surfaces. Full Article
in Incineration plant and method for controlling an incineration plant By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to an incineration plant with a furnace, a device for feeding back incineration residues into the furnace, a device for measuring at least one parameter of the incineration, and devices for controlling the incineration. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for controlling an incineration plant. Full Article
in Pipe connecting structure of water heater By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A pipe connecting structure of a water heater. Individual parts in the water heater are integrally coupled with a pipe body, which is injection-molded, provides paths of tap water and hot water, reduces the number of pipes connecting the individual parts, and simplifies the connection structure of the pipes. The pipe connecting structure of the water heater includes a tap water inlet pipe connected from a tap water inlet to a heat exchanger; a hot water supply pipe connected from the heat exchanger to a hot water outlet; a flow sensor for measuring the flow rate of the tap water introduced via the tap water inlet; and a flow control valve for controlling the flow rate of the hot water discharged via the hot water outlet. The pipe body connects and is integral with the tap water inlet, the tap water inlet pipe, the hot water supply pipe, and the hot water outlet. Full Article
in Wall lining of industrial ovens By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A wall lining of industrial ovens for protecting from corrosion, in particular, a heat-resistant wall made of concrete, steel, sheet metal, or the like. The lining of the wall is made of at least two layers, wherein a layer is pressurized as a blocking layer. Full Article
in Pulverized coal burner and pulverized coal boiler having it By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A pulverized coal burner and a pulverized coal boiler. The coal burner comprises a primary air cylinder (111) and a pulverized coal concentration device (112). The coal concentration device (112) makes the concentration of the coal flow gradually decrease from inside to outside along the radial direction, with respect to an axis (100) of the primary air cylinder (111). The coal burner further comprises a coal separating cylinder (113) and a coal guiding cylinder (114) located downstream of the device (112), the rear end of the cylinder (113) is connected with the front end of the coal guiding cylinder (114). The outlet of the cylinder (114) has a conical expansion portion (1141). The coal burner further comprises a divergent nozzle (115) connected with the rear end of the primary air cylinder (111) and whose cross-sectional area gradually increases along the flow direction of the coal flow. Full Article
in Method of constructing a stationary coal nozzle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method of constructing a stationary wear-resistant stationary nozzle 200 and/or nozzle liner 230 for solid fueled furnaces. A transition section 210 is constructed from several flat pieces 211-218 several that may have identical starting shapes. This reduces manufacturing complexity and costs. All pieces 211-218 have a high-wear weld overlay on their inner surface 316, 416. Corner pieces 215-218 are folded into a corner shape at an outlet edge 412 and rolled into a curved shape at an inlet edge 411. Horizontal 211, 212 and vertical pieces 213, 214 are only rolled at an inlet edge 311. The pieces have seam tab 240 along longitudinal edges that are welded together to construct a transition section 210. The transition section 210 may be used as a liner to reduce wear in an existing stationary nozzle or may be constructed to be connected to an inlet piece 220 to form a strong, wear-resistant coal nozzle 200. Full Article
in Method of processing waste material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST An aspect of the present invention is a method of processing a waste material that contains mercury or a mercury compound, and chlorine or a mercury chloride, the method including a step of adding a chlorine scavenger to the waste material, and stowing the waste material in a treatment vessel; and a step of subjecting the waste material to a blasting treatment by fitting an explosive to the treatment vessel and detonating the explosive inside a pressure-proof container. Full Article
in System and method for cogeneration from mixed oil and inert solids, furnace and fuel nozzle for the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST This invention provides a system and method for efficiently and completely combusting oil in mixture with particulate solids. A furnace (kiln) having a feed nozzle with a lead screw drives the mixture from a feed hopper. This nozzle includes forced-air jets/ports at its tip providing makeup air and allowing atomization of the mixture. The nozzle thereby directs the mixture into a rotating combustion chamber that is tilted downwardly from the front toward a solid waste outlet port at the rear. Uncombusted fuel and air backflow to an upper, secondary chamber near the primary chamber front, and are completely combusted at a high temperature. Gasses exit a flue that can include a heat exchanger. This heat exchanger can be operatively connected to a heating device or other mechanism that converts the heat into usable energy. The nozzle can include a cone with axially tilted air ports about its perimeter. Full Article
