Moisture ingress prediction in polyisobutylene-based edge seal with molecular sieve desiccant

Kempe, Michael D.; Nobles, Dylan L.; Postak, Lori; Calderon, Jose Alonzo

doi:10.1002/pip.2947

Moisture ingress prediction in polyisobutylene-based edge seal with molecular sieve desiccant

Journal Article · Thu Oct 26 00:00:00 EDT 2017 · Progress in Photovoltaics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2947· OSTI ID:1417731

Kempe, Michael D. ^[1]; Nobles, Dylan L. ^[1]; Postak, Lori ^[2]; Calderon, Jose Alonzo ^[3]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Quanex IG Systems, Inc., Cambridge, OH (United States)
First Solar, Inc., Perrysburg, OH (United States)

Often photovoltaic modules are constructed with materials that are sensitive to water. This is most often the case with thin film technologies, including perovskite cells, where the active layers are a few microns thick and can be sensitive to moisture, liquid water or both. When moisture or liquid water can ingress, a small amount of water can lead to corrosion and depending on the resulting reactions, a larger local detrimental effect is possible. To prevent moisture from contacting photovoltaic components, impermeable frontsheets and backsheets are used with a polyisobutylene (PIB)-based edge seal material around the perimeter. Here, we evaluate the ability of a PIB-based edge seal using a molecular sieve desiccant to keep moisture out for the expected module lifetime. Moisture ingress is evaluated using test coupons where the edge seal is placed between 2 pieces of glass, one of which has a metallic calcium film on it, and monitoring the moisture ingress distance as a function of time. We expose samples to different temperature and humidity conditions to create permeation models useful for extrapolation to field use. This extrapolation indicates that this PIB material is capable of keeping moisture out of a module for the desired lifetime.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1417731

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1405038

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA--5J00-68790

Journal Information:: Progress in Photovoltaics, Journal Name: Progress in Photovoltaics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 26; ISSN 1062-7995

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Using a butt joint test to evaluate photovoltaic edge seal adhesion Kempe, Michael; Korkmaz, Kaan; Postak, Lori Energy Science & Engineering, Vol. 7, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.273	journal	February 2019

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