Abstract
This work deals with the simulation of water vapor ingress into wafer-based PV-modules for long-term exposure under different climatic conditions. Measured material parameters together with climatic data sets from four test sites (tropic, moderate, alpine, and arid) were used to calculate the water concentration inside of the encapsulant between solar cell and glass for a lifetime of 20 years. Two back-sheet materials (PET-based and PA-based) combined with EVA as encapsulant were used in respect to their influence on water ingress. The results show faster water ingress for warmer regions, but the highest concentrations were found for the moderate test site. The water ingress was additionally influenced by the used encapsulant and back-sheet combination. In particular the temperature dependency of the mass transfer, which differs from material to material, was the focus of this investigation.
Highlights
PV-modules are globally installed and, exposed to different climates with continuously changing environmental conditions as, for example, UV-irradiation, temperature cycles, or snow loads over a life time of 20 years and more.The ambient atmosphere and its containing air humidity constitute one of these loads
The absorption of air humidity is primarily controlled by the microclimate at the interface PV-module to ambient atmosphere and by specific temperature controlled material parameters such as water vapor transmission rate (WVTR)
The present paper deals with the investigation of water concentration behavior inside polymeric materials used in PV-modules, depending on different climates, and over a planned lifetime of 20 years
Summary
PV-modules are globally installed and, exposed to different climates with continuously changing environmental conditions as, for example, UV-irradiation, temperature cycles, or snow loads over a life time of 20 years and more. The absorption of air humidity is primarily controlled by the microclimate at the interface PV-module to ambient atmosphere and by specific temperature controlled material parameters such as water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). Water vapor enters the PV-module via the whole surface of the back sheet and molecules diffuse through the encapsulation polymer until they reach the area between solar cell and front glass [5]. The present paper deals with the investigation of water concentration behavior inside polymeric materials used in PV-modules, depending on different climates, and over a planned lifetime of 20 years. Compared to prior publications addressing this issue [6], this paper focuses on the behavior of microclimates and on how different polymeric materials, respectively, their diffusion properties, (back sheet and encapsulant) influence the water uptake with respect to geometrical situation by using 2-D FEM simulations
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