Terrestrial solar modules

Exposure to natural sources of external ionizing radiation results from the levels of cosmic and terrestrial X and gamma radiation present in the environment. Cosmic radiation at the earth s surface is affected by altitude, geomagnetic latitude, and solar modulation. For example, the dose rate at... 

Castagnoli G, Lai D (1980) Solar modulation effects in terrestrial production of carbon-14. Radiocarbon 22 133-158... 

Cuddihy, E.F., Baum, B., and Willis, P., "Low-Cost Encapsulation Materials for Terrestrial Solar Cell Modules", Solar Energy, Vol. 22, p. 389 (1979). 

Laboratories, Low-Cost Encapsulation Materials for Terrestrial Solar Cell Modules, JPL Internal Document No. 5101-78, Pasadena, California, September 1978. 

One of the ways to achieve the competitiveness of PV power station is to apply bifacial PV modules originally designed by Prof. D. Strebkov and his colleagues for Russian low orbit satellites in 1970. Today bifacial cells and modules are manufactured in Russia for terrestrial application. In our case bifacial solar cells allow to increase acceptance angle for concentrator system. 

Solar cell modules must undergo substantial reductions in cost in order to become economically attractive as practical devices for the terrestrial production of electricity. Part of the cost reductions must be realized by the encapsulation materials which are used to package, protect, and support the solar cells, electrical interconnects, and other ancillary components. As many of the encapsulation materials are polymeric, cost reductions necessitate the use of low-cost polymers. This article describes the current status of low-cost polymers being developed or Identified for encapsulation application, requirements for polymeric encapsulation materials, and evolving theories and test results of antlsolllng technology. 

A few years ago, most terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules were assembled by casting the cells in a transparent silicone substance, using a metal substrate for support. When this approach was reviewed by the Flat-Plate Solar Array Project (FSA), development was begun on new materials that would reduce the cost and quantity of material required for encapsulation. 

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