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.     

一般应力比时焊接结构S－N曲线的预测方法

本文考虑了焊接结构的几何形状、受载形式、应力比、残余应力、尺寸效应以及材料等因素对疲劳寿命的影响，利用Ｐｅｔｅｒｓｏｎ公式和极值疲劳切口系数概念，建立了一般应力比时焊接结构Ｓ－Ｎ曲线的预估模型．文中对几类典型的焊接结构的Ｓ－Ｎ曲线进行了预测，预测值与实验结果符合较好．本文方法可以大量减少疲劳实验，具有一定的工程实用价值．     

步进式加热炉炉温优化设定模型及软件开发

针对线材厂步进式加热炉实际工况，提出了基于经验规则的炉温优化设定模型和在线自学习获取知识的思想，并以炉温优化设定模型为核心，开发出加热炉计算机控制系统的优化运行软件。     

液压随动系统在线监测与故障诊断系统

介绍了集随动系统在线监测与故障诊断于一体的智能系统。利用基于知识的诊断推理技术与神经网络技术相结合的方法构建了随动系统在线故障诊断专家系统，使得神经网络推理与基于符号的知识诊断控制、解释有机地结合起来，取长补短，大大提高了系统的工作效率和诊断可靠性。     

Plasma immersion ion implantation for SOI synthesis: SIMOX and ion-cut

We have demonstrated feasibility to form silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates using plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) for both separation by implantation of oxygen and ion-cut. This high throughput technique can substantially lower the high cost of SOI substrates due to the simpler implanter design as well as ease of maintenance. For separation by plasma implantation of oxygen wafers, secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis and cross-sectional transmission electron micrographs show continuous buried oxide formation under a single-crystal silicon overlayer with sharp Si/SiO₂ interfaces after oxygen plasma implantation and high-temperature (1300°C) annealing. Ion-cut SOI wafer fabrication technique is implemented for the first time using PIII. The hydrogen plasma can be optimized so that only one ion species is dominant in concentration and there are minimal effects by other residual ions on the ion-cut process. The physical mechanism of hydrogen induced silicon surface layer cleavage has been investigated. An ideal gas law model of the microcavity internal pressure combined with a two-dimensional finite element fracture mechanics model is used to approximate the fracture driving force which is sufficient to overcome the silicon fracture resistance.     

Measurement of the thermal diffusivity of thin films on substrate by the photoacoustic method

Measurements of the thermal diffusivity of thin films on substrate have been performed by the photoacoustic method. In order to examine the method we have built a new apparatus and proposed (1) a system calibration procedure using optically and thermally thick reference samples and (2) a data analysis procedure based on the RG (Rosencwaig and Gersho) theory. As a result of using a transparent photoacoustic cell, the systematic errors which are caused by stray light have been reduced. With this apparatus, measurements have been performed on platinum, titanium, and stainless steel (SUS304) thin foils (thickness form 50 to 100 µm) with three different liquid backing materials (water, glycerol, and ethyl alcohol). The reproducibility was within ±7% regardless of film thickness and substrate materials.     

一种新的基于极大似然估计的系统辨识方法

进化计算是一种基于自然选择和自然变异机制的并行随机优化算法。由于递推极大似然估计法难以实现性能指标函数的全局寻优，所以本文提出了将改进的进化计算用于系统参数辨识的方法。计算机仿真结果表明，该算法能够实现似然函数的全局寻优。     

Software tools for micro-analysis of programs

The paper proposes and describes several tools enabling their user to estimate the efficiency of Pascal or C-like programs. The approach consists of generating symbolic formulas expressing the efficiency of the programs being analyzed. The formulas are applicable to a variety of compiler-machine configurations. The actual numeric values of the variables in the symbolic formula are determined using linear programming techniques. The proposed approach reduces considerably the amount of benchmarking needed to analyze programs. Several examples are presented showing the applicability of the tools. The effort necessary to implement them is considerably reduced by the combined usage of Prolog and a symbolic formula manipulation package (Maple).