in Slag remover for discharging combustion residues of an incineration plant By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A slag remover for discharging combustion residues of an incineration plant comprises a trough, which has a trough housing having two side walls, which define the trough width, and having a trough bottom, and which is intended to collect the combustion residues evacuated from a combustion chamber of the incineration plant. The trough further comprises at least two push rams for pushing the combustion residues out of the trough, and a shaft rotatably mounted in two shaft bearings and on which at least one drive lever cooperating with a cylinder-piston unit and at least two output levers connected to respectively one of the push rams are disposed in a rotationally secure manner. The cylinder-piston unit is here designed such that the push rams move back and forth between a retracted position and an extended position. The drive lever is disposed between two output levers. Full Article
in Grain-drying facilities By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides grain-drying facilities which can effectively use the heat energy of a biomass combustion hot-air that has been generated in a biomass combustion furnace. The grain-drying facilities adopt technical means of providing the grain-drying facilities 1 which include: a biomass combustion furnace 3 provided with a heat exchanger 24 for generating hot air on the basis of a combustion heat of a biomass fuel and an outside air which has been taken in from the outside; and a circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 provided with a grain-drying portion 7 to which the hot air that has been generated in the biomass combustion furnace 3 is supplied through a pipe 15 for supplying the hot air, wherein the above described circulation type grain-drying apparatus 2 has a grain-heating portion 6 which has a plurality of heating pipes 6a for heating the grains in the above described grain storing/circulating tank 5, and also has an air-exhaust fan 14 that is communicated with an exhaust side opening 6c that is located in one end side of each of the heating pipes 6a, and has a pipe 11 for supplying an exhaust hot-air, which communicates the exhaust hot-air sent from the above described biomass combustion furnace 3 with a supply side opening 6b that is located in the other end side of the heating pipe 6a. Full Article
in Melters for glass forming apparatuses By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Melters for glass forming apparatuses and glass forming apparatuses comprising the same are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a melter for melting glass batch materials includes a base portion and a rigid exoskeleton rigidly attached to the base portion and comprising a plurality of upright members interconnected with a plurality of cross members defining an exoskeleton interior volume. Connection nodes formed at intersections of the plurality of cross members with upper ends of the plurality of upright members are constrained from movement relative to the base portion in a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction. A tank assembly is positioned on the base portion in the exoskeleton interior volume and coupled to the rigid exoskeleton. In some embodiments, the melter has a dynamic resistance greater than 0.3. Full Article
in Adapting of an oxy-combustion plant to energy availability and to the amount of CO2 to be trapped By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A carbon fuel combustion process, employing an air gas separation unit, a combustion unit operating either with air or with an oxidizer leaner in nitrogen than air, coming from the air gas separation unit, and a unit for compressing and/or purifying the CO2 coming from the combustion flue gas, wherein the power consumed by the air gas separation unit and/or the flow of oxygen produced by the air gas separation unit and/or the capture of the CO2 coming from the combustion flue gas are variable over time is presented. Full Article
in Metal basket fitting inside kamado grills for removing charcoal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ash basket can act as a sieve or strainer, allowing a user to lift out the charcoal from a kamado grill, clean out the ash, and place the ash basket back into the grill for future use. The ash basket retains larger pieces of charcoal that can be reused, while allowing the ash to pass through to a bottom plate of the grill. The bottom plate has openings to permit the ash to fall to an ash collection chamber. Without the ash basket, pieces of charcoal can block the openings in the bottom plate, making ash collection difficult. Moreover, with the openings blocked, proper air flow through the openings. Finally, the ash basket creates and additional air space that covers the entire surface of the interior walls by separating the ash from the wall, improving air flow, which is critical to the kamado grill design. Full Article
in Method and multi-component nozzle for reducing unwanted substances in a flue gas By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is illustrated and described for reducing unwanted substances by injecting a reactant into a flue gas of a steam generator. In order that the reactant can also be used in larger steam generators and/or combustion chambers, a method is proposed, in which the reactant is injected into the combustion chamber of the steam generator via a reactant opening of a multi-component nozzle, in which an enveloping medium is injected into the combustion chamber through at least one enveloping medium opening arranged outside the reactant opening, and in which the enveloping medium at least partly envelops the reactant in the combustion chamber and in this way at least partly shields the reactant from the flue gas. Full Article
