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Title: Photovoltaic module reliability improvement through application testing and failure analysis

Abstract

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.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
OSTI Identifier:
6567403
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
IEEE Trans. Reliab.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: R-31
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
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

Citation Formats

Dumas, L N, and Shumka, A. Photovoltaic module reliability improvement through application testing and failure analysis. United States: N. p., 1982. Web. doi:10.1109/TR.1982.5221325.
Dumas, L N, & Shumka, A. Photovoltaic module reliability improvement through application testing and failure analysis. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TR.1982.5221325
Dumas, L N, and Shumka, A. 1982. "Photovoltaic module reliability improvement through application testing and failure analysis". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/TR.1982.5221325.
@article{osti_6567403,
title = {Photovoltaic module reliability improvement through application testing and failure analysis},
author = {Dumas, L N and Shumka, A},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1109/TR.1982.5221325},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6567403}, journal = {IEEE Trans. Reliab.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = R-31,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982},
month = {Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982}
}