PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020 - Durability Evaluation Guideline for Photovoltaic Module Edge Seals

In the rapidly evolving world of renewable energy, ensuring the longevity and efficiency of photovoltaic modules is paramount. The PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020 standard provides a comprehensive guideline for evaluating the durability of edge seals used in photovoltaic modules. Released on July 3, 2020, this standard is an essential resource for manufacturers, engineers, and researchers dedicated to advancing solar technology.

Overview of the Standard

The PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020 standard, with its 20 pages of detailed procedures, offers a robust framework for assessing the materials used in the edge seals of photovoltaic modules. These edge seals play a critical role in protecting the modules from environmental factors, ensuring their performance and longevity. The standard is designed to guide users through the measurement procedures necessary to evaluate the durability of these materials effectively.

Key Features

• Standard Number: PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020
• Pages: 20
• Release Date: July 3, 2020
• ISBN: 978 0 580 96638 5
• Status: Standard

Importance of Edge Seals in Photovoltaic Modules

Edge seals are a crucial component of photovoltaic modules, serving as the first line of defense against moisture, dust, and other environmental contaminants. These seals help maintain the integrity of the module, preventing degradation and ensuring optimal performance over time. The durability of edge seals directly impacts the lifespan and efficiency of solar panels, making their evaluation a critical aspect of photovoltaic module design and maintenance.

Durability Evaluation Guideline

The PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020 standard provides a detailed guideline for evaluating the durability of edge seals. This includes specific measurement procedures that assess the material's resistance to various environmental stressors. By following these guidelines, manufacturers can ensure that their photovoltaic modules are equipped with edge seals that meet the highest standards of durability and performance.

Benefits of Using the Standard

Adopting the PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020 standard offers numerous benefits for stakeholders in the photovoltaic industry:

• Enhanced Reliability: By ensuring that edge seals are durable and reliable, manufacturers can produce photovoltaic modules that perform consistently over their expected lifespan.
• Improved Efficiency: Durable edge seals help maintain the efficiency of solar panels by preventing environmental degradation.
• Cost Savings: Reducing the frequency of repairs and replacements due to edge seal failure can lead to significant cost savings over time.
• Compliance and Certification: Meeting the standards set forth in the guideline can facilitate compliance with industry regulations and certification processes.

Who Should Use This Standard?

The PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020 standard is an invaluable resource for a wide range of professionals in the photovoltaic industry, including:

• Manufacturers: Companies involved in the production of photovoltaic modules can use the standard to ensure their products meet durability requirements.
• Engineers: Design and quality assurance engineers can apply the guidelines to evaluate and improve the durability of edge seals.
• Researchers: Academic and industrial researchers can utilize the standard to develop new materials and technologies for photovoltaic modules.
• Quality Control Specialists: Professionals responsible for quality control can use the standard to implement rigorous testing procedures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020 standard is a critical tool for ensuring the durability and performance of photovoltaic module edge seals. By providing a comprehensive guideline for measurement procedures, this standard helps manufacturers, engineers, and researchers enhance the reliability and efficiency of solar panels. Embracing this standard not only supports the advancement of solar technology but also contributes to a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.

PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020

This standard PD IEC TS 62788-5-2:2020 Measurement procedures for materials used in photovoltaic modules is classified in these ICS categories:

• 27.160 Solar energy engineering

This part of IEC TS 62788 provides guidelines to assess the ability of an edge seal to prevent moisture ingress from the edges of PV modules. This document does not cover frame adhesives (sometimes colloquially referred to as edge seals) which by design do not serve to prevent moisture ingress to a meaningful degree. Edge seals should keep moisture out, remain adhered, and maintain electrically insulation from the environment. Much of the testing can be done on the material level, but given the fact that there are multiple surfaces, materials interactions, and mechanical stresses, testing on mini modules or modules is necessary. To accomplish this, this document contains three types of test sample types, materials, mini-modules, and full-size modules. It is intended that a quick evaluation and comparison can be made using materials only. This would be followed up by more rigorous tests using mini-modules where all the interfaces are correctly represented. And finally, full-size module tests are used to evaluate the actual construction process to allow unanticipated concerns to be addressed.

This document is structured to evaluate the ability of an edge seal and the overall packaging design to prevent moisture ingress and to provide sufficient electrical insulation according to accepted qualification standards. It seeks to uncover inadequacies in the permeation properties of the edge seal, electrical safety issues, or delamination resulting in moisture ingress. Here it is implied that mini-modules and full-size modules are constructed in accordance with IEC 61730 series This document does not attempt to evaluate the predicted service life of a module with respect to overall performance. It is designed to determine at the material level if the edge seal can keep moisture out, and then to uncover potential failure modes and/or evaluate the probable effect of manufacturing changes on the performance of edge seals. Test conditions focus on stresses likely to produce safety, moisture ingress, and debonding related failure modes.

For the purposes of this document, an edge seal is defined as a polymeric material designed to be placed between two impermeable (or extremely low permeability) frontsheet and backsheet materials to restrict moisture ingress from the sides. In some cases, an encapsulant with a diffusivity much lower than is found in polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate (EVA) may also serve the purpose of an edge seal and may be evaluated according to this document for comparison.