That is the power of good use of vacuum technology into solar panels. Vacuum is a crucial part of renewable energy production, including the manufacturing of Photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaics (PV) are a key part of what solar panels use in order to convert sunlight into actual usable electricity.
Vacuum is a crucial part of renewable energy production, including the manufacturing of Photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaics (PV) are a key part of what solar panels use in order to convert sunlight into actual usable electricity. Without the proper use of vacuum, converting electrons to energy via photovoltaic effect is impossible.
There are four main vacuum applications during the solar panel manufacturing process: The cells that make up a solar panel are made of silicon, one of the most abundant elements on Earth. It is found in almost all rocks, natural beach sands and soils, but always in combination with other elements – usually oxygen.
Using vacuum ensures that the coating material is distributed evenly, is free of air bubbles, and has uniform thickness. All of which enhance each solar cell’s efficiency. There are two different coating methods used in solar panel manufacturing: physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD).
The silicon manufacturing process requires vacuum pumps that work reliably in dusty environments because a crystal grower can generate several kilograms of silicon monoxide (SiO) particles per week. In a wet pump, the particles mix with the lubricating oil and erode internal components.
Dry etching requires vacuum pumps that can process extremely corrosive gases while maintaining a high gas throughput and low pressure. Magnetically levitated turbomolecular pumps (mag-lev TMP) that are specifically designed for harsh environments are ideal for this application.