• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.105-111
• /
• 2007

Hybrid PV/Thermal systems consisting of photovoltaic module and thermal collector can produce the electricity and thermal energy. The solar radiation increases the temperature of PV modules, resulting in the decrease of their electrical efficiency. Accordingly hot air can be extracted from the space between the PV panel and roof, so the efficiency of the PV module increases. The extracted thermal energy can be used in several ways, increasing the total energy output of the system. This study describes a basic type of PV/T collector using water. In order to analyze the performance of the collector, the experiment was conducted. The result showed that the thermal efficiency was 17% average and the electrical efficiency of the PV module was about $10.2%{\sim}11.5%$, both depending on solar radiation, inlet water temperature and ambient temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.102-107
• /
• 2010

a-Si solar cell has relatively dominant drift current when compared with crystalline solar cell due to the high internal electric field. Such drift current make an impact on the PV module in the local shading. In this paper, the a-Si PV module output characteristics of shading effects was approached in terms of process condition, because of the different deposition layer of thin film lead to rising the resistance. We suggested design condition to ensure the long-term durability of the module with regard to the degradation factors such as hot spot by analyzing the module specification. The result shows a remarkable difference on module uniformity for each shading position. In addition, the unbalanced power loss due to power mismatch of each module could intensify the degradation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.187-191
• /
• 2019

Advances in laser technology have enabled ultra-high-speed ultra-precise processing, thus expanding potential applications to the semiconductor, medical, and photovoltaic industries. In particular, laser scribing technology has been applied to the production of shingled solar modules. In this work, we analyze the effect of laser scribing conditions, e.g., scribing depth, on the characteristics of the resulting divided solar cells. When the scribing depth was greater than $100{\mu}m$, the solar cells were well separated. In addition, the desired scribing depths were reached in fewer scans when the laser spot overlap was 100%. The efficiency of the divided cells decreased due to the high series resistance at scribing depths of less than $100{\mu}m$. However, at scribing depths of approximately $100{\mu}m$, the series resistance was low and efficiency reduction was minimized.

• New Physics: Sae Mulli
• /
• v.68 no.11
• /
• pp.1215-1224
• /
• 2018

Most solar photovoltaic (PV) modules frequently get shadowed, completely or partially, resulting in a reduction of PV generation. This paper presents and compares the results from simulations and experimental measurements of the power output from a single PV module under various shading conditions. The study was carried out with a 90 W PV module and a 250 W PV module. The shaded area was increased from 0 to 100% for both variable and constant irradiances to analyze the effect of fluctuations in the solar irradiance certain shading conditions. The effect of shading for irradiance levels from 100 to $900W/m^2$ was investigated. Results showed that for every $100W/m^2$ decrease in the solar irradiance level, the power output decreased by 9, 0.7 and 1.5 W at 0, 25 and 50% shading, respectively. For solar irradiance levels higher than $500W/m^2$, the temperature increased by 1.6, 2.7 and $1.1^{\circ}C$ at 0, 25 and 50% shading, respectively, for every $100W/m^2$ increase in the irradiance.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2011.10a
• /
• pp.35.1-35.1
• /
• 2011

New photovoltaic (PV) materials and manufacturing approaches are needed for meeting the demand for lower-cost solar cells. The prototypal thin-film photovoltaic absorbers (CdTe and $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$) can achieve solar conversion efficiencies of up to 20% and are now commercially available, but the presence of toxic (Cd,Se) and expensive elemental components (In, Te) is a real issue as the demand for photovoltaics rapidly increases. To overcome these limitations, there has been substantial interest in developing viable alternative materials, such as $Cu_2ZnSnS_4$ (CZTS) is an emerging solar absorber that is structurally similar to CIGS, but contains only earth abundant, non-toxic elements and has a near optimal direct band gap energy of 1.4~1.6 ev and a large absorption coefficient of ${\sim}10^4\;cm^{-1}$. The CZTS absorber layers are grown and investigated by various fabrication methods, such as thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation with a post sulfurization, sputtering, non-vacuum sol-gel, pulsed laser, spray-pyrolysis method and electrodeposition technique. In the present work, we report an alternative method for large area deposition of CZTS thin films that is potentially high throughput and inexpensive when used to produce monolithically integrated solar panel modules. Specifically, we have developed an aqueous chemical approach based on chemical bath deposition (CBD) with a subsequent sulfurization heat treatment. Samples produced by our method were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, absorbance and photoluminescence. The results show that this inexpensive and relatively benign process produces thin films of CZTS exhibiting uniform composition, kesterite crystal structure, and good optical properties. A preliminary solar cell device was fabricated to demonstrate rectifying and photovoltaic behavior.

