Error analysis of aged modules with cracked polyamide backsheets

Eder, Gabriele; Voronko, Yuliya; Oreški, Gernot; Mühleisen, W.; Knausz, Marlene; Omazic, Antonia; Rainer, Alois; Hirschl, Christina; Sonnleitner, H.

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2019.110194

Cited by 71 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…However, as described in detail in the IEA PVPS Task 13 report on "Assessment of Photovoltaic Module Failures in the Field" [21], many PV module failure modes are related to unfavorable material interactions or material degradations. Thus, recently, several researches active in failure analysis of PV modules, e.g., [7,[22][23][24][25][26][27], started transferring the technically mature portable spectrometers (IR, Raman, NIR) to this different field of application and applied them for nondestructively • validating the bill of materials (BOM) of PV devices, and • documenting the aging effects of polymeric materials (i.e., encapsulation, backsheet).…”

Section: Mobile Devices For Onsite Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurements On Field-aged Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One type of cracking (micro-cracks) [24] showed beginning material degradation (oxidative degradation) on the environmental side of the PA-backsheet and has not been correlated with a loss in electrical performance so far. Another type of cracking (squared cracks) [24], however, exhibited first material degradation effects at the interface between EVA encapsulant and PA backsheet in the intercellular spaces. This degradation then propagated through the core and outer layer, causing a crack through the whole backsheet, leading to water ingress followed by backsheet delamination and corrosion effects, and, consequently, electrical performance loss and safety problems [24].…”

Section: Measurements On Field-aged Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another type of cracking (squared cracks) [24], however, exhibited first material degradation effects at the interface between EVA encapsulant and PA backsheet in the intercellular spaces. This degradation then propagated through the core and outer layer, causing a crack through the whole backsheet, leading to water ingress followed by backsheet delamination and corrosion effects, and, consequently, electrical performance loss and safety problems [24].…”

Section: Measurements On Field-aged Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One well-known example is the formation of different types of cracks in Polyamide (PA)-based backsheets observed in several PV plants within the last years. One type of cracking (micro-cracks) [24] showed beginning material degradation (oxidative degradation) on the environmental side of the PA-backsheet and has not been correlated with a loss in electrical performance so far. Another type of cracking (squared cracks) [24], however, exhibited first material degradation effects at the interface between EVA encapsulant and PA backsheet in the intercellular Spectroscopic detectable chemical encapsulant degradation, e.g., the raise of carbonyl bonds, hydroxyl absorptions, or changes in the CH absorption pattern, is often paired with polymer chain splitting, leading to stiffening of the polymer, thus facilitating delamination and corrosion effects induced by penetrating substances (water vapor, oxygen) [33].…”

Section: Measurements On Field-aged Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On-Site Identification of the Material Composition of PV Modules with Mobile Spectroscopic Devices

et al. 2020

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With the increased development of portable and handheld molecular spectrometers within recent years, new fields of applications have opened up, such as their use (i) for material identification of samples contained in large and non-portable components and (ii) the detection of material degradation effects and failures directly in the plant. The usability and transferability of well-established analytical characterization techniques, such as attenuated total reflection (ATR) Infrared (IR)-, Raman, and Near-Infrared (NIR)-spectroscopy as mobile devices for the in-field characterization of Photovoltaic (PV) modules, are described and discussed. Material identification of the polymeric compounds incorporated in the PV modules (encapsulants, backsheets) is often an important task, especially when degradation and failures occur. Whereas the knowledge of the bill of materials is one challenge, the detection of material degradation effects is another important issue. Both tasks can be solved nondestructively by the application of mobile spectrometers. Raman spectroscopy is the best-suited method for the identification of the encapsulant within the module (measurement through 3-mm glass), while NIR measurements allowed for the nondestructive determination of the composition of the multilayer backsheet. Surface degradation effects (e.g., oxidation, hydrolysis) are best detectable with IR-spectroscopy. The application of mobile devices allows for direct material analysis in the field without dismantling PV modules, transporting them to the lab, cutting them in smaller pieces, and analyzing them in conventional bench-top spectrometers.

