Marco Paggi

Multi-scale Analysis of Materials – MUSAM

marco.paggi@imtlucca.it

Joint Research Center, Institute for Energy and Transport

October 21, 2015, Ispra, Italy

Multi-field and multi-scale Computational

Approach to design and durability of

Photovoltaic Modules:

Project overview and achievements

Research on photovoltaic (PV) modules

Methodologies

• Development of multi-physics computational models

• Development of multi-scale computational models

• Development of innovative experimental tests

Aims

• Optimization of PV modules against cracking

• Govern fracture to produce thin-film solar cells

• Optimization of PV modules for disassembling (recycling)

• Interpretation and revision of standard qualification tests

• Prof. Dr. Ing. M. Paggi, Associate Prof., PI

• Dr. Ing. A. Bacigalupo, Assistant Prof.

• Dr. C. Borri, Post-doc

• Dr.-Ing. P. Budarapu, Post-doc

• Dr. M. Gagliardi, Post-doc

• Mr. P. Lenarda, PhD student

• Ing. V. Carollo, PhD student

• Ing. P. Cinat, PhD student

Visiting scholars and professors

• Prof. D. Bigoni, Full Professor, University of Trento

• Dr. J. Reinoso, Assistant Professor, University of Seville

• Dr. Ing. M. Corrado, Assistant Professor, PoliTO & Marie Curie Fellow at EPFL

• Dr. Ing. A. Gizzi, Assistant Professor, Università Campus Bio-Medico of Rome

• Ing. A. Infuso, PhD student, 28th cycle, PoliTO & Visiting scholar at Paris-Est

• Ing. I. Berardone, PhD student, 28th cycle, PoliTO & Visiting scholar at ISFH

• Ing. O.S. Ojo, PhD student, 28th cycle, PoliTO

http://musam.imtlucca.it

Research team

MUSAM-LAB www.imtlucca.it/research/laboratories/musam-lab

Ex Officina Aromataria Convento San Francesco (XIII Century)

Multi-scale Analysis of Materials Laboratory

Solbian Energie Alternative S.r.l.

Avigliana, Italy

Applied Materials Italia S.r.l.

Olmi di S. Biagio di Callalta, Italy

Jabil, Industrial and Energy

San Petersburg, Florida, USA

International Energy Agency

Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme (PVPS)

Task 13 on Performance and Reliability of Photovoltaic Systems

www.iea-pvps.org

Endorsement from PV companies and

collaboration with international agencies

Multi-physics computational approach

Thermal

field

Elastic

field

Electric

field

Moisture

diffusion

Paggi M, Corrado M, Rodriguez MA (2013) A multi-physics and multi-scale numerical

approach to microcracking and power-loss in photovoltaic modules. Composite

Structures, 95:630–638.

Global FE model:

• Multi-layered plate

• Compute displacements

• Compute temperature

• Predict moisture diffusion in the EVA

Displacement BCs,

thermal field

Local FE model:

• 3D cells with cohesive cracks

• Computation of crack opening

• Electric response

I

V

Rs

Rp

D Iph

Global-local approach

Geometrical multi-scale modelling

Adhesive properties of the encapsulant

10x 100x

J. Reinoso, M. Paggi (2014)

A consistent interface element formulation

for geometrical and material nonlinearities,

Computational Mechanics, 54:1569–1581

Simulation of cracking due to snow

pressure and inactive cell areas

Impact tests / cyclic loading / vibrations

Electric model for cracked solar cells

6 cm 9 cm

12 cm 15 cm

Accelerated climate tests

Electroluminescence

monitoring of cracking

0 cycles 200 cycles

300 cycles 400 cycles

Micro-scale qualification tests

10x 100x

Thermally-induced spalling

to produce thin film solar cells

10x

100 mm

Publications in ISI Journals - 2013

M. Paggi, O. Plekhov (2013) On the dependency of the parameters of fatigue crack growth from the fractal

dimension of rough crack profiles, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, accepted for publication and in

press, doi:10.1177/0954406213515643

A. Sapora, M. Paggi (2013) A coupled cohesive zone model for transient analysis of thermoelastic interface

debonding, Computational Mechanics, 53:845-857, doi:10.1007/s00466-013-0934-8

A. Sapora, M. Codegone, G. Barbero (2013) Diffusion phenomenon in the hyperbolic and parabolic

regimes, Physics Letters A, 377:2416-2421, doi:10.1016/j.physleta.2013.07.009

M. Paggi, A. Sapora (2013) Numerical modelling of microcracking in PV modules induced by thermo-mechanical

loads, Energy Procedia, 38:506-515, doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2013.07.310 (open access)

