Ironless linear Motors
Dynamic Positioning of Small Masses
The new ironless linear motors in Rexroth’s MCL product line position small masses with precision and high synchronisation. These motors are dynamic and easy to integrate into machines. more...
Hot Spots Betray Bad Cells
Thermal Imaging Cameras for Solar Panel Inspection
To ensure that the solar panels they deliver perform well, Solartechnik Stiens uses a thermal imaging camera from Flir to look for flaws. The principle is straightforward: As solar cells turn sunlight into electricity they also produce heat. Ineffective cells produce much more heat than effective cells and will therefore show up clearly as a hot spot on a thermal image. more...
Inverter
With Integrated System Monitoring
The single-phase Fronius IG TL 4.6 inverter is a transformerless device that feeds power into the grid with a maximum output of 4.6 kW, as required by the forthcoming German Low Voltage Directive. more...
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Automated wafer production
Solar cells provide an eco-friendly supply of energy. However, it is also important to ensure that the overall production process and the individual production steps involved in the manufacture of solar cells and panels are likewise energy efficient and resource conserving. Processing of silicon
ingots serves to illustrate how this can be accomplished with the aid of a SCADA automation solution. more...
Visualising the Invisible
Electroluminescence imaging for quality control
Electroluminescence is coming of age and increasingly becoming a standard tool in module production lines. This technology can be used during the entire module production process, but it is mandatory as final inspection step to document the quality of the produced module. Its use immediately prior to lamination can save a lot of money. more...
Not a question of faith
Wafer thickness measurement
Silicon wafers are manufactured in many countries, for chip production as well as for photovoltaic cells. Critical factors in the production process are minimising raw material usage and maximising efficiency and reliability. Measuring the wafer thickness during the process could save costs and enhance quality. more...
Real-World Conditions
Accelerated Laboratory Weathering Testing of Organic PVs
Although polymer-based organic photovoltaic technologies represent a promising alternative to silicon-based systems, reliable methods are still needed to test and improve their long term stability in end-use environments. State-of-the-art approaches to estimating environmental durability rely on accelerated laboratory weathering which combines stress factors in a way resembling that encountered in the end-use environment, yet at intensified levels. more...