PTS Austria - Production Technology Systems

PV-Solutions by PTS-Austria PTS Austria
PTS Austria GmbH
Ebentalerstraße 170, 9020 Klagenfurt-Austria
T: +43(0)463/310870
F: +43(0)463/310870-304
Email: horst.mueller@pts-austria.at
PV-Solutions by PTS Austria
string@once
Latest Soldering Technology
Careful simultaneous soldering of all cells of a string
Breakage rate < 0,1 %
Cells as of 120 μm

PTS
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PV-Solutions by PTS Austria
Layup
PTS String Soldering Machine 4010
with string@once Technology
Technical Data:
➢ Cell type 6” with 2BB/3BB as of 120 μm
➢ Clock rate 800 cells/h (type 4010)
➢ Breakage rate 0.1% for tested cells
➢ string@once technology
➢ Soft crimp method
➢ System autonomy 1 hour
➢ String length 9 or 10 cells
➢ Vision system for cell feed and string check
➢ automatic optical string check in
incident and transmitted light
➢ sunny + back side scan
➢ check position of cells, interconnectors,
and strings
➢ crack and chip check
➢ compensation for glass tolerances
Soldering Station
Solder ribbon preparation
Cell feed
➢ contactless sensor-controlled soldering process
➢ cell-specific energy input
➢ extremely gentle soldering process through the use of
string@once technology
➢ uniform, servo-controlled stretching of all solder ribbons
➢ the softcrimp procedure that is used combines the benefits
of beaded and non-beaded cell interconnectors
➢ short conversion time from 2BB to 3BB
➢ quick change system for ribbon rolls
➢ spray flux system
➢ SCARA robots with vacuum grippers
➢ cell inspection by means of vision system
➢ spray flux system
➢ palletising system for cell trays provides autonomy for one hour
PTS Austria GmbH

PTS
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PV-Solutions by PTS Austria
Intention
PTS-string@once Technology
... more than just soldering
The trends in the production of
crystalline cells are in considerable
contrast to those that have
emerged in the past few years in
the area of soldering crystalline cells.
On one hand, one would like to produce
cells that are thinner, not least due to
the shortage of raw materials. On the
other hand, manufacturers of soldering
machines are trying to maximise output
through a reduction of process times.
The increasing fragility of the cells
combined with the constant demand
for breakage reduction inspired us
to take a completely new direction
in string production and develop the
string@once technology.
PTS-String@ONCE
The string@once soldering technology is based on the principle of cell-specific
energy input. All cells in a string are soldered at the same time in one operation.
In the process, each cell only absorbs as much energy as it needs for its
soldering process.
Through this simultaneous soldering process, more time arises for the process
design than for conventional soldering methods. The process time only for the
soldering process should therefore be up to 40 seconds. In connection with the
integrated pre- and post-heating zone, the system guarantees an extremely stressfree
soldering process with the best soldering quality (see chart A “Comparison of
Soldering Systems and Process Times”).
string@once is the technology that processes cells > 120 μm with the lowest
breakage rate.
Soft crimp
Module manufacturers are not of one
opinion regarding beading: For some,
beading is indispensible in order to be
able to bridge the height differences
between the front and back sides of
the cells and hence reduce the stress
on the edge of the cell. Others don’t
use beading at all, because classical
bead formation involves local
losses of the interconnector elasticity
and therefore promotes cell breakage.
The soft crimp technique is a gentle
method of preparing the soldering ribbon.
Through special kinematics when
shaping the ribbon, the elasticity of the
interconnector is even increased. As a
result, the stress on the edge of the cell
and cell breakage are reduced.
string@once: More time for careful cell soldering
A Comparison of Soldering Systems and Process
0 50 100 150 200
Process time per soldered connection [s]
Soldering system with
string@once Technology
Soldering system with
conventional technology
PTS Austria GmbH

PTS
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PV-Solutions by PTS Austria
11
Laminate trimming
➢ Vision system for cut edge recognition
➢ Fully automatic trimming of
the laminate
➢ High tool life
3
PTS Module Production Line
2
4
1
Production Line 40 MW/a
12
6
Frame assembly
➢ Frame profile loader with stacker
➢ Automatic application of 2k glue
➢ Automatic framing
➢ One hour autonomous system
7
5
10
8
1 Glass feed
8
2 Film cutting machine with integrated layup
9
3 Stringer 1
10
4 Stringer 2
11
5 Interconnection 1
12
6 Interconnection 2
13
7 Raw laminate buffer
14
11
9
7
12
Buffer systems
➢ Laminate or module buffer
➢ Capacity of 60 pieces
➢ Optionally with
turning function
(sunnyside/backside)
13
15
15
Laminator 1
Laminator 2
Laminate buffer
Laminate trimming
Frame assembly
Hardening buffer
Pulsed solar simulator + labelling
Module output
14
PTS Austria GmbH