in Apparatus for treating a substance with wave energy from plasma and an electrical Arc By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for synergistically combining a plasma with a comminution means such as a fluid kinetic energy mill (jet mill), preferably in a single reactor and/or in a single process step is provided by the present invention. Within the apparatus of the invention potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and subsequently into angular momentum by means of wave energy, for comminuting, reacting and separation of feed materials. Apparatuss of use of the apparatus in the practice of various processes are also provided by the present invention. Full Article
in Furnace and ductwork implosion interruption air jet system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatus and methods are disclosed for rapidly counteracting a transient low-pressure condition, that can occur intermittently in the exhaust section of a power plant or other such industrial facility upstream of exhaust fans as a result of an event that interrupts the generation and/or flow of exhaust gases, using jet nozzles disposed in the exhaust section and connected to a source of pressurized air or other suitable momentum material. By orienting the jet nozzles in a direction generally opposite to the flow of exhaust gas and actuating the system to release a burst of compressed air, for example in the event of a power plant interruption, the low-pressure condition can be ameliorated preventing damage to the exhaust section. Full Article
in Bladed coal diffuser and coal line balancing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A coal nozzle assembly for a pulverized coal burner includes a diffuser. A flow conditioner also may be used with the assembly. The assembly conditions the coal/air flow before the coal/air flow is introduced to the furnace. The flow conditioner directs the coal into the diffuser where it is swirled to form a fuel rich outer ring disposed about an air rich inner portion before the fuel is delivered to the coal nozzle. Full Article
in Slag-melting burner apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A leading end located in a two-stage entrained-flow bed coal gasifier has a double-walled structure including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, and cooling water for cooling the leading end is supplied through an interior of the inner cylinder to cool the leading end and is then returned to a base end through a space formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. The space formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder has a smaller channel area than the interior of the inner cylinder, and a swirling flow along a guide formed on an outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder and a substantially linear flow in a longitudinal direction of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are applied to the cooling water returned to the base end through the space formed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. Full Article
in Method for starting a burner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for starting a burner for combusting synthesis gases is provided. The burner includes first and second fuel passages, the first fuel passage encompasses the second fuel passage in a substantially concentric manner and the gas transferred to the burner is mixed with combusting air and is combusted. In order to start the burner, the second fuel passage is first loaded with a synthesis gas to a predefined burner power at a first starting phase and the first fuel passage is loaded with the synthesis gas at a second starting phase. Full Article
in Heating furnace and heating method employed by heating furnace By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hydrogen vacuum furnace (100) is provided with a process chamber (1) wherein a subject (10) to be heated is stored; a heating chamber (2) wherein a heater lamp (25) is stored; and a crystal board (3) for separating the subject (10) and the heater lamp (25) one from the other. In the hydrogen vacuum furnace (100), the subject (10) is heated by a radiant ray applied from the heater lamp (25). The process chamber (1) and the heating chamber (2) are provided with gas feed ports (11, 21) and exhaust ports (12, 22), respectively, for feeding and exhausting a gas. When the subject (10) is being heated, atmospheric pressure in each chamber is adjusted so that the heating chamber (2) is under positive pressure to the process chamber (1) by feeding or exhausting the gas. Full Article
in Grate bar for an incinerator and method for producing such a grate bar By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A grate bar for an incinerator having a grate bar base body and a high temperature resistant cover plate covering the grate bar base body at least on a surface portion which in operation points to a combustion chamber. The cover plate is separated from the grate bar base body by a thermal insulating material. In the grate bar base body a cavity is inserted in a side pointing to the cover plate and/or in the cover plate in the side pointing to the grate bar base body, which cavity is at least partially filled with a ceramic fiber insulating material. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a grate bar. Full Article
