IEC 62892:2019

Extended thermal cycling of PV modules - Test procedure

IEC 62892:2019 defines a test sequence that extends the thermal cycling test of IEC 61215-2. It is intended to differentiate PV modules with improved durability to thermal cycling and evaluate modules for deployment in locations most susceptible to thermal cycling type stress. This document is based on the ability for 95 % of the modules represented by the samples submitted for this test to pass an equivalency of 500 thermal cycles, as defined in IEC 61215‑2:2016, 4.11.3, with a maximum power degradation of less than 5 %. Provisions are also provided to reduce overall test time by increasing the maximum cycle temperature and/or the number of modules submitted for test.
The test procedure in this document was developed based on analysis of the stress on tin-lead solder bonds on crystalline silicon solar cells in a glass superstrate type package. Changes to lead-free solder have an effect on the acceleration factors but not enough to change the overall results of this test. Monolithic type modules with integral cell interconnection do not suffer from this specific type of stress but there are still electrical connections within the module, for example between the integrated cell circuit and the module bus bars, that may be subject to wear out from thermal cycling. Flexible modules (without glass) are not stressed in the same way as those with glass superstrates or substrates, therefore use of the equivalency factor employed in this document may not be applicable to these modules.

Cycle thermique étendu de modules PV - Procédure d'essai

l'IEC 62892:2019 définit une séquence d'essais qui étend l'essai de cycle thermique de l'IEC 61215-2. Il est destiné à différencier les modules photovoltaïques avec une meilleure durabilité par rapport au cycle thermique et à évaluer les modules pour un déploiement dans les lieux plus exposés aux contraintes de cycle thermique. Le présent document repose sur l'aptitude pour 95 % des modules représentés par les échantillons soumis à cet essai à supporter avec succès l'équivalent de 500 cycles thermiques, conformément à la procédure définie dans l'IEC 61215-2:2016, 4.11.3, avec une dégradation maximale de puissance inférieure à 5 %. Des dispositions sont également fournies pour réduire la durée totale des essais en augmentant la température maximale du cycle et/ou le nombre de modules soumis à l'essai.
La procédure d'essai décrite dans le présent document a été élaborée sur la base d'une analyse des contraintes exercées sur des assemblages soudés en alliage plomb-étain sur des cellules solaires en silicium cristallin au sein d'un ensemble de type superstrat de verre. Des modifications apportées à une soudure sans plomb ont un effet sur les facteurs d'accélération, mais pas de manière suffisante pour modifier les résultats globaux de cet essai. Les modules de type monolithique avec interconnexion intégrale des cellules ne souffrent pas de ce type de contrainte spécifique, mais il persiste des connexions électriques à l'intérieur du module, par exemple entre le circuit intégré de la cellule et les barres omnibus du module, qui peut subir une usure due aux cycles thermiques. Les modules souples (sans verre) ne subissent pas les mêmes contraintes que ceux qui comportent des superstrats ou des substrats de verre. Par conséquent, l'utilisation du facteur d'équivalence employé dans le présent document peut ne pas convenir à ces modules.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 16-Apr-2019
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 27.160 - Solar energy engineering
• Technical Committee: TC 82 - Solar photovoltaic energy systems
• Drafting Committee: WG 2 - TC 82/WG 2
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 22-Mar-2019
• Completion Date: 17-Apr-2019

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 62892 ®
Edition 1.0 2019-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Extended thermal cycling of PV modules – Test procedure

Cycle thermique étendu de modules PV – Procédure d'essai

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IEC 62892 ®
Edition 1.0 2019-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Extended thermal cycling of PV modules – Test procedure

Cycle thermique étendu de modules PV – Procédure d'essai

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-6598-7

– 2 – IEC 62892:2019 © IEC 2019
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Sampling . 7
5 Marking and documentation . 7
6 Modifications . 8
7 Test procedure . 8
7.1 Initial evaluations . 8
7.2 Thermal cycling test . 8
7.2.1 Purpose . 8
7.2.2 Apparatus . 8
7.2.3 Procedure . 8
7.3 Final evaluations . 9
7.4 Requirements . 10
8 Reporting. 10
Annex A (normative) Calculation of the required number of thermal cycles . 11
Annex B (informative) Acceleration factors based on deployed climate . 14
Bibliography . 17

Figure A.1 – Number of equivalent cycles as a function of maximum cycle temperature
over maximum module operating temperature . 11
Figure A.2 – Survivorship plot for a Weibull distribution with a shape parameter of 6
and a survivorship probability of 95% at 500 cycles . 12
Figure B.1 – Plot of module cell temperature over the course of one day to illustrate
the maximum temperature, maximum temperature change and temperature reversal
terms . 14
Figure B.2 – Combination of factors that indicate extended thermal cycling is advised
for a specific location . 15

Table 1 – Number of required thermal cycles, N . 9
R
Table A.1 – Effect of sample size on test time . 13
Table B.1 – Cell temperature factors . 15
Table B.2 – Module and mounting specific model parameters . 16

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EXTENDED THERMAL CYCLING OF PV MODULES –
TEST PROCEDURE
FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 62892 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar
photovoltaic energy systems.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
82/1537/FDIS 82/1560/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 4 – IEC 62892:2019 © IEC 2019
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INTRODUCTION
The IEC 61215 series defines test requirements for the design qualification of flat-plate PV
modules for long-term operation in general open-air climates. IEC TS 62941 provides technical
guidance in application of the type-approval testing.
This document, IEC 628
...