Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 263-277 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells |
| Volume | 170 |
| Publication status | Published - 27 Jun 2017 |
Abstract
During production, solar cells undergo significant thermomechanical loadings that lead to permanent deformations before being laminated in photovoltaic (PV) modules. One of these thermomechanical production processes is cofiring. In this work, the permanent deformation of solar cells after the cofiring process was investigated. The experimental measurements revealed a great scatter in the measured deflection at the deformed edges of the polycrystalline silicon solar cells after the cofiring process. A finite element (FE) framework was developed to investigate factors contributing to this scatter. The framework predicts the multistable response of the solar cell to the thermomechanical loading of the cofiring process. It accounts for the uncertainties arising from the heterogeneity of the polycrystalline silicon layer (grain orientations and non-uniform grain sizes) and uncertainties regarding the layer thicknesses of the silicon and aluminum paste. Employing the developed framework in a Monte-Carlo simulation the relative significance of the mentioned uncertainties on the deflection at the solar cell edge after the cofiring process was analyzed. Numerical results for a commercially produced polycrystalline silicon solar cell were compared with an analytical model and validated with experimental measurements.
Keywords
- Cofiring, Heterogeneity, Monte-Carlo simulation, Multistability, Polycrystalline silicon solar cells, Thickness uncertainty
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Energy(all)
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Materials Science(all)
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol. 170, 27.06.2017, p. 263-277.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Monte-Carlo simulation of the cofiring process in polycrystalline silicon solar cells
T2 - Effects of material heterogeneity and thickness uncertainties
AU - Nabavi, Seyed Roozbeh
AU - Haase, Felix
AU - Jansen, Eelco
AU - Rolfes, Raimund
PY - 2017/6/27
Y1 - 2017/6/27
N2 - During production, solar cells undergo significant thermomechanical loadings that lead to permanent deformations before being laminated in photovoltaic (PV) modules. One of these thermomechanical production processes is cofiring. In this work, the permanent deformation of solar cells after the cofiring process was investigated. The experimental measurements revealed a great scatter in the measured deflection at the deformed edges of the polycrystalline silicon solar cells after the cofiring process. A finite element (FE) framework was developed to investigate factors contributing to this scatter. The framework predicts the multistable response of the solar cell to the thermomechanical loading of the cofiring process. It accounts for the uncertainties arising from the heterogeneity of the polycrystalline silicon layer (grain orientations and non-uniform grain sizes) and uncertainties regarding the layer thicknesses of the silicon and aluminum paste. Employing the developed framework in a Monte-Carlo simulation the relative significance of the mentioned uncertainties on the deflection at the solar cell edge after the cofiring process was analyzed. Numerical results for a commercially produced polycrystalline silicon solar cell were compared with an analytical model and validated with experimental measurements.
AB - During production, solar cells undergo significant thermomechanical loadings that lead to permanent deformations before being laminated in photovoltaic (PV) modules. One of these thermomechanical production processes is cofiring. In this work, the permanent deformation of solar cells after the cofiring process was investigated. The experimental measurements revealed a great scatter in the measured deflection at the deformed edges of the polycrystalline silicon solar cells after the cofiring process. A finite element (FE) framework was developed to investigate factors contributing to this scatter. The framework predicts the multistable response of the solar cell to the thermomechanical loading of the cofiring process. It accounts for the uncertainties arising from the heterogeneity of the polycrystalline silicon layer (grain orientations and non-uniform grain sizes) and uncertainties regarding the layer thicknesses of the silicon and aluminum paste. Employing the developed framework in a Monte-Carlo simulation the relative significance of the mentioned uncertainties on the deflection at the solar cell edge after the cofiring process was analyzed. Numerical results for a commercially produced polycrystalline silicon solar cell were compared with an analytical model and validated with experimental measurements.
KW - Cofiring
KW - Heterogeneity
KW - Monte-Carlo simulation
KW - Multistability
KW - Polycrystalline silicon solar cells
KW - Thickness uncertainty
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85020878257&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.solmat.2017.06.012
DO - 10.1016/j.solmat.2017.06.012
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85020878257
VL - 170
SP - 263
EP - 277
JO - Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
JF - Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
SN - 0927-0248
ER -