An optical comparison of silicone and eva encapsulants for conventional silicon PV modules: A ray-tracing study

Keith R. McIntosh; James N. Cotsell; Jeff S. Cumpston; Ann W. Norris; Nick E. Powell; Barry M. Ketola

doi:10.1109/PVSC.2009.5411624

An optical comparison of silicone and eva encapsulants for conventional silicon PV modules: A ray-tracing study

Keith R. McIntosh, James N. Cotsell, Jeff S. Cumpston, Ann W. Norris, Nick E. Powell, Barry M. Ketola

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

110 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ray-trace simulation is used to quantify the optical losses of photovoltaic modules containing silicon cells. The simulations show that when the module's encapsulant is silicone rather than ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), the module's short-circuit current density under the AM1-5g spectrum is 0.7-1 .1% higher for screen-printed multi-cSi cells, 0.5-1.2% higher for screen-printed mono-cSi cells, and 1.0-1.6% higher for high-efficiency rear-contact cells, depending on the type of silicone. This increase is primarily due to the transmission of short-wavelength light (<420 nm) and is therefore greatest when used with low UV-absorbing glass and cells of a high IQE at short wavelength. We also quantify absorption in the glass, EVA and silicone at longer wavelengths and describe the influence of an encapsulant's refractive index on escape losses.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2009 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2009
Pages	544-549
Number of pages	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2009.5411624
Publication status	Published - 2009
Event	2009 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2009 - Philadelphia, PA, United States Duration: 7 Jun 2009 → 12 Jun 2009

Publication series

Name	Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
ISSN (Print)	0160-8371

Conference

Conference	2009 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2009
Country/Territory	United States
City	Philadelphia, PA
Period	7/06/09 → 12/06/09

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10.1109/PVSC.2009.5411624

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McIntosh, K. R., Cotsell, J. N., Cumpston, J. S., Norris, A. W., Powell, N. E., & Ketola, B. M. (2009). An optical comparison of silicone and eva encapsulants for conventional silicon PV modules: A ray-tracing study. In 2009 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2009 (pp. 544-549). Article 5411624 (Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference). https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2009.5411624

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title = "An optical comparison of silicone and eva encapsulants for conventional silicon PV modules: A ray-tracing study",

abstract = "Ray-trace simulation is used to quantify the optical losses of photovoltaic modules containing silicon cells. The simulations show that when the module's encapsulant is silicone rather than ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), the module's short-circuit current density under the AM1-5g spectrum is 0.7-1 .1% higher for screen-printed multi-cSi cells, 0.5-1.2% higher for screen-printed mono-cSi cells, and 1.0-1.6% higher for high-efficiency rear-contact cells, depending on the type of silicone. This increase is primarily due to the transmission of short-wavelength light (<420 nm) and is therefore greatest when used with low UV-absorbing glass and cells of a high IQE at short wavelength. We also quantify absorption in the glass, EVA and silicone at longer wavelengths and describe the influence of an encapsulant's refractive index on escape losses.",

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McIntosh, KR, Cotsell, JN, Cumpston, JS, Norris, AW, Powell, NE & Ketola, BM 2009, An optical comparison of silicone and eva encapsulants for conventional silicon PV modules: A ray-tracing study. in 2009 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2009., 5411624, Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, pp. 544-549, 2009 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2009, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 7/06/09. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2009.5411624

An optical comparison of silicone and eva encapsulants for conventional silicon PV modules: A ray-tracing study. / McIntosh, Keith R.; Cotsell, James N.; Cumpston, Jeff S. et al.
2009 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2009. 2009. p. 544-549 5411624 (Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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McIntosh KR, Cotsell JN, Cumpston JS, Norris AW, Powell NE, Ketola BM. An optical comparison of silicone and eva encapsulants for conventional silicon PV modules: A ray-tracing study. In 2009 34th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC 2009. 2009. p. 544-549. 5411624. (Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference). doi: 10.1109/PVSC.2009.5411624

An optical comparison of silicone and eva encapsulants for conventional silicon PV modules: A ray-tracing study

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