NL1006838C2 - Panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device. - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic/thermal device (1) comprising metal absorption means (6) for converting solar energy into thermal energy, and laminated, panel-shaped photovoltaic means (2) comprising photovoltaic cells (3) of a crystalline silicon for converting solar energy into electric energy. The photovoltaic means (2) and the absorption means (6) have been joined to form a single assembly with the interposition of a metal-containing plastic material (10) having bonding properties. The device (1) is constructionally simple and suited for optimizing the electric and thermal efficiency.

Description

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Short designation: Panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device.

The invention relates to a panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device, comprising panel-shaped photovoltaic means for converting solar energy into electric energy applied to panel-shaped absorbers for converting solar energy into thermal energy provided with one or more flow channels for delivering thermal energy to a fluid flowing therein during operation.

Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal devices are practically always used in combination with an electrical subsystem, for supplying electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic means to an electrical installation and with a thermal subsystem, for storing thermal energy delivered by the absorption means . The thermal subsystem may include, for example, a boiler or the like for heating water.

Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal devices are used in practice for both domestic and industrial use and are also referred to as hybrid solar collectors.

For large-scale use, optimization is necessary with regard to the electrical and thermal efficiency of a hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device, as well as production costs. The device must also function reliably.

From the international patent application WO 95/0273 a panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic device is known with a construction which is relatively complicated and expensive for large-scale production. The absorption means and the photovoltaic means are separately mounted in a housing, the housing also having to be airless. As a result, this known device is less suitable for outdoor use, for instance for mounting on a roof, because here the risk of breaking the air emptiness due to damage to the housing is very considerable.

The requirement for airtightness is also reflected in the structure, which must be mechanically strong enough to withstand temperature gradients herein without airtightness to provide reliable operation over a long period of time.

In order to optimize the electrical efficiency, good heat conduction must be realized, both viewed in the direction perpendicular to the panel, in this case the incident direction of solar energy, as well as laterally in the direction towards the flow channels of the panel. After all, the efficiency of a photovoltaic cell decreases at a higher temperature.

From Patent Abstracts of Japan publication no. 59015766 10, a panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic device is known, in which the absorption means have a heat-conducting construction of high-molecular plastic. This construction compromises between the generated electrical energy and the thermal energy on the one hand and the weight and cost of the panel on the other, in favor of the latter. Due to the relatively poor heat conduction of the plastic absorption means and the inevitably higher average working temperature of the photovoltaic means, this construction does not have an optimum electrical efficiency. Since in practice electric energy is valued higher than thermal energy because of its greater convertibility into other forms of energy, this known construction cannot provide an economically exploitable hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the object of the invention.

A hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device is known from US patent 4,700,013, in which lateral heat conduction does not play a role, however.

U.S. Patent 4,587,376 relates to a panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device specially constructed for use with amorphous silicon material photovoltaic cells. Due to the relatively low efficiency of these cells, no exploitable system can be provided which can sufficiently meet the demand for electricity in an average household. The replacement of the amorphous silicon cells by photovoltaic cells of mono- and multi-crystalline silicon, the efficiency of which is typically twice as high as that of amorphous silicon cells, is not possible without constructional changes of the device.

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The object of the invention is therefore to provide a hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device, with a mechanically simple and reliable construction, an optimized thermal and electrical efficiency, adapted to different climatic conditions such as these spread over the earth at different geographical positions. and manufactured as far as possible from reliable, preferably generally commercially available, components.

The hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the invention is characterized in that the photovoltaic means have a laminated structure, comprising at least two sunlight-transmissive layers of electrically insulating material with electrically coupled crystalline-type photovoltaic cells interposed, such as, for example, of silicon, - the absorbers are made of metal, and - the laminated photovoltaics and the absorbers are integrally formed via an intermediate plastic material with adhesive and heat transfer properties provided by a metal oxide and / or metal parts.

The invention has succeeded in providing a well-functioning, that is to say, in terms of electrical and thermal efficiency, reliable and economically justified hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device in terms of cost and operation, by a combination of components known per se.

