Optimized stencil print for low Ag paste consumption and high conversion efficiencies

We evaluate industrial-type PERC solar cells applying a dual printed front grid with stencil printed Ag fingers. We vary the Ag paste consumption for the finger print between 8.4 mg and 120.4 mg per 156 x 156 mm(2) wafer (weighted after printing before drying) by using polyurethane squeegees with different shore hardness as well as a metal squeegee and by varying the printing pressure to obtain different finger heights. The busbar consumes additional 19.5 mg Ag paste. We obtain average finger heights from 5.9 mu m up to 24.3 mu m for 55 mu m to 65 mu m wide fingers. The resulting PERC solar cells show an average efficiency of 20.2% for finger paste consumptions above 60 mg. In contrast, a strong reduction of the conversion efficiency with less than 60 mg finger paste consumption is observed since the increased series resistance reduces the FF. By analytical modelling, we compare the calculated series resistance to the experimental data and observe a good accordance for more than 40 mg finger paste consumption whereas the experimental series resistance slightly exceed the modelled values below 40 mg. In addition, we use numerical simulations to investigate the series resistance dependence on the finger height which shows higher experimental values for finger height below 10 mu m. The deviation of the measured series resistance and the two modelled cases is mostly due to inhomogeneous distribution of finger height profiles and finger interruptions on the solar cells with front finger paste consumption of less than 40 mg. For finger paste consumption below 60 mg, we find that also the specific contact resistance increases. A physical model of the root cause for this dependence still has to be found

Advancements in decadal climate predictability: the role of nonoceanic drivers

We review recent progress in understanding the role of sea ice, land surface, stratosphere, and aerosols in decadal-scale predictability and discuss the perspectives for improving the predictive capabilities of current Earth system models (ESMs). These constituents have received relatively little attention because their contribution to the slow climatic manifold is controversial in comparison to that of the large heat capacity of the oceans. Furthermore, their initialization as well as their representation in state-of-the-art climate models remains a challenge. Numerous extraoceanic processes that could be active over the decadal range are proposed. Potential predictability associated with the aforementioned, poorly represented, and scarcely observed constituents of the climate system has been primarily inspected through numerical simulations performed under idealized experimental settings. The impact, however, on practical decadal predictions, conducted with realistically initialized full-fledged climate models, is still largely unexploited. Enhancing initial-value predictability through an improved model initialization appears to be a viable option for land surface, sea ice, and, marginally, the stratosphere. Similarly, capturing future aerosol emission storylines might lead to an improved representation of both global and regional short-term climatic changes. In addition to these factors, a key role on the overall predictive ability of ESMs is expected to be played by an accurate representation of processes associated with specific components of the climate system. These act as “signal carriers,” transferring across the climatic phase space the information associated with the initial state and boundary forcings, and dynamically bridging different (otherwise unconnected) subsystems. Through this mechanism, Earth system components trigger low-frequency variability modes, thus extending the predictability beyond the seasonal scale

Transient climate simulations from the Maunder Minimum to present day: Role of the stratosphere

Transient climate simulations are performed covering the period from 1630 to 2000. A vertically extended version of a coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model is used, including a detailed representation of the stratosphere. One simulation is driven by changes in total solar irradiance due to solar activity as well as volcanic eruptions and changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. A second simulation additionally includes changes in short-wave heating due to prescribed photochemical changes in ozone. The simulations are compared with reconstructions and other simulations employing less resolved stratosphere. The inclusion of the higher resolved stratosphere plays only a moderate role for the simulated climate variability on the hemispheric scale. Larger implications are found for regional scales. Both simulations reveal a shift of the North Atlantic Oscillation toward a more positive phase from the Maunder Minimum to present day, mainly attributed to anthropogenic increase in concentration of well-mixed GHG. Increase in GHG is related to a more disturbed stratospheric polar vortex resulting in an only moderate strengthening of tropospheric westerlies over Europe compared with the tropospheric version of the model. On multidecadal to centennial time scales the stratospheric solar forcing substantially contributes to the climate change signal in the stratosphere, and there is clear evidence for an impact on the tropospheric circulation

Ewolucja klimatu od późnego Minimum Maundera (1675–1715) do dzisiaj, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem Polski

