Simulated hail impact testing of photovoltaic solar panelsTechniques used to simulate and study the effect of hail on photovoltaic solar panels are described. Simulated hail stones (frozen ice spheres projected at terminal velocity) or steel balls were applied by air guns, gravity drop, or static loading. Tests with simulated hail and steel balls yielded different results. The impact strength of 10 commercially available flat-plate photovoltaic modules was tested. It was found that none of the six panel designs incorporating clear potting silicone material as the outermost layer remained undamaged by 1-in. simulated hailstones, while a photovoltaic module equipped with a 0.188-in.-thick acrylic cover sheet would be able to withstand the impact of a 2-in.-diameter hailstone.
Document ID
19790032103
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Moore, D. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Wilson, A. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Ross, R. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)