The use of a laminate-shaped photovoltaic panel provides adequate protection against weather influences and thermal stresses, as well as necessary electrical insulation from the metal-containing intermediate adhesive plastic and the metal absorbers. The constructionally and thermally integrated device according to the invention has a better lateral heat conduction than the known panels, a better protection against weather influences and an optimal efficiency for electricity generation because the construction is suitable for the application of photovoltaic cells of mono- and multi-crystalline silicon material, or corresponding types.

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Plastics with thermal, elastic and adhesive properties suitable for the purpose of the invention are available in practice, such as a metal oxide-containing two-component adhesive or an adhesive with metal parts dispersed therein for obtaining the desired thermally conductive properties. Suitable metals are, for example, so-called copper curls. The gluing results in a robust construction with a sufficiently long economic life for household use, without further requirements with regard to air emptying and the like. The use of "deformable" plastic also offers the advantage of the widest possible choice in the form of the material of the absorption means and the photovoltaic means, while retaining the desired thermal properties of the construction.

The plastic may consist of an adhesive or adhesive layer that extends over the adjacent surfaces of the photovoltaic means 15 and the absorbers or only at selected positions, such as, for example, under the photovoltaic cells,

The laminate-shaped photovoltaic cells used in the invention preferably have two layers of plastic between which the cells are arranged. For optimum weather protection 20, a construction according to the invention is preferred, in which the laminated photovoltaic cells are mounted on a sunlight-transmitting glass support, which forms the outer layer of the assembled structure on which the sunlight falls. The laminates can be manufactured separately in suitable production facilities, adapted if necessary to the radiation conditions of, for example, the country in which the device will be used.

Although in the construction according to the invention the photovoltaic means and the absorption means can take essentially any desired shape, it has been found in practice that a flat or slightly curved panel-shaped structure for roof and wall mounting is preferred.

In the case of a panel-shaped construction, one or more flow channels can be formed by a space located between the absorption means and fluid-tight panel-shaped means, such as, for example, a glass plate, placed at a distance therefrom.

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In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the flow channels are formed by pipes, tubes, etc., which are in thermal contact with the absorbent means. These pipes or tubes may form one part of the material of the absorbent means or, for example, by welding, soldering or gluing are separately attached to an absorption plate.

The integral construction according to the invention also makes it possible, without further complicated constructional measures, to use additional absorption means, in order to further increase the electrical and thermal efficiency of the device.

In an embodiment of the invention this is realized in such a way that further absorption means are arranged at a distance from the integrally formed photovoltaic means and absorption means, such that the respective absorption means are situated opposite each other and a space is formed between them.

Preferably, in the space between the absorption means there is a thermally insulating fluid, permeable to sunlight, such as ambient air.

This measure achieves a reduction of the working temperature of the photovoltaic means and consequently provides a higher electrical and also thermal efficiency, since two thermally separated heat exchange sections have now been realized, whereby the photovoltaic means are located in the so-called "cold "section. The sections in question can be flowed through the same fluid, starting from the cold section.

In yet a further embodiment of the invention, a fluid-tight, sunlight-transmitting panel, such as, for example, glass, is arranged opposite the photovoltaic means at a distance from the integrally formed photovoltaic means and absorption means. Such that a space is formed therebetween for a sunlight-permeable fluid such as water present in this space during operation.

A still further improvement in the electrical efficiency is contemplated in an embodiment of the invention, wherein the respective sunlight transmissive panel comprises means for concentrating sunlight in the direction of the photovoltaic means. These sunlight-concentrating means may then consist of adjacent 1006838 6 semi-transparent elements of sunlight-transmissive material such that the hollow sides of these elements face the photovoltaic means. These elements, together with the water present between the elements and the photovoltaic agents, for example, provide in particular a concentration for diffuse sunlight, such as plays an important role in, for instance, the Netherlands.

Due to the integrally formed photovoltaic and absorption means according to the invention, all embodiments can easily be realized in a box-shaped housing, without the need for structurally complicated support structures and the like. It should be borne in mind here that the high temperature gradients which may occur during use of a device herein place special demands on the construction, which requirements for complex constructions are all the higher the more complex they are!

