Title :
Performance of Solarex/Philadelphia Electric Co. amorphous silicon PV test site
Author :
D´Aiello, R.V. ; Twesme, E.N. ; Fagnan, D.A.
Author_Institution :
Solarex, Newton, PA, USA
Abstract :
An update on the performance characteristics and field observations of a 4 k WP a-Si array divided into two simulated residential installations operating through a 2 kW, self-commutated inverter and a 1.6 kW, line-commutated inverter is presented. The DC and AC parameters of the system as well as weather and solar irradiance data are summarized for a total of 18 months in the field. Preliminary observations on second generation a-Si modules used to expand the site for a second phase of activities that include two new inverters are discussed. The data show that the DC performance was dominated by light-induced degradation and several moisture-induced corrosion mechanisms. The AC performance mirrored the DC output with the exception of inverter failures and trippings.
Keywords :
amorphous semiconductors; elemental semiconductors; invertors; silicon; solar cell arrays; solar cells; test facilities; 1.6 kW; 2 kW; 4 kW; AC performance; DC performance; Solarex/Philadelphia Electric Co.; amorphous Si solar cell arrays; light-induced degradation; line-commutated inverter; moisture-induced corrosion; self-commutated inverter; semiconductor; simulated residential installations; solar irradiance data; weather; Amorphous silicon; Corrosion; Degradation; Failure analysis; Interactive systems; Inverters; Phased arrays; Scheduling; Semiconductor thin films; Solar power generation; System testing; Testing; Transistors;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1988., Conference Record of the Twentieth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Las Vegas, NV, USA
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.1988.105874
