Modeling, Analysis and Simulation of Curved Solar Cell’s Encapsulation Reinforcement

Abstract

Nowadays, the use of renewable energies has been boosted due to their accessibility. Costs are constantly being more accessible and efficiencies are increasing. This has raised an opportunity in photovoltaic applications, beyond roof solar installations, such as vertical or curved photovoltaic surfaces. This applications are tackled from construction and transportation sectors, as virtually any exposed surface to solar radiation may generate electrical energy. However, most commercial solar panels have a flat and rigid geometry, being difficult to adapt to amorphous surfaces. When analyzing a solar panel, this can be considered as multi-layer product, because it needs a reinforcement to compensate the fragility of the solar cells, glass to minimize the reflection of radiation. These layers play a key role, and have to be analyzed while considering curved solar applications. A Multi-Physics model is then necessary, while considering Mechanical, Electrical and Optical analysis. This paper presents the first of those three analysis, focusing in the reinforcement layer of a solar panel to estimate the implications of curved approaches. To do so, a 3D structural model is validated with finite element method. The effects of several parameters are considering, by analyzing the curvature radius and its variation by implementing different composite materials as reinforcement. The results may indicate a maximum curvature radius in solar modules to ensure the reliability of the solar cell, also an analysis of the variation of radius of curvature is presented given a particular composite reinforcement. This can introduce another perspective in modeling and manufacturing of this kind of systems from a multiphysics approach.