Review of PV module performance at DOE/MIT Lincoln Laboratory test sites during the period 1977-1982
During the years 1977-1982, MIT Lincoln Laboratory (LL) placed over 11,000 photovoltaic (PV) modules at experimental PV power generating systems in a number of field test sites in the United States. Prominent among these are a 100-kW system at Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, a 25-kWp system at Mead, Nebraska, and a 15-kW system at Bryan, Ohio. The modules used in each of these systems were procured through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Large Scale Procurement Program as part of the U. S. Department of Energy's National Photovoltaic Program. Through a program of periodic surveillance, measurements, and inspections at the aforementioned sites, electrically failed modules were located, removed and analyzed during this six year period. The principal causes of failure were: cells cracked due to weathering or internal module stresses, failed solder joints, interconnects not soldered to rear sides of cells at assembly, cells or interconnects electrically shorted to metallic substrates, and broken or split interconnects. Details and photographs of many of the different types of failures are presented and some of the analysis techniques used to locate the failures are described.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, Massachusetts 02173
- OSTI ID:
- 5379152
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-820906-
- Journal Information:
- Conf. Rec. IEEE Photovoltaic Spec. Conf.; (United States), Conference: 16. IEEE photovoltaics specialists conference, San Diego, CA, USA, 28 Sep 1982
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
MODULAR STRUCTURES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
US DOE
TEST FACILITIES
ELECTRICAL FAULTS
FAILURES
IMAGES
NATIONAL ENERGY PLAN
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR ENERGY
STRESSES
WEATHERING
WELDED JOINTS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
JOINTS
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWER PLANTS
POWER SUPPLIES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
TESTING
US ORGANIZATIONS
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems