Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2-2011

Publication Title

35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference

Publisher

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Publisher Location

Golden, CO

First page number:

1

Last page number:

9

Abstract

Interest in renewable energy has motivated the implementation of new polymeric materials in photovoltaic modules. Some of these are non-cross-linked thermoplastics, in which there is a potential for new behaviors to occur, including phase transformation and visco-elastic flow. Differential scanning calorimetry and rheometry data were obtained and then combined with existing site-specific time-temperature information in a theoretical analysis to estimate the displacement expected to occur during module service life. The analysis identified that, depending on the installation location, module configuration and/or mounting configuration, some of the thermoplastics are expected to undergo unacceptable physical displacement. While the examples here focus on encapsulation materials, the concerns apply equally to the frame, junction-box, and mounting-adhesive technologies.

Keywords

Thermoplastics

Controlled Subject

Deformations (Mechanics); Photovoltaic cells – Materials; Plastics--Creep; Solar energy

Disciplines

Oil, Gas, and Energy | Polymer and Organic Materials

File Format

pdf

File Size

1200 KB

Language

English

Comments

Presented at the 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC '10): Honolulu, Hawaii: 20-25 June 2010.

NERL Report No. CP-5200-47718

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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