Faculty Advisor: Dr. Vikram Dalal Kyle Veugeler, Dan Congereve, Jay - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Vikram Dalal

Kyle Veugeler, Dan Congereve, Jay Eggenberger, Madeline Oglesby, Kang Kang

sdmay1042@iastate.edu Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Iowa State University Ames, IA

Abstract A solar ‘total energy’ system will provide both hot water and electricity from the same panel. To do this efficiently, it is necessary that the solar cells, deposited on heat transmitting substrates such as steel, work efficiently at elevated temperatures approaching 70‐80 ⁰C. Design In this project, we will fabricate and test the performance of amorphous and nanocrystalline tandem junction solar cells deposited on steel substrates as a function of temperature. We will measure and interpret the performance characteristics vs. temperature of such cells, and build a model that best explains and predicts such performance.

 The cell must provide thermal heating for water and

production of electricity from the same solar panel.

 The cell must work efficiently at high temperatures.

Specifically 70‐80 ⁰C.

 Measurement and modeling of the performance must

be done to further conclude the data analysis of the device.

 The device must be placed on a thermally conducting

• substrate. Applications of “roll-to-roll” printing on steel

is to be expected.

 Device must be made from nanocrystalline (nc-Si) and

amorphous silicon (a-Si).

 Device must be made from non-toxic materials for

environmental safety.

 Final device will be that of a thin film solar cell.

 Our design is based on the notion that a-Si will perform

better than c-Si at notably higher temperatures.

 Our tandem-junction configuration will perform much

more efficiently, as opposed to that of a singular p-i-n

• r n-i-p junction. This is due to the increased

wavelength absorption range that will be achieve by

• ur tandem-junction design.

 Minimum of 20 device runs @ 10 hours each.  Operating cost of $20/hour = Minimum of $200 per device

run.

 This yields approximately $4000  Thermocouples - $250  Our client has agreed to pay for the device runs, therefore

the departmental cost will be ~$250.

 Project Plan – Mid-October  Device Designs – December 1st  Begin Initial Device Runs (5 Runs) – Mid-December  15 Additional Runs – January through Mid-February  Device Testing – March  Device Evaluation and Data Analysis – End of March