TY - GEN
T1 - Performance and Reliability of Thermally Conductive Backsheets (TCB)
AU - Pavgi, Ashwini
AU - Oh, Jaewon
AU - Tatapudi, Sai
AU - Tamizhmani, Govinda Samy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 IEEE.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/6/14
Y1 - 2020/6/14
N2 - Thermally conductive backsheets (TCBs) have a potential to reduce the module operating temperature (performance) and increase the lifetime (reliability) of photovoltaic (PV) modules. In this study, various commercially available TCBs were acquired and investigated using the field exposure approach for thermal performance evaluations and accelerated testing approach for the power durability evaluations. Four TCBs were selected and their thermal performance and power durability evaluations were performed against conventional Tedlar-PET-Tedlar (TPT) backsheet. Nine-cell mini PV modules constructed with the selected TCBs and TPT were installed at three sites with hot-dry with high wind speed, hot-dry with low wind speed and temperate climatic conditions. The modules with TCBs reduced the module operating temperature under certain field conditions. These modules with selected TCBs and TPT were also tested as per IEC 61215 standard and Beyond Qualification Plus protocol for minimum reliability and durability. None of the mini modules showed significant degradation (less than 3% in power loss) after the DH1000, UV/TC50/HF10, TC200 and UV weathering tests. One TCB showed a significant change in yellowness index after the DH 1000h, TC200 and UVITC50/HF10 stress tests. This study demonstrates that the selected TCBs have potential to increase the energy production and the lifetime due to reduced operating temperatures compared to TPT-based modules.
AB - Thermally conductive backsheets (TCBs) have a potential to reduce the module operating temperature (performance) and increase the lifetime (reliability) of photovoltaic (PV) modules. In this study, various commercially available TCBs were acquired and investigated using the field exposure approach for thermal performance evaluations and accelerated testing approach for the power durability evaluations. Four TCBs were selected and their thermal performance and power durability evaluations were performed against conventional Tedlar-PET-Tedlar (TPT) backsheet. Nine-cell mini PV modules constructed with the selected TCBs and TPT were installed at three sites with hot-dry with high wind speed, hot-dry with low wind speed and temperate climatic conditions. The modules with TCBs reduced the module operating temperature under certain field conditions. These modules with selected TCBs and TPT were also tested as per IEC 61215 standard and Beyond Qualification Plus protocol for minimum reliability and durability. None of the mini modules showed significant degradation (less than 3% in power loss) after the DH1000, UV/TC50/HF10, TC200 and UV weathering tests. One TCB showed a significant change in yellowness index after the DH 1000h, TC200 and UVITC50/HF10 stress tests. This study demonstrates that the selected TCBs have potential to increase the energy production and the lifetime due to reduced operating temperatures compared to TPT-based modules.
KW - cell temperature
KW - thermally conductive backsheets
KW - UV weathering test
KW - yellowness index
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85099577355&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85099577355&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/PVSC45281.2020.9300688
DO - 10.1109/PVSC45281.2020.9300688
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85099577355
T3 - Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
SP - 775
EP - 780
BT - 2020 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2020
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2020
Y2 - 15 June 2020 through 21 August 2020
ER -