Engineering

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 372
  • (1995) Altermatt, Peter; Heiser, Gernot; Zhao, Jun; Wang, Alan; Wenham, Stuart; Green, Martin
    Conference Paper

  • (1996) Altermatt, Peter; Heiser, Gernot; Aberle, Armin; Wang, Alan; Zhao, Jun; Robinson, J; Bowden, Simon; Green, Martin
    Journal Article
    This paper presents an improved method for measuring the total lumped series resistance (Rs) of high-efficiency solar cells. Since this method greatly minimizes the influence of non-linear recombination processes on the measured Rs values, it is possible to determine Rs as a function of external current density over a wide range of illumination levels with a significantly improved level of accuracy. This paper furthermore explains how resistive losses in the emitter, the base, the metal/silicon contacts and the front metal grid can be separately determined by combining measurements and multidimensional numerical simulations. A novel combination of device simulation and circuit simulation is introduced in order to simulate complete 2 × 2 cm2 PERL (passivated emitter and rear locally-diffused) silicon solar cells. These computer simulations provide improved insight into the dynamics of resistive losses, and thus allow new strategies for the optimization of resistive losses to be developed. The predictions have been experimentally verified with PERL cells, whose resistive losses were reduced to approximately half of their previous values, contributing to a new efficiency world record (24.0%) for silicon solar cells under terrestrial illumination. The measurement techniques and optimization strategies presented here can be applied to most other types of solar cells, and to materials other than silicon.

  • (1995) Aberle, Armin; Altermatt, Peter; Heiser, Gernot; Robinson, Steven J.; Wang, Alan; Zhao, Jun; Krumbein, U; Green, Martin
    Journal Article
    The `passivated emitter and rear locally diffused` (PERL) silicon solar cell structure presently demonstrates teh highes terrestrial performance of any silicon-based solar cell. This paper presents a detailed investigation of the limiting loss mechanisms in PERL cells exhibiting independently confirmend 1-sun efficiencies of up to 23.0%. Optical, resistice, and recombinative losses are all analyzed under the full range of solar cell operating conditions with the aid of two-dimensional (2D) device simulations. The analysis is based on measurements of the reflectance, quaantum efficiency, dark and illuminated current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, and properties of the Si-SiO2 interfaces employed on these cells for surface passivation. Through the use of the 2D simulations, particular attention has been paid to the magnitudes of the spatially resolved recombination losses in these cells. Itis shown that approximately 50% of the recombination losses at the 1-sun maximum power point occur in the base of th cells, followed by the recombination losses at the rear and front oxidised surfaces (25% and <25%, respectively). The relativerly low fill factors of PERL cells are princip[ally a result of resistive losses; however, the recombination behavior in the base and at the rear surfacealso contributes. This work predicts that the efficiency of 23% PERL cells could be increased by about 0.7% absolute if ohmic losses were eliminated, a further 1.1% absolute if there were no reflection losses at the nonmetallised front surface regions, about 2.0% by introducing ideal light trapping and eliminating shading losses due to the front metallisation, and by about 3.7% absolute if the device had no defect-related reconbination losses. New design rules for future efficiency improvements, ev


  • (1997) Wolfe, Joseph; Yoon, Yong; Pope, J
    Journal Article
    Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance was used to measure the freezing behaviour of lamellar phases of phosphatidylcholine in water and in solutions of sorbitol. Both solute and solvent were deuterated in different series of experiments to allow the calculation of the partitioning of solute and solvent molecules between the lamellar phase and unfrozen bulk solution. Sorbitol, as well as water, was found to redistribute between these phases as a function of temperature. The results show a strong, repulsive, interlamellar force which decreases approximately exponentially with hydration. Compared to measurements on lipid/water systems and solute/water systems, the hydration of the lamellar phase containing solutes is slightly less than the sum of the hydrations of lipid and solute at any given chemical potential of water. For a lamellar phase with a given quantity of lipid, interlamellar sorbitol and water, reduction of chemical potential of water is greater than that due to lipid acting alone plus that due to solute acting alone.

  • (1995) Atchison, S; Burford, Robert; Whitby, C; Hibbert, D. Brynn
    Journal Article

  • (1989) Kazacos, Michael
    Thesis
    In this project the preparation of the electrolyte for the all vanadium redox flow battery was investigated using both chemical and electrolytic reduction of ^O,- powder. Oxalic acid and SO^ reduction were found to be unsuitable as only the V(IV) state could be produced directly. With suspended powder hydrolysis, however, vanadium sulphate of any oxidation state, in this case 50% V(IV) plus 50% V(III) in sulphuric acid can readily be prepared from V^O^ powder, thus allowing a significant reduction in the cost of the vanadium battery electrolyte. Results from conductivity and electrolyte stability tests at elevated temperature have led to modification of the electrolyte composition for the vanadium redox cell, from the 2 M V plus 2 M H^SO^, originally employed, to the use of 3 M H^SO^, much higher energy efficiencies and greater electrolyte stability was demonstrated with the 3 M H^SO^ supporting electrolyte. Spectroscopy and electrolyte conductivity have been demonstrated as suitable techniques for state-of-charge monitoring. A number of electrode materials were also evaluated and a Toray graphite bonded to a carbon plastic electrode was selected for further prototype development. Energy efficiencies of between 83 and 86% were obtained for a current density of 30 mA/cm for a temperature range 5 to 45'C, and between 0 and 100% state-of-charge. A wide range of construction materials was tested for long term stability in the vanadium redox electrolyte.



  • (1998) Cao, Zhiyi
    Thesis
    The optimization of the spiral wound module design generally refers to the optimization of feed channel spacers, which is investigated in this thesis. The feed channel spacers serve to improve the mass transfer by promoting turbulence and provide passage for the fluid. However, the presence of spacers also significantly increases the channel pressure drop and consequently increases the energy costs of the process. The spacer design could therefore have a significant effect on process economics. The main aim of this work was to study spacer characteristics and test its major geometrical characteristics. To achieve this, custom designed spacers were developed in the laboratory and CFD simulations were used to visualize the flow management that spacer can achieve. Through experiments and CFD simulation, it was found that the transverse filament was one of the dominating factors in spacer design. Most of the pressure drop in the spacer filled channel was caused by the form drag introduced by the transverse filaments. The variation in transverse filament distance can greatly affect the number of transverse filaments in the channel and consequently affect the pressure drop and mass transfer in the channel. The experimental results showed that the diameter of the transverse filament also had a significant effect on channel pressure drop and mass transfer, especially at high flow rates. Increasing transverse filament diameter may result in a rapid increase in pressure drop and mass transfer caused by increased from drag and enhanced turbulence. Voidage alone was found not to be efficient for quantifying the geometrical properties of spacer filled channels. Two ratios, transverse filament diameter/channel height and transverse filament diameter/transverse distance, were established for quantifying the performance of the spacer filled channels. Novel spacers were developed as the result of this research. They provide similar mass transfer performance to the benchmark commercial spacer with lower pressure drop. Optimal novel spacer design was analysis based on economics analysis.