Pogoda i warunki klimatyczne zimą w Europie są związane ze zmiennością wielkoskalowej cyrkulacji atmosferycznej. W Polsce na wahania temperatury w zimie z roku na rok duży wpływ ma Oscylacja Północnoatlantycka. W artykule określono przebieg klimatyczny zimy w Polsce od Minimum Maundera (1700 r.) do końca XX wieku na podstawie symulacji klimatu chwilowym, sprzężonym modelem ogólnej cyrkulacji atmosferycznej. Model stanowi pionową, rozszerzoną wersję modelu ECHO-G i obejmuje stratosferę i mezosferę. Okazuje się, że długookresowa zmiana aktywności Słońca i antropogeniczne stężenie gazów cieplarnianych wpływa na Oscylację Północnoatlantycką (NAO), poprzez zmiany średniego ciśnienia na poziomie morza. Średnia temperatura w Polsce podczas późnego Minimum Maundera (1675-1715) była niższa o ponad 2 K niż współcześnie (1960-1990), na skutek czego średnia temperatura na półkuli północnej będzie jeszcze wyższa

Evaluation of the SMHI coupled atmosphere-ice-ocean model RCA4-NEMO

Den regionala kopplade atmosfär-is-havsmodellen RCA4-NEMO som utvecklats vid SMHI, utvärderas baserat på en ERA40-återanalys. Utvecklingen av den regionala klimatmodellen fortsätter men en första utvärdering presenteras här för att informera om aktuell status.RCA4-NEMO i aktuell status innehåller två modellkomponenter. Den regionala atmosfärsmodellen RCA4 täcker hela Europa och är tvåvägskopplad till en is-hav-modell för Nordsjön och Östersjön baserat på NEMO. Den används för tillfället för nedskalning av CMIP5-scenarier för detta århundrade för Nordsjön och Östersjön. Som en del av utvärderingen av RCA4-NEMO presenteras en analys och diskussion av hindcast-körning 1970-1999. Modellresulaten jämförs med observationsdata. Temperatur nära ytan och värmeflödet är förhållandevis bra vid en jämförelse med in-situ-mätningar och skattningar baserade på satellitdata. Salthalt och färskvattenutbyte är dock mindre bra. Momentumflödet från atmosfär till hav identifieras som en kritisk process i kopplingen mellan modellerna. Med undantag för färskvattensutbytet mellan atmosfär och hav är de klimatologiska egenskaperna nära ytan och motsvarande flöden jämförbara med klimatologiska observationer för perioden 1970-1999.AbstractThe regional, coupled atmosphere-ice-ocean model RCA4-NEMO developed at the SMHI is evaluated on the basis of an ERA40 hindcast. While the development of the regional climate model is continuing a first assessment is presented here to allow for an orientation about the status guo. RCA4-NEMO in its present form consists of two model components. The regional atmosphere model RCA4 covers the whole of Europe and is interactvely coupled to a North Sea and Baltic Sea ice-ocean model based on NEMO. RCA4-NEMO is currently being used to downscale CMIP5 scenarios for the North Sea and Baltic Sea region for this century. As a part of the validation of RCA4-NEMO we present an analysis and discussion of the hindcast period 1970-1999. The model realization is compared to observational records. Near surface temperatures and heat fluxes compare reasonably well with records of in-situ measurments and satellite derived estimates. For salinities and freshwater fluxes the agreement with observations in not satisfactory yet. The momentum fluxes transferred from the atmosphere to the ice-ocean model are identified as on of the sensitive processes in the coupling of both model components. Except for the freshwater exchange between atmosphere and ocean the climatological near surface properties and corresponding fluxes compare well with climatological estimates for the period 1970-1999

Heterogeneously catalysed partial oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid - structure, function and dynamics of the V/Mo/W mixed oxides

The major objective of this research project was to reach a microscopic understanding of the structure, function and dynamics of V-Mo-(W) mixed oxides for the partial oxidation of acrolein to acrylic acid. Different model catalysts (from binary and ternary vanadium molybdenum oxides up to quaternary oxides with additional tungsten) were prepared via a solid state preparation route and hydrochemical preparation of precursors by spray-drying or crystallisation with subsequent calcination. The phase composition was investigated ex situ by XRD and HR-TEM. Solid state prepared samples are characterised by crystalline phases associated to suitable phase diagrams. Samples prepared from crystallised and spray-dried precursors show crystalline phases which are not part of the phase diagram. Amorphous or nanocrystalline structures are only found in tungsten doped samples. The kinetics of the partial oxidation as well as the catalysts' structure have been studied in situ by XAS, XRD, temperature programmed reaction and reduction as well as by a transient isotopic tracing technique (SSITKA). The reduction and re-oxidation kinetics of the bulk phase have been evaluated by XAS. A direct influence not only of the catalysts' composition but also of the preparation route is shown. Altogether correlations are drawn between structure, oxygen dynamics and the catalytic performance in terms of activity, selectivity and long-term stability. A model for the solid state behaviour under reaction conditions has been developed. Furthermore, isotope exchange experiments provided a closer image of the mechanism of the selective acrolein oxidation. Based on the in situ characterisation in combination with micro kinetic modelling a detailed reaction model which describes the oxygen exchange and the processes at the catalyst more precisely is discussed