Testing of dual-junction SCARLET modules and cells plus lessons learned

Author

Eskenazi, Michael I. ; Murphy, David M. ; Ralph, Eugene L. ; Yoo, Henry I.

Author_Institution

AEC-Able Eng., Goleta, CA, USA

fYear

1997

fDate

29 Sep-3 Oct 1997

Firstpage

831

Lastpage

834

Abstract

Key simulator test methods and results for Solar Concentrator Array with Refractive Linear Element Technology (SCARLET) cells, modules, and module strings are presented from the NASA/JPL New Millennium DS1 program. Important observations and lessons learned are discussed. These findings include: (1) a significant efficiency increase for shunted low performing 1 sun cells at SCARLET´s ~7 sun concentration; (2) a decrease in temperature coefficient under SCARLET concentration; and (3) the importance of active germanium (third junction) screening during GaInP₂/GaAs/Ge cell production especially when red reflecting covers are used

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; elemental semiconductors; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; germanium; indium compounds; p-n heterojunctions; solar cell arrays; solar cells; solar energy concentrators; space vehicle power plants; testing; 7 sun concentration; GaInP₂-GaAs-Ge; GaInP₂/GaAs/Ge cell production; NASA/JPL New Millennium DS1 program; Refractive Linear Element Technology; SCARLET solar cells testing; Solar Concentrator Array; active germanium screening; dual-junction SCARLET modules; dual-junction SCARLET solar cells; red reflecting covers; shunted low performing 1 sun cells; simulator test methods; temperature coefficient decrease; Gallium arsenide; Germanium; Lenses; Optical arrays; Optical refraction; Photovoltaic cells; Space technology; Sun; Temperature; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1997., Conference Record of the Twenty-Sixth IEEE

Conference_Location

Anaheim, CA

ISSN

0160-8371

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3767-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.1997.654216

Filename

654216