Case histories of EVA encapsulant discoloration in fielded modules

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Abstract
A survey of case histories of EVA‐based encapsulant discoloration in fielded modules in the U. S. reveals that the problem is limited to areas of the West and Southwest that have comparatively high solar insolation and ambient temperature. There have been no reported cases of discolored EVA encapsulant from modules fielded in the Northeast, Central U. S., or Western Europe. The absence of hard data regarding module operating temperatures, solar insolation, onset of discoloration, and quantitative information regarding the degree of discoloration has made correlation between various fabrication, placement, and operating conditions and incidence of discoloration difficult it not impossible. However, the degree of discoloration does appear to correlate with increasing average daily direct normal solar radiation and approximate maximum module operating temperature, as estimated from maximum ambient temperatures. It is clear that the discoloration problem is not limited to the modules of any one manufacturer, however, the rate and degree of discoloration do appear to vary from company to company. Also, discoloration is not limited to EVA encapsulant sheet from any one supplier.

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