Numerical Simulation of Crack Growth in the Glass Layer of Gallium-Arsenide Solar Cell

علوم کاربردی و محاسباتی در مکانیک

Volume 33, Issue 2 - Serial Number 26, March 2022, Pages 93-104   

Document Type: Original Article

DOI: 10.22067/jacsm.2022.75307.1097

Authors

Pouya Mokhtari¹; farhad haji aboutalebi^{* 1}; Hamid Beheshti¹; Mohammad Reza Ashraf Khorasani²

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

²Instructor of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan Materials and Energy Research Institute, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Space solar cells are usually made of gallium-arsenide and have many applications. Photovoltaic arrays generate stable and renewable electricity, which are mainly used in the absence of electrical transmission and distribution network. Similar to a layered composite, solar cells consist several layers such as glass layer, transparent layer, negative silicon layer, and positive silicon layer. The glass layer is one of the most important components of the solar cell, which is directly exposed to solar energy radiation and experiences many temperature changes during the day and night. Due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of different layers, cracking of the glass layer is possible. The presence of one or more primary microscopic cracks in this layer and the extreme ambient temperature gradient will lead to the crack growth, resulting the failure or destruction of the glass layer, as well as improper functioning of the solar cell. In this research, crack growth in the glass layer is simulated by the extended finite element method and the effect of the length, location and angle of the initial crack as well as the thickness and dimensions of the layer are investigated. The results of numerical simulations reveal that among the above parameters, the dimensions of the protective glass layer have the greatest impact on the crack growth.

Keywords

Gallium-Arsenide Solar Cell; Temperature Gradient; Crack Growth; Extended Finite Element Method

References

1. Halo Industries, "Brittle Fracture Wafering of Silicon Ingots for Low Cost, High Efficiency c-Si Solar Cells", Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vol. 09, Pp. 01-16, (2018).
2. Moss, S. J., Ledwith, A., "The Chemistry of the Semiconductor Industry", Springer, (1987).
3. Trapasso, L. M., "Temperature Distribution, in the Encyclopedia of Climatology", Springer, (1987).
4. Alferov, Z., "High Efficiency GaAs-Based Solar Cells Simulation and Fabrication", A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PHD degree, Ioffe Physico-Technical Institute, Vol. 01, Pp. 01-203, (1970).
5. Radu, V., Paffumi, E., "A Stochastic Approach of Thermal Fatigue Crack Growth (LEFM)", American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Vol. 03, Pp. 1031-1040, (2007).
6. سعادت، محمود، سرخیل، سعید، «بررسی تأثیر نسبت بیش ‏بار در عمر خستگی نمونه به‌صورت عددی و تجربی»، مجلۀ مد‌‌ل‌سازی در مهندسی، دورۀ 8، شمارۀ 22، صص. 58-51، (1389).
7. Ktari, A., Haddar, N.,  Koster, A., Marie-Louise Toure, A., "Numerical Computation of Thermal Fatigue Crack Growth of Cast Iron", Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials and Structures, Vol. 34, Pp. 498-509, (2011).
8. Kadlec, M., Hausild, P., Siegl, J., Materna, A., "Thermal Fatigue Crack Growth in Stainless Steel", International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, Vol. 98, Pp. 89-94, (2012).
9. Utz, S., Soppa, E., Silcher, H., Kohler, C., "Mechanisms of Crack Initiation and Crack Growth under Thermal and Mechanical Fatigue Loading", 39^th Materials Testing Institute University of Stuttgart, Vol. 39, Pp. 01-15, (2013).
10. Xue, G., Yang, Y., "Investigation on the Thermal Fatigue Life Evaluation Method of Railway Brake Disc with New Material", Tehnički vjesnik, Vol. 25, Pp. 1095-1102, (2018).
11. Zhang, J., Zhao, Z., Kong, Y., Zhang, Z., Zhong, Q., "Crack Initiation and Propagation Mechanisms during Thermal Fatigue in Directionally Solidified Superalloy DZ125", International Journal of Fatigue, Vol. 119, Pp. 355-366, (2019).
12. Kim, S. K., Lee, C. S., Kim, J. H., Noah, B. J., Matsumoto, T., and Lee, J. M., "Estimation of Fatigue Crack Growth Rate for 7% Nickel Steel under Room and Cryogenic Temperature Using Damage-Couples Finite Element Analysis", Metals, Vol. 5, Pp. 603-627, (2015).
13. AISI 8630 Alloy Steel (UNS G86300).
14. Paris, P., Gomez, M., and Anderson, W. A., "A Rational Analytic Theory of Fatigue", The Trend in Engineering, Vol. 13, Pp. 9-14, (1961).
15. Nasrnia, A., Haji Aboutalebi, F., "Experimental Investigation and Numerical Simulations of U-Notch Specimens under Mixed Mode Loading by the Conventional and Extended Finite Element Methods", Archive of Applied Mechanics, Vol. 88, Pp. 1461-1475, (2018).
16. Azur space product catalogue, "Triple Junction GaAs Solar Cell Assembly Type TJ Solar Cell Assembly 3G30A", (2019).
17. Qioptiq cover glass product catalogue, "Minimum Cover Glass Transmission Specifications with 0.10mm Thick CMX, CMG and CMO Glass Type", (2019).
18. European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS), "ECSS Secretariat ESA-ESTEC Requirements and Standards", Division Noordwyk, Vol. 08, Pp. 97-113, (2008).