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Microstructural analysis of the PV module cementation process at the Solar Platform of the Atacama Desert.

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Title: Microstructural analysis of the PV module cementation process at the Solar Platform of the Atacama Desert.
Authors: Olivares, Douglas1 (AUTHOR) douglas.olivares@uantof.cl, Ferrada, Pablo1 (AUTHOR) pablo.ferrada@uantof.cl, Marzo, Aitor1 (AUTHOR) aitormr@gmail.com, Llanos, Jaime2 (AUTHOR) jllanos@ucn.cl, Miranda-Ostojic, Carol3 (AUTHOR) caromiranda.os@gmail.com, Campo, Valeria del4 (AUTHOR) valeria.delcampo@usm.cl, Bravo, Sergio4 (AUTHOR) bravo.castillo.sergio@gmail.com, Fuentealba, Edward1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells. Aug2021, Vol. 227, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Dust, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Mineral dusts, X-ray diffraction measurement, Deserts, Wind speed
Geographic Terms: Atacama Desert (Chile)
Abstract: The understanding of soiling processes on photovoltaic modules is a necessary step for the development of cost-effective mitigation methods for the solar industry. This paper analyzes the soiling process for photovoltaic modules installed at the Atacama Desert. For this purpose, the dust deposited on photovoltaic modules and glasses (for one year) was characterized and the location's atmospheric parameters were monitored continuously. The dust samples were separated according to difference in solubility, obtaining three samples: soluble (recrystallized), insoluble (filtered), and original. Through x-ray diffraction measurements it was detected that the soluble part corresponds to gypsum and the other dust components are insoluble or low-solubility salts such as albite, anhydrite, calcite, quartz, and orthoclase. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy of the dust on photovoltaic glasses show the presence of gypsum with a monoclinic prismatic structure covered with smaller dust particles. These prismatic crystals are also observed after recrystallization of the soluble sample suggesting that gypsum, as a soluble hygroscopic material, has a key role in the cementation process. Atmospheric parameters of each season were characterized through wind velocity, temperature, and relative humidity. All these parameters show large daily oscillation, which trigger a cementation process in which gypsum crystallization, after being completely or partially solubilized, causes the encapsulation of insoluble material. • This article reports on the cementation process for photovoltaic (PV) modules. • Soluble and hygroscopic salts present in the place accelerate the cementation. • SEM/EDX and XRD were used to characterize soluble and non-soluble material. • Environmental parameters were measured and related to the cementation process. • The broadband transmittance of PV glass reduced by 44.3% after 4 months of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 150124298
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Microstructural analysis of the PV module cementation process at the Solar Platform of the Atacama Desert.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Olivares%2C+Douglas%22">Olivares, Douglas</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> douglas.olivares@uantof.cl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ferrada%2C+Pablo%22">Ferrada, Pablo</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> pablo.ferrada@uantof.cl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marzo%2C+Aitor%22">Marzo, Aitor</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> aitormr@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Llanos%2C+Jaime%22">Llanos, Jaime</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jllanos@ucn.cl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Miranda-Ostojic%2C+Carol%22">Miranda-Ostojic, Carol</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> caromiranda.os@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Campo%2C+Valeria+del%22">Campo, Valeria del</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> valeria.delcampo@usm.cl</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bravo%2C+Sergio%22">Bravo, Sergio</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> bravo.castillo.sergio@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fuentealba%2C+Edward%22">Fuentealba, Edward</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Solar+Energy+Materials+%26+Solar+Cells%22">Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells</searchLink>. Aug2021, Vol. 227, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dust%22">Dust</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+dispersive+X-ray+spectroscopy%22">Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mineral+dusts%22">Mineral dusts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22X-ray+diffraction+measurement%22">X-ray diffraction measurement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Deserts%22">Deserts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wind+speed%22">Wind speed</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atacama+Desert+%28Chile%29%22">Atacama Desert (Chile)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The understanding of soiling processes on photovoltaic modules is a necessary step for the development of cost-effective mitigation methods for the solar industry. This paper analyzes the soiling process for photovoltaic modules installed at the Atacama Desert. For this purpose, the dust deposited on photovoltaic modules and glasses (for one year) was characterized and the location's atmospheric parameters were monitored continuously. The dust samples were separated according to difference in solubility, obtaining three samples: soluble (recrystallized), insoluble (filtered), and original. Through x-ray diffraction measurements it was detected that the soluble part corresponds to gypsum and the other dust components are insoluble or low-solubility salts such as albite, anhydrite, calcite, quartz, and orthoclase. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy of the dust on photovoltaic glasses show the presence of gypsum with a monoclinic prismatic structure covered with smaller dust particles. These prismatic crystals are also observed after recrystallization of the soluble sample suggesting that gypsum, as a soluble hygroscopic material, has a key role in the cementation process. Atmospheric parameters of each season were characterized through wind velocity, temperature, and relative humidity. All these parameters show large daily oscillation, which trigger a cementation process in which gypsum crystallization, after being completely or partially solubilized, causes the encapsulation of insoluble material. • This article reports on the cementation process for photovoltaic (PV) modules. • Soluble and hygroscopic salts present in the place accelerate the cementation. • SEM/EDX and XRD were used to characterize soluble and non-soluble material. • Environmental parameters were measured and related to the cementation process. • The broadband transmittance of PV glass reduced by 44.3% after 4 months of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.solmat.2021.111109
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Dust
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mineral dusts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: X-ray diffraction measurement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deserts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wind speed
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atacama Desert (Chile)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Microstructural analysis of the PV module cementation process at the Solar Platform of the Atacama Desert.
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            NameFull: Olivares, Douglas
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            NameFull: Ferrada, Pablo
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            NameFull: Marzo, Aitor
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            NameFull: Miranda-Ostojic, Carol
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            – D: 01
              M: 08
              Text: Aug2021
              Type: published
              Y: 2021
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              Value: 09270248
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              Value: 227
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            – TitleFull: Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells
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