Advantageously, in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, electrically coupled inverter means are integrated into the laminated photovoltaic means, for converting and delivering the generated DC electric energy 20 into alternating electric energy at the output terminals of the photovoltaic / thermal device. A person skilled in the art will understand that this allows a very simple, modular construction, whereby different hybrid photovoltaic / thermal devices according to the invention can be combined into one device of desired dimensions for the conversion of solar energy.

By providing the inverter means with a so-called "maximum power point tracker", the total electrical efficiency with a combination of hybrid photovoltaic / thermal devices according to the invention, which simultaneously operate at different temperature levels, can be higher than with one inverter for the whole system.

The inverter means are preferably integrated in the laminate structure in such a way that the thermal energy generated thereby during operation is delivered to the absorption means. The operating temperature of the inverter means can hereby be kept low and the heat generated by the inverter means is positively added to the thermal energy released by the absorption means.

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The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to embodiments of hybrid photovoltaic / thermal devices shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 schematically shows, in section, a part 5 of a preferred embodiment of a hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view, to a smaller scale, of the device according to Figure 1, with an essentially rectangular housing.

Figure 3 schematically shows, in section, a part of a further embodiment of a hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the invention.

Figure 4 schematically shows, in section, a part of a still further embodiment of a hybrid photovoltaic / -15 thermal device according to the invention.

Figure 5 schematically shows, in section, a part of a still further embodiment of a hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the invention.

Figure 6 schematically shows, in section, a part 20 of a still further embodiment of a hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the invention.

Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the device according to Figure 6, with an essentially rectangular housing.

Figure 8 schematically shows a simplified top view of amorphous photovoltaics.

Figure 9 shows schematically, in section, the photovoltaic means according to Figure 8.

Figure 10 schematically shows a simplified side view of crystalline photovoltaic means for use in the device according to the invention.

Figure 11 schematically shows a possible electrical connection of photovoltaic cells in the form of a laminate for use in the device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows schematically, not to a large scale, in section a part of a panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic / - 1006838 8 thermal device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is indicated as a whole with reference numeral 1.

The device consists of a photovoltaic laminate 2, consisting of photovoltaic cells 3 of crystalline silicon material 5 applied on a panel-shaped sunlight-transmitting support 4, for example in the form of a glass plate. The photovoltaic cells 3 are attached to the carrier 4 by means of a sunlight-transmitting foil or enclosure 5 formed by two electrically insulating plastic layers of, for example, warm adhesive material.

The device 1 further comprises absorption means 6 in the form of a metal absorption plate 7 with tubes or pipes 8 in thermal contact with one side of the absorption plate 7 on this side. Only one tube or pipe 8 is shown in the figure. However, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that different tubes or pipes 8 can be attached to the absorption plate 7, for instance by means of a solder joint or weld 9.

According to the invention, the photovoltaic means 2 and the absorption means 6 are integrally formed by means of an intermediate, adhesive and heat-conducting layer of plastic 10. The layer 10 can extend over the entire surface of the photovoltaic cells 3 or a part thereof, for instance only in the free areas between the photovoltaic cells 3. It has been found that a plastic glue of a metal oxide-containing two-component glue type is particularly suitable for use in the invention.

The layer 10 can also be an adhesive with metal parts dispersed therein, in order to improve its heat transfer properties. The use of this "deformable" plastic, which ensures a good connection between the photovoltaic means 2 and the absorption means 6, leads to excellent heat transfer properties of the assembly 11.

The photovoltaic means 2 and the absorption means 6 formed in this way into one assembly 11 are supported with the tubes or pipes 8 on an insulating layer 12, for example a layer of glass wool, polyurethane foam and the like.

A distance from and opposite the photovoltaic means 2 is arranged in the most practical applications a sunlight-transmissive cover plate 13, for example a glass plate. In the space 14 between the cover plate 13 and the carrier 4 there is a thermally insulating fluid which allows sunlight to pass through, for example ambient air.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device 1 according to figure 1 in an approximately rectangular housing 15, with an inlet 16 and an outlet 17 for fluid, such as water, flowing through the tubes or pipes 8 during use. Furthermore, electrical connection terminals 19 are shown schematically, for delivering electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic means.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the device 1 is characterized by a particularly simple, robust and reliable construction. The photovoltaic means 2 and the absorption means 6 can each be optimally constructed in advance, adapted to specific requirements, after which, according to the invention, they can be glued into a whole 11. In this way, according to the object of the invention, a structurally simple, optimized and cost-effective hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device can be provided. The operation of the device 1 is roughly as follows.

