Development of a photovoltaic concentrator cell assembly for use in point focus systems. Final report

Technical Report · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:6721670

A solar cell mount assembly for use in a Fresnel lens point-focus concentrator system has been developed. This assembly uses a GE-patented direct bonded copper-on-alumina insulator to provide the required electrical isolation with a thermal resistance of less than 0.2/sup 0/C/watt between the solar cell junction and the interface of the mount with the module baseplate. High lead solder, Indalloy 151, is used to attach the cell contacts to the direct-bonded copper conductors and to attach the insulator subassembly to a copper heat spreader which provides the centrally located mounting stud for the assembly. This solder composition has demonstrated superior fatigue resistance, when compared to 60 percent tin solder, when subjected to thermal cycling in a bimetal sandwich laminate. Development cell mounts of this design have been subjected to a thermal cycling test exposure, consisting of 100 cycles between the extremes of -30 and +50/sup 0/C followed by 100 cycles between the extremes of +50 to +150/sup 0/C, without measurable changes in the thermal resistance. One thousand cell mounts of this design have been assembled and delivered to Sandia for further evaluation.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Philadelphia, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6721670
• Report Number(s): SAND-80-7139
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
COPPER
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FRESNEL LENS
JOINING
JOINTS
LENSES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLDERED JOINTS
SOLDERING
SUPPORTS
TESTING
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMAL CYCLING
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WELDING