Module Encapsulant Diagnostic and Modeling

Conference · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2005

OSTI ID:860684

Kempe, M

Encapsulant materials are used in photovoltaic devices for mechanical support, electrical isolation, and protection against corrosion. The ability of an encapsulant to protect against surface corrosion is related to its adhesional strength. The adhesion of candidate encapsulants under accelerated environmental stress was examined to determine what materials have the best hydrolytic stability and are more likely to reduce corrosion rates. Under environmental exposure, the ingress of water has been correlated with increased corrosion rates. The diffusivity of different encapsulants has been measured to determine how long it takes for water to enter a module. The high diffusivity of ethylene vinyl acetate indicates that, even with the use of an impermeable back-sheet, moisture from the sides will diffuse throughout the entire module. To significantly reduce moisture ingress requires a true hermetic seal, the use of an encapsulant loaded with desiccant, or the use of a very low diffusivity encapsulant.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 860684
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP-520-37027
• Conference Information: Presented at the 2004 DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program Review Meeting, 25-28 October 2004, Denver, Colorado. Also included in the proceedings available on CD-ROM (DOE/GO-102005-2067; NREL/CD-520-37140)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADHESION
CORROSION
ELECTRICAL ISOLATION
ENCAPSULANT MATERIALS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
ETHYLENE
ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE (EVA)
HYDROLYTIC STABILITY
IMPERMEABLE BACK-SHEET
MODULE
MOISTURE
POLYVINYLS
PV
SIMULATION
SOLAR ENERGY
Solar Energy - Photovoltaics
STABILITY
WATER
WATER VAPOR TRANSMISSION RATE (WVTR)