Photovoltaic device forming a glazing

Abstract

The invention concerns a photovoltaic device ( 1 ) comprising a plurality of p-i-n type photovoltaic cells ( 2 ) arranged on a substrate ( 3 ), wherein said cells ( 2 ) are arranged, in the form of a single layer, parallel to one another and the electrical conductive layer ( 7 ) is arranged between the n layer ( 6 ) and the p layer ( 5 ) of each consecutive cell ( 2 ) so as to electrically connect said cells ( 2 ) in series. The invention also concerns the use of such a device ( 1 ) as glazing, a method for making such a device ( 1 ), a method for controlling a transparent photovoltaic device ( 1 ) as well as an installation for implementing said control method.

1 . Installation for thin-film-deposition using a chemical vapour deposition technique, which type of installation includes a process space in which the substrate is placed on which the thin films are to be deposited, a chamber which surrounds the process space, heating means, insulation of the process space, and a cooling chamber, wherein an additional insulation is placed in front of the wall of the chamber, the insulation of the wall of the chamber is embodied with sheets of metal and/or steel plates, and the insulation of the process space is constituted by hard felt plates with graphite sheet plating impermeable to the gases, said plates being placed on the lateral walls, the upper covering wall and the frontal walls, whereby the upper edges and joints are covered with graphite corner-shaped sections reinforced by carbon fibres so as to obtain imperviousness with respect to the passage of gases, whereas the lower edges are open so as to allow evacuation of said gases. 
     
     
         2 . Installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the corner-shaped sections are fitted alternately repeated between the hard felt plates so as to provide a labyrinth type imperviousness. 
     
     
         3 . Installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the front edges of the insulation of the process space and/or the conjugated surfaces are fixed in the graphite sections reinforced by carbon fibres. 
     
     
         4 . Installation according to  claim 1 , wherein partitions are fitted as anti-convection barriers between the insulation of the process space and the insulation of the wall of the chamber. 
     
     
         5 . Installation according to  claim 4 , wherein the partitions are made of metal in the form of sheets and/or steel plates, 
     
     
         6 . Installation according to  claim 1 , wherein an additional cooling by water is provided between the insulation of the wall of the chamber and the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . Installation according to  claim 6 , wherein the additional water cooling is provided in the upper half of the chamber in the area of the flange and the cover.