Recently, Trina Solar completed non-uniform snow-load testing at the CGC East China PV Testing Center with its new-generation Vertex 670W modules. The data demonstrate the critical snow-load of Trina Solar's five modules exceeded 6,600 Pa, getting up to 7,000 Pa, equivalent to the pressure generated by 2.8 meters of snow, much higher than conventional non-uniform snow-load norms. This is sufficient proof of the excellent snow-load resistance of Trina Solar's Vertex 670W modules. Moreover, the strength convergence of the non-uniform snow-load testing of the five modules reflects the product’s excellent quality consistency.
The current path taken by PV modules is increasingly high power and expanding module size, which poses more severe challenges to module materials, design and process and forces the upstream and downstream industry chain to set stricter requests for the mechanical performance of modules.
After passing the standard 5400Pa static mechanical load test and dynamic mechanical load test, the Vertex 670W module continues to challenge non-uniform snow-load testing in order to more rigorously evaluate the mechanical performance of the PV modules in heavy-snow conditions.
When it accumulates heavily on the module surface, snow exerts uneven pressure, especially at the bottom of the module. The non-uniform snow-load testing specifically evaluates the ability of PV modules to withstand such uneven pressure when encountering heavy snowfall, thus, more effectively circumventing snow pressure in areas with heavy snowfall causing module failure. This includes bent or broken frames, uneven backglass breakage and partial or complete disintegration of the installed system. In this way, we can provide the optimal solution for our customers and owners.
The non-uniform snow-load testing of Trina Solar's Vertex 670W series was conducted at the CGC East China PV Testing Center. In contrast to the dynamic and static load tests based on IEC 61215 and IEC 62782, the IEC 62938:2020-based non-uniform snow-load testing is a standard test that simulates the snow-load resistance of PV modules and can be considered as risk control for differentiated application scenarios. It does so by simulating the module's snow-load resistance in real-world environmental testing. PV modules that pass this standard test exhibit two characteristic values: The value of snow load that accumulates on the surface when the module fails; and the power attenuation value and electrical safety performance of the module under critical snow-load conditions.
The test data demonstrated the critical snow load for all five of Trina Solar's modules to be as high as 6,600 Pa or more, with a maximum of 7,000 Pa, which was much higher than the usual required norms for non-uniform snow loads. Based on the average snow density of 0.25g/cm3, this is equivalent to the pressure generated by 2.8 meters of snow unevenly pressing on the modules.
Combined with the ultimate load capacity of Trina Solar's Vertex 670W modules and a standard introduction of a safety factor of 1.5 for the final snow-load test, the 670W module power attenuation was just 0.56%. This test result thus manifestly demonstrates Trina Solar's Vertex 670W modules not only integrate advantages of high-power, high-efficiency, and large-size cells, but also possess the excellent snow-load resistance.