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A further advantage of the solar module is its easy handling during installation.
The solar module's front pane usually comprises glass meeting special standards. The
glass must be highly transparent to sunlight and reflect just a minimal proportion of it.
For these attributes to be retained over the solar module's entire life cycle, the glass
must also be resistant to ultraviolet light. Moreover, the front pane must prevent an
ingress of water and water vapour which would notably shorten the solar module's
service life.
Encapsulation
Encapsulation serves, firstly, as a mechanical link between the individual solar cells
and, secondly, as an optical bridge between the front pane and the solar cells in order
to prevent unnecessary losses in solar radiation. The encapsulation must possess the
same optical attributes as the front pane. Ethylene vinylacetate (EVA) is normally used
for encapsulation.
Rear surface
Like the front pane, the rear surface must also prevent an ingress of water and water
vapour. This surface usually comprises Tedlar or glass.
Socket
The socket is used to connect the solar modules' freewheeling or bypass diodes as well
as the connection lines.
Frame
Usually made of aluminium, the solar module's frame is used, for instance, to protect
the glass during transport and assembly. The frame also makes the composite structure
more rigid and provides mounting points.
The hot-spot phenomenon
If a PV module’s entire surface is shaded evenly, the module’s output power naturally
decreases, but the module suffers no damage. However, problems arise if the module is
shaded unevenly, however, e.g. if just one PV cell is covered.
Because a covered PV cell theoretically produces no current, the current source in the
equivalent circuit diagram vanishes, leaving just the diode. If connected in series with
several PV cells making up a module, the covered cell’s diode is switched to the reverse
direction, so that the module’s overall voltage can drop across this cell. If this overall
voltage exceeds the diode’s reverse voltage, the diode gets damaged. While this overall
voltage remains below the diode’s reverse voltage, the diode experiences a power loss
causing the cell to heat up and potentially damage the module. This effect is termed
hot-spot.
Bypass diode
Because the shaded PV cell no longer develops any power, it does not heat up and get
damaged as a result.