• Journal of IKEEE
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.392-402
• /
• 2020

This paper proposes a solar tracking system without photo-sensors. The system can be classified into four modules: Solar Tracking, MPPT, ESS, and Real-Time Monitoring. Nine solar panels, as a basic unit, are adopted with grid structures of different heights to reduce wind influence and to enable solar tracking without photo-sensors. The low-cost MCU implements MPPT method which generates PWM switching signal for boost converter. The unit of ESS consists of three-series and four-parallel lithium-ion batteries in order to enable monitoring for abnormalities in temperature and electrical characteristics of battery. Four MCUs used in the system consists of two AVR Atmega128, and two Raspberry PI, and they exchanges operation informations. Experimental results of the proposed system show the solar tracking performance, the possibility of on-site and remote monitoring and the convenience of maintenance based on IoT technology.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.353-357
• /
• 2011

An embedded two-axis solar tracking system was developed by using AVR micro controller for enhancing solar energy utilization. The system consists of an Atmega128 micro controller, two step motors, two step drive modules, CdS sensors, GPS module and other accessories needed for functional stability. This system is controlled by both an astronomical method and an optical method. Initial operation is performed by the result from the astronomical method, which is followed by the fine controlled operation using the signals from Cds sensors. The GPS sensor generates UTC, longitude and latitude data where the solar tracker is installed. A database of solar altitude, azimuth, and sunrise and sunset times is provided by UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter).

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.287-294
• /
• 2015

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are environmentally friendly energy-conversion devices to generate electricity via the photovoltaic effect of semiconductors on solar energy. One of key elements in PV modules is "Backsheet," a multi-layered film to protect the devices from a variety of chemicals including water vapor. A representative Backsheet is composed of polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). PVF is relatively expensive, while showing excellent resistance to chemical attacks. Thus, it is necessary to develop alternatives which can lower its high production cost and guarantee lifetime applicable to practical PV modules at the same time. In this study, PET films with certain levels of crystallinity were utilized instead of PVF. Since it is well known that PET is suffering from trans-esterification and hydrolysis under a wide pH range, it is needed to understand decomposition behavior of the PET films under PV operation conditions. To evaluate their chemical decomposition behavior within a short period of times, accelerated decomposition test protocol is developed. Moreover, electrochemical long-term performances of the PV module employing the PET-based Backsheet are investigated to prove the efficacy of the proposed concept.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.56-61
• /
• 2022

Recently, the expansion of the domestic solar market due to the promotion of eco-friendly and alternative energy-related policies is promising, and it is expected to lead the high-efficiency/high-power module market based on M10 or larger cells to reduce LCOE, 540-560W, M12 based on M10 cells Compared to the existing technology with an output of 650-700W based on cells, it is necessary to secure competitiveness through the development of modules with 600W based on M10 cells and 750W based on M12 cells. For the development of high efficiency/high-power n-type bifacial, it is necessary to secure a lightweight technology and structure due to the increase in weight of the glass to glass module according to the large area of the module. Since the mechanical strength characteristics according to the large area and high weight of the module are very important, design values such as a frame of a new structure that can withstand the mechanical load of the Mechanical Load Test and the location of the mounting hole are required. In this study, a structural analysis design model was introduced to secure mechanical reliability according to the enlargement of the module area, and the design model was verified through the mechanical load test of the actual product. It can be used as a design model to secure the mechanical reliability required for PV modules by variables such as module area, frame shape, and the location and quantity of mounting holes of the structural analysis model verified. A relationship of output drop can be obtained.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 2018

The photovoltaic modules installed in the actual field are affected by various external environments and the electrical performance output value is generally lowered compared to initial output value. The most of photovoltaic modules consists of low iron glass, encapsulant (EVA), back sheet, frame and junction box assembly based on the solar cells. In this paper, the characteristics of encapsulant which is an important constituent material of photovoltaic module were verified by maximum power determination, electro luminescence images, yellowness index measurement, and gel content measurement after ultraviolet (UV) irradiation exposure. The most commonly installed 72 cells crystalline photovoltaic modules were tested after various UV exposure of 0, 15, 30, and $60kWh/m^2$ and compared with the reference module. After UV exposure of $15kWh/m^2$, which is the current international test condition, a small amount of change was observed in yellowness index and electroluminescence, while a gell content rapidly increased. At a cumulative dose of $60kWh/m^2$, which will be a new international test condition in the near future, however, the yellowness index increased sharply and showed the greatest output power drop.