book

Solar Module Packaging

by Michelle Poliskie

April 2016

Beginner

244 pages

7h 27m

English

CRC Press

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1.1 A Brief Historical Perspective1.2 Chemical Structure, Nomenclature, and Morphology1.3 Polymeric Classification Based on Thermal and Mechanical Properties1.3.1 Thermoplastics1.3.2 Thermosets1.3.3 Ionomers1.3.4 ElastomersReferences
2.1 Overview of Photovoltaic Installations2.2 Selection Requirements for Photovoltaic Packaging2.2.1 Certification and Compliance Criteria2.2.1.1 Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directives2.2.1.2 Underwriters Laboratories2.2.1.3 International Electrotechnical Commission2.2.1.4 American Standard for Testing Materials2.3 Optical Properties2.3.1 Material Properties2.3.1.1 Refractive Index Measurements2.3.1.2 Yellowness Index2.3.2 Photovoltaic Module Performance2.3.2.1 Quantum Efficiency Measurements2.3.2.2 Current-Voltage (IV) Measurements2.4 Thermal Properties2.4.1 Material Properties2.4.1.1 Morphology2.4.1.2 Coefficient of Thermal Expansion2.4.1.3 Thermal Conductivity2.4.2 Photovoltaic Module Performance2.4.2.1 Frame Warp2.4.2.2 In-Service Temperature Measurements2.5 Mechanical Properties2.5.1 Material Properties2.5.1.1 Durometer2.5.1.2 Peel Strength2.5.1.3 Tensile and Compression2.5.1.4 Impact Resistance2.5.1.5 Flexural Testing2.5.2 Photovoltaic Module Performance2.5.2.1 Thermal Cycling and Humidity Testing2.5.2.2 Salt Fog2.5.2.3 Snow Loading2.6 Electrical Properties2.6.1 Material Properties: Dielectric Properties2.6.2 Photovoltaic Module Performance2.6.2.1 Wet-Leak Testing2.6.2.2 High-Potential Testing2.7 Flammability2.7.1 Material Properties2.7.2 Photovoltaic Module Performance2.8 Weathering Stability2.8.1 Material Properties2.8.1.1 Stabilizer Package2.8.1.2 Transmission Rates2.8.1.3 Hydrolytic Degradation2.8.1.4 Oxidative Degradation2.8.2 Photovoltaic Module Performance2.8.2.1 Accelerated UV Aging Techniques2.8.2.2 Developing an Accelerated Test2.8.2.3 Data AnalysisReferences
3.1 Commercial Formulations3.1.1 Polymeric Stabilizers3.1.2 Polymeric Modifiers3.1.3 Other Classifications3.2 The Effect of Additives on Polymeric Properties3.3 Common Failure Mechanisms in Photovoltaic Packaging3.4 Encapsulants3.4.1 Polysiloxane3.4.2 Polyvinyl Acetate and Polyethylene3.4.3 Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Copolymer3.4.4 Polyvinyl Butyral3.4.5 Ionomers3.4.5.1 Surlyn®3.5 Frames3.6 Junction Boxes3.7 Backsheets3.7.1 Fluorinated Polyolefins3.7.2 Laminate StructuresReferences

4.1 Common Polymer Processes for Photovoltaic Packaging and BOS Components4.2 Polymer Viscosity4.2.1 Viscosity Measurement4.3 Lamination4.4 Injection Molding4.5 Adhesive DispenseReferences
5.1 The First U.S. Energy Crisis5.2 The Current Energy Crisis5.3 Technology Development Theory and Photovoltaic Energy5.4 Operational Optimization for Photovoltaic Companies5.5 Photovoltaic Markets Abroad5.5.1 China’s Solar Market5.5.2 Saudi Arabia’s Solar Market5.6 The U.S. Polymer MarketReferences
6.1 Emerging Polymeric Applications6.1.1 Soiling Behavior of Photovoltaic Modules6.1.1.1 Considerations for Developing a Soiling Protocol6.1.1.2 Experiments to Characterize Antisoiling Coatings6.1.1.3 Antisoiling Coatings6.1.2 Antiscratch Coatings6.1.3 Antireflective Coatings6.1.4 High Index of Refraction Polymers6.2 Concentrated and Organic Photovoltaics6.2.1 Lenses6.2.2 Metallic Films6.2.3 Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs)6.2.4 Polymeric Photovoltaic Solar CellsReferences

Content preview from Solar Module Packaging

2.1 Overview of Photovoltaic Installations

Although there are other forms of solar energy (e.g., solar thermal), the topics covered in this book will be limited to those relevant to photovoltaic energy. Photovoltaic (PV) installations are divided into three subassemblies capable of energy generation: the cell, the module, and the array.

A PV cell is the smallest subassembly capable of producing power. The active layer is composed of a semiconductor film responsible for converting light into electricity. This phenomenon is called the photoelectric effect, and it gives this branch of solar energy its name. For simplicity, p-n–type semiconductors, such as single crystalline ...