M. Paggi, M. Corrado, M.A. Rodriguez (2013) A multi-physics and multi-scale numerical approach to microcracking

and power-loss in photovoltaic modules, Composite Structures, 95:630-

638,doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2012.08.014. Post-print available at http://arxiv.org/abs/1303.7452v1(open access

repository)

Publications in ISI Journals - 2014

O.S. Ojo, S. Grivet Talocia, M. Paggi (2014) Model order reduction applied to heat conduction in photovoltaic

modules, Composite Structures, 119:477-486, doi:10.1016/j.compstruct.2014.09.008

J. Reinoso, M. Paggi (2014) A consistent interface element formulation for geometrical and material

nonlinearities, Computational Mechanics, in press, doi:10.1007/s00466-014-1077-2

M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) Nonlinear fracture dynamics of laminates with finite thickness adhesives, Mechanics of

Materials, 54:1569-1581, doi:10.1016/j.mechmat.2014.07.012

M. Paggi, I. Berardone, A. Infuso, M. Corrado (2014) Electrical recovery and fatigue degradation phenomena in

cracked silicon cells, Journal of Energy Challenges and Mechanics, 1, article 4Link to the pdf

M. Paggi, R. Pohrt, V.L. Popov (2014) Partial-slip frictional response of rough surfaces, Scientific Reports, 4, paper

no. 5178 doi:10.1038/srep05178

M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) Dynamic nonlinear crack growth at interfaces in multi-layered materials,Procedia

Materials Science, 3:1971-1976, doi:10.1016/j.mspro.2014.06.317

I. Berardone, M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) A generalized electric model for mono and polycrystalline silicon in the

presence of cracks and random defects, Energy Procedia, 55:22–29,doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.08.005

M. Paggi, I. Berardone, A. Infuso, M. Corrado (2014) Fatigue degradation and electric recovery in Silicon solar cells

embedded in photovoltaic modules, Scientific Reports, 4, paper no. 4506doi:10.1038/srep04506

A. Infuso, M. Corrado, M. Paggi (2014) Image analysis of polycrystalline solar cells and modeling of intergranular and

transgranular cracking, Journal of European Ceramic Society, 34:2713–

2722,doi:10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2013.12.051

A. Sapora, M. Codegone, G. Barbero, L.R. Evangelista (2014) Adsorption–desorption phenomena and diffusion of

neutral particles in the hyperbolic regime, Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical,

47:015002, doi:10.1088/1751-8113/47/1/015002

Publications in ISI Journals - 2015

C. Borri, M. Paggi, J. Reinoso, F.M. Borodich (2015) Adhesive behaviour of bonded paper layers: mechanical testing

and statistical modelling, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineering, Part C: Journal of

Mechanical Engineering Science, in press.

J. Reinoso, M. Paggi, R. Rolfes (2015) A computational framework for the interplay between delamination and

wrinkling in functionally graded thermal barrier coatings, Computational Materials Science, in

press, doi:10.1016/j.commatsci.2015.08.031

I. Berardone, S. Kajari-Schröder, R. Niepelt, J. Hensen, V. Steckenreiter, M. Paggi (2015) Numerical modelling and

validation of thermally-induced spalling, Energy Procedia, 77:855-862,doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2015.07.121

M. Paggi, J. Reinoso (2015) An anisotropic large displacement cohesive zone model for fibrillar and crazing

interfaces, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 69-70:106-120,doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2015.04.042

A. Bemporad, M. Paggi (2015) Optimization algorithms for the solution of the frictionless normal contact between

rough surfaces, International Journal of Solids and Structures, 69-70:94-105,doi:10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2015.06.005

M. Paggi, Q.-C. He (2015) Evolution of the free volume between rough surfaces in contact, Wear, 336:86-

95, doi:10.1016/j.wear.2015.04.021

F. Spertino, A. Ciocia, P. Di Leo, R. Tommasini, I. Berardone, M. Corrado, A. Infuso, M. Paggi (2015) A power and

energy procedure in operating photovoltaic systems to quantify the losses according to the causes, Solar Energy,

118:313-326, doi:10.1016/j.solener.2015.05.003

A. Infuso, M. Paggi (2015) Computational modeling of discrete mechanical systems and complex networks: where

we are and where we are going, Frontiers in Materials, 2, paper no. 18,doi:10.3389/fmats.2015.00018

C. Borri, M. Paggi (2015) Topological characterization of antireflective and hydrophobic rough surfaces: are random

process theory and fractal modeling applicable?, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 48, paper no.

045301, doi:10.1088/0022-3727/48/4/045301

http://musam.imtlucca.it/CA2PVM.html

MUSAM Annual Report 2014: http://musam.imtlucca.it/Report_2014.pdf

Acknowledgements