Student research opportunities
Testing for UV blockers in c-Si modules
Project Code: CECS_1103
This project is available at the following levels:
Engn R&D
Please note that this project is only for undergraduate students.
Keywords:
Manufacturing, solar
Supervisor:
Dr Andrew ThomsonOutline:
PV module encapsulants typically have a UV absorbing additive to protect the backsheet and cell from degradation. It is essential the UV absorbing additive is present to preserve the module performance.
The UV blocker additives are an expensive component of the EVA, where it is suggested less scrupulous manufactures may save costs by using EVA without UV blockers. There is a double gain for the manufacturer, a gain in performance immediately and a cost saving, however the total lifetime yield is curtailed by catastrophic degradation of the module backsheet.
The project will investigate method for non-destructively determining whether module encapsulants have the necessary UV blockers. A background in physics and optics will be helpful.
Additionally the project will test the impact of UV and humidity exposure on industrial solar cells to observe likely reductions in power output. This will provide a basis for the motivation of understanding UV blocking in solar modules.
Goals of this project
Design a non-destructive test to determine if UV blockers are present in a module.
Requirements/Prerequisites
Basic optics,
Physics
