An innovative method for accelerated ageing study of CPV receivers: Thermal inhomogeneities mapping via electroluminescence

Mabille, Loïc; Mangeant, Christophe; Baudrit, Mathieu

doi:10.1109/pvsc.2013.6745182

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The second receiver is based on the insulated metal substrate (IMS) concept. It has been designed and demonstrated by CEA [7]. It also uses a 1 cm 2 lattice-matched triple-junction cell with a front grid adapted to 500 suns and it is in this case encapsulated with transparent silicone.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the encapsulant temperature on the angular and spectral response of multi-junction solar cells

García‐Linares

Domínguez

Voarino

et al. 2014

2014 IEEE 40th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)

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Multi-junction solar cells (MJSC) operating at working conditions under concentration are subjected to temperatures (T) for which the optical coupling provided by their anti-reflective coatings (ARC) has not been optimized. High temperatures and wide ray angles produced by the concentrator on the optical interface of the cell can significantly modify the ARC performance. This effect is especially pronounced for ARCs adapted to silicone encapsulant because the silicone refractive index (n) is significantly sensitive to temperature, modifying the optimal design thickness and material composition. This effect is magnified for tilted rays whose optical path length through the ARC layer is most modified. In this work, an absolute external quantum efficiency (EQE) characterization system is adapted to perform angular and temperature spectral response analysis, allowing to quantify the impact of the optical mismatch caused by the increase of encapsulant temperature for each of their junctions. The intricacies of this upgraded characterization technique are explored, providing insight on important unexpected measurement variables such as finger orientation with respect to the incident ray bundle. A significant spectral mismatch between junctions due to the change in silicone temperature has been observed, leading to short-circuit current (I SC ) losses as high as 6% with respect to the design conditions (T=25°C) for rays impinging the cell with tilt angles of 70° and more realistic operation temperatures of 65°C. The losses arise from current mismatch between subcells produced by variations in the optical coupling. Lessons from this analysis may be taken into account by future CPV system designers.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the encapsulant temperature on the angular and spectral response of multi-junction solar cells

García‐Linares

Domínguez

Voarino

et al. 2014

2014 IEEE 40th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)

Self Cite

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“…This technique is applied by injecting very high currents that emulate the operating conditions of the MJSC under concentration such that the thermal runaway is produced and can be detected by this enhanced EL characterization [35].…”

Section: Other Defects Present In Mjsc Imaged By Elmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Multijunction Concentrator Solar Cells

Domínguez

García‐Linares

2015

High Concentrator Photovoltaics

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This chapter summarizes the state of the art in instruments and methods for the characterization of concentrator multijunction (MJ) solar cells (MJSC). The current-voltage characteristic (I-V curve) under illumination and the spectral response or quantum efficiency (QE) are the main properties of a solar cell. The measurement of the I-V curve as a function of light concentration provides the most relevant information on cell performance such as peak efficiency or series resistance losses. Concentrator solar simulators should fulfill strict spatial uniformity and spectral requirements to provide accurate measurements. Precise spectral tunability is required to reduce errors in the measurement of latest-generation cell architectures, especially those not based on a germanium bottom cell with an excess of current. The main types of concentrator solar simulators are described, and advice on appropriate reference sensors and measurement precautions is provided. Spectral characterization under controlled simulator conditions is essential to analyze MJ cell behavior under the ever-varying spectral conditions found in real operation. The relevance of the QE is that it allows calculating the photocurrent generated by each subcell under a particular spectral irradiance and diagnosing possible malfunctioning of the different regions of the cell. Cell electroluminescence (EL) is also discussed as a useful tool for assessing defects. Spatially resolved EL can be used to analyze solar cell internal defects, sheet resistivity, or thermal inhomogeneity under steady concentrated light. Typical characterization set-ups, test procedures, and potential instrumentation issues are discussed for QE and EL.

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Status and Perspective of Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems: the Results of the BioCPV Project and Opportunities for a Sustainable Energy Supply to Rural Areas

Mallick¹,

Micheli²,

Banerjee³

et al. 2016

Proceedings of the ISES Solar World Congress 2015

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An innovative method for accelerated ageing study of CPV receivers: Thermal inhomogeneities mapping via electroluminescence

Cited by 3 publications

References 10 publications

Effect of the encapsulant temperature on the angular and spectral response of multi-junction solar cells

Effect of the encapsulant temperature on the angular and spectral response of multi-junction solar cells

Characterization of Multijunction Concentrator Solar Cells

Status and Perspective of Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems: the Results of the BioCPV Project and Opportunities for a Sustainable Energy Supply to Rural Areas

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