Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Described herein are the results of the FY1994 research program for analysis and evaluation for thin film solar cells. The study on quantitative analysis of hydrogen atoms in a plasma determines quantity of hydrogen atoms in the plasma of monosilane diluted with hydrogen. It is found, contrary to expectation, that quantity of hydrogen atoms in the plasma decreases as it is more diluted with hydrogen. The study on light-induced degradation of the thin chlorine-base amorphous silicon films confirms that the plasma CVD method with 20% of dichlorosilane gas added to monosilane gas produces the thin amorphous silicon film 3 times faster than the conventional method. The thin film has essentially the same defect density as the one prepared by the conventional method, showing good photoelectric characteristics. The thin film of chlorinated amorphous silicon has a 1 digit lower defect density than the conventional one of amorphous silicon, as revealed by the accelerated degradation test with ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The effect of atmospheric pressure on tracking resistance of organic insulating materials were investigated in the range of 500 to 1007 hPa. The tracking resistance for Polycarbonate (PC), Modified Polyphenylene Oxide (M-PPO) and Paper Base Phenolic Resin Laminate (PL) increase with the decrease in atmospheric pressure. The scintillating discharges on these samples surface lead to the ignition. The tracking failure on these results from the ignition on the surface. For Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), the tracking resistance decrease with the decrease in atmospheric pressure. The discharges observed on the these surface are the glow-like. The discharge area spreads on the surface between the electrodes at the lower pressure. The failure on this group results from the carbonization by the discharges on the surface. However, the tracking resistance for Unsaturated Polyester Resins (UP) has no significant dependence on lower atmospheric pressure. 9 ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper describes zinc-air battery for electric vehicle (EV). This battery is composed of air electrode, zinc electrode, and alkali electrolyte. During the discharge, oxygen taken from the air is reduced at the air electrode, and zinc is dissolved at the zinc electrode. The whole reaction is formation of zinc oxide from oxygen and zinc. This is taken out to use as a secondary battery through exchange and regeneration, which is called mechanical charge. For Electric Fuel, discharged products in the zinc electrode from a spent EV are extracted by a vibrating crusher, and are dissolved in KOH to prepare zinc ion electrolyte. Thus, zinc is obtained through the electrolytic refining. Since the regenerated zinc is separated from the electrolytic electrode as a form of dendritic powder, it is recovered, treated by press molding, regenerated, and used as a zinc electrode. The battery developed by Electric Fuel is tested for applying it to the mail delivery in Germany. It has a running ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The process operation of the hot wall vapor deposition method, formation of dry organic thin film and the control of molecular arrangement were described. This equipment included a substrate on the upper end of the hot wall tube and the vapor source at the lower end. The remarkable features are the hot wall tube which plays the role to hold vaporizing molecules to the high temperature and to transport molecules, and the flip flop mechanism which gives some idle period for the molecular vaporization by shutter closing. Several experiments were carried out by using stearic acid and by changing the distance S from the upper end of hot wall quartz tube to the substrate, the furnace temperature T{sub f} and the substrate temperature T{sub s}. When T{sub f} is equal to or less than the melting point of stearic acid, molectles are preferentialy made to vertical arrangement. In the case of T{sub f} more than the melting point, the molecular rate of the horizontal arrangement increased along ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

At COP3 in 1997, an agreement was made to the innovative technical development/promotion by international cooperation, and the promotion of transfer of environmental technology to developing countries. Under the agreement, a feasibility study of international cooperation was made, and especially a study was conducted of the utilization/development of solar energy by the innovative solar thermochemical process. The main reason for global warming is emissions of a large amount of CO2 caused by the direct combustion of fossil fuels. Therefore, a CO2 recycle system taken up in the study enables a more substantial decline in CO2 emission (kg/kWh) per unit generation than the conventional thermal power system by composing solar methanol or solar dimethyl ether using fossil fuels including coal, water, CO2, etc. as raw materials and using solar energy as heat source, and by using this as fuel (solar fuel). CO2 can be reduced by 13% to 14% by substituting solar methanol or solar dimethyl ether ...