Sunlight incident on the cover plate 13 is transferred via the carrier 4 to the photovoltaic cells 3, which convert the incident solar energy into electrical energy. The exact action of photovoltaic cells is not important to the understanding of the present invention. An explanation of the action of photovoltaic cells can be found in the book "Solar Cells" by M. Green.

Thermal radiation from the photovoltaic means 2 is blocked by the glass plate 13, because it is opaque to infrared radiation. Convection loss to the environment is also suppressed by the glass plate 13. Obviously, the glass plate 13 transmits as much sunlight as possible, which is absorbed by the photovoltaic panel 2 and the absorption plate 7 and is released as thermal energy to fluid 18 flowing in the tubes or pipes 8, such as water.

The electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic means 2 is available at the electrical terminals 19. The water heated via the absorption plate 7 in the tubes or pipes 8 circulates during operation in a forced or natural manner via the inlet 16 and the outlet 17 and usually passes through a vessel or container for heat storage 1006838, such as a boiler known per se (not shown). The stored heat can be used for heating bath and shower water, for example, or for heating purposes via, for example, central heating. Of course, other applications are also conceivable.

Figure 3 shows in cross section, not to scale, a further embodiment of a hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the invention, indicated as a whole with reference numeral 20. In this figure, similar elements or elements perform the same function as in the embodiment according to Figure 1 is indicated by the same reference numeral and will not be further explained here.

Instead of tubes or pipes 8, as in the first embodiment according to figure 1, a insulating layer 12 or plate 21 is arranged on the insulating layer 12, at a distance from which the photovoltaic means 2 and absorption means 6 formed in one piece 11 are arranged according to the Invention are positioned. Between the plate 21 and the absorption plate 7 there is a space 22, which forms a flow channel for fluid, such as water, to which the absorption means 6 give off their heat during use. Although not shown, it will be appreciated that the space 21 is provided with inlet and outlet means for the fluid. See figure 2. 20 Reinforcing elements can also be arranged in space 21, for example in the form of partitions in the direction of flow of the fluid (not shown).

Again it holds that with the integrally formed photovoltaic means 2 and the absorption means 6 according to the invention, a relatively simple device can be built, without complicated mechanical constructions. This is because the assembly 11 or its constituent parts and the plate 21, the insulating layer 12 and the cover plate 13 can be easily mounted in the walls of a housing 15. See figure 2. The plate 21 is preferably manufactured from a sufficiently sturdy material for the purpose of the invention.

Figure 4 shows yet a further embodiment of the hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the invention, not to scale and which is indicated as a whole with the reference numeral 25. Again, the same elements or elements that perform a similar function as described above are designated with the same reference numerals.

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This embodiment is based on the embodiment of Figure 3, in which a fluid-tight, sunlight-transmitting panel 23 is further arranged at a distance from and parallel to the carrier 4, such that a space 24 is formed between the panel 23 and the carrier 4.

The spaces 22 and 24 now form two flow channels, through which a fluid such as water can circulate jointly or in each individual case. For the space 24, the fluid should be a sunlight-permeable liquid.

The arrows 26 indicate a possible flow direction of fluid in the two spaces 22 and 24, for example, cold water entering the space 24 and leaving the space 25 as warm water, of course again via suitable inlet and outlet means (see figure 2).

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the use of a fluid-tight, sunlight-transmitting panel 23, as illustrated in figure 4, is also possible with the device according to figure 1. In the embodiment shown, the photovoltaic cells 3 are, for example, located between the two carriers 4, i.e. in the form of a sandwich structure.

A still further embodiment of a hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to the invention, denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 30, is not shown to scale in figure 5. Again, the same elements or elements that perform a similar function as described above are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, two separate absorption sections are provided. A first section with the photovoltaic means 2, absorbent means 6 and the plastic material 10 formed into one assembly 11, and a second section with a flow channel 22, formed by a fluid-tight layer or plate 21 arranged on the insulating layer 12, of which absorbent means in the form of a further absorption plate 27. As shown in figure 5, the assembly 11 is located between the cover plate 13 and the further absorption plate 27, such that a sunlight-transmissive, thermally insulating space 28 is formed between the two absorption sections and is formed with a sunlight-transmissive thermal insulating fluid, such as air, is filled.

