How can the service life of photovoltaic cells be extended?

The improvement of the service life of photovoltaic cells involves multiple aspects. From the design and manufacture of the cells to their installation, use and later maintenance, corresponding measures need to be taken. The following is a detailed introduction:

Optimize the design and manufacturing process

Improve battery structure: Adopt advanced battery structures, such as back contact structure and heterojunction structure, to reduce the internal resistance and recombination loss of the battery, and enhance the efficiency and stability of the battery. For instance, heterojunction cells have relatively high open-circuit voltages and short-circuit currents, and their performance degradation is relatively small under light and high-temperature conditions.

Improve material purity: Use high-purity silicon materials, metal electrode materials, etc., to reduce the impact of impurities on battery performance. Impurities may cause problems such as leakage and recombination inside the battery, reducing its service life. For instance, by improving the purification process of silicon materials, the purity of silicon materials can reach a higher standard.

Optimize manufacturing processes: Precisely control the manufacturing process parameters of solar cells, such as diffusion, photolithography, and coating processes, to ensure the consistency of the quality and performance of solar cells. For instance, by adopting advanced coating techniques, a uniform and dense anti-reflection film and passivation film are formed on the surface of the battery cells, enhancing their corrosion resistance and optical performance.

Improve packaging and component design

Select high-quality packaging materials: Use packaging materials with high light transmittance and high weather resistance, such as EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), POE (polyolefin elastomer), etc., to package the solar cells to prevent them from being affected by the external environment. These packaging materials should have good bonding performance, anti-aging performance and UV resistance, and be able to protect the battery cells for a long time.

Optimize component structure design: Design a reasonable component structure, such as adopting a multi-layer packaging structure and adding frame protection, to enhance the mechanical strength and fatigue resistance of the component. For instance, a thickened frame design is adopted at the edge of the component to enhance its impact resistance and reduce the risk of battery cell rupture caused by external forces.

Reasonable installation and system design

Avoid shadow shading: When installing a photovoltaic power station, the layout of the solar panels should be reasonably planned to prevent surrounding objects from shading the panels. Shadows can cause local heating of the battery cells, generating a hot spot effect and accelerating the aging and damage of the battery cells. For instance, through precise site measurement and design, it is ensured that the solar panels can fully receive sunlight throughout different seasons and time periods.

Ensure good ventilation and heat dissipation: Photovoltaic cells generate a certain amount of heat during operation. If the heat cannot be dissipated in time, it will cause the temperature of the cell to rise, affecting its performance and lifespan. Therefore, a good ventilation and heat dissipation system should be designed to keep the air around the solar panels circulating. For instance, when installing photovoltaic power stations on rooftops, an overhead installation method can be adopted to increase the space for air circulation.

Configure appropriate electrical equipment: Select reliable quality and parameter-matched inverters, combiner boxes, cables and other electrical equipment to ensure the stable operation of the photovoltaic system. Inappropriate electrical equipment may cause abnormal current and voltage, which can damage the battery cells. For instance, based on the scale and output characteristics of the photovoltaic power station, select an inverter with an appropriate capacity and conversion efficiency.

Operation and maintenance management and monitoring

Regular cleaning and inspection: Regularly clean photovoltaic panels to remove dust, dirt and debris from their surfaces, thereby enhancing the light transmittance and power generation efficiency of the panels. At the same time, regularly inspect the appearance of the solar panels, connection components, etc., and promptly identify and address issues such as hidden cracks, damages, and delamination of the battery cells. For instance, professional cleaning equipment and tools should be used to clean the solar panels according to the prescribed cleaning cycle.

Real-time monitoring and data analysis: photovoltaic cells utilize an intelligent monitoring system to conduct real-time monitoring of the operational status of photovoltaic power stations, collecting data such as current, voltage, and temperature of the cells, and conducting analysis and processing. Through data analysis, performance changes and potential problems of battery cells can be discovered in a timely manner, and maintenance measures can be taken in advance. For instance, when an abnormal drop in the voltage of a certain battery cell is detected, on-site inspection and repair should be carried out promptly.