EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF WATER IMMERSION FOR A-SI THIN-FILM MODULES

Water immersion test conditions for thin film amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules were examined to address the need for an accelerated reliability test for moisture sensitivity. Initial test results conducted on immersion of EVA/Tedlar encapsulated coupons at 60, 70 and 85 °C with 0.1 - 0.3 Suns illumination indicate that the time to module failure over this temperature range conforms to an Arrhenius relationship. Comparative outdoor tests were also initiated. The water immersion test described appears to bea useful tool for rapid comparative testing of the moisture sensitivity of module designs. © 1990.