Numerical analysis of silicon solar cells

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5989755

Lundstrom, M S

A set of equations which accurately describes the physics of modern high-efficiency silicon solar cells is formulated and solved numerically. The transport equations of Marshak and van Vliet are recast into a simple. Boltzmann-like form in which the effects associated with the nonuniform band structure and degenerate carrier concentrations are described by two parameters, the effective gap shrinkage and the effective asymmetry factor. The experimental determination of both of these parameters is also discussed. Adler's contention, that some important features of semiconductor device operation can be modeled accurately by using an electically measured effective bandgap shrinkage with an arbitrarily chosen effective asymmetry factor, is also considered. A semiconductor device is described mathematically by Poisson's equation and two current continuity equations. Using the transport equations, these equations were solved numerically in one dimension. The accuracy of the model was tested by comparing the results of computer calculations to exact, analytical results (for certain simple cases) and to experimental results. The model was shown to accurately describe high-efficiency silicon solar cells under a wide range of operating biases and for solar concentrations that varied from 1 to 250. By using the computer model, we were able to explain a physical mechanism which operates to degrade the performance of BSF solar cells operated under high solar concentration. The model was also used to design cells in which the effects of this degradation were minimized. A two-dimensional numerical solar cell model was also developed. An example of the use of this program in analyzing IBC solar cells is presented.

• OSTI ID: 5989755
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
ASYMMETRY
BACK CONTACT SOLAR CELLS
BAND THEORY
CHARGE CARRIERS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
CONCENTRATION RATIO
CONTINUITY EQUATIONS
CURRENTS
DESIGN
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ENERGY GAP
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POISSON EQUATION
QUANTITY RATIO
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TESTING
TRANSPORT THEORY
VALIDATION