Teflon&amp;#x00AE; FEP frontsheets for photovoltaic modules: Improved optics leading to higher module efficiency

Samuels, Sam L.; Glassmaker, Nicholas; Andrews, G.; Brown, M.; Lewittes, Mark

doi:10.1109/pvsc.2010.5616754

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…As shown in Table 1, encapsulant 820UD had a transmittance T PVexp = 0.83, which is between 7% and 13% lower than that of traditional encapsulations [5]. The Archinsolar project [8] showed, however, that a 10% loss in efficiency is well accepted for architecturally well integrated PV modules.…”

Section: Comparison Of Experimental Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As shown in Table 2, encapsulant 820UD had a transmittance T PV exp ¼ 0.83, which is between 7% and 13% lower than that of traditional encapsulations. 8 The Archinsolar project showed that a 10% loss in efficiency, and therefore a 10% loss of transmittance, is well accepted for architecturally well-integrated PV modules. 22 The slightly lower efficiency of the encapsulation of PV cells into multifunctional GFRP elements with load-bearing capacity presented here thus seems acceptable.…”

Section: Comparison Of Experimental Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For an encapsulated PV cell, sensitive to light wavelengths in the band from l 1 to l 2 , the transmittance of the encapsulant can be determined according to Samuels et al 8…”

Section: Model Based On Short-circuit Current Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For building applications, recent research [4] has explored the thermal and mechanical feasibility of encapsulating PV cells in the translucent skin of structural GFRP/PUR (polyurethane) sandwich structures, however no optical investigation of the light transmittance through structural GFRP encapsulants was performed. For traditional encapsulants of a-Si PV cells, that is, cells covered with a thin layer of EVA adhesive and front sheets of glass or fluoropolymers, transmittance ranges from 0.89 to 0.95 were reported in [5]. This research investigates light transmittance of GFRP laminates used as translucent load-bearing structures and encapsulants of solar cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7 However, no optical investigation of the light transmittance through structural GFRP encapsulants was performed in this study. For traditional encapsulants of a-Si PV cells, that is, cells covered with a thin layer of ethylene vinyl acetate adhesive and front sheets of glass or fluoropolymers, transmittance ranges from 0.89 to 0.95 were reported by Samuels et al 8 The light transmittance depends on the energy loss of a beam of light during propagation from one medium to another through a laminate. This loss has three components: reflected light in the interfaces between the external mediums and the laminate and scattered and absorbed light inside the laminate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Total light transmittance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer laminates for multifunctional load-bearing structures

Pascual

Castro

Schueler

et al. 2013

Journal of Composite Materials

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Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) materials are increasingly used in building construction for the design of multifunctional structures. These composite materials allow the integration of structural functions, building physics functions (mainly thermal insulation) and architectural functions (complex forms and color) in single large-scale building components. GFRP materials also allow the fabrication of translucent structural components with high degree of transparency when optically aligned resins and glass fibers are used, i.e. their refractive indices are identical. In this study the total light transmittance of hand lay-up GFRP laminates for building construction was investigated with a view to two architectural applications: translucent load-bearing structures and the encapsulation of photovoltaic (PV) cells into GFRP building skins of sandwich structures. Spectrophotometric experiments using an integrating sphere set-up were performed on unidirectional and cross-ply GFRP specimens in the range from 20% to 35% fiber volume fraction. Results were compared with the shortcircuit currents generated by amorphous silicon (a-Si) PV cells encapsulated in GFRP laminates exposed to artificial sunlight radiation. The total amount of fibers in the laminates was the major parameter influencing light transmittance, with fiber architecture having little effect. 83% of solar irradiance in the band of 300-800 nm reached the surface of a-Si PV cells encapsulated below structural GFRP laminates with a fiber reinforcement weight of 820 g/m 2 , demonstrating the feasibility of conceiving multifunctional GFRP structures.

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Section: Comparison Of Experimental Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Comparison Of Experimental Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For an encapsulated PV cell, sensitive to light wavelengths in the band from l 1 to l 2 , the transmittance of the encapsulant can be determined according to Samuels et al 8…”

Section: Model Based On Short-circuit Current Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Total light transmittance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer laminates for multifunctional load-bearing structures

Pascual

Castro

Schueler

et al. 2013

Journal of Composite Materials

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Water vapor permeability of polymeric packaging materials for novel glass‐free photovoltaic applications

Babin,

Eder,

Voronko

et al. 2024

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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Moisture ingress in photovoltaic (PV) modules is a critical factor for performance degradation, therefore, a low water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) is highly desirable for polymers used to embed the solar cells, including backsheets, frontsheets, and encapsulants. With the advent of glass‐free modules for integration in building envelopes and vehicles, there is growing interest in polymer composite structures with embedded glass fibers to enhance rigidity. Furthermore, due to environmental concerns, there is increased interest in fluorine‐free polymers for PV applications. In this work, 21 samples with different base polymers, coatings, and/or surface treatments are investigated and their WVTRs are measured. The results show no good alternatives to existing fluoride‐based polymers/coatings for reducing WVTRs of backsheets and frontsheets among the investigated samples. In addition, glass fibers embedded within polymers to provide increased stability to backsheets or in composites for lightweight PV are shown to significantly increase WVTRs, especially, when fibers are not properly embedded, providing additional diffusion pathways for moisture ingress.

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Development of Novel Frontsheets With Protective Coatings to Increase the Durability and Reliability of Glass‐Free Lightweight PV Modules

Voronko,

Eder,

Reiser

et al. 2024

Progress in Photovoltaics

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In this work, novel PET‐based frontsheet materials with UV‐cured coatings were developed and investigated. UV‐curing urethane acrylates were selected as innovative, fluorine‐free coating systems. Polyurethane coatings exhibit excellent UV resistance, chemical and moisture resistance and, thus, high durability in outdoor applications. A homogeneous application without coating defects such as bubbles, voids or detachments was achieved. Material tests with cross‐cut tests showed no separation from the PET substrate. The water vapor transmission rates and the physical (optical and thermal) and chemical properties of the novel polymeric frontsheets were measured and compared with uncoated reference systems and products already on the market. The aging‐related changes after irradiation and humid heat storage were investigated and described in detail. Based on this comprehensive study, the newly developed frontsheets can be considered a suitable alternative to polymeric frontsheets with fluorine‐containing top layers.

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Teflon® FEP frontsheets for photovoltaic modules: Improved optics leading to higher module efficiency

Cited by 4 publications

References 3 publications

Total light transmittance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer laminates for multifunctional load-bearing structures

Total light transmittance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer laminates for multifunctional load-bearing structures

Water vapor permeability of polymeric packaging materials for novel glass‐free photovoltaic applications

Development of Novel Frontsheets With Protective Coatings to Increase the Durability and Reliability of Glass‐Free Lightweight PV Modules

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