in Method and apparatus for gasification of organic waste in batches By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gasification reactor for processing organic waste in batches comprises a primary gasification reactor (62) that includes a primary gasification chamber (18) and a surrounding combustion chamber (19), a secondary gasification chamber (21), a synthesis gas decontamination unit (42) and a combustible gas selector (41). The waste is loaded into the primary gasification chamber through a latched opening and heated from the combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber (19) to convert the waste to a synthesis gas. The gasification chamber (18) has an intake (20) for introducing pre-heated process air (1) therein. The combustion chamber operates either with a conventional fuel (9) or with the produced synthesis gas (6). The secondary gasification chamber (21) thermally treats the synthesis gas (2) to eliminate tars. The decontamination unit (42) scrubs the synthesis gas of contaminants including particulates and acid gases. The clean synthesis gas (6) is directed to the combustible gas selector (41) which selectively feeds either the combustible fluid (9) or the synthesis gas (6) to the burner (40). Full Article
in Strain-enhanced silicon photon-to-electron conversion devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Improved silicon solar cells, silicon image sensors and like photosensitive devices are made to include strained silicon at or sufficiently near the junctions or other active regions of the devices to provide increased sensitivity to longer wavelength light. Strained silicon has a lower band gap than conventional silicon. One method of making a solar cell that contains tensile strained silicon etches a set of parallel trenches into a silicon wafer and induces tensile strain in the silicon fins between the trenches. The method may induce tensile strain in the silicon fins by filling the trenches with compressively strained silicon nitride or silicon oxide. A deposited layer of compressively strained silicon nitride adheres to the walls of the trenches and generates biaxial tensile strain in the plane of adjacent silicon fins. Full Article
in Photovoltaic device including flexible substrate or inflexible substrate and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a photovoltaic device. The photovoltaic device includes: a substrate; a first electrode placed on the substrate; a second electrode which is placed opposite to the first electrode and which light is incident on; a first unit cell being placed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and including an intrinsic semiconductor layer including crystalline silicon grains making the surface of the intrinsic semiconductor layer toward the second electrode textured; and a second unit cell placed between the first unit cell and the second electrode. Full Article
in Method for connecting solar cells By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of connecting two solar cells is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises gripping an interconnect with a head of positioning device, heating the interconnect with the head of the positioning device to between two predetermined temperatures, where one is higher than the other, positioning the interconnect so as to overlay two adjacent solar cells, coupling the interconnect to each of the two adjacent solar cells, and releasing the interconnect from the head. Full Article
in Semiconductor device, in particular solar cell By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device, in particular a solar cell, comprises a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor substrate surface and a passivation composed of at least one passivation layer which surface-passivates the semiconductor substrate surface, wherein the passivation layer comprises a compound composed of aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride or aluminum oxynitride and at least one further element. Full Article
in Solar-cell-integrated gas production device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a solar-cell-integrated gas production device that can generate a first gas and a second gas by utilizing an electromotive force of a solar cell, and that can supply power to an external circuit by utilizing the same solar cell. The solar-cell-integrated gas production device according to the present invention comprises: a photoelectric conversion part having a light acceptance surface and its back surface; a first electrolysis electrode provided on the back surface of the photoelectric conversion part so as to be capable of being immersed into an electrolytic solution; a second electrolysis electrode provided on the back surface of the photoelectric conversion part so as to be capable of being immersed into the electrolytic solution; and a changeover part, wherein the first electrolysis electrode and the second electrolysis electrode are provided to be capable of electrolyzing the electrolytic solution to generate a first gas and a second gas by utilizing an electromotive force generated by irradiating the photoelectric conversion part with light, and the changeover part makes a changeover between a circuit that outputs the electromotive force, generated by irradiating the photoelectric conversion part outputs the electromotive force, generated by irradiating the photoelectric conversion part with light, to the first electrolysis electrode and the second electrolysis electrode. Full Article
