• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.530-537
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• 2015

Photovoltaic (PV) modules are environmentally energy conversion devices to generate electricity via photovoltaic effect of semiconductors from solar energy. One of key elements in PV modules is "Backsheet," a multilayered barrier film, which determines their lifetime and energy conversion efficiency. The representative Backsheet is composed of chemically resistant poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) and cheap poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films used as core and skin materials, respectively. PVF film is too expensive to satisfy the market requirements to Backsheet materials with production cost as low as possible. The promising alternatives to PVF-based Backsheet are hydrocarbon Backsheets employing semi-crystalline PET films instead of PVF film. It is, however, necessary to provide improved barrier property to water vapor to the PET films, since PET films are suffering from hydrolytic decomposition. In this study, a polyurethane adhesive with reduced water vapor permeation behavior is developed via a homogeneous distribution of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. The modified adhesive is expected to retard the hydrolysis of PET films located in the core and inner skin. To clarify the efficacy of the proposed concept, the mechanical properties and electrochemical PV performances of the Backsheet are compared with those of a Backsheet employing the polyurethane adhesive without the silica nanoparticles, after the exposure under standard temperature and humidity conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.23-28
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• 2007

In this study, we analyzed the maximum output power characteristics of crystalline silicon photovoltaic module by change of environmental effects. The electrical, optical and thermal property of PV modules were investigated during outdoor test period about 70 days. There was a fluctuation in maximum output power by change in transmittance caused by environment effects like rain, snow and dust. The effects of external environmental change were analyzed using climate data. Also local thermal temperature variation and transmittance imbalance on surface of PV module which might lead degradation of constituent material were detected using infrared camera. The further analysis is describe in the following paper.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.29-45
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• 2019

As the solar energy market grows, the need to investigate the potential of photovoltaic system is being highlighted. However, due to the lack of plain field, the system on top of buildings is being exploited. This paper analyzes the potential to install PV systems on the rooftops. First of all, with the aid of a photovoltaic system simulation software, buildings were designed in a specific area based on the architectural data. And then, with the same software, the potential to install photovoltaic system was explored by placing PV modules on the buildings' rooftops. The installation potential was calculated and simulated with consideration for obstacles on the rooftops. The parameters are composed of available area for system installation, area utilization rate, PV system power capacity, operation yield hour per day and performance ratio. In the simulation, 5 sites were analyzed based on their architectural data. In the end, reliable data that can be utilized were collected for the potential to install the system with the photovoltaic system simulation software.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2022

Bifacial photovoltaic (PV) technology has received considerable attention in recent years due to the potential to achieve a higher annual energy yield compared to its monofacial PV systems. In this study, we fabricated the bifacial c-Si PV module with a shingled design using the conventional patterned bifacial solar cells. The shingled design PV module has recently attracted attention as a high-power module. Compared to the conventional module, it can have a much more active area due to the busbar-free structure. We employed the transparent backsheet for a light reception at the rear side of the PV module. Finally, we achieved a conversion power of 453.9 W for a 1300 mm × 2000 mm area. Moreover, we perform reliability tests to verify the durability of our Shingled Design Bifacial c-Si Photovoltaic module.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

In this paper, we evaluated the effect of a silica-based Anti-Reflection(AR) coating for PV modules. The coating technique can be easily applied to large-scale PV modules at room temperature with improvements of the optical properties that is qualified by the optical transmission measurements on the coated cover glass of the modules. The power improvement of the large-scale PV modules shows the increasing about 2.4% at standard condition of the coating technique on average. To improve the AR coating effect of the PV modules, we have characterized the individual PV modules by the measurements of DC power output, modified performance ratio(PRm) and the regression. The results show that the significant improvements of the AR coating effect are 6.4%, 5.5% and 4.5% of increasing of the performances by using the measurements of DC power output, modified performance ratio(PRm) and the regression, respectively.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.64 no.10
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• pp.1411-1417
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• 2015

The installation of PV system to the power distribution system is being increased as one of solutions for environmental pollution and energy crisis. However, the efficiency of PV system is getting decreased because of the aging phenomenon and several operation obstacles. Therefore, The technology development of aging diagnosis of PV modules are required in order to improve operation performance of PV modules. This paper proposes evaluation algorithm for aging state in PV modules by using the electrical characteristics of PV modules and environmental factors. And also, this paper presents a operation evaluation system of PV modules based on the proposed aging diagnosis algorithm of PV modules. From the simulation results of proposed evaluation system, it is confirmed that the proposed algorithm is a useful tool for aging diagnosis of PV systems.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2009

As semitransparent dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have advanced to large-scale applications from lab-level research, the large-scale performance has attracted much attention. Modules of DSSCs have been investigated to optimize the efficiency as a $TiO_2$ systhesis temperature and a surface treatment of $TiCl_4$ aqueous solution. Essentially, these semitransparent modules have an extended structure with lab-scale works with the exception of the dimensions and methods for the series connection. The $5cm{\times}6.5cm$ modules have shown an efficiency of about 6% without a scattering layer. While the fill factors of modules depend on the width of each $TiO_2$ unit cell, they are much less dependent on the lengths of the unit cells.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.528-533
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• 2018

In recent years, solar cells based on crystalline silicon(c-Si) have accounted for much of the photovoltaic industry. The recent studies have focused on fabricating c-Si solar modules with low cost and improved efficiency. Among many suggested methods, a photovoltaic module with a shingled structure that is connected to a small cut cell in series is a recent strong candidate for low-cost, high efficiency energy harvesting systems. The shingled structure increases the efficiency compared to the module with 6 inch full cells by minimizing optical and electrical losses. In this study, we propoese a new Conductive Paste (CP) to interconnect cells in a shingled module and compare it with the Electrical Conductive Adhesives (ECA) in the conventional module. Since the CP consists of a compound of tin and bismuth, the module is more economical than the module with ECA, which contains silver. Moreover, the melting point of CP is below $150^{\circ}C$, so the cells can be integrated with decreased thermal-mechanical stress. The output of the shingled PV module connected by CP is the same as that of the module with ECA. In addition, electroluminescence (EL) analysis indicates that the introduction of CP does not provoke additional cracks. Furthermore, the CP soldering connects cells without increasing ohmic losses. Thus, this study confirms that interconnection with CP can integrate cells with reduced cost in shingled c-Si PV modules.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.681-686
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• 2017

Degradation is commonly observed in field-aged PV modules due to corrosion of the photovoltaic ribbon. The reduced performance is caused by a loss of fill factor due to the high series resistance in the PV ribbon. This study aimed to mitigate the degradation by corrosion using five sacrificial anodes - Al, Zn and their alloys - to identify the most effective material to mitigate the corrosion of the PV ribbon. The corrosion behavior of the five sacrificial anode materials were examined by open circuit potential measurements, potentiodynamic polarization tests, and galvanic current density and potential measurements using a zero resistance ammeter. Immersion tests for 120 hours were also conducted using materials and damp heat test tests were performed for 1500 hours using 4 cell mini modules. The Al-3Mg and Al-3Zn-1Mg sacrificial anodes had a low corrosion rate and reduced drop in power, making then suitable for long-term use.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2014

This paper investigates the output powers of PV modules by predicting three unknown parameters: reverse saturation current, and series and shunt resistances. A theoretical model using the non-uniform physical parameters of solar cells, including the temperature coefficients, voltage, current, series and shunt resistances, is proposed to obtain the I-V characteristics of PV modules. The solar irradiation effect is included in the model to improve the accuracy of the output power. Analytical and Newton methods are implemented in MATLAB to calculate a module output. Experimental data of the non-uniform solar cells for both serial and parallel connections are used to extend the implementation of the model based on the I-V equation of the equivalent circuit of the cells and to extend the application of the model to m by n modules configuration. Moreover, the theoretical model incorporates, for the first time, the variations of series and shunt resistances, reverse saturation current and irradiation for easy implementation in real power generation. Finally, this model can be useful in predicting the degradation of a PV system because of evaluating the variations of series and shunt resistances, which are critical in the reliability analysis of PV power generation.