Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE in Germany examined glass fiber-reinforced polymer as a entrance cowl materials for car built-in PV modules, discovering that it has the potential to scale back weight by 44% to 74% in comparison with typical glass-covered modules. Experimental gadgets stand up to hail exams, avoiding cell cracking after affect.
Researchers on the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) in Germany are engaged on different coatings for PV (VIPV) modules built-in within the car which might be light-weight, with aggressive optical properties, whereas nonetheless offering resistance to hail and different varieties of mechanical results.
Earlier analysis defined that there’s a want for different polymer-front-sheets which might be superior to these made from ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), in response to corresponding creator Andre Schüler who was with Fraunhofer ISE on the time of the analysis, earlier than becoming a member of German PV integrator Next2Sun .
One of the alternate options is glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) based mostly epoxy composites. After testing it as a entrance cowl materials, as an alternative of glass, the workforce discovered that GFRP reduces weight by 44% to 74% in comparison with typical cowl glass, relying on the hardness, or thickness, of the GFRP layer, whereas with the ability to stand up to a number of hail impacts. exams.
“The achieved high-optical-coupling is exceptional and likewise of nice curiosity when introduced for the primary time on the PVinMotion Conference 2024,” mentioned Schüler pv journalreferring to a particular curiosity occasion in Switzerland earlier this 12 months.
The proof-of-concept examine exhibits that GFRP is “positively an attention-grabbing materials” like polymer-based options, similar to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polycarbonate, in response to Schüler.
The workforce examined completely different front-sheet combos, together with polymer-based modules made with ETFE of 250 μm thickness, two with PET front-sheets of 275 μm and 300 μm thickness, that are reference modules, and the GFRP front-sheet modules with roughly 800 μm thickness.
There are six GFRP entrance sheet variations with two-, three- and six-layers, and completely different areal glass fiber weights, GFRP weights and GFRP thickness. Three module approaches have been investigated, a direct fiber lamination strategy, a vacuum-infiltrated glass fiber front-sheet lamination, and a clear GFRP with industrially produced lamination.
All three variants have rear sides supported by a 1.5 mm GFRP backplate with a further layer of gelcoat. The bigger modules are used to guage hardness, whereas the smaller mini-modules are used for ice testing and minimize sensitivity exams.
While modules with GFRP semi-products and modules with front-sheets produced within the industrial sector present essentially the most promising optical coupling, modules produced by direct lamination aren’t thought of additional resulting from of inadequate optical coupling, in response to the researchers.
The pre-infused GFRP entrance sheet of the PV module stack reveals “distinctive optical coupling, most energy lack of 4%, and low susceptibility to failures throughout the manufacturing course of.”
Modules with a GFRP-front layer stand up to thermal biking exams with decrease energy loss relying on the person GFRP layer, in response to the workforce. Cut sensitivity exams are reported to point out an elevated efficiency in comparison with modules with a polymeric entrance layer.
“As lengthy because the GFRP front-sheet may be cost-efficiently produced on a big scale, the GFRP module manufacturing idea stays very near the usual lamination technique of PV modules by merely changing the polymer-based front-sheet foil in a GFRP semi-product,” mentioned the workforce, however it additionally emphasised that additional growth is required for optimizing the module stack towards humidity and UV publicity.
Regarding the potential for know-how switch, Schüler mentioned, “For the switch of trade, the necessities of the IEC have to be carried out in all configurations.” This will imply adapting the lab course of to a GFRP provider. “So far, it is an attention-grabbing proof-of-concept however not an industrial product,” he mentioned.
The work is detailed in “Towards a fiber-reinforced front-sheet for light-weight PV modules in VIPV,” revealed in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.
This content material is protected by copyright and will not be reused. If you need to cooperate with us and need to reuse a few of our content material, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Popular content material
