Automated Array Assembly, Phase 2. Quarterly technical progress reort, First Quarter 1978. Texas Instruments report No. 03-78-12

Technical Report · Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6836173· OSTI ID:6836173

Garbajal, B G

The Automated Array Assembly Task, Phase 2 of the Low Cost Silicon Solar Array (LSSA) Project is a process development task. This contract includes solar cell module process development activities in the areas of Surface Preparation, Plasma Processing, Diffusion, Cell Processing and Module Fabrication. In addition, a High Efficiency Cell Development Activity is included. The overall goal is to advance solar cell module process technology to meet the 1986 goal of a production capacity of 500 megawatts per year at a cost of less than $500 per kilowatt. This contract will focus on the process element developments stated above and will propose an overall module process. During the first quarter of 1978, effort was focused on understanding the texture etch process, improving the phosphorus diffusion process, fabricating large-area square cells, refining module costing and identifying cost problem areas, initiating module piece part fabrication, and establishing current density--thickness relationships for Tandem Junction Cells. A mechanism is proposed that explains the texturing process and accounts for the various methods of accelerating the pyramid formation process. The first large-area square cells have been fabricated for use in test sample module assembly. Cu-Invar clad metal bus bars have been fabricated and two material cost areas have been identified as cost problem areas.

• Research Organization: Texas Instruments, Inc., Dallas, TX (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-954881
• OSTI ID: 6836173
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/954881-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
FABRICATION
SURFACE TREATMENTS
CONNECTORS
COST
DIFFUSION
ETCHING
PHOSPHORUS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
CONDUCTOR DEVICES
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
NONMETALS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
SURFACE FINISHING
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion