Encapsulation of PV modules using ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer as a pottant: A critical review

The primary purpose of this work is to review the literature about what is and is not known about using ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA0 copolymer as the encapsulant (or pottant) material in photovoltaic (PV) modules. Secondary purposes include elucidating the complexity of the encapsulation problem, providing an overview about encapsulation of PV cells and modules, providing a historical overview of the relevant research and development on EVA, summarizing performance losses reported for PV systems deployed since ca. 1981, and summarizing the general problems of polymer stability in a solar environment. We also provide a critical review of aspects of reported work for cases that we believe are important.Failure modes resolved in the early work to establish reliability of deployed modules and the purposes and properties of pottants, are summarized. Typical performance losses in large field-deployed, large-scale systems ranging from 1% to 10% per year are given quantitatively, and qualitative reports of EVA discoloration are summarized with respect to ultraviolet (UV), world-wide location and site dependence.The general stability of polymers and their desirable bulk properties for solar utilization are given. The stabilization formulation for EVA, its effectiveness, and changes in it during degradation are discussed. The degradation mechanisms for the base resin, e.g., unstabilized Elvax 150^TM, and stabilized EVA are indicated for literature dating to the early 1950s, and the role played by unsaturated chromophores is indicated. The limited number of studies relating discoloration and PV cell efficiency are summarized.Observed degradation of EVA or the unstabilized base resin in the laboratory and examples used to measure the degradation are summarized in sections entitled: (1) thermally-induced degradation; (2) photodegradation and photothermal degradation of EVA in different temperature regimes; (3) photobleaching and photodegradation of the UV absorber and cross-linking agent; (4) acetic acid and metal and metal-oxide catalyzed oxidative degradation; and (5) discolaration and PV cell efficiency losses.Processing effects/influences on EVA stability are discussed in sections entitled: (1) EVA raw materials and extruded, uncured films; (2) thermal encapsulation processes; (3) effects of lamination, curing, and curing peroxide on gel content and chromophores formed; and (4) incomplete shielding of curing-generated chromophores. A summary is given for the limited number of accelerated lifetime testing efforts and examples of erroneous service lifetime predictions for EVA are discussed. The known factors that effect the discoloration rate of several EVA formulations are discussed in which the reduction in rate by using UV-absorbing superstrates is a prime example. A summary is given of what is and is not known about EVA degradation mechanisms, degradation from exposures in field-deployed modeules and/or laboratory testing, and factors that contribute to EVA stability or degradation. Finally, conclusions about using Elvax 150 in EVA formulations are summarized, and future prospects for developing the next-generation pottant for encapsulating PV modules are discussed.     

超声波处理石油污水的实验研究

考察了在不同空化状态下超声波对石油污水化学耗氧量(COD)的降低作用。探讨了时间、功率、pH值及温度对石油污水化学耗氧量降低作用的影响。结果表明，石油污水化学耗氧量的降低率随着时间增大而增大，随着温度、pH值的增加而减小，随着功率的增加，先增加，然后再减小。     

TiO_2纤维的制备、表征及其光催化活性

采用常压乙二醇法制备出在可见光下具有较高催化活性的TiO2纤维。扫描电子显微镜表征结果表明,TiO2纤维直径为0.8～2.0μm、长度为5～25μm;BET比表面积和X射线衍射表征结果表明,随焙烧温度的升高,比表面积减小,TiO2纤维晶型逐渐由锐钛矿型向金红石型转变;紫外-可见漫反射光谱分析结果表明,TiO2纤维在可见光区有明显的吸收。在可见光下对甲基橙和苯酚的降解实验表明,焙烧温度为400℃时TiO2纤维的催化活性最好,对甲基橙和苯酚的降解率分别达到90.3%和84.0%;所制备的TiO2纤维比溶胶-凝胶法制备的锐钛矿型TiO2在可见光下具有更好的催化活性,原因是其能带间隙减小和吸收波长扩展到可见光区所致。     

Urban growth and environmental degradation: The case of Cairo, Egypt

The immense growth of cities, especially in developing countries, is resulting in the urbanization of both poverty and environmental degradation to a greater degree than ever before. This paper examines the processes of growth and degradation in the Greater Cairo Metropolitan Region (GCMR), currently the world’s tenth largest mega-city. It reviews the region’s growth and selected environmental issues as well as impacts of current efforts on managing the region. The assertion of this paper is that current management policies and bodies lack a comprehensive view of urban governance for the region, which does not bode well for the future environmental and economic sustainability of the region.     

Investigations of surface characterization of silicone rubber due to tracking phenomena under a.c. and d.c. voltages

In the present work, tracking phenomena has been studied with silicone rubber material under the a.c. and d.c. voltages following IEC-587 standards. The surface condition of the tracked zone was analysed using wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) studies. The tracking time was different for a.c. and d.c. voltages.     

Thermal degradation of cinnamoylated poly(vinyl alcohol)

Thermogravimetry and pyrolysis in combination with gas chromatography and infrared spectroscopy were the experimental techniques applied to the thermal degradation of cinnamoylated poly(vinyl alcohol) samples, constituted from vinyl alcohol-vinyl cinnamate photocrosslinkable copolymers. The thermal decomposition products include gases, liquids and solids. The gases are formed from saturated and unsaturated volatile hydrocarbons C₁? C₄, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The liquid fraction includes aromatic hydrocarbons and some oxygenated organic compounds. The solid product identified in the greatest amount was cinnamic acid. The content in the thermal decomposition products varies considerably both with copolymer composition and temperature.     

Micromechanical characterisation of fibre/matrix interfaces

Theoretical analyses for the single fibre pull-out and push-out models under monotonic loading are given which are based on a shear-lag analysis in a fracture mechanics approach considering non-constant friction at the debonded interface as a result of fibre Poisson contraction (or expansion). The solutions allow the determination of typical fibre/matrix interfacial properties such as the interfacial fracture toughness, G_ic, the coefficient of friction, μ, and the residual clamping stress, q₀. Under cyclic loading the interfacial properties are expected to degrade as a result of repetitive abrasion, and a power law function is assumed between μ and the number of elapsed cycles, N. However, G_ic is assumed to be unaffected and a fracture mechanics based debond criterion is derived for the relationship between the external applied stress, the debond length and the reduced friction coefficient for both fibre pull-out and fibre push-out. In addition, the relative displacements between the free fibre end and the matrix top are obtained for cyclic fatigue when the fibre is loaded and unloaded. A relationship obtained for the protrusion (or intrusion) length in fibre pull-out (or push-out) experiments allows the severity of the interface frictional degradation to be evaluated and characterised. Similarities and differences in the frictional degradation behaviour between fibre pull-out and push-out are also identified.     

剂量率对聚四氟乙烯辐射裂解的影响

本文研究了在以电子加速器的电子射线为辐射源时,剂量率对PTFE辐射裂解的影响。在剂量相同的条件下,剂量率从1.44×10~4 rad/s增至5.75×10~4 rad/s,裂解效率提高3.3倍。剂量率和各断裂参数(单位剂量裂解度a_0,G(s)值等)均成线性关系。当裂解度一定时,剂量率与剂量成反变关系。     

Thermogravimetry and wide angle X-ray diffraction study on the structure of irradiated and thermally treated kodar film

The degradation behaviour of Kodar [poly(1,4-cyclohexylene dimethyl-eneterephthalate)] was investigated in air using thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and wide angle X-ray diffraction studies. The rates of crystallization and degradation were influenced by thermal exposure and polychromatic irradiation (Λ > 290 nm) for different time intervals. The crystallinity changes (X_c%) and activation energies (ΔE) for the systems have been determined.     

Improving Thermal Stability of BaMgAl10O17:Eu Phosphor

Heterogeneous precipitation method was used to prepared surface coating on self-made BaMgAl10O17:Eu phosphor. Results illustrate that the coating film can be silicon dioxide in amorphous state with 50 nm in thickness. Photoluminescence results indicate that the coating layer presents an observable improved effect on the enhancement of thermal stability. When baked at 600 ℃ for 1 h, the luminance of coated BAM keeps at 92% higher than that of uncoated BAM by 23%. This protective effect can be attributed to the high compact degree and uniformity of this amorphous SiO2 coating film which is served as a diffusion block layer to inbreak oxygen atom, thus releases the oxidation extent of Eu2 effectively.