  The capabilities of a simulation tool for the in-depth analysis of the
thermal impacts on the performances of solar cells are described. TASC-1D
(Thermal Analysis of Solar Cells - 1D, version cSi) solves the coupled
electrical, radiative and thermal transport problems for a crystalline silicon
cell, as a function of irradiation and thermal conditions. In addition to the
electrical outputs that are obtained with the existing simulation tools, it
provides the cell equilibrium temperature as well as the spatial and spectral
distributions of many relevant quantities. The physical modeling and associated
numerical solution techniques are summarized. Result cases with a prescribed
cell temperature demonstrate that the code performs well, is able to provide
valuable information on the quantum efficiency and power loss mechanisms, and
is capable of handling diffuse irradiations. The intricate correlation between
thermal sources and optical-electrical losses is discussed. The other cases
include the solution of the heat transfer problem and analyses are conducted on
the cell operating temperature and efficiency as a function of the thermal
conditions. This simulation tool is likely to allow new optimizations of
photovoltaic cells that include a thermal criterion in addition to the optical
and electrical criteria.
