Fabricating processes cost reduction

The cost of a PV device is determined by several factors. These include the kind of materials used and the amount of materials requited, choice of substrates, device design, and fabrication processes. Crystalline devices ate generally mote efficient, but thin-film devices ate anticipated to cost less in flat-plate configurations. The use of concentrated light permits retention of efficiency with simultaneous reduction in cost. 

Reductions of investment and processing costs are general benefits that have been predicted for a long time so far, this has not yet been demonstrated. This is strongly coupled with an onset of mass fabrication, proposed to have similar benefits as for microelectronics, which has not happened so far. 

The fabrication of catalyst layers for PEM fuel cells involves maintaining a delicate balance between gas and water transport, and electron and proton conduction. The process of CL fabrication should be guided by both fuel cell performance and cost reduction. 

The LPS process offers a variety of manufacturing advantages over the conventional fabricating process. Primarily, benefits are seen in the reduction of capital investment and labor costs, (1,2) pollutants, waste material and energy requirements. The energy conservation by the LPS process is especially important and attractive in view of today s worsening energy situation. 

Economic - Simultaneous engineering minimizes time to market - High potential for reduction of development costs - High processing costs (equipmenL supplies) - Small order quantity and slow speed of fabrication of part... 

Membrane units are usually supplied as a complete assembly requiring minimal field erection, save connections to process and utility piping and instrumentation systems. Fabricators and OEMs working closely with the membrane suppliers have developed membrane-system packages that address a wide variety of application and industry code requirements. The nearly 20 years of experience for most membrane supphers has afforded many membrane-module, system-design and cost-reduction innovations to be incorporated into these packages. New applications wiU most certainly rely heavily on these experiences. 

Now, the main question is how to reach cumulative production of millions of square meters of Pd-based membrane in a few years. The R D efforts on membrane cost reduction, on the reliability of thin film fabrication methods and on the benefits demonstration of selective membrane application in chemical processes would push the introduction of such a new technology in the market. 

The above developments notwithstanding, in a competitive industry, cost reduction is a constant challenge, and this will be the driver for more competitive raw materials, more efficient processing equipment, and more advanced fabrication techniques. 

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