Using TDR-Time Domain Reflectometry Measurements to Compare Ribbon Busbar versus Wire Busbar Connections in Polycrystalline Solar Cells: The Signature Approach

The aim of this work is to identify through time domain reflectometry -TDR, the electronics signature of Ribbon busbar connections versus the Wire busbar connections in polycrystalline solar cells. Nowadays it is common in the PV market the use of ribbon busbar in lamination process instead the use wire busbar in lamination process, the wire busbar idea is to decrease effective shading compared to the rectangular shape of the ribbon busbar. Besides that, the wire techonology could employs different materials such as cooper. The TDR simulations here presented, could be a very powerful tool to identify the signature of the overall grid connections in different solar cells technologies, bulk materials for R & D and manufacturing purposes.