Designing reliability into a 1000X concentration CPV system through targeted stress testing

Michael R. Winter; Ian Aeby; James Foresi

doi:10.1117/12.928880

10 October 2012 Designing reliability into a 1000X concentration CPV system through targeted stress testing

Michael R. Winter, Ian Aeby, James Foresi

Proceedings Volume 8468, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Electric Applications VII; 846805 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.928880
Event: SPIE Solar Energy + Technology, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Ensuring 25-year reliability of a CPV system requires knowledge of potential failure modes and material deficiencies. While Emcore’s CPV system conforms to all IEC 62108 tests, additional tests to eliminate potential long term reliability concerns have been performed. Performance is evaluated through all levels of integration, from cell to module. Tests at the cell level include IEC 62108 tests where feasible, as well as several other tests to establish the ability of the cell to survive additional integration and perform well throughout the lifetime of the CPV module. At a receiver assembly and module level, potential reliability concerns are addressed through targeted testing, which consists of accelerated stress tests which are used to quickly evaluate material performance and designed stress tests which allow the determination of activation energies. With this information, expected lifetime can be assessed and reliability concerns mitigated. Test methodologies and results from cell, receiver assembly and full module are presented demonstrating that targeted stress testing at each level of integration is a viable approach to assessing potential CPV failure modes.

Citation Download Citation

Michael R. Winter, Ian Aeby, and James Foresi "Designing reliability into a 1000X concentration CPV system through targeted stress testing", Proc. SPIE 8468, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Electric Applications VII, 846805 (10 October 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.928880

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