Talk:PV Production Line
Does this all need tobe done in a cleanroom enviroment or no?
--Eric (talk) 19:08, 14 March 2018 (UTC)
I investigated a community PV Production line in 2009...I will try and dig out my notes.
Cells are very hard to manufacture and require a very clean environment. A glove box could work.
Laminating and framing the solar panels is a much better proposition.
Solar cell seconds can be sourced, and soldered back together.
My concept was to create a conveyor belt oven similar to a pizza oven. The heat cures the laminate and evenly distributes heat stress from the solder contacts on the fragile solar cells. A reflow solder oven seemed like the next investigation.
The panels would be prepared for the oven in sealed vacuum bags; similar to carbon fiber lay-ups.
The panels (at the most basic) are constructed from cells, solder tab wire, and a clear laminate such as Sylgard 184.
I bought a bunch of toaster and removed the mica boards with restive heat elements and a wire chain conveyor to create the oven for a small proof of concept...which I still have.
The panels would be framed in aluminum or wood later...and tested with an artificial sun light table.
De-lamination is a major issue so there would have to be multiple attempts made to find the correct process.
Cleanliness is critical, but a modified shipping container would provide a good boundary layer with the outside world.
GeneralDesign (talk) 04:33, 15 March 2018 (CET)
Sounds Good! A while ago i was looking into a diy laminar flow hood for some cell culture stuff and they aren't too dificult to make. I have also seen gloveboxes made out of rubbermade bins so that is an even simpler option.
Along the lines of something a bit larger I was making this page, Open Source Cleanroom Construction Set. It doesn't have much now, as it is mainly organizational, but it may be of use.
--Eric (talk) 15:42, 15 March 2018 (UTC)
A laminar flow hood would be adequate for some things, but not growing silicon crystals.
There's some good papers about this sort of thing using keywords cottage industry.
This is the cost breakdown I started nine years ago for my PV class at OIT.
--GeneralDesign (talk) 04:16, 16 March 2018 (CET)