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Section: Mobile Devices For Onsite Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurements On Field-aged Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurements On Field-aged Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurements On Field-aged Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Measurements On Field-aged Pv Modulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On-Site Identification of the Material Composition of PV Modules with Mobile Spectroscopic Devices

et al. 2020

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Toward Reuse‐Ready PV: A Perspective on Recent Advances, Practices, and Future Challenges

Tsanakas,

Oreski,

Eder

et al. 2024

Adv Energy and Sustain Res

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Photovoltaic (PV) industry is facing challenges in end‐of‐life (EoL) management, as cumulative PV waste is expected to increase exponentially over the next two decades. The increase in revamping and repowering activities, especially of older PV fleets, underscores the need to refine EoL strategies and increase the reuse readiness of PV modules and other components. As PV systems transition from operational to the EoL regime, streamlined PV qualification and repair strategies become indispensable. This is the only way to ensure reusable PV systems and a bankable second‐life PV market. This perspective study sheds light on current research, innovations, practices, and future challenges toward higher PV reuse readiness in the PV industry, highlighting qualification methods, repair strategies, and standardization for PV reuse. An exemplary triage‐for‐reuse framework is discussed, involving four steps: 1) off‐site eligibility checks; 2) on‐site inspections and functionality tests; 3) collection and transportation; 4) deeper technical checks. The study also reviews recent advances and research in repair strategies for reuse—addressing notably reliability issues of backsheet, glass and interconnection components—as well as ongoing standardization efforts. Conclusions underscore the the pressing need for circularity in the entire PV products’ lifecycle: from design/material level to system, operations and maintenance, and EoL.

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Impact of specimen preparation method on photovoltaic backsheet degradation during accelerated aging test

Xia

Liu²,

et al. 2022

Energy Science & Engineering

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In this study, we highlight some important factors in the specimen preparation methods for evaluating photovoltaic backsheet properties after accelerated aging. Two different sequences are considered: Method (I) cut-then-age: cut into 1-cm wide strips and then expose to stress, and Method (II) age-then-cut: expose a larger sheet to stress and then cut into 1-cm widths for mechanical property measurements. We also compare the effect of three cutting methods, (a) tensile specimen punch, (b) paper cutter, and (c) fresh razor blade. Several commercial backsheets were evaluated, with stress exposures including (a) pressure cooker test (PCT), (b) dry ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, and (c) UV combined damp heat tests. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and intrinsic viscosity (IV) were used to analyze the materials on unstressed materials and samples exposed to PCT. The results show that both the cutting method and the time of cutting have an impact on the backsheet mechanical properties. Under UV exposure, Method II, age-then-cut, generally resulted in a higher average value, with more variation than Method I; however, if the side strips from Method II were excluded, the variation dropped to the same level. This is because the specimens at the sides of the sheet get additional damage from UV light from the exposed sides of the sample. In contrast to UV exposure, PCT specimens prepared by Method II result in lower average values and higher variability. This is attributed to embrittlement through the bulk of the sample where the cutting of embrittled specimens appears to result in more edge defects which can then initiate a break at smaller strains. The data suggest that for UV exposures, the specimens should be cut after aging and the exposed side specimens discarded, and that for PCT exposures, the specimens should be cut before the exposure.

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Error analysis of aged modules with cracked polyamide backsheets

Cited by 71 publications

References 23 publications

On-Site Identification of the Material Composition of PV Modules with Mobile Spectroscopic Devices

On-Site Identification of the Material Composition of PV Modules with Mobile Spectroscopic Devices

Toward Reuse‐Ready PV: A Perspective on Recent Advances, Practices, and Future Challenges

Impact of specimen preparation method on photovoltaic backsheet degradation during accelerated aging test

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