Matching Items (2)
Description
Potential induced degradation (PID) due to high system voltages is one of the major degradation mechanisms in photovoltaic (PV) modules, adversely affecting their performance due to the combined effects of the following factors: system voltage, superstrate/glass surface conductivity, encapsulant conductivity, silicon nitride anti-reflection coating property and interface property (glass/encapsulant; encapsulant/cell; encapsulant/backsheet). Previous studies carried out at ASU's Photovoltaic Reliability Laboratory (ASU-PRL) showed that only negative voltage bias (positive grounded systems) adversely affects the performance of commonly available crystalline silicon modules. In previous studies, the surface conductivity of the glass surface was obtained using either conductive carbon layer extending from the glass surface to the frame or humidity inside an environmental chamber. This thesis investigates the influence of glass surface conductivity disruption on PV modules. In this study, conductive carbon was applied only on the module's glass surface without extending to the frame and the surface conductivity was disrupted (no carbon layer) at 2cm distance from the periphery of frame inner edges. This study was carried out under dry heat at two different temperatures (60 °C and 85 °C) and three different negative bias voltages (-300V, -400V, and -600V). To replicate closeness to the field conditions, half of the selected modules were pre-stressed under damp heat for 1000 hours (DH 1000) and the remaining half under 200 hours of thermal cycling (TC 200). When the surface continuity was disrupted by maintaining a 2 cm gap from the frame to the edge of the conductive layer, as demonstrated in this study, the degradation was found to be absent or negligibly small even after 35 hours of negative bias at elevated temperatures. This preliminary study appears to indicate that the modules could become immune to PID losses if the continuity of the glass surface conductivity is disrupted at the inside boundary of the frame. The surface conductivity of the glass, due to water layer formation in a humid condition, close to the frame could be disrupted just by applying a water repelling (hydrophobic) but high transmittance surface coating (such as Teflon) or modifying the frame/glass edges with water repellent properties.
ContributorsTatapudi, Sai Ravi Vasista (Author) / Tamizhmani, Govindasamy (Thesis advisor) / Srinivasan, Devarajan (Committee member) / Rogers, Bradley (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2012
Description
Overhead high voltage transmission lines are widely used around the world to deliver power to customers because of their low losses and high transmission capability. Well-coordinated insulation systems are capable of withstanding lightning and switching surge voltages. However, flashover is a serious issue to insulation systems, especially if the insulator is covered by a pollution layer. Many experiments in the laboratory have been conducted to investigate this issue. Since most experiments are time-consuming and costly, good mathematical models could contribute to predicting the insulator flashover performance as well as guide the experiments. This dissertation proposes a new statistical model to calculate the flashover probability of insulators under different supply voltages and contamination levels. An insulator model with water particles in the air is simulated to analyze the effects of rain and mist on flashover performance in reality. Additionally, insulator radius and number of sheds affect insulator surface resistivity and leakage distance. These two factors are studied to improve the efficiency of insulator design. This dissertation also discusses the impact of insulator surface hydrophobicity on flashover voltage.
Because arc propagation is a stochastic process, an arc could travel on different paths based on the electric field distribution. Some arc paths jump between insulator sheds instead of travelling along the insulator surfaces. The arc jumping could shorten the leakage distance and intensify the electric field. Therefore, the probabilities of arc jumping at different locations of sheds are also calculated in this dissertation.
The new simulation model is based on numerical electric field calculation and random walk theory. The electric field is calculated by the variable-grid finite difference method. The random walk theory from the Monte Carlo Method is utilized to describe the random propagation process of arc growth. This model will permit insulator engineers to design the reasonable geometry of insulators, to reduce the flashover phenomena under a wide range of operating conditions.
Because arc propagation is a stochastic process, an arc could travel on different paths based on the electric field distribution. Some arc paths jump between insulator sheds instead of travelling along the insulator surfaces. The arc jumping could shorten the leakage distance and intensify the electric field. Therefore, the probabilities of arc jumping at different locations of sheds are also calculated in this dissertation.
The new simulation model is based on numerical electric field calculation and random walk theory. The electric field is calculated by the variable-grid finite difference method. The random walk theory from the Monte Carlo Method is utilized to describe the random propagation process of arc growth. This model will permit insulator engineers to design the reasonable geometry of insulators, to reduce the flashover phenomena under a wide range of operating conditions.
ContributorsHe, Jiahong (Author) / Gorur, Ravi (Thesis advisor) / Ayyanar, Raja (Committee member) / Holbert, Keith E. (Committee member) / Karady, George G. (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016