in Tellurium inorganic reaction systems for conductive thick film paste for solar cell contacts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This disclosure relates to electroconductive paste formulations useful in solar panel technology. In one aspect, the disclosure relates to an inorganic reaction system for use in electroconductive paste compositions, wherein the inorganic reaction system comprises a lead containing matrix composition and a tellurium containing matrix composition. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to an electroconductive paste composition comprising a conductive metal component, an inorganic reaction system and an organic vehicle. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a solar cell produced by applying an electroconductive paste composition of the invention to a silicon wafer. Yet another aspect relates to a solar cell module assembled using solar cells produced by applying an electroconductive paste composition to a silicon wafer, wherein the electroconductive paste composition comprises an conductive metal component, an inorganic reaction system and an organic vehicle. Full Article
in Heteroaromatic semiconducting polymers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present teachings relate to new semiconducting polymers. The polymers disclosed herein can exhibit high carrier mobility and/or efficient light absorption/emission characteristics, and can possess certain processing advantages such as solution-processability and/or good stability at ambient conditions. Full Article
in Methods of forming a metal telluride material, related methods of forming a semiconductor device structure, and related semiconductor device structures By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Accordingly, a method of forming a metal chalcogenide material may comprise introducing at least one metal precursor and at least one chalcogen precursor into a chamber comprising a substrate, the at least one metal precursor comprising an amine or imine compound of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a post-transition metal, or a metalloid, and the at least one chalcogen precursor comprising a hydride, alkyl, or aryl compound of sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. The at least one metal precursor and the at least one chalcogen precursor may be reacted to form a metal chalcogenide material over the substrate. A method of forming a metal telluride material, a method of forming a semiconductor device structure, and a semiconductor device structure are also described. Full Article
in Resin composition, multi-layered film and photovoltaic module including the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A resin composition, a multi-layered film, a backsheet for photovoltaic modules, a method thereof, and a photovoltaic module are provided. The multi-layered film including a coating layer including a fluorine-based polymer has an excellent durability and weather resistance, and also exhibits high interfacial adhesive strength to a substrate since the multi-layered film is formed by coating a cured product of the resin composition including the fluorine-based polymer, an acrylic polymer including a thermosetting functional group, and a heat-curing agent on the substrate. In addition, drying can be performed at a low temperature during the manufacture of the multi-layered film so that the manufacturing costs can be decreased, productivity can be increased, and the deterioration of the product due to heat modification, heat shock, and the like, can be prevented. The multi-layered film can be effectively used as a backsheet for various photovoltaic modules. Full Article
in Semiconducting compounds and devices incorporating same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are molecular and polymeric compounds having desirable properties as semiconducting materials. Such compounds can exhibit desirable electronic properties and possess processing advantages including solution-processability and/or good stability. Full Article
in Photovoltaic cell containing novel photoactive polymer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Novel photoactive polymers, as well as related photovoltaic cells, articles, systems, and methods, are disclosed. Full Article
in Photoelectric conversion material, film containing the material, photoelectric conversion device, production method thereof, photosensor, imaging device and their use methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An organic compound and a photoelectric conversion device containing the organic compound are disclosed. The organic compound and device realize high photoelectric conversion efficiency, low dark current and high-speed responsivity. It has been found that when this organic compound and an n-type semiconductor are used in combination, high-speed responsivity can be realized while maintaining high heat resistance, an aspect of which has not been seen when the connection part between a donor part and an acceptor part is a phenylene group. Full Article