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In this embodiment, the photovoltaic cells 3 are arranged at intervals in the carrier 4 such that sufficient sunlight from the cover plate 13 can reach the further absorption plate 27 via the assembly 11. For this purpose, the plastic material 10 extends mainly under the photovoltaic cells 3, while the absorption plate 29 of the absorption means 6 is also permeable to sunlight in the spaces between the photovoltaic cells 3. As a result, a for instance perforated absorption plate 29 and the like can be used . In the case of a transparent plastic 10, it can of course extend over the entire plane between the photovoltaic means 2 and the apertured absorption plate 29.

The space 28 provides thermal insulation between the photovoltaic means 2 of the assembly 11 and the second absorption section formed by the flow channel 22.

When the tubes or pipes 8 flow through with a fluid 18, the photovoltaic cells 3 can be cooled separately, which improves the electrical efficiency. The thermal conversion takes place mainly in the second absorption section with the further absorption plate 27. If desired, the fluid 18 can first flow through the tubes or pipes 8 and then the flow channel 22. That is, the fluid 18 flows through the absorption means 6 of cold the assembly 11.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that in this embodiment a flow channel 24 can also be formed above the assembly 11, as shown in figure 4. The second absorption section can also be realized by means of an absorption plate provided with tubes or pipes, as described on the using figure 1.

Of course, a combination of an adhesive plastic 10 and mechanical clamping means 31 can also be used. Mechanical clamping means 31 suitable for the purpose of the invention are known per se in practice and need not be explained by a person skilled in the art.

This embodiment, which may also be referred to as "double absorption", has the advantage that the operating temperature of the photovoltaic means 2 may be lower than in the embodiments of Figures 1, 3 and 4, because heat generated on the fluid 1006838 * 13 18 is issued. In practice, this means that the electrical efficiency of the photovoltaic means 2 can hereby be higher compared to the embodiments discussed above.

Figure 6 shows a still further embodiment 5 of the invention in cross-section and not to scale, indicated as a whole by reference numeral 35.

Underneath the cover plate 13 are means 32 for concentrating sunlight incident on the photovoltaic cells 3 on the cover plate 13.

In the embodiment shown, the means 32 consist of a series of semi-cylindrical elements 33 of sunlight-permeable material, the hollow sides of which face the photovoltaic cells 3. The photovoltaic cells 3 are sized to extend longitudinally and mainly below the elements 33, all as schematically illustrated in Figure 7.

The cover plate 13 and the means 33 can be formed as separate components but also as a whole. In the spaces 34 between the convex sides of the means 33 and the cover plate 13 there is a thermally insulating transparent fluid, such as ambient air. Although in figure 5 the embodiment of the absorption means 6 with tubes or pipes 8 is shown, it will be clear that also here a construction with a flow channel 22 as shown in figure 3 is possible. Again without significant engineering efforts.

The absorption means 6 for use in the invention preferably consist of metal, such as steel plate, which can be provided with an additional heat-absorbing coating, for instance a heat-absorbing paint layer.

The photovoltaic means 2 comprise photo converters, also referred to as solar cells, suitable for converting sunlight into electrical energy, of mono-crystalline or multi-crystalline silicon or comparable types. Suitable cells are, for example, the 100 x 100 mmz or 125 x 125 mmz n- on p-type multi-crystalline silicon solar cells such as those provided by Shell Solar Energy B.V. be placed on the market.

Figure 8 shows the typical structure of an amorphous silicon cell 41, a sectional view of which is shown in Figure 9.

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The cell 41 consists of a stack formed by a sunlight-transmissive top layer 36, usually glass, a transparent top electrical contact 37, amorphous silicon 38, a bottom electrical contact 39 and a support 40.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the amorphous silicon cell has a thin, strip-like structure.

