Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1346-1351 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| Early online date | 21 Apr 2010 |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
An experimental technique to measure the deformation of solar cells in transparent PV modules is presented. This method uses the digital image correlation technique with a stereo camera system. Deformations resulting from thermal loading, where rather small deformations occur compared to tensile or bending experiments, are measured by viewing through the window of a climate chamber. We apply this method to measure the thermomechanical deformation of the gap between two crystalline silicon solar cells by viewing through the transparent back sheet of the laminate. Two PV laminates are prepared, each with three crystalline silicon solar cells that are embedded in transparent polymer sheets on a glass substrate. The first laminate (A) contains non-interconnected cells while the second laminate consists of a standard-interconnected cell string (B). We find the gap between two solar cells to deform 66.3±2 μm between 79.6 and -17.3 °C (laminate A) and 66.4±2 μm (laminate B) between 84.4 and -39.1 °C. We determine an accuracy of 1 μm in displacement for the gap experiment by measuring free expansion of a copper strip and averaging displacement values over regions with homogeneous deformation. Furthermore, the relative error contribution in strain due to the optical influence of the layers on top of the object surface is less than 1×10-6 for one camera. This is proven by a geometrical consideration.
Keywords
- Deformation, Digital image correlation, Experimental technique, PV module, Thermomechanics
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. 94, No. 8, 08.2010, p. 1346-1351.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of digital image correlation technique to determine thermomechanical deformations in photovoltaic laminates
T2 - Measurements and accuracy
AU - Eitner, Ulrich
AU - Köntges, Marc
AU - Brendel, Rolf
PY - 2010/8
Y1 - 2010/8
N2 - An experimental technique to measure the deformation of solar cells in transparent PV modules is presented. This method uses the digital image correlation technique with a stereo camera system. Deformations resulting from thermal loading, where rather small deformations occur compared to tensile or bending experiments, are measured by viewing through the window of a climate chamber. We apply this method to measure the thermomechanical deformation of the gap between two crystalline silicon solar cells by viewing through the transparent back sheet of the laminate. Two PV laminates are prepared, each with three crystalline silicon solar cells that are embedded in transparent polymer sheets on a glass substrate. The first laminate (A) contains non-interconnected cells while the second laminate consists of a standard-interconnected cell string (B). We find the gap between two solar cells to deform 66.3±2 μm between 79.6 and -17.3 °C (laminate A) and 66.4±2 μm (laminate B) between 84.4 and -39.1 °C. We determine an accuracy of 1 μm in displacement for the gap experiment by measuring free expansion of a copper strip and averaging displacement values over regions with homogeneous deformation. Furthermore, the relative error contribution in strain due to the optical influence of the layers on top of the object surface is less than 1×10-6 for one camera. This is proven by a geometrical consideration.
AB - An experimental technique to measure the deformation of solar cells in transparent PV modules is presented. This method uses the digital image correlation technique with a stereo camera system. Deformations resulting from thermal loading, where rather small deformations occur compared to tensile or bending experiments, are measured by viewing through the window of a climate chamber. We apply this method to measure the thermomechanical deformation of the gap between two crystalline silicon solar cells by viewing through the transparent back sheet of the laminate. Two PV laminates are prepared, each with three crystalline silicon solar cells that are embedded in transparent polymer sheets on a glass substrate. The first laminate (A) contains non-interconnected cells while the second laminate consists of a standard-interconnected cell string (B). We find the gap between two solar cells to deform 66.3±2 μm between 79.6 and -17.3 °C (laminate A) and 66.4±2 μm (laminate B) between 84.4 and -39.1 °C. We determine an accuracy of 1 μm in displacement for the gap experiment by measuring free expansion of a copper strip and averaging displacement values over regions with homogeneous deformation. Furthermore, the relative error contribution in strain due to the optical influence of the layers on top of the object surface is less than 1×10-6 for one camera. This is proven by a geometrical consideration.
KW - Deformation
KW - Digital image correlation
KW - Experimental technique
KW - PV module
KW - Thermomechanics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77953137817&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.solmat.2010.03.028
DO - 10.1016/j.solmat.2010.03.028
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77953137817
VL - 94
SP - 1346
EP - 1351
JO - Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
JF - Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
SN - 0927-0248
IS - 8
ER -