Leveling-up NREL’s Capabilities for Large-format Module Measurement and TOPCon Bifacial trials

DuraMAT 2.0 Spark Project

Multi-Scale, Multi-Physics Model

Category: Encapsulants and Barriers

Recipient SNL (PI: Long, Kevin)

Subs

Status Awarded

Abstract This project seeks to address a gap in modeling of semi-crystalline encapsulation used in photovoltaic modules aging/degradation studies. Ethyl Vinyl Acetate and polyolefin encapsulation materials are both semi-crystalline polymers that melt and re-crystallize during a typical 24-hour operating temperature conditions. Such phase transitions lead to non-linear thermal-mechanical behavior that could significantly affect stress development and consequent aging/degradation of PV modules. Therefore, this project will address this modeling gap through implementation of improved constitutive modeling of such encapsulation and demonstrate differences between existing encapsulation models and the newly implemented one on a relevant PV geometry.