Encapsulant Film Composition for PID-Resistant Solar Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing encapsulant materials for solar cell modules, such as ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers, suffer from potential degradation due to acetic acid gas generation and high voltage-induced potential differences, leading to reduced output and PID phenomena, necessitating a material with higher volume resistance and light transmittance.
Innovation Solution
A composition for an encapsulant film using an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer with specific density, melting temperature, and elution temperature ranges, prepared using transition metal compounds as catalysts, ensuring a narrow molecular weight distribution and balanced crystallinity distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer is used as encapsulant material, then adhesiveness and climate-resistance are improved, but volume resistance decreases due to acetic acid gas generation and decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer with ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, specifically controlling the alpha-olefin content (5-30 mol%) and copolymer composition to achieve high volume resistance while maintaining climate-resistance properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material approach by combining ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer with specific additives including light stabilizers and silane coupling agents to achieve both high volume resistance and climate-resistance simultaneously
2Loss of energy
If system voltage is increased to reduce transmission loss, then energy efficiency is improved, but potential difference between frame and cells increases causing PID phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The encapsulant film acts as an intermediary insulating layer between the solar cell and the frame, with high volume resistance (>1×10^15 Ω·cm) that blocks the flow of potential difference, thereby preventing PID phenomenon while allowing high voltage operation
3Reliability
If encapsulant material with higher volume resistance is used to prevent PID, then electrical insulation is improved, but light transmittance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the copolymer composition parameters, specifically controlling alpha-olefin content (5-30 mol%) and copolymer structure to achieve the optimal balance between volume resistance (>1×10^15 Ω·cm) and light transmittance (>90% at 550 nm)
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer composition achieves high volume resistance and excellent light transmittance, mitigating PID effects and enhancing module efficiency in solar cell modules.
Implementation Method 1
prepared using transition metal compounds as catalysts
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a composition for an encapsulant film, comprising an ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer having excellent volume resistance and light transmittance, and an encapsulant film using same.