Influence of Environmental Conditions on the Electrical Parameters of Side Connectors in Glass–Glass Photovoltaic Modules

Krzysztof Barbusiński, Paweł Kwaśnicki (), Anna Gronba-Chyła, Agnieszka Generowicz (), Józef Ciuła, Bartosz Szeląg, Francesco Fatone, Agnieszka Makara and Zygmunt Kowalski
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Krzysztof Barbusiński: Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Paweł Kwaśnicki: Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Anna Gronba-Chyła: Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Generowicz: Department of Environmental Technologies, Cracow University of Technology, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
Józef Ciuła: Faculty of Engineering Sciences, State University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Sącz, 33-300 Nowy Sącz, Poland
Bartosz Szeląg: Department of Hydraulics and Sanitary Engineering, Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Francesco Fatone: Department of Science and Engineering of Matter, Environment and Urban Planning (SIMAU), Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona, 60121 Ancona, Italy
Agnieszka Makara: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Cracow University of Technology, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
Zygmunt Kowalski: Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-261 Krakoów, Poland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: This work focused on the verification of the electrical parameters and the durability of side connectors installed in glass–glass photovoltaic modules. Ensuring the safe use of photovoltaic modules is achieved, among others, by using electrical connectors connecting the PV cell circuit inside the laminate with an external electric cable. In most of the cases for standard PV modules, the electrical connector in the form of a junction box is attached from the back side of the PV module. The junction box is glued to the module surface with silicone where the busbars were previously brought out of the laminate through specially prepared holes. An alternative method is to place connectors on the edge of the module, laminating part of it. In such a case, the specially prepared “wings” of the connector are tightly and permanently connected using laminating foil, between two glass panes protecting against an electrical breakdown. Additionally, this approach eliminates the process of preparing holes on the back side of the module, which is especially complicated and time-consuming in the case of glass–glass modules. Moreover, side connectors are desirable in BIPV applications because they allow for a more flexible design of installations on façades and walls of buildings. A series of samples were prepared in the form of PV G-G modules with side connectors, which were then subjected to testing the connectors for the influence of environmental conditions. All samples were characterized before and after the effect of environmental conditions according to PN-EN-61215-2 standards. Insulation resistance tests were performed in dry and wet conditions, ensuring full contact of the tested sample with water. For all modules, before being placed in the climatic chamber, the resistance values were far above the minimum value required by the standards, allowing the module to be safely used. For the dry tests, the resistance values were in the range of GΩ, while for the wet tests, the obtained values were in the range of MΩ. In further work, the modules were subjected to environmental influences in accordance with MQT-11, MQT-12, and MQT-13 and then subjected to electrical measurements again. A simulation of the impact of changing climatic conditions on the module test showed that the insulation resistance value is reduced by an order of magnitude for both the dry and wet tests. Additionally, one can observe visual changes where the lamination foil is in contact with the connector. The measurements carried out in this work show the potential of side connectors and their advantage over rear junction boxes, but also the technological challenges that need to be overcome.

Keywords: photovoltaics; side connector; BIPVs; solar module; edge junction box (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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