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Review of PV module performance at DOE/MIT Lincoln Laboratory test sites during the period 1977 to 1982

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6748260
;
During the years 1977 to 1982, over 11,000 photovoltaic (PV) modules have been placed 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. 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: (1) cells cracked due to weathering or internal module stresses, (2) failed solder joints, (3) interconnects not soldered to rear sides of cells at assembly, (4) cells or interconnects electrically shorted to metallic substrates, and (5) 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 Inst. of Tech., Lexington (USA). Lincoln Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76ET20279
OSTI ID:
6748260
Report Number(s):
DOE/ET/20279-227; CONF-820906-10; ON: DE83001136
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CONTAMINATION
CRACKS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL FAULTS
EQUIPMENT
FAILURES
FEDERAL REGION V
FEDERAL REGION VII
FIELD TESTS
INSPECTION
JOINTS
NATURAL BRIDGES NATIONAL MONUMENT
NEBRASKA
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PUBLIC LANDS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLDERED JOINTS
SURFACE CONTAMINATION
TESTING
USA
WEATHERING