A Rational Strength Prediction Approach to the Design of Double-Glass Photovoltaic Modules

Abstract

A rational and systematic approach to estimate the load resistance and strength of various double-glass photovoltaic modules is demonstrated. The approach consists of three steps: 1) calculation of module stiffness based on a laminate effective thickness theory; 2) calculation of the highest stress concentration in the two glass plies of the module using a modified plate theory; and 3) estimation of glass breakage probability of the module against specified loads by comparing the stress concentration calculated in step 2 with allowable glass stress and associated breakage probability. In the modified plate theory, a parameter that incorporates stress mitigation by a peripheral frame and installation is introduced to enable simple and fast calculations. The allowable stress of glass in step 3 is obtained by the Weibull analysis of glass breakage data obtained by a ring-on-ring test. The calculation methodology has been validated experimentally using load tests and direct measurements of glass principal stress in a real module under load. The approach can be used for fast screening and initial design of various structures to resist specified imposed mechanical loads.

Medium and Long-Term Electricity Trading Considering Renewable Energy Participation

“…The probabilistic sequence of wind power and photovoltaic outputs are F w (α w ) and F s (α s ), and the probability that the power exceeds the upper limit is reduced to zero. Then new probabilistic sequences F w,new (α w ), F s,new (α s ) and corresponding probability change sequences F w,ch arg e (α w ), F s,ch arg e (α s ) are generated by (21).…”

A systematic design approach of an embedded-control material-strength testing system

“…However, there is not much effort directed towards strength testing machines of the PV glass sheet with special loading requirements (Brow and Schmitt, 2009; Deubener et al, 2009; Green, 2007). Although some papers discussed attributes of the glass strength (Charles, 1961; Levengood, 1958; Mencik, 1992; Reed and Fuller, 1985) and prediction approaches of the glass strength (Beason and Morgan, 1984; Lindqvist, 2013; Shitanoki et al, 2014) under fluctuating loads, and even Cai et al (2011) and Zhang et al (2012), respectively, proposed experimental set-ups for testing the glass strength, detailed designs of the glass strength testing machines were not given.…”