Design of High-Power and High-Density Photovoltaic Modules Based on a Shingled Cell String.

Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) arrays, which are installed on the roofs of buildings as part of urban solar power generation, have created a demand for high-power and high-density photovoltaic (PV) modules to produce high-output power in a limited area. In this paper, a high-power PV module using a shingles technology is designed. When the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the module were 201.78 cm × 96.75 cm in the same area as that of the conventional PV module, the number of cell strips reached 390. When six 65-interconnection shingled strings were connected in series, the output power of 367.8 W was achieved. Compared with a conventional PV module of the same area, the output power was 8% greater.

Optimization of Self-Cleaning Thin-Film Layer for Photovoltaic Applications.

To improve the productivity of a photovoltaic (PV) module, TiO2 thin films of different thicknesses were applied as a self-cleaning layer on soda-lime glass and a Si PV module by spray-coating a TiO2 solution. The structural, optical, and wettability characteristics of the TiO2 thin films were investigated with respect to the thickness. Thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, contact-angle analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and a solar simulator were used to analyze the prepared TiO2 thin films. The optimal thickness was determined to be 100 nm. The TiO2 thin film exhibited a self-cleaning ability even after post-annealing at 250 °C. After the self-cleaning ability was confirmed, the TiO2 thin film was applied to the PV module.