in Preventing harmful polarization of solar cells By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In one embodiment, harmful solar cell polarization is prevented or minimized by providing a conductive path that bleeds charge from a front side of a solar cell to the bulk of a wafer. The conductive path may include patterned holes in a dielectric passivation layer, a conductive anti-reflective coating, or layers of conductive material formed on the top or bottom surface of an anti-reflective coating, for example. Harmful solar cell polarization may also be prevented by biasing a region of a solar cell module on the front side of the solar cell. Full Article
in Layered compound-metal particle composite and production method therefor, and suspension, film and flexible solar cell using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A layered compound-metal particle composite 3 is obtained by the addition, to an organically modified layered compound 1 formed by the intercalation of organic ions between layers of a layered compound, of both an aqueous colloidal metal solution 2 in which metal particles are dispersed as a metal colloid in water, and a nonaqueous solvent which is a poor solvent for the metal colloid and has an excellent ability to swell the organically modified layered compound 1. Full Article
in Back electrode type solar cell, back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, solar cell module, method of manufacturing back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, and method of manufacturing solar cell module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A back electrode type solar cell in which a no-electrode-formed region where no electrode is placed is provided in a part of a peripheral portion of a back surface of the back electrode type solar cell such that a line connecting end portions of a plurality of electrodes to one another includes a partially inwardly recessed region and the no-electrode-formed region is located adjacent to each of an electrode for n-type and an electrode for p-type adjacent to each other, a solar cell module, a method of manufacturing a back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, and a method of manufacturing a solar cell module are provided. Full Article
in Forming graded index lens in an all atmospheric pressure printing process to form photovoltaic panels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A PV panel uses an array of small silicon sphere diodes (10-300 microns in diameter) connected in parallel. The spheres are embedded in an uncured aluminum-containing layer, and the aluminum-containing layer is heated to anneal the aluminum-containing layer as well as p-dope the bottom surface of the spheres. A phosphorus-containing layer is deposited over the spheres to dope the top surface n-type, forming a pn junction. The phosphorus layer is then removed. A conductor is deposited to contact the top surface. Alternatively, the spheres are deposited with a p-type core and an n-type outer shell. After deposition, the top surface is etched to expose the core. A first conductor layer contacts the bottom surface, and a second conductor layer contacts the exposed core. A liquid lens material is deposited over the rounded top surface of the spheres and cured to provide conformal lenses designed to increase the PV panel efficiency. Full Article
in Separate connection device for grounding electrical equipment comprising a plurality of separate electrical components By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A separate connection device (40) intended to be inserted between a metal frame (3), of an electrical component (1), and a metal supporting structure (20) in order to connect, electrically and separately, the frame to the supporting structure. The connection device (40) comprises a metal blade manufactured from spring steel which comprises two self-connecting end areas (45, 46) arranged in separate planes and comprising a set of sharp teeth (47) arranged in order to be embedded within the metal material and formed on a folded section of the metal blade so that the sets of teeth (37, 47) extend in opposite directions and in planes intended to intersect the planes of the frame (3) and of the supporting structure (20) when the connection device is mounted. Full Article
in Light collecting and emitting apparatus, method, and applications By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms an output aperture of the light guide, characterized by an index of refraction, n1, and further characterized by a length dimension in an intended light propagation direction towards the output aperture, where the intended light propagation direction is a z-axis direction of a Cartesian coordinate system; and a plurality of light injection elements disposed in the form of at least one linear strip in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the light guide layer, wherein some of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on one lateral side of the strip and some other of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on an opposing lateral side of the strip at a rotation angle Δz about the y-axis. Full Article
in Gel-type polymer electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cell and dye-sensitized solar cell comprising the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to gel-type polymer electrolyte for a dye-sensitized solar cell, a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising the gel-type polymer electrolyte, and a method for manufacturing the dye-sensitized solar cell. Full Article
