M.S.B. sealing techniques
Who?– What?– How?- Why?
Technical information from M.S.B. Facility
Management.
Who?M.S.B. Facility Management, M. Sabasch is firm specializing in the sealing of glass as well as photovoltaic modules with glass covers.
What?M.S.B. seals glass to give this material a long-lasting, self-cleaning property and increase the efficiency of photovoltaic modules.Our sealing technique has been used by diverse partners since 2002.
How?
Glass:Glass installed outdoors is exposed to climatic conditions.As a result, the glass ages and gets dirty and scratched, thereby becoming unsightly in the course of time.Commercial enterprises like glass because of its refined appearance.The cost of cleaning glass ranges between 1 - 1.5 EUR per m2.Cleaning may be required frequently, depending on location and degree of soiling.The glass surfaces of commercial buildings are usually cleaned 4 times per year.The stress exerted in this process on such surfaces depends on the quality of cleaning.Sealing methods with a self-cleaning effect (nano effect) existent so far on the market can be divided into three classes according to processing type.
1. Surface sealing by means of pressure.In this method, silicone or polymeric materials are rubbed on to the glass surface under pressure.Advantage:Inexpensive, nano effect.Disadvantage:Short-lived, the self-cleaning effect lasts a maximum of 3 months.
2. Industrial sealing.Advantage:Nano effect.Disadvantage:Relatively expensive, the self-cleaning effect (e.g. drop-repellant glass) lasts a maximum of 12 months.
3. Chemical sealing by means of M.S.B. TECLUX has been in use since 2002. After the glass has undergone thorough, basic cleaning, another substance with the typical properties of glass (silicon) is applied to it.Through strong UV exposure (400 times the intensity of sunlight), this substance is bonded permanently to the glass, which also consists of silicon.Advantage:Nano effect, lasting protection with a manufacturer's warranty of 5 years on the self-cleaning effect, and a M.S.B. guarantee that 99% of this effect will still be present after 7 years.Disadvantages:None known.
Photovoltaics:Because photovoltaic modules are usually not cleaned, they dirty and weather faster than window glass.Numerous tests by renowned technological institutes have shown that a photovoltaic module's output decreases annually by 3% in the case of installations with an inclination of 6° - 20° , and about 5% in the case of flat installations.Performance losses in the agricultural sector are even greater.In the course of time, dirt streaks form on modules which are not cleaned, thereby shading individual cells.These shaded cells can burn out, because they are connected in series so that the module's entire electric current flows through each cell.Sealing and the associated, self-cleaning effect can raise a photovoltaic module's energy output by approximately 15%, which can amount to quite a lot over a period of, say, 10 years.
Immediate increases of about 6% in output have been registered following application of M.S.B.'s special nano sealant additionally to sealed glass surfaces.Photvoltaic modules are usually not coated like this in practice.Though some manufacturers offer specially coated glass which reflects more light into the module, this HT-coating only has a "superficial" added value.
Technical data (*):
|
Glass type |
Light transmission |
Light reflection |
Energy transmission |
|
Low-iron, uncoated |
91 % |
8 % |
89 % |
|
Low-iron, HT coating |
97 % |
2 % |
94 % |
|
Low-iron, TECLUX coating |
97 % |
2 % |
94 % |
*
Lighting engineering values according to EN 410 for 4-mm thick,
low-iron substrate
The disadvantage of HT-coated glass is that its rough surface dirties faster and more intensely. As a result, the coating's positive effect is purely superficial, and can quickly turn negative in practice. TECLUX sealant comes with the same warranty as that for glass: 7 years for the self-cleaning effect.
Percentage-based comparison of additional output
M.A.W. demo facility in Ilshofen
Why? Any investment, whether glass or photovoltaic modules, should receive lasting protection. By substantially lengthening glass cleaning intervals and raising the power efficiency of photovoltaic modules, such protection allows significant yields to be easily achieved. M.S.B. products help especially our specialized partners and specialist firms gain a substantial lead over other players on the market. This provides our clients with a significant competitive advantage.
M.S.B. employs state-approved and qualified experts who seal glass surfaces on-location. The costs of sealing are negligible compared with the benefits of this innovation.
Our products are meant for:
Owners of photovoltaic facilities
Firms specializing in photovoltaic facilities
Module manufacturers
We supply all the relevant technology and necessary sealing material. Separate agreements are possible for bulk purchases.
Please contact us if you have any enquiries.
M.S.B. Facility Management
Sales manager
Daniel Schmitt
mail: schmitt@ms-bautenschutz.de
Download
Test
of coated glazing's response to changes in climatic condition
Adhesion
of KAWO silicone to TECLUX glass coats