1. Photovoltaic Systems Engineering
SEC598F17
Photovoltaic Systems Engineering
Session 08
PV Systems Components
Solar Modules – Part 1
September 14, 2017

2. Session 08 content PV System Components Solar modules – fabrication
Solar modules – operation
Solar modules – reliability, lifetime, etc.

3. Learning Outcomes Introduction to module science and technology
Consideration of module performance, reliability, lifetime, and decommissioning

4. PV Systems: Solar cell I vs V
There is a relation between the current and the voltage of a solar cell:
Increasing
light

5. PV Systems: Need for the solar module
To increase the electrical power, solar cells are combined together (physically and electrically) into solar modules
6.5A, 0.6V, 4W
6.5A, 45V, 300W

6. PV Systems: Solar module I vs V
The relation between the current and
the voltage of a solar module resembles that of the single solar cell:
60 solar cell module
Increasing
light

7. PV Systems: Solar module construction
Solar cell electrical wiring
Edge view of module

8. PV Systems: Solar module construction
Suntech - Cell and Module Manufacturing:

9. PV Systems: Solar module construction
Bosch – Solar Module Manufacturing:

10. PV Systems: Solar module operation
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sonnenenergie, Planning and Installing PV Systems

11. PV Systems: Solar module operation, cont.
Reverse
Bias
Forward
Bias
PVCDROM

12. PV Systems: Solar module operation
But consider the case of two diodes in series
PVCDROM

13. PV Systems: Solar module operation
Under all conditions for two solar cells connected in series (open circuit, short circuit, or in-between) and

14. PV Systems: solar module operation
For the special case of the two solar cells in series at open circuit, and

15. PV Systems: Solar module operation
For the special case of the two solar cells in series at short circuit, and

16. PV Systems: Solar module operation
Graphical solution of current flowing through two mismatched diodes in series (at short circuit)

17. PV Systems: Solar module operation
Now consider the case of ten diodes in series
PVCDROM

18. PV Systems: Solar module operation
At short circuit, and

19. PV Systems: Solar module operation
One shaded cell in a string reduces the current through the good cells, causing the good cells to produce higher voltages that can often reverse bias the bad cell.
Heat dissipated in a shaded cell caused the module to crack
PVCDROM

20. References for Solar Modules
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sonnenenergie, Planning and Installing PV Systems, Chapter 2
S.Bowden and C.Honsberg, PVCDROM
S.R.Wenham, M.A.Green,M.E.Watt, R.P.Corkish, A.B.Sproul, Applied Photovoltaics, 3rd Ed., Earthscan, 2011,