Photovoltaic module reliability improvement through application testing and failure analysis

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · IEEE Trans. Reliab.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TR.1982.5221325· OSTI ID:6567403

Dumas, L N; Shumka, A

During the first four years of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Photovoltatic Program, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Low-Cost Solar Array (LSA) Project purchased about 400 kW of photovoltaic modules for test and experiments. In order to identify, report, and analyze test and operational problems with the Block Procurement modules, a problem/failure reporting and analysis system was implemented by the LSA Project with the main purpose of providing manufacturers with feedback from test and field experience needed for the improvement of product performance and reliability. A description of the more significant types of failures is presented, taking into account interconnects, cracked cells, dielectric breakdown, delamination, and corrosion. Current design practices and reliability evaluations are also discussed. The conducted evaluation indicates that current module designs incorporate damage-resistant and fault-tolerant features which address field failure mechanisms observed to date.

• Research Organization: California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
• OSTI ID: 6567403
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Reliab.; (United States), Vol. R-31
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
RELIABILITY
CRACKS
DEGASSING
JOINING
QUALITY CONTROL
WEATHERING
CONTROL
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TESTING
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion