• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.439-444
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• 2020

An increase in the temperature of photovoltaic (PV) modules causes reduced power output and shorter lifetime. Because of these characteristics, demands for the heat dissipation of PV modules are increasing. In this study, we attached a heat dissipation sheet to the back sheet of a shingled PV module and observed the temperature changes. The PV shingled module was tested under Standard Test Conditions (STCs; irradiance: 1,000 W/㎡, temperature: 25℃, air mass: 1.5) using a solar radiation tester, wherein the temperature of the PV module was measured by irradiating light for a certain duration. As a result, the temperature of the PV module with the heat dissipation sheet decreased by 3℃ compared to that without a heat dissipation sheet. This indicated that the power loss was caused by a temperature increase of the PV module. In addition, it was confirmed that the primary parameter contributing to the reduced PV module output power was the open circuit voltage (Voc).

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.267-271
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• 2019

A shingled PV module is manufactured by dividing and bonding. In this method, the solar cell is divided by lasers and bonded using electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs). Consequently, the manufacturing cost increases because a process step is added. Therefore, we aim to reduce the production cost by reducing the amount of Ag paste used in the solar cell front. Various electrode structures were designed and simulated. The number of fingers was optimized by designing thinner fingers, and the number of fingers with the maximum power conversion efficiency was confirmed. The simulation confirmed the maximum efficiency in the 4-divided electrode pattern. The amount of Ag paste used for each electrode pattern was calculated and analyzed. The number of fingers was optimized by decreasing the width of the finger; this will not only reduce the amount of Ag paste required but also the increase the efficiency.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.120-123
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• 2020

Transparent photovoltaics (PV) are used in various applications such as building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). However, crystalline silicon (c-Si) is not used for developing transparent PV due to its opaque nature. Here. we fabficate the three holes in 6-inch c-Si solar cells using laser scribing process with an opening area ratio of about 6.8% for transparent c-Si solar modules. Moreover, we make the shingled strings using the perforated cells. Our 7 interconnected shingled string PV cells with 21 holes show a solar to power conversion of 5.721 W. In next work, we will fabricate a transparent c-Si PV module with perforated strings.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.31-35
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• 2021

Shingled module shows high ratio active area per total area due to more efficient packing without inactive space between cells. The module is fabricated by connecting the pre-cut cells into the string using electrically conductive adhesives (ECA). ECAs are used for electric and structural connections to fabricate the shingled modules. In this work, we investigated a correlation between ECA peel strength and the efficiency of pre-cut 5 cells module which are fabricated according to ECA interconnection conditions. The curing conditions are varied to determine whether ECA interconnection properties can affect module properties. As a result of the peel test, the highest peel strength was 1.27 N/mm in the condition of 170℃, the lowest peel strength was 0.89 N/mm in the condition of 130℃. The efficiency was almost constant regardless of the curing conditions at an average of 20%. However, the standard deviation of the fill factor increased as the adhesive strength decreased.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.107-110
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• 2022

Lightweight and flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules are attractive for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications because of their easy construction and applicability. In this study, we fabricated lightweight and flexible c-Si PV modules using ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) front cover and shingled design string cells. The ETFE front cover instead of glass made the PV modules lighter in weight, and the shingled design string cells increased the flexibility. Finally, we fabricated a PV module with a conversion power of 240.08 W at an area of 1.25 m² and weighed only 2 kg/m². Moreover, to check the PV module's flexibility, we conducted a bending test. The difference of conversion power between the modules before and after bending shown was only 1.7 W, which showed a power reduction rate of about 0.7%.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.64-69
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• 2022

Double-sided photovoltaic (PV) modules have received significant attention in recent years as a technology that can achieve higher annual energy production rates than single-sided modules. The shingled technology is a promising method for manufacturing high-density and high-power modules. These modules are divided by laser and joined with electrically conductive adhesives. The output efficiency of the divided cells depends on the division pattern and the electrode pattern, making it important to understand the output characteristics. In this study, the output characteristics of large-area double-sided light-receiving shingled cells with different split patterns and electrode patterns were investigated. The M6 size, with 6 divisions in the electrode pattern, had the highest efficiency when using 142 front fingers and 146 rear fingers. The M10 size, with 7 divisions, had the highest output when using 150 fingers equally in the front and rear. The M12 size, also with 7 divisions, showed the highest output characteristics when using 192 front fingers and 208 rear fingers.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.75-78
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• 2023

Recently, the installation of photovoltaic modules in urban areas has been increasing. In particular, the demand for solar modules installed in a limited space is increasing. However, since the crystalline silicon solar module's size is proportional to the solar cell's size, it is difficult to manufacture a module that can be installed in a limited area. In this study, we fabricated a solar module with a shingled design that can control horizontal and vertical width using a bi-directional laser scribing method. We fabricated a string cell with a width of 1/5 compared to the existing shingled design string cells using a bi-directional laser scribing method, and we fabricated a solar module by connecting three strings in parallel. Finally, we achieved a conversion power of 5.521 W at a 103 mm × 320 mm area.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.449-453
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• 2021

Interest and investment in renewable energy have increased worldwide, highlighting the need for renewable energy. Solar energy was the most promising energy of all renewable energy sources, and it has the highest investment value. Because photovoltaics require a certain amount of area for installation, high density and high output performance are required. Shingled module is a promising technology in that they are featured by higher density and higher output compared to the conventional modules. Shingled technology uses a laser scribing to divide solar cells that are to be bonded with electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) to produce and connect strings, which has a higher output in the same area than the conventional modules. In the process of producing solar modules, metal ribbons are used to interconnect cells, but they are also needed for string connections in shingled solar cells. Accordingly, in this study, we researched the interconnection that best suits the connector that joins the string to the string. The module outputs produced under the conditions of the string interconnection were compared and analyzed.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.129-133
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• 2020

It is very important to optimize the reflectance of incident light in solar modules for improving output power and reducing loss of cell-to-module (CTM). It is assumed that a higher reflectance backsheet may improve optical efficiency. However how much output power is related to optical properties by reflectance property of backsheets have not been revealed clearly yet. A total of 3 types of industrial backsheets with 3 type of industrial encapsulants (EVA or POE) were analyzed as fabricated mini modules used shingled cells. According to the type of backsheets, the difference between the highest and lowest average reflectance in the range of 400 nm to 1200 nm was found to be 13.08% by UV-visible spectroscopy. Also, when using the same encapsulant, the maximum gap value of the output power increase was measured by about 3.755 mW% (166.02 mW). The correlation between reflectance and output power was experimentally found by measuring the output property of the fabricated shingled mini modules.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.281-291
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• 2022

Global warming is accelerating due to the use of fossil fuels that have been used continuously for centuries. Now, humankind recognizes its seriousness, and is conducting research on searching for eco-friendly and sustainable energy. In the field of solar energy, which is a kind of eco-friendly and sustainable, many studies are being conducted to enhance the output performance of the module. In this study, the output improvement for the shingled module structure was studied. In order to improve the output performance of the module, the thickness of the encapsulant was increased, and the lamination process conditions have been improved accordingly. After that, the crosslinking rate was analyzed, and the suitability of the lamination process conditions was judged using this. In addition, a peeling test was conducted to analyze the correlation between the adhesion of the encapsulant and the output performance of the module. Finally, the optimization for the encapsulant material and the lamination process conditions for high-power shingled modules was established, and accordingly, the market share of high-power shingled modules in the solar module market can be expected to rise.