1. Project Background: The Traceability Dilemma of the Photovoltaic Industry
With the continuous growth of market demand for photovoltaics, the scale of cell production is expanding. Under traditional production models, photovoltaic cells go through multiple complex processes such as texturing, diffusion, laser SE, etching, etc. from raw material input to finished product output. Work-in-progress is loaded in plastic basket carriers and transported by AGV or manually. Due to the large number of processes and complex flow, traditional manual recording or barcode identification methods cannot achieve efficient and accurate production information collection and full-process quality traceability. This not only leads to low production efficiency but also makes it difficult to trace product quality issues. Once a problem occurs, it is difficult to quickly locate the root cause, causing economic losses to the enterprise and affecting brand reputation.
2. Solution: RFID Technology Ushers in a New Era of Traceability
FineJoin' photovoltaic cell traceability solution based on RFID technology brings new ideas and methods to photovoltaic production management.
1. Precise Data Collection, Seamless Integration with Production Systems
Smart Reader Deployment:For different machine scenarios, straight cylindrical and square plate readers are provided, suitable for static or dynamic (speed ≤1.5 m/s) installation environments, ensuring accurate identification of basket RFID tags.
Real-time Data Upload:The reader connects to the gateway via RS485 or industrial protocols (Modbus TCP, OPC UA, etc.), uploading basket numbers and machine parameters to the RFID middleware in real time, and interacts with the MES system to achieve linkage between production instructions and traceability data.
2. Key Product Advantages
Diverse Reader Options:FineJoin offers three different types of RFID readers. The cylindrical reader is suitable for installation on the top or bottom of basket fixtures, with a metal housing for stronger anti-interference; the square reader has a longer read range and can be installed on the top, bottom, or side of the line; the sheet reader is compact and flexible, can be installed in gaps, meeting the installation needs of different machine structures.
High-Performance Reader/Writer:D1606R/D1604R is a high-performance industrial RFID reader/writer operating in the HF band with ISO15693 protocol. It features a built-in antenna custom-designed for identifying targets moving along fixed tracks, with fast recognition speed to effectively avoid misreads and missed reads. Its IP67 high industrial protection rating enables stable operation in various harsh industrial environments, whether high temperature, humidity, or dusty production workshops.
Reliable Industrial Control Gateway:Industrial control gateways such as FN-E1684B support multiple communication protocols including EthernetIP, ModbusTCP, Profinet, etc., allowing selection of appropriate protocols to interface with PLCs of different machines. The gateway adopts star or tree topology, with communication cable length up to 100m, and features 4-channel I/O ports and RFID interfaces to meet complex connection needs of production lines. Additionally, the gateway includes multiple protection functions such as reverse polarity protection, surge protection, and short-circuit protection to ensure stable system operation.
Durable Electronic Tags:For the special environment where baskets must pass through acid and alkali baths during photovoltaic cell production, FineJoin has developed RFID tags with high temperature resistance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and waterproof properties. Each chip has a unique identifier, storage capacity ≥2Kbit, compact size for easy embedding into baskets. The chip inside the tag uses DFN packaging, materials are PPS or above, with PVDF being optimal, protection level reaches IP68, capable of long-term stable operation in harsh environments, with a rewrite life of up to 500,000 times and data storage up to 40 years.
