Top

Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization

Published in:

01-04-2015 | RESEARCH PAPER

Topology optimization of front metallization patterns for solar cells

Authors: D. K. Gupta, M. Langelaar, M. Barink, F. van Keulen

Published in: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization | Issue 4/2015

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

This paper presents the application of topology optimization (TO) for designing the front electrode patterns for solar cells. Improving the front electrode design is one of the approaches to improve the performance of the solar cells. It serves to produce the voltage distribution for the front surface such that the current flow through the solar cell is maximized. In this paper, we use TO to design the front electrode pattern for side-contact and pin-up modules. Specific challenges include the nonlinearity of the physical problem and the design-dependent photocurrent loading. The greater design freedom of TO versus traditional shape optimization generates novel, efficient electrode patterns. In addition, we study the effect of mesh resolution and solar cell size on the final design. The results suggest that TO can probably be an effective method to generate designs which could lead to improved performance of the solar cells.

previous article Design optimization using hyper-reduced-order models

next article Experimental flapping wing optimization and uncertainty quantification using limited samples

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Antonini A, Stefancich M, Vincenzi D, Malagu C, Bizzi F, Ronzoni A, Martinelli G (2003) Contact grid optimization methodology for front contact concentration solar cells. Sol Energ Mat Sol C 80:155–166CrossRef

Bendsøe MP (1989) Optimal shape design as a material distribution problem. Struct O 1(4):193–202CrossRef

Bruns TE, Tortorelli DA (2001) Topology optimization of nonlinear elastic structures and compliant mechanisms. Comput Method Appl M 190:3443–3459MATHCrossRef

Buhl T, Pedersen CBW, Sigmund O (2000) Stiffness design of geometrically non-linear structures using topology optimization. Struct Multidiscip O 19(2):93–104CrossRef

Burgers AR, Bultman JH, Tip AC, Sinke WC (2001) Metallisation patterns for interconnection through holes. Sol Energ Mat Sol C 65:347–353CrossRef

Conti M (1981) Optimal design of front-contact metallization for photovoltaic solar cells. Solid State Electron 24:79–83MathSciNetCrossRef

Darrigol O (2000) Electrodymanics from Ampere to Einsteiń. Oxford University Press, USA

Ebong A, Hilali M, Upadhyaya V, Rounsaville B, Ebong I, Rohatgi A (2005) High efficiency screen-printed planar solar cells on single crystalline silicon materials. In: 31st IEEE Phot Spec Conf, IEEE Explore, pp 1173–1176

Edwards PP, Porch A, Jones MO, Morgan DV, Perks RM (2004) Basic material physics of transparent conducting oxides. Dalton T 19:2995–3002CrossRef

Flat A, Milnes AG (1979) Optimization of multi-layer front-contact grid patterns for solar cells. Sol Energy 23:289–299CrossRef

Galagan Y, Coenen EWC, Abbel R, van Lammeren TJ, Sabik S, Barink M, Meinders ER, Andriessen R, Blom PWM (2013) Photonic sintering of inkjet printed current collecting grids for organic solar cell applications. Org Electron 14:38–46CrossRef

Gao T, Zhang WH, Zhu JH, Xu YJ, Bassir D (2008) Topology optimization of heat conduction problem involving design-dependent heat load effect. Finite Elem Anal Des 44:805–813CrossRef

Gersborg-Hansen A, Sigmund O, Haber RB (2005) Topology optimization of channel flow problems. Struct Multidiscip O 30:181–192MATHCrossRef

Gersborg-Hansen A, Bendsøe MP, Sigmund O (2006) Topology optimization of heat conduction problems using the finite volume method. Struct Multidiscip O 31:251–259MATHCrossRef

Green MA (1981) Solar Cells: Oper Princ Tech Sys Appl. Prentice Hall

Gupta DK, Langelaar M, Barink M, Van Keulen F (2014) Topology Optimization: An effective method for designing front metallization patterns of solar cells. In: Proceedings, 40th IEEE Phot Spec Conf

Hughes TJR (2000) The Finite Element Method: Linear static and dynamic finite element. Dover Publ

Hyun-Jun S, Jeonghoon Y (2012) Texturing design for a light trapping system using topology optimization. IEEE T Magn 48(2):227–230CrossRef

Jog CS (1997) Distributed-parameter optimization and topology design for nonlinear thermoelasticity. Comput Method Appl M 132:117–134MathSciNetCrossRef

Otomori M, Yamada T, Izui K, Nishiwaki S, Kogiso N (2014) Level set-based topology optimization for the design of light-trapping structures. IEEE T Magn 50(2)

Petersson J, Borrvall T (2003) Topology optimization of fluids in Stokes flow. Int J Numer Meth Fl 41:77–107MATHMathSciNetCrossRef

Rozvany GIN, Zhou M, Birker T (1992) Aims, scope, methods, history and unified terminology of computer-aided topology optimization in structural mechanics. Struct O 4:250–252CrossRef

Sigmund O (2000) Topology optimization: a tool for the tailoring of structures and materials. Philos T R Soc A 358:211–227MATHMathSciNetCrossRef

Sigmund O (2001) Design of multiphysics actuators using topology optimization - Part I: One-material structures. Comput Method Appl M 190:6577–6604MATHCrossRef

Sigmund O (2007) Morphology-based black and white filters for topology optimization. Struct Multidiscip O 33:401–424CrossRef

Svanberg K (1987) The method of moving asymptotes - a new method for structural optimization. Int J Numer Meth Eng 24:359–373MATHMathSciNetCrossRef

van Deelen J, Barink M, Klerk L, Voorthuijzen P, Hovestad A (2014a) Efficiency loss prevention in monolithically integrated thin film solar cells by improved front contact. Prog Photovoltaics

van Deelen J, Klerk LA, Barink M, Rendering H, Voorthuijzen P, Hovestad A (2014b) Improvement of transparent conducting materials by metallic grids on transparent conductive oxides. Thin Solid Films 555:159–162CrossRef

van Keulen F, Haftka RT, Kim NH (2005) Review of options for structural design sensitivity analysis. Part 1: linear systems. Comput Method Appl M 194:3213–3243MATHMathSciNetCrossRef

Wang C, Shuangcheng Y, Chen W, Sun C (2013) Highly efficient light trapping structure design inspired by natural evolution. Sci Rep 3

Weeber AW, Kinderman R, Tool CJJ, Granek F, De Jong PC (2006) How to achieve 17 % cell efficiencies on large back-contacted MC-SI solar cells. In: Proceedings, IEEE 4th World Conf Photovol Ener Conv, Hawaii, pp 1–4

Wen L, Yueqiang L, Jianjun C, Yanling C, Xiaodong W, Fuhua Y (2010) Optimization of grid design for solar cells. J Semicond 31:1–4CrossRef

Title: Topology optimization of front metallization patterns for solar cells
Authors: D. K. Gupta
M. Langelaar
M. Barink
F. van Keulen
Publication date: 01-04-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization / Issue 4/2015
Print ISSN: 1615-147X
Electronic ISSN: 1615-1488
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00158-014-1185-9

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 4/2015

Multi-objective vibro-acoustic optimization of stiffened panels

System-of-systems approach to air transportation design using nested optimization and direct search

Experimental flapping wing optimization and uncertainty quantification using limited samples

Design optimization using hyper-reduced-order models

Laminate stacking sequence optimization with strength constraints using two-level approximations and adaptive genetic algorithm

In-plane optimization of truss arch footbridges using stability and serviceability objective functions

Premium Partners