Figure 10 shows in cross-section a simplified construction of a crystalline photovoltaic cell 42, consisting of a stack formed by a first n-type silicon layer 43, a second p-type silicon layer 44, a pn formed between the two layers. transition 45 and upper electrical contacts 46 disposed on the layer 43 and a lower electrical contact 47 disposed on the layer 44.

Figure 11 shows a possible electrical coupling of photovoltaic cells 42 to photovoltaic means 2 for use in the invention. The cells 42 are connected in series via electrical conductors 50, resulting in electrical output terminals 48 and 49.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection terminals 48, 49 are connected to inverter means 51, provided with electrical connection terminals 52, 53. The inverter means 51 converts the DC electric energy generated by the cells 42 into AC electric energy. Inverter means suitable for this purpose are known per se in practice and need no explanation here.

Inverter means 51 are preferably used, provided with a so-called "maximum power point tracker", whereby the total electrical energy delivered by mutually electrically coupled and operating at different temperatures is higher than in comparison to without such a "maximum power". point tracker "coupled photovoltaics" 2. A description of such a "maximum power point tracker" can be found in literature on electronic power conversion and needs no further explanation.

The inverter means 51 are preferably integrated with the photovoltaic means 2 into one laminate, the heat generated by the inverter means 51 preferably being transferred to the absorption means 6, which favorably influences the thermal efficiency of the device.

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For practical use, for example for household applications, a number of hybrid photovoltaic / thermal devices or modules can be combined into one converter device or solar collector in a common housing.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to a number of embodiments, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the new and inventive concept is not limited to these embodiments.

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Claims (16)

1. Panel-shaped hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device, comprising panel-shaped photovoltaic means for converting solar energy into electrical energy applied to panel-shaped absorbers for converting solar energy into thermal energy provided with one or more flow channels for operating a fluid flowing therefrom of thermal energy, characterized in that the photovoltaic means have a laminated structure, comprising at least two sunlight-transmissive layers of electrically insulating material with electrically coupled crystalline-type photovoltaic cells interposed, such as, for example, of silicon, 15. the absorbers are made of metal, and - the laminated photovoltaic agents and the absorbers are integrated into one whole via an intermediate plastic material with adhesive and heat transfer properties provided by a metal oxide and / or metal parts. are formed. The hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate plastic is a two-component metal oxide-containing adhesive. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the photovoltaic cells are arranged between two sunlight-permeable layers of plastic. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the laminated photovoltaic means are arranged on a sunlight-permeable panel-shaped support, such as a support of glass. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which a flow channel is formed by a space located between the absorption means and spaced-apart panel-like means. The hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to claim 5, wherein the flow channels are formed by pipes, tubes, etc. 1006838 in thermal contact with the absorbers. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which further absorbent means are arranged at a distance from the integrally formed photovoltaic means and absorbent means, such that the respective absorbent means lie opposite each other, with the one fully formed photovoltaics and absorbers are sunlight-transmitting. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which a fluid-tight, sunlight-transmitting panel is arranged opposite the photovoltaic means at a distance from the integrally formed photovoltaic means and absorption means. formed for a sunlight-transmissive fluid, such as water, present in this space during operation. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to claim 8, wherein said sunlight transmissive panel comprises means for concentrating sunlight in the direction towards the photovoltaic means. The hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to claim 9, wherein the sunlight concentrating means consists of 20 adjacent semi-transparent elements of sunlight-transmitting material such that the hollow sides of these elements are opposite the photovoltaic means. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to claim 10, wherein the sunlight-transmissive fluid-tight panel and the sunlight-transmissive elements are formed as one unit. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to claim 11, wherein the spaces between the panel and the convex sides of the elements contain a thermally insulating fluid, such as ambient air. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which electrically coupled inverter means are integrated into the laminated photovoltaic means, for converting and delivering generated electric direct current energy into alternating electric energy at output terminals of the photovoltaic / thermal device. 1Ό06838 ψ Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to claim 13, wherein the integrated inverter means are provided with a "maximum power point tracker". Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the inverter means are arranged such that the thermal energy generated thereby during operation is delivered to the absorbers. Hybrid photovoltaic / thermal device according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising an essentially box-shaped housing, at least one surface of which is made of a sunlight-permeable material. 1006838