• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2014

In recent years, discoloration defects, called as snail trail, have been observed at many crystalline photovoltaic modules after a period of time ranging from several months to several years after initial installation. It has been reported that this phenomenon doesn't impact on the performance of photovoltaic modules, but it can be detected through simple visual inspection. The origin and detailed mechanism for the formation have not been identified. In this study, non-destructive analysis by Raman spectroscopy has been carried out to investigate the origin of this phenomenon. In parallel, destructive analysis by scanning electron microscopt and transmission electron microscopy was also performed in order to confirm the results from non-destructive method. Through the extensive analysis, it was found that the main cause for discoloration is the formations of $Ag_2CO_3$ and $AgC_2H_3O_2$. Detailed mechanism for the formation of these particles was indentified through systematic studies.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.24-33
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• 2012

Recently, finishing materials at spandrel area, a part of curtain-wall system, are gradually forced to improve thermal insulation performance in order to enhance the building energy efficiency. Also, Building Integrated Photovoltaics(BIPV) systems have been installed in the exterior side of the spandrel area, which is generally composed of windows. Those BIPVs aim to achieve high building energy efficiency and supply the electricity to building. However, if transparent BIPV module is combined with high insulated spandrel, it would reduce the PV efficiency for two major reasons. First, temperature in the air space, located between window layer and finishing layer of the spandrel area, can significantly increase by solar heat gain, because the space has a few air density relative to other spaces in building. Secondly, PV has a characteristics of decreased Voltage(Voc and Vmp) with the increased temperature on the PV cell. For these reasons, this research analyzed a direct interrelation between PV Cell temperature and electricity generation performance under different insulation conditions in the spandrel area. The different insulation conditions under consideration are 1) high insulated spandrel(HIS) 2) low insulated spandrel(LIS) 3) PV stand alone on the ground(SAG). As a result, in case of 1) HIS, PV temperature was increased and thus electricity generation efficiency was decreased more than other cases. To be specific, each cases' maximum temperature indicated that 1) HIS is $83.8^{\circ}C$, 2) LIS is $74.2^{\circ}C$, and 3) SAG is $66.3^{\circ}C$. Also, each cases yield electricity generation like that 1) HIS is 913.3kWh/kWp, 2) LIS is 942.8kWh/kWp, and 3) SAG is 981.3kWh/kWp. These result showed that it is needed for us to seek to the way how the PV Cell temperature would be decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.8-13
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• 2009

In this paper, two configurations of PV array are analyzed and tested under shading condition, where two configurations are series-parallel and total-crass-tied configuration. Each photovoltaic module is emulated by two 5 inch po1y-crystalline cells in series and an array is constructed by connecting 24 of the modules to compare a generated maximum power of the two configurations. Pspice and Sun simulator. PASAN IIIb, are used for simulation and experiment to test the array under various partial shading conditions. Test results show the total-cross-tied configuration generates 7.63% higher maximum power than the series-parallel configuration, and it is well matched to the analysis and simulations of the two configurations.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2013

In contrast to conventional crystalline cells, back-contact solar cells feature high efficiencies, simpler module assembly, and better aesthetics. The highest commercialized cell and module efficiency was recorded by n-type back-contact solar cells. However, the mainstream PV industry uses a p-type substrate instead of n-type due to the high costs and complexity of the manufacturing processes in the case of the latter. P-type back-contact solar cells such as metal wrap-through and emitter wrap-through, which are inexpensive and compatible with the current PV industry, have consequently been developed. In this paper the characteristics of EWT (emitter wrap-through) solar cells and their status and prospects for development are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.16-21
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• 2010

It is well-known that Boron-doped Cz Si solar cells suffer light-induced degradation due to boron-oxygen defect which is responsible of a reduction in lifetime and hence efficiency. In this paper, we assume that PV solar cell has been connected with variable load to account the real operating condition and it shows different light-induced degradation of Si solar cell. To evaluate the effect of light-induced degradation for solar cell with various load, Single crystalline solar cells are connected with open and short circuits during light exposure. Isc-Voc curve evaluate light induced degradation of solar cells and the reason is explained as a change for serial resistance. From the results, Electrical characteristics of solar cells show better performance under short circuit conditions, after light exposure.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2015

In this study, we analyzed the correlation between mechanical and electrical properties of low-temperature conductive film (LT-CF) bonded silicon solar cells by a quadrant analysis (horizontal axis (peeling strength), vertical axis (power loss)). We found that a series of points with various bonding parameters such as bonding temperature, pressure and time were distributed in the different three regimes; weak regime (Q2: weak bonding strength and high power loss), moderate regime (Q4 : strong bonding strength and low power loss) and hard regime (Q3 : weak bonding strength and low power loss). Using this analogous technique, it was possible to fabricate the LT-CF bonded silicon solar cells with the various conditions displayed in Q3 of the quadrant plots, possessing the peeling strength of ~ 1N/mm and power loss of 2~3%.