Effects of outdoor exposure on solar cell modules in the ERDA/NASA Lewis Research Center Ststems Test Facility

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7221169· OSTI ID:7221169

Weinberg, I.; Curtis, H. B.; Forestieri, A. F.

Solar cell modules were removed from the ERDA/NASA Lewis Research Center Systems Test Facility and I-V curves obtained in the Lewis pulsed xenon simulator under standard conditions (air mass 1 and 28/sup 0/C). Modules involved were supplied by three vendors under the ERDA/JPL Low Cost Silicon Solar Array Project. Outdoor exposure times varied from 41 to 245 days. The effects of outdoor exposure were determined by comparing standard I-V data obtained for the as-received modules with similar data obtained after removal from the field and cleaning with detergent solution. All modules measured in this way exhibited nonrecoverable degradation in P/sub max/ varying from 4 to 7% and I/sub sc/ varying from 2/sup 1///sub 2/ to 5/sup 1///sub 2/%. One module exposed for 41 days exhibited partial cell discoloration, loss of front surface metallization over the discolored portion, and a decrease in P/sub max/ of 7%, tentatively attributed to cell damage. Measurements before and after cleaning showed a recoverable degradation due to dirt accumulation. This recoverable loss in power was 11% after 245 days in the field for one brand of module, 6% after 48 days for another brand, and 4/sup 1///sub 2/% for the third brand.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Cleveland, OH (USA). Lewis Research Center
• DOE Contract Number: EX-76-A-29-1022
• OSTI ID: 7221169
• Report Number(s): ERDA/NASA/1022-77/13; NASA-TM-X-73657
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CLEANING
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER PLANTS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
TESTING
WEATHER
WEATHERING