Page 94 - Mirjam-Theelen-Degradation-of-CIGS-solar-cells
P. 94
Chapter 3
Abstract
We have designed and constructed a 'hybrid' degradation setup that can expose CIGS
solar cells and modules to humidity, elevated temperatures and illumination, while the
illumination also allows in-situ monitoring of the solar cells and modules. This setup consists
of a climate chamber, which can vary temperature and humidity. Within this chamber, an
2
area of 80x80 cm is illuminated, which allows both the study of combined illumination
and damp heat induced degradation as well as the in-situ measurement of the current
voltage (IV) curves of the CIGS solar cells and mini-modules during the test. The 40x40 cm
2
in the center of the illuminated area was calibrated BAA according to IEC norm 60904-9.
In this setup, the current-voltage output of solar cells and minimodules is automatically
logged and characteristic parameters like efficiency, currents, voltages, ideality factor
and resistances can be extracted. Up to twelve of these solar cells or minimodules can be
degraded and measured in-situ at the same time. Therefore, the degradation behaviour
and the temperature dependency of solar cells and modules can be observed.
The CIGS solar cells and minimodules used in this thesis are described in this chapter. This
chapter also introduces the procedure for the extraction of the electrical parameters from
the current voltage curves.
92
Abstract
We have designed and constructed a 'hybrid' degradation setup that can expose CIGS
solar cells and modules to humidity, elevated temperatures and illumination, while the
illumination also allows in-situ monitoring of the solar cells and modules. This setup consists
of a climate chamber, which can vary temperature and humidity. Within this chamber, an
2
area of 80x80 cm is illuminated, which allows both the study of combined illumination
and damp heat induced degradation as well as the in-situ measurement of the current
voltage (IV) curves of the CIGS solar cells and mini-modules during the test. The 40x40 cm
2
in the center of the illuminated area was calibrated BAA according to IEC norm 60904-9.
In this setup, the current-voltage output of solar cells and minimodules is automatically
logged and characteristic parameters like efficiency, currents, voltages, ideality factor
and resistances can be extracted. Up to twelve of these solar cells or minimodules can be
degraded and measured in-situ at the same time. Therefore, the degradation behaviour
and the temperature dependency of solar cells and modules can be observed.
The CIGS solar cells and minimodules used in this thesis are described in this chapter. This
chapter also introduces the procedure for the extraction of the electrical parameters from
the current voltage curves.
92