in Photoelectric conversion material containing fullerene derivative By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a photoelectric conversion material comprising a fullerene derivative represented by the formula C60(R1)5(R2), wherein each R1 independently represents an organic group having a substituent; and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C30 hydrocarbon group. Further, the present invention also provides a photoelectric conversion device having a self-assembled monomolecular film of the photoelectric conversion material, and a solar cell having the photoelectric conversion device. Full Article
in Conductive paste and electronic device, and solar cell including an electrode formed using the conductive paste By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A conductive paste may include a conductive component and an organic vehicle. The conductive component may include an amorphous metal. The amorphous metal may have a lower resistivity after a crystallization process than before the crystallization process, and at least one of a weight gain of about 4 mg/cm2 or less and a thickness increase of about 30 μm or less after being heated in a process furnace at a firing temperature. Full Article
in Conductive paste and electronic device and solar cell including an electrode formed using the conductive paste By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to example embodiments, a conductive paste includes a conductive component that contains a conductive powder and a titanium (Ti)-based metallic glass. The titanium-based metallic glass has a supercooled liquid region of about 5K or more, a resistivity after crystallization that is less than a resistivity before crystallization by about 50% or more, and a weight increase by about 0.5 mg/cm2 or less after being heated in a process furnace at a firing temperature. According to example embodiments, an electronic device and a solar cell may include at least one electrode formed using the conductive paste according to example embodiments. Full Article
in Photoplating of metal electrodes for solar cells By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of photoplating a metal contact onto a surface of a cathode of a photovoltaic device is provided using light induced plating technique. The method comprises: a) immersing the photovoltaic device in a solution of metal ions, where the metal ions are a species which is to be plated onto the surface of the cathode of the photovoltaic device; and b) illuminating the photovoltaic device, using a light source of time varying intensity. This results in nett plating which is faster in a direction normal to the surface of the cathode than in a direction in a plane of the surface of the cathode. Full Article
in Temperature grading for band gap engineering of photovoltaic devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes depositing a p-type layer at a first temperature and depositing an intrinsic layer while gradually increasing a deposition temperature to a final temperature. The intrinsic layer deposition is completed at the final temperature. An n-type layer is formed on the intrinsic layer. Full Article
in Photovoltaic cell and manufacturing method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A photovoltaic cell comprises a top subcell having a first band gap; a middle subcell comprising a substrate and having a second band gap, wherein the substrate comprises a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; and a bottom subcell having a third band gap, wherein the top subcell is grown on the first side of the substrate and the bottom subcell is grown on the second side of the substrate, wherein the first band gap is larger than the second band gap and the second band gap is larger than the third band gap. Full Article
in Solar-cell sealant and solar-cell module using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A solar-cell sealant that has excellent properties such as transparency, flexibility, adhesiveness, heat resistance, appearance, cross-linking characteristics, electrical characteristics, and calenderability. A solar-cell sealant that contains an ethylene/α-olefin/unconjugated-polyene copolymer satisfying requirements (a1) through (a3). Requirement (a1) is that constituent units derived from ethylene constitute 80-90 mol %, constituent units derived from C3-20 α-olefin constitute 9.99-19.99 mol %, and constituent units derived from an unconjugated polyene constitute 0.01-5.0 mol % of said copolymer. Requirement (a2) is that the MFR of said copolymer, as measured in accordance with ASTM D1238 at 190° C. under a 2.16 kg load, be at least 2 g/10 min. and less than 10 g/10 min. Requirement (a3) is that the Shore A hardness of said copolymer, as measured in accordance with ASTM D2240, be 60 to 85. Full Article
in Photovoltaic device including flexible substrate or inflexible substrate and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A photovoltaic device including a substrate; a first electrode placed on the substrate; a second electrode which is placed opposite to the first electrode and which light is incident on; a first unit cell being placed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and including an intrinsic semiconductor layer including crystalline silicon grains making the surface of the intrinsic semiconductor layer toward the second electrode textured; and a second unit cell placed between the first unit cell and the second electrode. Full Article