TASC-1D-cSi: a simulation tool to scrutinize the thermal impacts on the performances of crystalline silicon solar cells

Abstract

The capabilities of a simulation tool for the in-depth analysis of the thermal impacts on the performances of solar cells are described. TASC-1D (Thermal Analysis of Solar Cells - 1D, version cSi) solves the coupled electrical, radiative and thermal transport problems for a crystalline silicon cell, as a function of irradiation and thermal conditions. In addition to the electrical outputs that are obtained with the existing simulation tools, it provides the cell equilibrium temperature as well as the spatial and spectral distributions of many relevant quantities. The physical modeling and associated numerical solution techniques are summarized. Result cases with a prescribed cell temperature demonstrate that the code performs well, is able to provide valuable information on the quantum efficiency and power loss mechanisms, and is capable of handling diffuse irradiations. The intricate correlation between thermal sources and optical-electrical losses is discussed. The other cases include the solution of the heat transfer problem and analyses are conducted on the cell operating temperature and efficiency as a function of the thermal conditions. This simulation tool is likely to allow new optimizations of photovoltaic cells that include a thermal criterion in addition to the optical and electrical criteria.